NO FORGIVING, NO FORGETTING
Stamps departure still hurts Hank
Pity Antoine Pruneau. Despite being front and centre, he was nearly forgotten.
The Ottawa Redblacks’ young defender, somehow drawing duty as podium partner of Henry Burris, settled for second billing Wednesday afternoon.
In a 20-minute press session following practice at Monarch Collegiate, Pruneau fielded a total of four questions, offering three minutes worth of bilingual insight. Burris eagerly handled the rest. Forget Good Hank and Bad Hank — the split personality to which the quarterback is often reduced — this was Smilin’ Hank, primarily. With flashes of Cranky Hank. Pruneau, to Burris’s right, seemed content to enjoy the show.
Because the star, relishing the stage, delivered. In particular, Burris offered pointed comments — or at least gestures — about his exits from Hamilton and Calgary. And he didn’t require much of a nudge. When someone mentioned that Burris and the Redblacks are making their second straight appearance in the Grey Cup — while Kent Austin and the TigerCats watch — there was a large smile, there were comically raised eyebrows.
All of it signifying unspoken glee, that the gent responsible for cutting him is once again a bystander. “And we’re here …” Another big laugh. But asked point blank which scenario was more painful — his departure from the Stamps or from the Ticats — he didn’t hesitate. “I’d definitely say Calgary.” Burris referred to “underlying factors.” Such as the Flames ownership group buying the Stamps. General manager John Hufnagel making decisions. A trend that saw Joffrey Reynolds and KenYon Rambo sent packing.
Being asked to renegotiate his contract.
He said that, even after winning the 2010 Most Outstanding Player award, he knew he was gone following the 2011 campaign.
“Frankly, I pretty much went in with a bull’s-eye on my back.”
Still, the transfer from the Stamps to the Ticats — for Kevin Glenn — smarted.
“Because of all that we had implemented in Calgary, the aura that we had created within those walls … whenever you stepped into that locker-room, you expected to be great,” said Burris.
“That same thing takes place now — that’s what we started. The fact is, when you create something, when you spend so much time there, invest so much time into doing it, and it’s taken away from you, it hurts.
“Do I still carry that with me? Yes, I do. It’s going to be visible this week. I’m looking forward to playing this game.” Oh right, the game. Naturally, Burris had opinions on that, too.
Yes, he wants to win his third CFL championship. Because after “the journey I’ve been through, the ups and downs, the crap I’ve had to deal with, it wouldn’t be complete without another Grey Cup.”
Rather than embrace the Redblacks’ nothing-to-lose status going into Sunday – nine-point underdogs – he bristled. But, Henry being Henry, he looked happy doing it.
“It seems that no matter what we’ve done, nobody gives us respect,” said Burris. “Maybe they don’t like the fact that this is only three years (for the organization) and we’ve been in the show two years in a row. What else do you need to do to get some respect?
“At the end of the day, it’s all about playing football on Sunday.
“The team that executes best, takes care of the football, make plays, will win the game. Why not us?
“We know people are out there, saying, ‘This won’t even be a game. Calgary’s going to go in there and drum them like they did B.C.’ But that quarterback in B.C., that was his first time playing in the playoffs. And we’ve got a guy that’s played in the playoffs the last 50 years.”
Of course, he was referring to himself.
Burris went on to say that he has nothing left to prove and he wants to prove it.
“Watch me go out there and do my job,” said the 41-year-old “The fact is, (critics) do provide motivation. If you just keep adding extra layers of icing to the cake, the cake tastes even sweeter.”
Is this, though, perhaps his final piece of pastry?
That’s a question worth pondering.
“Who knows? Is this my last hurrah? Is it not?” said Burris. “If this is it for me, I want to make sure I go out with a bang. If it isn’t, why not do it one more time after this?
“Once this week is over, hopefully after the parade, all the bubbles from the champagne kind of fizz away, and all the wine and the chardonnay stops tasting good, and it’s time to move on in life, that’s when those questions will start swirling around the household.
“Bottom line — the fire’s still lit in me. Different logs have been added to the fire, and it’s time to go out there and let them all burn.”
“The fact is, (critics) do provide motivation. If you just keep adding extra layers of icing to the cake, the cake tastes even sweeter.