A Grey Cup for the ages
Re Champions, Nov. 26 Homer wrote: “No ship has ever come near these moving rocks and escaped them, for the waves of the sea and fiery blasts bring them all to destruction. Their timbers swirl to and fro with the rotting bones of the sailors. One vessel alone has sailed through, the Argo.”
Watching the Double Blue marching down the field to victory on Sunday, led by ancient mariner and helmsman Ricky Ray, I was reminded of all those shining lamps of antiquity who sailed the good ship Argonaut seeking to capture, year in and year out, that coveted Grey Cup.
Summoned to mind were such unforgettable names as Dick Thornton, Jim Corrigall, Mel Profit, Bill Symons, Wally Gabler, Joe Theismann, Doug Flutie, Matt Dunigan, Leo Cahill, Jim Rountree and Dick Shatto, whose dying request was to have his ashes spread across the CNE grounds.
This year’s historic 100th Grey Cup enshrined the Argos as the greatest sports team this side of infinity. I congratulate the conquering football heroes from Toronto on their record 16th Grey Cup. Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgos! Paul Kokoski, Hamilton For the past two weeks, the gullible media have been indulging the wishes of wealthy corporate sports team owners and BellMedia’s TSN. Canadians have been told that the Grey Cup is a great national event that brings the country together, yet millions of Canadians were unable to see this great spectacle on TV.
Unless one can afford to pay for a whole package of premium channels, one is denied access to most major sports events: football, hockey, soccer, basketball and even curling and ice skating; all sports coverage being controlled by corporate media, which can charge for the privilege to watch.
This is the path our governments and the CRTC have endorsed. I can accept not watching any more TV sports but I reject the platitudes of nationalism and provincial/municipal pride thrown at me by these corporations.
The almost $10 million of tax money would have been better spent on our wounded vets and daycare. Denis McKee, Toronto The disrespect shown to Justin Bieber at the Grey Cup was appalling. He is the biggest musical star in the world and that we would treat him this way says more about us than it says about him.
I have accompanied my 15-year-old daughter to see Justin in concert and am convinced of his talent and appeal. He is a great ambassador of our country and I am proud of his global success.
He believes in God, isn’t riddled with drugs and alcohol, doesn’t beat up his girlfriends and, at the tender age of 18 years, has given more to charity and the disadvantaged than those who booed him have earned in their entire lifetimes. Now I understand why Toronto has the moniker “Hogtown.” Linda Irving, Ottawa Why as Canadians are we never proud of “our own”? Is it because of our insecurities, our belief that we are never as good as our American neighbours?
Watching how the Grey Cup fans treated Justin Bieber made me embarrassed to be a Canadian. The CFL and the fans were lucky to get him at all. Nell Cavion, Thunder Bay One wonders what Toronto has in store for Jesus at the Second Coming. Brian Kelly, Hamilton As a fellow Canadian, I am trying to like Justin Bieber, but I have difficulty with his choice of pants and I don’t understand why he always puts his hands over his groin when performing. Sal Badali, Mississauga Am I the only one who takes offence at the improvisation of “O Canada” singers/musicians take with our anthem, such that it is barely recognizable? Ralph Strutt, Markham Had I been at the Grey Cup game I probably would have booed Justin Bieber as well. Did he have to dress like a clown to meet the prime minister?
It is a matter of respect. R.G.M. Hopper, Scarborough I understand the reason for having Justin Bieber, Carly Rae Jepsen, and Marianas Trench perform. The only reason I was bothered is the significance of the 100th Grey Cup. I would have thought more legendary Canadian icons than just Gordon Lightfoot and Burton Cummings would perform throughout the night.
Names that come to mind: Rush, Neil Young, The Tragically Hip, Stompin’ Tom Connors, Bryan Adams, Great Big Sea, Feist, and Shania Twain. Patrick Thompson, Mississauga Could the night’s entertainment have been any whiter? If anyone wonders why the CFL is bleeding relevancy in one of the world’s most diverse cities, one might want to start here. Scott Milne, Mississauga Hats off to the CFL for nailing it on their 100th aniversary. From the Cup train across Canada to the “Engraved on a Nation” documentaries, to the week-long party in Toronto, they put on a great show for all of Canada. Brian Lisle, Bowmanville First the Grey Cup; now Mayor Ford forced from office. Toronto’s fortunes are changing, and for the better! Jamal Hassan, Scarborough