Born Into Riderville

Its our birthright.  Being born in this province allows a person many things.  The options are endless.  But one thing that isn't an option is becoming a Rider fan.

I never grew up cheering for the Riders because they were a great team.  In fact, for the first decade of my life, they stunk.  But that didn't stop my Dad from taking me to a game every year.  I remember the road trips into the 'Big City', the stop at McDonalds and me trying to be big like my Dad, Uncle and their buddy Del.  I'd order a Big Mac and down the whole thing, at 6 years of age!  

Its a ritual, a religion.  A bonding experience that created a fan of the Green and White.  I followed the team as best I could from a farm north of Midale.  These were the days before TSN.  I'd listen to the games on the radio with Dad, living and dying (mostly dying) with each snap.  Always looking forward to that once a year game when Dad and his buds would take me into that cathedral of football.

I remember a rain soaked day in the East stands watching Terry Greer haul in pass after pass for the Argos.  Oh I didn't like him.  How about 'card day' where the fans were given these green and white cards to hold up on command, making a cool picture in the stands.  Soon after the Riders began to be routed, the cards became giant paper airplanes.  The cheers that day were reserved for how far each plane could make it from the upper deck across the field.

Time passes, but the love for the Green only grows stronger.  The memories of watching 'The Kick' in the basement at the farm with my hockey bud Scott Hood is fresh as a daisy.  How about the run in '97.  I froze my butt of in Edmonton watching  Doug Flutie tear us to bits, man it was awesome to see the Riders in the Grey Cup game.

Then there was 2007.  The Riders in the West final in BC...My brother and I in Seattle to catch a Seahawks game.  We couldn't get back to my cousin's fast enough to check if the Riders had won.  They did and we spent the rest of our night in the Emerald City, arranging tickets, flights and a place to stay.  

One week later, my brother, sister and I were taking my Dad to watch our beloved Riders at the Grey Cup.  The life of a Rider fan had come full circle, with the kids sitting second row with the 'old man'.

And now, I have a son of my own.  As he lay sleeping in his little Rider shirt, I can't help but smile and know that he has no choice but to be devoted to the Green and White.  In a couple of days when the sun shines, he'll make his first trip to Mosaic to see the team he will fall in love with.  And so it goes here in Riderville.