By: Matt Smellie
Ticats.ca
Mark Twain ranked watermelon as “chief of this world’s luxuries.” I’m not sure if he ever envisioned wearing the large fruit on one’s head at a football game as opulent living but hey, they’re living large in Saskatchewan with their Riders’ in the 97th Grey Cup. And with the Sea of Green about to make like Tom and Huck, and puddle skip across to Alberta; grocers of Greater Calgary…BEWARE.
Soon thousands of green jerseys, green faces, green bodies, and green hair will descend upon Cowtown. The city of red will have a distinct complement of green during this week of Grey Cup revelry. And keeping with the festive spirit, you can guarantee there will be a Santa, who’s traditional jumpsuit will be altered to Rider green. These viridescent fans will have a ravenous appetite for 2 things: Saskatchewan victory and watermelon.
The increase in watermelon consumption may catch Calgary grocery stores off guard.
“We never even thought of that,” exclaimed Sharon Vickner who orders the produce for a Sobey’s, located ten minutes from McMahon Stadium.
“I see them come by in their crazy outfits every single time, but that’s a good idea to order more (watermelon).”
The Rider’s success in November will hit their fans where it hurts most – in their wallet. The out of season fruit fetches $1.50 more per kilogram than during the summer months. And although Tourism Calgary has estimated that the Grey Cup will pump $50 – $60 million into the local economy, there was no indication of how much of that would actually be in melon sales.
The increased price and limited stock isn’t the only thing hampering the Rider fan. Sunday’s forecast is calling for a high of 0 degrees Celsius in Calgary, and according to Vickner, “the poor bugger better have a toque under his watermelon helmet or he’s probably going to freeze his noggin’.”
But perhaps more baffling than the popularity of Corner Gas and more stranger than these fans’ attachment with melons, is the fact that neither the Roughriders or Alouettes have ever met in the Grey Cup. In an 8 team league (with some altered configurations over the years) there is only 16 possible combinations (provided there’s no crossover finalist).
Since 1950, the modern era of the CFL has seen Montreal face Edmonton 11 times and Winnipeg versus Hamilton eight times. Through 59 seasons there has never been a Saskatchewan – Montreal match up until now.
For more than a decade, the Riders were bad. Purveyor of all things emerald, Kermit the Frog, summed it up best, “It’s not easy being green,” and for the Roughriders it wasn’t. Saskatchewan was absent from the playoffs 11 seasons in a row, between 1977 and 1987. Combine that with the Alouettes exit from the league from 1987 to 1995 and it starts to make a little more sense why they haven’t met.
But all of that has changed. Saskatchewan is entering their second Grey Cup in three years and perennial favourite Montreal is making their seventh appearance in 10 years. The success both teams have acomplished might not compare to the sweet taste of Twain’s watermelon, but it’s a luxury every other team in the CFL wishes they could afford.
