Rick Moffat
CFL.ca
Spoiled Montreal fans may only be feeling like the Als proved they can live up to their expectations on Eastern Final Sunday. But in the 48 hours since, the Alouettes have proven so much more.
That Jamel Richardson may be elusive, but he prefers an escort.
The first Montreal receiver into the endzone against the Argos was the last one to check through security on Tuesday departure day. “J-Rich” was stuck in traffic and needed to be hustled through security with a woman named Jamella providing lead blocks that would make Scott Flory envious.
That Ben Cahoon is prepared for everything and anything.
What else do you need other than long johns and snowshoes, I ask before he boards? “Just a staple-gun,” he said. Cahoon has vowed this voyage to Grey Cup is dedicated to Tony Proudfoot, hero of the Als’ ’77 Staple Game rout of the Eskimos. Tony provided special inspiration just before kickoff against Toronto by giving a determined smile and wave after receiving the Hugh Campbell Distinguished Leadership award.
That the Als’ game day theme this season was “This Is It” but may as well have been “Cruel to be Kind.”
That’s because every victory creates hope. And crushes hope. By crushing Argos’ hopes, the seemingly cruel release of 2009’s kick return hero – Larry Taylor – was vindicated.
That while some teams airlift injured players only in time for Grey Cup weekend, Mathieu Proulx arrives in Edmonton on crutches. He insists he help his healthy teammates: “I always contribute in the meeting room and I’ll have them coached up,” said Proulx who has postponed surgery until after Grey Cup, despite the pain.
Ivan Brown, Regina-born University of Saskatchewan Huskie, heads to Edmonton on adrenaline. And a confession.
The reserve defensive end/special teams hitter will be activated against the team of his childhood football dreams. And finally the statute of limitations has run out on his Riderville crimes.
“Me and my buddies used to sneak into games five at a time,” he laughs from the team bus ride to Trudeau Airport. “It was the old ‘buy one ticket, put it in your wallet, then drop the wallet through the fence’ trick.”
Brown claims he has never worn a watermelon helmet at Taylor Field. “But I’ve helped others carve them and I’ve had drinks out of them,” he roars.
That Brown believes he can prove to be ‘the one that got away.’
Peewee football in Regina had a weight limit when he was a kid. Twelve-year olds had to be 130 pounds or under. Brown was already at 180.
He was scouted by the Riders’ Eric Tillman and Ken Miller. Figured he’d be Roughrider free agent signing after he failed to win an invite to the CFL draft combine.
Little did Brown know his former Regina Thunder junior teammate Paul Woldu was in Jim Popp’s ear.
“He’d be like… ‘Hey Jim, my boy Ivan has seven sacks just five games in’. Maybe he put me on the radar cuz I didn’t expected to get drafted.”
Former Roughrider Al Ford has a Popp connection too.
Before King James and others pulled off their plot to crown the Miami Heat, Woldu and Brown along with Paul’s twin brother Peter and two other players conspired to move en masse to the University of Saskatchewan.
“We brought ‘flava’ to the Huskies,” Ivan recalls. “We’re like brothers.”
Brown’s first CFL game was played in Edmonton last season. His next at Commonwealth could be far more special.
He’s proven you can survive in Montreal on practise roster money. And he’s wise enough to know that he and Paul, even should history smile upon them with a repeat, must never bring the Grey Cup back to Regina as Alouettes.
“There’s a picture of me up on the bulletin board at my old elementary school, just blocks from where I grew up,” says Brown. “We’ve had a 2006 silver medallist in speed skating, but I’d love to be invited back to McLurg Elementary if we win again.”
That Avon Cobourne may wear jersey #6 but his magic number is 16.
The Als have never lost a postseason game when he has 16 or more touches. Wonder if “The O.C.” Scott Milanovich has a simpler formula for success. Overshadowed by Cobourne’s 160+ rushing and 210+ combined offence was the simple testament to his heart. Cobourne went out to help with the chores on special teams coverage units, where he first proved himself to Popp.
What else have the Als proven? That music, which can supposedly tame the wild beast, can also unleash the beast.
Brown tells me the song the Als are most likely to pound in the locker-room is, ‘We No Speak Americano’, a dance-club hit gone viral no thanks to the TV show Jersey Shore.
“We gonna bring the beat,” agrees J-Rich. “We got curfew this week, but we alright with giving up our freedom.”
Finally, the Als hope to prove that this year’s Grey Cup is NOT brought to you by the letter R for repeat.
The L-word is the rage. Anwar Stewart. Anthony Calvillo. They’re all talking legacy.
