I Had a Feeling…
by H.F. Salisbury
I did not even consider buying a Sports-Select ticket. Bet365.com not a chance. Pick the Bombers to win, sorry but I just could not do it. You see, I had a feeling.
On Sunday, I was walking up the ramp in the stadium and overhearing various conversations that had a “Bombers are going to bounce back” vibe to them. Ah yes, the cautiously optimistic were out. However, I noticed something going on around me at the same time.
While “Rider pride” was out in full force, waving flags, all greened up wearing watermelons on their sticky (if not numb) skulls, the Bomber faithful were heads down and shoulders slumped. Yet they were still saying we’d bounce back??? The prevailing thought was we couldn’t possibly lose at home to the dreaded Riders.
I was not drinking that Kool-Aid. No way. Not me. You see, on the way to the Stadium, I said we were in for an absolute thrashing by a team whose fans butcher more watermelons for apparel purposes than for nourishment. By a better football club. You see, love them or hate them, the Riders do have pride. This year, the Bomber players can’t even spell it.
After the Labour Day Classic loss, the sports pages had all kinds of quotes from Coach Kelly indicating the team was “not ready” for the Riders in the Labour Day Classic. They were rusty from the time off. Their timing was all wrong as a result. After hearing this, I thought oh no, we are into the “excuses” stage of our twelve step program of a season. Not ready. Rusty. If that were true, I am really disappointed in the professional athletes that comprise this year’s roster.
I think this is where the fans walking into the Banjo Bowl started to think that the rematch would have one of those Hollywood happy endings. After all, there was no by-week rust to hamper us. Revenge was fresh on the minds of the players. Not even a Pac Man Jones soap opera distraction to keep the team from the required focus. And of course we just had to win at home.
I’m not calling for Kelly to be fired. Not this week. I’m not saying bring in some of those NFL cuts to bolster the roster. I don’t want anything except the Bombers players to really take pride in playing a game that they and fans alike are so passionate about. Kelly is doing a great job of taking bullets for the team and at times he certainly deserves to. However, this loss is sits squarely on the shoulders of players who just are not executing plays.
The players have to execute especially “the basics” as my season ticket buddy would say. They can’t carry the football like it is a hand bag. Defense needs to tackle when they get a hand on the offensive player. How many times did we see a Rider get hit after three yards only to break free and get a first down? How many turnovers did we have? Catch-able passes dropped and poor passes to those who are open.
I can’t remember the season slogan for this year. I’m pretty sure that it is not “Winnipeg Blue Bombers Football - Two and out” or “Here, we don’t want the ball.”
If we can’t win a game, can we at least be competitive and not embarrass ourselves?!?!!?! I never want to be so embarrassed that I leave another game early again. I hate doing that but this past week… well it was just too much for me to take.
Now what. As a fan, I can’t place a bet against the Bombers. As a season ticket holder, I just cannot bring myself to do it. If I could, I’d have paid off next year’s season tickets with my winnings already.
Next week the Blue play Montreal on the road. I wonder if I’ll place a bet… uh oh… I’ve got another feeling.
