It’s a Long Way to the Top
by Mike A.
Back on September 18th while the Hamilton Ti-Cats were busy dining on the visiting Calgary Stampeders late in the fourth quarter at Ivor Wynn Stadium, some crazy motherfucker decided to climb the upright goal post, shimmying all the way to the top before grabbing onto the flag twelve meters above the field and then sliding back down. A bizarre mixture of drunk buffoons in the crowd hooted and hollered their approval while security and the nine sober people in the stands watched in horror, all of them relatively certain that they would be watching a human skull explode on the field any second once the un-named fellow lost his grip on the pole and tumbled four stories to a certain death, or at the very least, a good life long crippling. Onlookers were deprived of the worst case scenario and the drunk was arrested once off the cross bar. It’s the kind of insanity that punishes the mind thinking about Ivor Wynn being a dreary run down shit hole, a place the Winnipeg Blue Bombers have been known to frequent when it’s time to have their own skulls exploded.
It’s weird to come to terms with the fact that the Winnipeg Blue Bombers are poised to tie Hamilton’s record of 6-8 with four games left to play in the remainder of the season, with both teams’ final match up in Winnipeg on November 8th. And it seems to me that with their back against the wall to the degree that theirs are, the Bombers may wish to evaluate the strategy involved in losing their grip on what little season they have made for themselves. A loss today in Hamilton will seal the fate of the 2009 playoff run, a run that until lately, the Bombers have had no good reason to concern themselves with.
There is a fragile confidence in a team that consistently manages to choke when playing disciplined counts the most. There are painful losses that I’ve been party to, games that were must wins where instead of sliding back down the upright to throngs of adoring fans, a gruesome tragedy would end a season altogether, with innards splayed all over the field, ushering in a six month world of cold, dry and inhospitable weather for the rest of us who held our breath and held out until the last play, despite the echo of nails being hammered into our very own tombs.
It’s true that the Winnipeg offence is almost worth talking about again. For the last two games Adarius Bowman and Otis Amey each have receptions for over 140 years each. And with veteran Terrence Edwards is back in this week, after getting brutally concussed in a match against the Alouettes by Shea Emery, the Bombers might be able to succeed against a Ti-Cat D that has shown significant improvement against the pass this year. Watch for Hamilton attempting to cause the kinds of picks and mistakes Bishop’s been known for in moments of uncertainty all year long. But who knows, Bishop has finally emerged as a leader and he is looking good. Is there anything more beautiful than a Bishop rocket hitting its target? I don’t think so, other than maybe with the frequency he’s been on the money as of late.
Special Teams could make the difference today like they did last week in an effort that was capitalized by Javon Johnstons 118 yard return off a missed field goal in a play that ultimately snapped the backs of the Toronto Argonauts. If Winnipeg are able to make the field long for Quinton Porter and the Ti-Cats, and if the Bombers can defend against Hamilton’s passing game, this newfound sense of confidence could open this thing up for Michael Bishop and give him the time he needs to read the plays and connect with his receivers.
A lot of gums are flapping about the playoffs and for those of us who are dangling like idiots with only the feeling of the last two victories giving us the strength to carry on, we are only allowed to think about this afternoon. I suppose it might be very nice to think about being in second place in the east with a victory over Hamilton today, but take a look at the rest of the schedule. Yeah, you see those two back to back games against Montreal coming up after next weeks’ game against BC at home? Will any of those even matter if the Bombers can’t pull it off in Ivor Wynn? No, they won’t.
I’m not sure why the obvious is not being pointed out here wider than it is. In spite of what anyone says, today is a must-win for Winnipeg just as much as it is for the Ti-Cats who are hobbling onto the field losing both of their last two, a team who will be desperate to rattle Bishop early.
In my experience, it all sounds so very promising. A home with a huge thanksgiving feast, good company, and a Bomber squad with all the momentum they need. It’s just the kind of party that I walk away from with that familiar feeling of dejection and dismay, wondering why we took so many useless penalties and why the offense was so predictable.
The only thing left for Winnipeg to do is shimmy up that goalpost and ring the goddamn Ti-Cats’ bell.
