Jaime Stein
CFL.ca
The Edmonton Eskimo practice field sits in the shadow of Commonwealth Stadium, similar in a way to how the City of Vancouver is dwarfed by the Coastal Mountains. The click-clack of cleats on the cement followed by the cadence of a coach’s “hut” means football is in the air.
There was no place I would have rather been on Sunday morning than the sideline of Clarke Stadium, listening to those sounds of football and smelling another season of Canada’s game in the air.
Fans gathered in the stands, discussing the newest players while greeting the vets as they passed through a chain linked fence onto the field.
Edmonton is a great city for sports; it is clear why it received the moniker City of Champions.
We spent the day in Edmonton conducting video interviews for CFL.ca. What a treat it was to chat with head coach Richie Hall in the stands of Commonwealth Stadium. He is a true gentleman and one of the good guys in this great game.
Following our chat with Coach Hall, we moved down to the sacred grass and set up for an interview with running back Jesse Lumsden. The setting was perfect to listen to the starting tailback reminisce about his childhood memories of his father Neil, an Eskimo too.
Inside the Edmonton locker room – one of the greatest facilities in the league – we had the chance to chat with Dwayne Mandrusiak, the team’s longstanding equipment manager. He explained how he places a plaque on each locker to represent the players who previously sat in the stall. However, not every player gets his name placed on a plaque once he departs. You have to be a good teammate and a positive influence in the community before receiving the honour, Mandrusiak explained. In fact, there are some Eskimos who are Grey Cup Champions, but don’t have their name on a locker.
The Eskimo facility will be upgraded in the near future and Mandrusiak explained that the lockers will be auctioned off. Of course, one locker that will garner interest is the one that bears the name Lumsden, twice.
WHO IS MIKE KELLY?
We arrived in Winnipeg early Monday morning. A light drizzle did little to deter hardcore Bomber fans from attending practice.
“A great day for football,” I said to a fan draped in a white Bomber garbage bag to stay dry. “You bet,” he responded, before turning his eyes to the four players in yellow jerseys tossing the ball on the near hash marks.
Our mission in Winnipeg was to interview Mike Kelly, the outspoken head coach of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Many fans are still trying to understand the man who insulted the entire province of Saskatchewan.
I’m sorry to disappoint the good people of Saskatchewan, but Mike Kelly really isn’t a bad guy. If fact, he is quite friendly. He showered us with good humour and great conversation for nearly 15 minutes, outside, in the rain, on the field at Canad Inns Stadium while we shot video for CFL.ca.
“Andy Reid would never have done this,” said Kelly, in reference to his old boss at the Philadelphia Eagles. He is likely correct, and that is why Mike Kelly is not Andy Reid. He is his own friendly, effervescent self who honestly and truly cares for the CFL, its players and the City of Winnipeg.
Stay tuned to CFL.ca for the entire sit down chat with Mike Kelly.
SEASON TICKET SURPRISE
Just when I thought my week could not get any better, I returned home today to open a Purolator package with my 2009 Toronto Argonauts Season Tickets. The best part of the package was the vintage Toronto Argonauts leather helmet that accompanied the tickets.
For those who already have season tickets, you will likely share my excitement of cracking open that envelope to see what’s inside. Those of you who don’t have your CFL season tickets better sign up fast: CFL.ca/tickets because the smell of football is getting stronger by the day.
