TMI: No pre-game playlist for Declan Cross

Most Toronto Argonauts fans were watching the Ottawa and Hamilton game last week. And by most, I mean all. And by fans I also mean the Argonauts themselves – including fullback Declan Cross.

“I just caught the end of it,” Cross laughed on Monday, the first day the Argos were back into the swing of things after their Week 19 bye. “It was a typical CFL game, that’s all I can really say.”

Typical because it was a back and forth affair, keeping Argos fans and players on the edge of their seats and cheering for their usual rival Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

If the Ottawa REDBLACKS lost, the Argonauts would have clinched first in the East Division. But as fate would have it, the REDBLACKS were victorious and now Toronto’s fate rests in their own hands. A win over BC this week and the Boatmen move back into first and host the Eastern Final. A loss and they stay in second and host the East Semi-Final. Talk about high stakes to get that ever important bye.

“With a playoff mentality,” Cross said of how to approach such a high stakes game. “There is only this game against a team that is now executing very well in all phases. This is a big game for us and we’re going to do what we do every week in preparation. The coaches always prepare us very well. As for when we’re actually playing there’s a playoff urgency right now.”

So before Declan hits the field this week, he’s going to do his routine breathing exercises and have a Five Hour Energy drink. No music will be playing either – Cross doesn’t have a pre-game playlist. Perhaps before the game he’ll divulge into one of his favourite dishes that I can almost guarantee you would never guess.

Oh, and don’t think Cross doesn’t know he has a strong resemblance to a rather famous Disney character.. he knows. He’s basically an off-duty character from Disney World after every game because of how many kids ask him if he is said character. (He always answers yes, by the way.)

Get to know a bit more about the Oakville, Ont. native in this edition of TMI!

Kristina Costabile: Tell me something that fans might not know about you.

Declan Cross: I’m very involved in local and elementary high schools in the community in Halton and in the GTA. I just like to visit schools and basically just talk to the kids and spread a very positive message of belief and healthy choices. I like do that, in the off-season especially.

KC: How long have you been doing that?

DC: Since my first year at McMaster when we started so in 2012.

KC: What’s it like to be playing in Toronto so close to where you went to school and grew up. Do you have friends and family that come to every game?

DC: Yes I do. Every week I’m calling the ticket office getting a big group of tickets going because I have so many family members that want to come to the games. And then some how there’s more family there than there are tickets that I bought. Some how they just find their way there. Then after the game I’ve got 15 people that I’m talking to from my family. It’s really nice. I really enjoy it.

KC: So you must have been excited that Toronto drafted you in 2016 so you could have that support?

DC: I was very happy! That was a team that I had good vibes from throughout the process. I was really happy because, obviously, it’s so close to home. It’s just very convenient and like I said, I just had good vibes going into it so I was happy to be drafted by them.

KC: What’s on your pre-game playlist?

DC: I don’t really listen to music during my pre-game! I just do a bunch of breathing exercises and stuff like that. I don’t really listen to music before a game.

KC: Do you have any other superstitions or routines to go along with the breathing techniques?

DC: I always do my breathing exercises and I always drink a Five Hour Energy right before the game.

KC: If you could be stranded on a deserted island with any one of your teammates who would it be and why?

DC: Dylan Wynn! He just seems like he would know what to do. He would know survival techniques and we’d find some way off the island.

KC: If you were not a football player, what would you be doing?

DC: Honestly, I’d probably get into baseball. I was a big baseball player growing up. I played baseball for years and years and I’m good at it. So I’d probably be playing baseball and playing in the major leagues.

KC: What’s your favourite football memory?

DC: I don’t think I could pick one moment really. I think just every time we get a win and I go into the locker room after, that feeling is always amazing. Just the feeling of a winning locker room.

KC: What is one food that you could eat for the rest of your life?

DC: Ox tail! I could eat ox tail at every meal, all day, every day. I love ox tail so much. You can get it at a Caribbean restaurant. I go every week, multiple times a week to get my ox tail, rice, peas and coleslaw!

KC: What show are you binge watching right now?

DC: I went kind of crazy for American Gods. Have you ever heard of it? It’s so cool. I was super into that. There’s only one season out right now so I just flew through that. It’s the different aspects of society represented by actual entities. So there’s a God of Technology, a God of War and stuff like that.

KC: If you could have any super power, what would it be?

DC: Regeneration. The healing factor that Wolverine has. I want that regeneration. You just keep getting strong and faster and heal from everything right away. No injuries!

KC: This is the most important question, are you dressing up as Maui for Halloween?

DC: I’m actually always dressed up as Maui. I don’t really have to get dressed up! I just show up and I’m still Maui.

KC: Do you get that you look like him a lot?

DC: After every game, there’s a group of kids outside that ask me if I’m Maui and I say yes.