There’s a fine-line between a being hard-hitting journalist and a die-hard Stamps fan.
I had the opportunity to be in the Stamps’ dressing room after they stomped the Edmonton Eskimos 43-18 in the West final on Sunday. My angle, Foothills Comp grad Anthony Parker is going to play in the Grey Cup this Sunday.
Waiting outside the locker room with the likes of award-winning journalist George Johnson it was a bit intimidating.
I am willing to bet Johnson didn’t have a box of Cornish Flakes hidden in his backpack.
Although I had a media pass, I opted to watch the game in my season tickets with my friends, rather than from the press box.
Although sports journalists are slightly ahead of brain surgeons in intelligence, I’m sure in the press box there wasn’t the wittiness of “This one’s over — You can shop at Cross Iron Mills if you leave now!” (Not me — I encourage to shop locally).
Or this gem: “Hey, Edmonton, choke on this,” while waving a box of Cornish Flakes. Pure gold (not green-and-gold).
I’m also willing to bet you can’t have a couple of $8 beers when using a field pass or sitting in the press box.
Being a Stamps fan, I listened with heartbreak this week as Foothills Falcons coach Jackie Kellogg told me of losing two Grey Cups with the red-and-white (he got his ring in 1998 with the Stamps).
When he reminisced about losing to the Stamps as an Eskimo in the 2001 West final — a game I was at in Edmonton — it was all I could do not to stand-up, do my obnoxious touchdown dance, high-five Kellogg and exclaim: “That was the best ever!”
I reeled it in, for I am the ultimate pro.
Before going to the Stamps’ locker room, I hid my red toque and Cornish Flakes in my backpack. I don’t need George Johnson and the best sportswriters in Canada knowing I’m the biggest Homer since Bart’s dad.
However, after taking a pic of Parker and Nik Lewis, I put my camera back in the bag and Parker spots the Cornish Flakes.
He assured me my secret is safe.
So now I’m looking forward to the Grey Cup and cheering on the red-and-white, who I have cheered for since before Stamps head coach John Hufnagel was their quarterback in the late 1970s and losing to the Eskies.
I plan to serve up some wings as the Stamps make mincemeat of the Tabbies this Sunday.
You can guess what kind of flakes they will be coated in…
