Still high after Sunday's big win, Henry Burris enjoyed a quiet night at home with his family, watching what the NFL passed off as its Monday Nighter.
Thrilled to have some down time away from the rigours of an intense football season before returning to practice today, Burris perked up when Chris Berman worked the Battle of Alberta into his Fastest 3 Minutes segment at the half.
Opening with a shot of Jarome Iginla fighting Ethan Moreau before segueing into Sunday's footage from McMahon, ESPN showcased Burris' 29-yard touchdown strike to Romby Bryant.
Then, while showing Calgary's touchdown horse in full stride and setting up this weekend's two CFL matchups, came the words that sent Burris' night careening into depression:
"Saskatchewan won the Grey Cup last year," said Boomer, obviously unaware it was, in fact, Calgary. Oops.
Burris' phone immediately started buzzing with phone calls, texts and e-mails from both sides of the border pointing out the slight.
Who knew the first one to deal the disrespect card this week would be sitting in the U.S.?
"I thought, 'man, that's sweet to be part of the clip selected,' " said Burris in a text, moments after the gaffe.
"And then to hear 'Saskatchewan winning the Cup last year' spoiled everything!! I thought, 'Damn Yankees.' "
As if there weren't enough people discounting the Stamps as they try to beat the Roughriders for the first time in four tries in this Sunday's West final, now there are those discounting their breakthrough accomplishment last season.
It didn't much bother Randy Chevrier as, truth be told, he was more angered by the remote control war he kept losing to his wife and Skating With The Stars that night.
"I guess he got mixed up because last year he got it right when he talked about us after we won the Grey Cup," shrugged Chevrier, who met Berman while with the New York Jets in 2004 and suggested the heavy-set broadcaster is not one you want to mess with anyway.
"I don't put too much into it, but hopefully he gets it right next week. Eventually he's going to run out of teams to say and get it right."
Berman did not return messages yesterday as it was his day off, although as one ESPN employee put it, "you'd have a better chance meeting with the Pope."
Stamps players had even more fuel poured on the fire yesterday when they were overlooked for player-of-the-week honours following their 24-21 win over the Edmonton Eskimos.
Not only did Lions quarterback Casey Printers and defensive end Ricky Foley win the offensive and defensive awards respectively, the runners-up were both from the losing Hamilton Tiger-Cats: Kevin Glenn and Otis Floyd.
What's more, the weekly special teams award also went to a player on a losing team as Eskimos kick returner Skyler Green was a unanimous selection.
Two thirds of the panelists choosing the winners have Calgary ties in former coach Matt Dunigan and former player Duane Forde. Still, Calgary was shut out.
Meeting in the West final for the first time since 1971 -- a shocking fact in itself in an eight-team league -- the Stamps will head to Regina as rare underdogs.
By virtue of their 0-2-1 record against Burris' former team, including a loss at Mosaic Stadium two weeks ago to squander first place in the West, the Stamps are longshots to return to the Grey Cup game to be played here Nov. 29.
However, a win Sunday erases all that and gives Berman the perfect chance to atone for a mistake that ruffled more feathers than he'll ever know.
ERIC.FRANCIS@SUNMEDIA.CA
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