TURN OUT THE LIGHTS, THE PARTY'S OVER!
By Bob Hughes for Exit Realty Fusion
How is it that this always seems to happen? Why is it that Montreal Alouettes get the lousy hotel, but we always seem to end up checking into the Heartbreak Hotel?
How was it that in 1967 Eddie Buchanan was wide open and Ron Lancaster hit him with a perfect pass, and he dropped it, and the Saskatchewan Roughriders were done in the Grey Cup game.
How was it that in 1972 the Riders were poised to win the Grey Cup until some rookie, yes, a rookie, named Chuck Ealey found a tight end named Tony Gabriel for consecutive catches that led to an Ian Sunter field goal and another Cup loss.
How was it that in 1976 the Riders were this ( ) far from winning the Grey Cup when Tony Gabriel blew through the whole Rider defence for the game-winning touchdown?
And, how was it, that in 2009, the Saskatchewan Roughriders had won the Grey Cup when what’s-his-name Duval shanked a game-winning field goal with no time left, only to have the Riders called for too many men on the field, and, well, shoot!, you know the rest.
Then, there was yesterday. Ah, as the Beattles once twanged, “But that was yesterday, and yesterday is gone.” Is it ever!
She always seems to reach out at times like this, this Mistress of Misery who hides in the shadows of Saskatchewan’s “sure” wins and then reaches out and wraps her suffocating tentacles around the Riders and the Rider Nation and chokes the dreams out of them all.
It is a terrible cruel death.She did it in 1967, 1969, 1972, 1976 and 2009.
And, she did it again last night in Edmonton in a place called Commonwealth Stadium in front of 60,000 fans, and millions more on TV, most of whom were screaming for Saskatchewan and ended up screaming in agony.
It is no wonder this province leaves the country in depression cases the week following the Grey Cup.One year, we beat the Mistress of Misery, in 2007, but obviously she must have been on paid maternity leave. Other than that, not much to write home about. Because she will not leave us alone.
The score yesterday was 21-18 for Montreal. Who cares what the score was? Saskatchewan lost. And, that loss carried a sting that was felt throughout North America, from the house of my sister in New Jersey where my New York nephew threw a Grey Cup party to the place in Calgary where my sons died a thousand deaths to the parties in Saskatchewan which ended with a dull thud.
Three people showed up in the dark aftermath of this devastating loss on the Green Mile, parking themselves at the corner of Victoria and Albert. One shrugged, and went home. The other two girls screamed their allegiance to the Riders, and went home.
It is not easy being a Rider fan. There are so many tears. No wonder we have more lakes than anybody in North America. It’s like running a 100-yard sprint in record time, only to tire out with 10 yards to go.You see, champions are not born, they are made. And, this one is still in the making.
Is it ever!I’ve said this before, and I will say it again, Darian Durant is the next great quarterback of the Roughriders. He will live his dream of becoming remembered in the same affection and admiration of Ron Lancaster. In just two years as a starter, he has taken the Riders to the Grey Cup, only to end up as the little kid with his nose pressed against the candy store window, unable to get in.
When he threw the game-ending interception, it was the product of sheer stamina, courage and a fire that burns within him.
He somehow escaped the clutches of the smothering hordes of Alouettes and in a misguided attempt to salvage something, he threw the ball towards out of bounds.
But he was hit as he threw and the spiral intended for out of bounds turned into a wobbler that was intercepted. Game. Set. And match.
The thing is, there is no quit in Darian Durant. He is a rarity. He is the diamond in the rough. He is pure gold. He is a winner. And, some day, he will win the big one, and more after that.
He should accept no blame for Sunday’s harrowing defeat. No, the blame should go where it should go.The whole season, the Riders’ special teams did not return a single kick for a touchdown.
And, as usual, they got gagged on a fake punt.The whole season, the defence, as wondrous as it may have been in the first three quarters, was figured out in the fourth.
The whole season, the offence was not allowed to use its best weapon – Darian Durant moving around and even running.That is not Darian Durant’s problem.
He is the real deal. But, the Riders need somebody coaching them who understands that.And, if they are going to become the dynasty they should become, it has to happen this winter.
Then, maybe the Mistress of Misery will move elsewhere.
