Legendary Riders fullback George Reed took part in the Saskatchewan Pavilion’s Roughriders Day festivities at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.
Photograph by: Bryan Schlosser, Leader-Post files
Photograph by: Bryan Schlosser, Leader-Post files
WHISTLER, B.C. — IOC president Jacques Rogge has frequently expressed his desire for a green Olympics in Vancouver.
Well, he got his wish.
It was Saskatchewan Roughriders Day on Wednesday at the Saskatchewan Pavilion — part of the mosaic at the 2010 Winter Olympics. However, the Roughriders' presence was actually noticeable as early as Tuesday, when legendary fullback George Reed joined current players Stu Foord and Luc Mullinder on the premises.
"It has been great,'' Reed said via telephone from Vancouver during a rare break from signing autographs, chatting and shaking hands.
"At the Saskatchewan Pavilion, a lot of people are coming up to me and reminiscing. Rider fans are saying, 'I remember when you played at Empire Stadium,' and they all want to take pictures. B.C. Lions fans are saying, 'You killed us time after time,' but they're very gracious about it.''
Reed enjoyed many fine moments during an illustrious career with the Roughriders, but he was especially formidable against the Lions (who originally held his CFL rights, by the way).
On Oct. 24, 1965, Reed rushed for 268 yards — still the second-highest single-game total in CFL history — as the Roughriders secured a playoff spot by defeating the Lions 30-14 at Empire Stadium. Remembering this, people have asked Reed to sign some autographs which include the date of that game and the yardage total.
On Oct. 24, 1965, Reed rushed for 268 yards — still the second-highest single-game total in CFL history — as the Roughriders secured a playoff spot by defeating the Lions 30-14 at Empire Stadium. Remembering this, people have asked Reed to sign some autographs which include the date of that game and the yardage total.
Thirteen months after the 268-yarder, the peerless fullback rushed for 133 yards — including a victory-clinching, 31-yard touchdown — as Saskatchewan celebrated its first-ever Grey Cup, defeating the Ottawa Rough Riders 29-14 at Empire Stadium.
A visit to the Olympics also brings back fond memories for Reed. His daughter, Georgette, competed in shot put for Canada at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. Four years earlier, George Reed — who resided in Calgary at the time — attended several events at the 1988 Winter Olympics.
"It's nice to see all the hard work that is put in to put on something like this,'' said Reed, who is to return to Regina on Friday evening. "You see the progress that has been made since '88 in Calgary. It's great to see people enjoying themselves and to see some of the events. Some people are probably against it, but it's a wonderful thing. It brings people together from all over the world and shows off Canada.''
Not to mention the enduring greatness of George Reed.
"It's amazing,'' marvelled Foord, a Regina-born running back who has completed two seasons with the Roughriders. "You see how knowledgeable he is about the Olympics. You sit down with him for supper and watch the highlights. He knows what every Canadian athlete is doing.''
Reed and Foord, among others, have done their part to make the Saskatchewan Pavilion a popular attraction since it opened Friday.
Reed and Foord, among others, have done their part to make the Saskatchewan Pavilion a popular attraction since it opened Friday.
Jennifer Johnson, director of communications for Saskatchewan's Ministry of Tourism, Parks, Culture and Sport, reported that attendance has exceeded expectations by a considerable margin. The pavilion has welcomed from 6,000 to 9,000 per day, compared to a projected 5,000.
Many of the visitors have ingested bison burgers, perogies, sausages and Saskatoon berry tarts. Equally palatable were visits by two former Olympic speed skaters with ties to Saskatoon — Craig MacKay of Saskatoon (who competed in the 1948 and 1952 Winter Olympics) and John Sands (1956, 1960) — and law-enforcement personnel.
"We have two RCMP officers in red serge here every day and they have been celebrities,'' Johnson said via e-mail. "Everyone wants a photo with them.''
Talk about a "serge'' in popularity!
Everyone is caught up in the vibe.
"It's off the charts,'' Foord said. "We're just having a good time. So many people from Saskatchewan and across Canada are dropping by to say, 'What's up?' It makes me glad to represent our province and the team I play for.
"I think we've converted a lot of people over to being Rider fans, if they weren't Rider fans before. They're just loving us. It's easy to love us when we're hanging with George Reed.''
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