Too many men stomped on my heart

27 January 2010 by John Barlow - Editor No Comments 807 views

Just when the scab was starting to heal it is ripped off my heart once again.

Since I was a kid I have been a fan of the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the Minnesota Vikings and no one could ever accuse me of being a bandwagon jumper. Why? Because I cheer for the two teams who always break a fan’s heart. The Riders waited 33 years between Grey Cup titles and the Vikings share the dubious distinction of being one of only two teams to be winless in four Super Bowl appearances.

As a result, I never get too up or too down when cheering for my football teams as I understand in all likelihood they will let me down.

However, this season was especially painful as my teams teased into thinking this was going to be our year.

The Riders swept the Stampeders en route to a first place finish in the West Division. The Vikings finally found a quarterback and Brett Favre seemed to have found the fountain of youth en route to a 12-4 finish.

Then, too many men ruined what was developing into a dream season.

First, the Riders ripped my heart out in the Grey Cup in November when a too many men flag allowed Montreal a second chance at a last play field goal. This time Damon Duval did not miss ending what was to be a celebration of Rider Nation in Calgary. Instead, about 40,000 of us sulked straight home.

It took me weeks to recover from that loss and it did not help that I was inundated with 13th man jokes from the Stampeder fans.

However, when the Vikings started to roll I was able to put the Riders’ collapse behind me because it appeared my football season would be salvaged by a Viking trip to the

Super Bowl.

They looked great against Dallas and I felt confident they had a chance in a dome against the Saints.

Despite fumble after fumble and several carrot sticks (I have not neglected my weight loss challenge) bouncing off my TV the purple and gold were poised to book a trip to Miami with a last second field goal.

The painful loss in the Grey Cup would be avenged!

Noooooooooooooo!

It cannot be! Another flag for too many men!

This time it pushed the Vikings out of field goal range. The ol’ gunslinger came back and tossed another of his infamous interceptions.

The Saints, predictably, won in overtime.

Why do I put myself through this unbelieveable torture?

I think that is it for me and sports. I think I am going to start watching the Family Channel where every show always has a happy ending.

John Barlow, Editor