My first CFL related fan blog.
By Larry Thomas Pattison Jr
(Published in the Hamilton Spectator, June 26th, 2003)
A couple of weeks ago, we were celebrating the record breaking season of our Hamilton Bulldogs. Last Friday, we were welcoming home ‘our’ boys of summer.
It’s opening night. Something I looked forward to every summer. Sunny days, blue skies, looking out over Hamilton, and watching Canadian Football.
As I walk through the streets, within a km or two of Ivor Wynne Stadium, I come across hotdog vendors, the locals sitting on their porches with Ti-Cat paraphernalia everywhere. Signs that read ‘Parking $5.00′ held by 8 year old kids encouraging people to park on their front lawns.
Music is playing, people are talking about football. The streets are lined with fans carrying their Ti-Cat cushions, and waving banners, and wearing their favorite players jersey’s.
There are father’s and sons, grandfather’s and grandchildren, entire families, friends, and even people by themselves just looking to watch the game live instead of on their television – something I have done when everyone I know is busy and I want to catch the game. Nothing more relaxing than a sunny day, a nice high seat with a view of this great city, and our Cats out there playing their hearts out.
As you approach the stadium, you are welcomed by a Tailgate party, and busloads of crazy football fans making their way to cheer on their team – and the fun part is that it isn’t always our Cat’s. There is always the poor Eski’s fan, or dare I say ArGO fan.
People bussed in from not only the many local establishments who support our Cats, but even out-of-towners who love their team enough to support them on the road.
I take my seat amongst the large group of friends I am with. Hand shakes, how have you been, and wow that new turf looks great!
It’s the first day of summer. There isn’t a cloud in the sky, and thousands of awaiting fans are here to welcome home their cats. Sun glasses, sandals, Grey Cup Champion hats, and the smell of hotdogs wafting in the air. This was what summer in Hamilton was all about. CFL football and more importantly our Hamilton Tiger Cats.
As the game progresses, halftime and a few trips to the washroom later, I meet up with old friends who I haven’t seen probably since the end of last season. Then, as I do most games if am not already sitting with them, I run into two of my uncles. Two guys I have sat with at most of the games I have been to at Ivor Wynne. I am not sure why, but for some reason, they started to reminisce. Maybe it was because it seemed so far off since the last time we seen our Cat’s play.
I listen as my Uncles tell me stories about when they were kids, sitting right here in this very stadium – their many brothers, their father and grandfather, all watching a game as my generation had done so many times over the years.
My Uncle Ed talks about his recent trips to Ivor Wynne with his children and now his grandchildren – Doing as his grandfather did so many years ago. As he dreams of days gone by, I can picture some of the same visions he does. I remember my father, and uncles, and aunts, and cousins, and friends – sitting in these vary seats so many times each year, throughout my life.
Around Ivor Wynne this night, and each game for possibly the next 5 months, this kind of bonding will happen here – And not just our family, but so many families, friends, and old acquaintances of this passionate city. Some as I have, will even talk of the memories they have about the guys out there on that gridiron.
When it comes to Canadian Football, a quarter of the guys are from around your home teams province, and there is a good chance a handful are from your home town.
In Hamilton’s case, 4 of our guys are hometown boys. Jarrett Smith, Mark Verbeek, Rob Hitchcock, and Trevor Shaw. There are 7 guys from around Ontario, and 6 more from 4 other provinces. We even have an old rivalry within teammates as Jarrett Smith and Mark Verbeek were once Barton Barons, and Rob Hitchcock and Trev Shaw were both Glendale Bears. I know first hand that Jarrett, Mark, & Rob played against one another back in the day.
Actually, I played a couple years with Jarrett and Mark at Barton 14 years ago. I didn’t know Mark as well, but Jarrett I knew pretty well as we had gone to school together since grade 5. Jarrett hasn’t changed much and is still the same guy he was when I met him. He is a very dedicated, smart person who is great with people. One of the nicest guys you’ve ever met, and when you meet his father, you know where Jarrett’s good disposition comes from.
Jarrett’s dad Ken, coached us back in the Barons days and will always be remembered as one of the best coaches I had in all the years I have played sports. Actually, Ken is the only football coach I ever had as I had never played football until I went to high school.
My father is actually the one who encouraged me to join High School Ball. “I played at Glendale” he started, “and I really enjoyed it and met a lot of people. You should join.” I took his advice and the two years I played football, were some of the best memories I have of high school. I would have never joined if not for my fathers encouragement, and because of him, I am sitting here writing so passionately about football. There is something about the dedication, desire, and strength(both mental and physical) that goes into this game, that makes you appreciate it, if not absolutely love it.
Jarrett is 3rd all-time in special teams tackles with 79
Jarrett is one of my many local heroes – friends who I grew up with, or have become friends with along the way, living their dreams. I remember the dedication Jarrett put into football. It was his dream, and there he was out on the field each game, living it. Anybody who knew Jarrett back in high school, could see even then, that Jarrett was going to do well. His rushing title at Waterloo, and all that he has achieved as a Tiger Cat, have made all his former teammates and classmates proud.
This was why the CFL was so important to Canada. Not only are there 50 some role models on these teams, but some of them are from your own hometown.
Hamilton has some great ones.
This past January, I attended Jarrett’s stag and doe. It was kind of a Barton High school football reunion. Many of those guys I hadn’t seen since high school. The room was filled by a few generations of Jarrett’s teammates – one also being his present and former CFL teammates. I watched how he interacted with those guys, and there really wasn’t much different than those good old Barton days – It was a bunch of guys who loved football and worked hard at being the best they could be. Enjoying some time to be just friends. They say that you’ll never have friends like you did growing up. I say as long as you are part of a team, you will always make great friends.
Support our guys. They are our friends, family, and role models to our children. Without our support, our children may one day miss out on the opportunity to see their role models walk these streets everyday. I remember guys like Earl Winfield, and Grover Covington signing my jersey at the hockey arena I played at as a child. If we don’t show more support for this team, our children may not have guys like this to look up to.
When our players are ‘real’, our children’s dreams seem more obtainable. “He walks the streets like I do, went to the same school(s) as I did, and he lives in the same neighborhood as I do.”
When these guys are just a star, our kids dreams can seem as high, and therefore they are left reaching. When their inspirations are the trees in our front yards, all they need is the strength and encouragement to climb it, to reach the top.
It’s going to be a great summer. Enjoy it with friends. Enjoy it with family, and even enjoy it by yourself, but enjoy it at Ivor Wynne Stadium.
Tiger’s….eat ‘em raw.
