As a parent of a pair of boys under the age of three, there are tons of things to worry about when it comes to kids: their health, their schooling, what they will be when they grow up. But above all, as a huge Toronto Argonauts fan – what if they don’t like the sports I like? Or even worse, what if they do like the sports I like, but cheer for the wrong team, like the Tiger-Cats? The last thing I would ever want to do is force opinions onto my kids, but let’s face it, if one of my sons becomes a Ticats fan, I have flat out failed as a Dad.
So I have taken some precautions to keep them on the right path. Basically I have come up with some house rules for the boys to follow, and broken them down into different age segments.
Babies: Dispose of all baby items given to us with any black or yellow on it. Make sure I don’t hear any Oskee Wee Wee or Oskee Wah Wah in their cries.
Toddler: At the zoo, avoid the tigers display: no need to fill their minds with nonsense. At dinner time, yell fumble! when they drop food on the floor.
Middle School: One bulk pack of jelly beans (black and yellow removed, naturally) for every time they interrupt the teacher to chant AAAARGOOOS!
Early Teens: Increase in their allowance for each building they vandalize with the words “Ticats Suck”.
Following these very reasonable rules throughout my children’s lives should ensure a strong foundation and keep their heads on straight while setting them up for future success… I kid, of course. Only some of those things are true.
Labour Day Football: A Canadian Tradition
But Labour Day weekend is a special weekend for rivalries between football fans across Canada. Ticats fans and Argos fans can’t even agree that the sky is blue. Although with the smog that floats around both cities, the colour of the sky, that too is debatable.
The matchups are perfect, the fans are extra pumped, and the players themselves can feel the intensity as the air chills and the season moves into the stretch. 2014 has an even more exciting feel to it than past years. Mark Cohon and the CFL schedule makers have finally got it together and gone back to the traditional Labour Day matchups. The league blew it the past few years, not finding a way to keep Labour Day traditions alive. At least the time away should create even more excitement.
The three main matchups are all very relevant to the playoff picture and how the standings will shake out, most of all Edmonton at Calgary. The two biggest heavyweights in the league will be going toe to toe in a battle for first place in the CFL. Should be an incredible game to watch.
Delays in the construction of Tim Hortons field have forced the Ticats to play their home games at Ron Joyce stadium. But now after much anticipation the new stadium has finally arrived. What better way to break it in than with a win against the hated Argos?
Labour Day and the Banjo Bowl could make or break Winnipeg’s season. After a hot start, the Bombers have cooled off and the Roughriders and their fans would love to put a nail in the blue-and-gold coffin with back-to-back wins.
However you go about your football on Labour Day, though, whether you are a big drinker, big eater or both, whether you’re going to the game or watching on TV, it’s always a great day for football.
So there’s one thing rival fans can agree on, at least.
Thank you for reading. Support LWOS by following us on Twitter – @LWOSSteve, @LastWordOnSport and @LWOSworld – and “liking” our Facebook page.
For the latest in sports injury news, check out our friends at Sports Injury Alert.
Have you tuned into Last Word On Sports Radio? LWOS is pleased to bring you 24/7 sports radio to your PC, laptop, tablet or smartphone. What are you waiting for? GO!
