It was a rather dreary Thursday night in the Queen City. A younger colleague I’ve gotten to know recently had reached a career high today only to, mere hours later, confront his career low. That’s the kind of day it was. I would have liked to get my mind off of such dreadful things, but the weather felt like fall football weather, and football is nowhere near us yet. That’s when, oddly I wondered to myself, what does football mean to a five-year-old CFL fan?
Canadian Football to a Five-Year-Old CFL Fan
Not just any five-year-old fan, either. I happen to have one in my home, a #bornandbred Saskatchewan Roughriders fan. An interview was forthcoming!
I ran to the bathroom and cleaned up – I wanted my best suit to look perfect for the biggest gig of my life. Wait, I thought. He’s only five years old and I don’t wear suits often enough to justify the formal look. He’ll probably think I’m weird. So after a quick change, I quickly dusted off of my digital audio recorder, and I was ready to find out what made him such a big fan.
The Interview
Dad: Hi, son. I’m wondering if I could ask you a bunch of questions about football?
Son: Does that mean I have to turn off the (Nintendo) DS?
D: That’s right. Put it down for a few minutes, and if you like you can keep playing when we are done.
S: Okay, daddy. But only if I can have ten minutes after?
D: Thank you. Lets begin with, what is the CFL?
S: Football!
D: What kind of football is CFL?
S: The kind where you go every week in the summer!
D: Awesome. How many games have you been to, and what are the team names?
S: I don’t know. Well, I actually know the Roughriders team that plays in the stadium by grandma and grandpa’s house. And I know the Argos and Lions too.
D: Do you like going to the games and events around the city?
S: It’s kind of boring going to games. I do like playing before the game (at the Riders pre-game BBQ), the food, and meeting up with friends at half time. And I also love the Riders store.
D: Boring though? Those other things sound pretty fun, but that’s not enough?
S: Yeah, I guess it’s pretty fun except for the thunder-works.
D: Do you mean the fireworks?
S: Yeah they are really loud and I have to cover my ears.
D: How many players are there on the field for each team during the game?
S: Actually, I’m not sure. I’ve never counted them.
D: I’m sure there are football people that can relate. So if you aren’t paying attention to the game, what are you doing?
S: Sometimes just watching other people. Eating snacks. Mostly looking for other kids in the stands I guess.
D: So you’d rather be meeting new people and playing with other kids during the game?
S: Yeah I would love that. That would be lots of fun!
D: So what else would you say you love about the Riders and the CFL?
S: I love my green jersey and my autographs from players. I really like the hot dogs and hamburgers. I like the articles you write and I love playing with other kids.
D: So it’s a bonus that the food is great, there are lots of kids to play with before and after, and it helps that I’m writing about the CFL. Which one of those things could be better?
S: I want to play all game!
D: Who would supervise if all the parents wanted to watch the game?
S: Older kids I guess.
D: So like a group of older kids watches you like recess at school, until your ready to start sitting quietly in the stands to watch the game?
S: Yeah and when we grow up we could still meet up at the game or gaming online!
D: Would it be fun if you could game online with your friends in your seats?
S: Yeah that would be awesome!
D: What do the teams play the games for?
S: To win the Grey Cup?
D: That’s right! So what is the Grey Cup, and why do teams fight for it?
S: It’s a trophy and it’s grey and it looks like a fancy cup. Teams want it because it means they are the first place team.
D: What does it mean to be first place?
S: It’s beating all the others. It’s what you want to do. Like in Mario Kart. They have gold cups in Mario Kart.
D: Would you like to play football for a Grey Cup someday?
S: That would be pretty cool to do.
D: Do you know anyone that has played for a Grey Cup?
S: Yeah I know the guy you were talking about last week has a Grey Cup ring.
D: Did you overhear me talking? Who was that?
S: Yes daddy, I did. It was Kory Sheets!
D: That’s true. He was the MVP of the 2013 Grey Cup game here in Regina. Do you remember that?
S: Sort of. It was a pretty big deal.
D: You watched last years game between the Redblacks and Eskimos. Who won and was it as big a deal?
S: I think the Eskimos won and now we have that team here. It was a very big deal. I actually didn’t mind watching that game.
D: I remember that you did pay more attention. Was that because of all the extra coverage, halftime show, more camera angles?
S: All of that stuff made it a big deal I guess, but can I play my game now?
D: Is it that time already?
S: It’s always that time!
D: Thank you for your time tonight son, this was fun.
S: You’re welcome dad. Whenever you want to do this again, just ask!
So there we have it! The CFL through the eyes of a five year old fan who just wants to get back to playing Mario Kart. Speaking of which – hey, CFL, do you think you could put a rush order on the video game Jeffrey L. Orridge announced at his state of the league address? I know a few little boys and girls, and some big ones too, who are ready to start playing the second it drops. We’d hate to be another year off-trend with the youth. Maybe a CFL fan mentoring program could help groom our kids, whose attention is increasingly hard to keep.
Whatever the solutions are, they start with asking our kids what they want from the CFL experience. There are a few clear-cut answers to this question and some others that need further investigation.
But there is no question that a connection to an institution like the CFL as a child, should make a fan for life.
The question is, is it doing that today?
Main Photo:
