Anyone who follows the CFL (Canadian Football League) knows that the Saskatchewan Roughriders have the best fans in Canada. Some might call us a bit over the top, but the reality is that, wherever and whenever we play, there are folks garbed in green and white, cheering on their team! To be at a game in Regina is an experience that rivals any other entertainment – as long as you don’t mind an adrenalin rush and the most enthusiastic men, women, and children who ever donned face paint, wigs, and yes, even watermelon helmets! And if the Riders aren’t at home, in many of the stadiums around the country, there might be nearly as many green jerseys in the stands as the home team.

I began to attend Rider games when I was 10 years old. Back in those days, people with disabilities had the privilege of sitting right on the sidelines of the field. One of our neighbours was blind, and because she needed a guide to take her to games, she enlisted me. Little did I know that it would begin a lifelong love for CFL football.

Dianne was an excellent teacher, and she was patient enough to describe the plays so that attending was fun even for a young girl who was still into skipping and playing jacks. We also took a radio for the play-by-play, a practice that also taught me to appreciate the radio broadcasts, which I find considerably better than the TV commentators to this day. At the age of 10, I don’t think that I could have appreciated the gift of the excitement in being among the players and other fans, but I certainly do now. I’ve lost touch with Dianne, but any time I do attend a game, I think of her and silently thank her. Then I’m lost in the atmosphere of the present moment.

At the time of this writing, I’m in Vancouver waiting for the televised game between the Riders and the Edmonton Eskimos. It’s a “meaningless” game because it’s the last regular one of the season and the standings have already been determined – the Calgary Stampeders in first place, us in second, and the BC Lions in third. That means we host the Western semi-final game next weekend, which the hometown likes but the visitors hate because of the fan noise at key times. But today I’m just in a happy place as I wait for the team to take the field.

By the time this is posted, the die will likely have been cast and the results for the 101st Grey Cup decided. They Grey Cup this year, I might add, is in Regina and so the playoffs hold even more significance than usual, if that’s possible. I would dearly love for the Riders to take it all, of course, and am convinced they’re up to the challenge. There will be joy in Riderville when that happens. If it’s not to be, however, we’ll hold our heads high in anticipation of the exhibition games to come in 2014!

Go Riders!