One day we were going around the field meeting all the players, when my son sighted Burris. Before I could stop him he ran right towards him. Burris ran towards him to greet him. Greetings were exchanged, and then my son asked Burris if he would play catch with Doug. They played catch for about 20 minutes, and Henry was yelling how good of an arm he had. He was making sure that everyone in the field could hear him. Burris was calling Douglas a future quarterback of the Stamps. Every since that day, we in this household knew what kind of character Mr. Burris had. The rep that Mr. Burris had was that he could never win the big one. Let me tell you, the rep that he had in this house, win or lose, was that he was a hero in my son’s eyes.
Tonight I was saying out loud “please do not show Burris on the ending of the game,” because I knew I would get emotional as soon as seen him. I know how much this championship has meant to him, with the media constantly hounding him for not winning the game. I truly respect him as a human being. I never have been so happy for a person as I was for Henry. Henry is definitely one that has the heart of a champion.
That same year that Doug played catch with Henry, was the first year that we met Mr. Lewis, who promised my son and I that he was going to win a Grey Cup in Calgary. He told us that he was here for only one reason, which was to win a Grey Cup. Tonight Mr. Lewis fulfilled that promise, with the Stamps winning the Grey Cup. Mr. Lewis is another that has the heart of a champion.
I would truly be ungrateful if I did not mention the kicking team of Bert and Sandro also. Every preseason camp for the last three years, Doug and I have gone to the camp, Sandro and Bert have gone out of their way to say hi. They made sure that we knew that they appreciated us coming out to support them. Bert and Sandro are the best kicking tandem in the CFL on and off the field. My heart goes out to them, watching them celebrating the Grey Cup. Bert and Sandro also have the hearts of a champion.
Then there is Dave Dickenson. Doug and I also met him at the preseason camp. It was the ending of a practice and Dave was leaving because the coaches wanted the players for a meeting, when I called out to him and he saw Douglas holding out a paper for his autograph, and he looked at the coaches and told them he would be there in a second. Dave came over and said hi to Doug, and said hi and made him feel like he was an important kid. Dave Dickson is absolutely one that has the heart of a champion.
I also had the fortune of meeting Bret in the camp. I remember him specifically because I had to ask him if he knew my wife's aunt in Raymond. He looked at me and said yes, he knew her well. I could imagine him just sitting there talking to some old fart and his kid talking about if he knew every Tom, Dick, and Harry in his hometown. But he did not act that way, instead he just sat there and listened to me and visited with me and my son like he knew me for years. Bret Ralph is definitely one that has the heart of a champion.
Doug and met Wes Lysack from day one of camp. He always made sure he would say hello to us. Doug loved playing with his son during the practice; we had had a wonderful time playing with his boy. He was always there to answer any questions I was going to ask him. He is a pure classy guy, one that has the heart of a champion.
A player with the heart of a champion is a pure champion on and off the field. The Calgary Stampeders are champions in my mind, no matter what the outcome of the game tonight in Montreal.
The Calgary Stampeders went on a 19-1 point binge as they came from behind to defeat Montreal Alouettes 22-14 in front of one of the biggest Grey Cup crowds in CFL history. The key point in the game was the Stampeders overcoming an interception by Hunt in the second quarter. As Anthony Calvillo led the Als down the field, Cobourne ran 16 yards into the End Zone; a gutsy call by the Al’s.
The Al’s got another field goal by Duval, 19 yards to give them a 10 point lead. The drive of the game came late, as Burris directed a 6 play drive which accumulated with a touchdown drive by the incomparable abovementioned Bret Ralph. End of the half: 13-10.
The Stamps' defense pretty much took over the second half, holding the Als to one point. Picking Calvillo off twice, including the heart twisting one in the end zone by James. The Stamps offense clicked with four field goals in the second half by Sandro, to round out the scoring 22-14. Mr. Jones has done a great job this season for the Stamps, as they are the Champions of the CFL.
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