What Happened to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers Football Club?

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have won 10 Grey Cups in their storied history.  There were times when the Bombers were the powerhouse of the CFL.  During the 50’s, early 60’s, 80’s, and early 90’s, the Bombers were arguably the top professional football team in Canada.  Those days seem long gone, as the Blue Bombers continue to set records for futility.  I cannot believe this is the same Winnipeg Blue Bomber franchise, as the one I grew up with in my youth.

I started following the Bombers, as my Grandparents (God bless their souls), were nice enough to buy me a season ticket for years, starting in 1983, when I was old enough to finally appreciate what was happening on the field.

I fondly remember:

·         The 20 game home winning streak from 1983-85

·         The acquisition of Tom Clements
·         The return of Dieter Brock, and “Brock-Busters!”

·         The 1984 Grey Cup win

·         Sweeping most honors at the CFL Awards ceremonies

·         The "BC Sucks!" chants
·         Sean Salisbury leading the Bombers to the 88' Grey Cup   
·         Destroying Edmonton 50-11 in the 1990 Grey Cup

To drive home my point of how good the Blue Bombers were in their glory years, take a look at the 15 year period, beginning in 1980, where the Blue had an amazing record of 162-95-1

Blue Bombers regular season records (1980-94):

1980: 10-6

1981: 11-5

1982: 11-5

1983: 9-7

1984: 11-4-1 (Grey Cup Champions)

1985: 12-4

1986: 11-7

1987: 12-6

1988: 9-9 (Grey Cup Champions)

1989: 7-11

1990: 12-6 (Grey Cup Champions)

1991: 9-9

1992: 11-7

1993: 14-4

1994: 13-5

What the hell happened? I used to watch every single game the Bombers played. Since around 2005, when I moved to Alberta for the first time, I occasionally watched and followed the Bombers.  In the last couple of years, I can't even be bothered to follow them. I long for the glory years of Tom Clements, Willard Reeves, Chris Walby, James Murphy, Tyrone Jones, Joe Poplawski, James West, John Bonk, Nick Bastaja, Greg Battle, James Jefferson, Less Browne, Lyle Bauer, Mike Gray, Rod Hill, Rick House, Bob Cameron, Trevor Kennerd, and many more.

Winnipeg Stadium, AKA the "House of Pain" used to instill fear in the hearts of visiting CFL clubs. Now, at the new Investors Group Field, it is painful for Bomber supporters to watch the team.  The fans deserve better.  Winnipeg deserves better.  Winnipeg has supported the Blue Bombers for over 75 years.  It’s time to make some drastic changes with this once proud organization. 

IMHO, the Bombers should have never let Lyle Bauer go to Calgary. We also need to purge the Blue Bomber Board of Directors of all its members, and find someone who knows how to win football games. There must be a football version of Mike Ilitch out there. We need to find him to turn the Blue around, and become a well-run organization.  Maybe we should ask Winnipeg Jets owner Mark Chipman to run the club.  I look forward to when the Winnipeg Blue Bombers can call themselves Grey Cup Champions again.

Terry Fox Petition A Success!

I would first like to start by saying thank you to all people in Winnipeg and beyond, for supporting my petition to rename the Perimeter Highway to “Terry Fox Drive.”  Since my petition has reached its goal, I will now inform the Terry Fox Foundation, and if I have their blessing I will proceed to contact the Minister of Highways and Transportation, Steve Ashton, and let him know about the idea, and my petition.

 

However, if the Province of Manitoba denies my request, I will simply have to make alternate plans.  A recent Winnipeg Free Press poll seems to indicate that the majority of Winnipeg residents, while not in favor of renaming the Perimeter Highway, are in favor of naming an existing road in the city after Terry Fox.  The two roads that came to mind were Ravenhurst Street and the future east leg of the Chief Peguis Trail, which will run from Lagimodiere Boulevard to Plessis Road. 

The blogger Cherenkov, who writes the local blog “Anyone Want a Peanut,” makes a great case to rename Fermor Avenue after Fox.  Cherenkov makes a good point, when mentioning there are relatively few homes and businesses along Fermor, and it is technically part of the Trans-Canada Highway, up until it intersects St.Anne's Road.  It is quite conceivable that if Fox had made it to Winnipeg during his run, he would have used Fermor Avenue, as going through the city would have gave him an opportunity to raise more money for cancer research.

I certainly have my work cut out for me, and considering this is a road I have never crossed in my life, if anyone would like to help me in achieving my goal of naming a road after Terry Fox, please message me, as I would love to hear from you.  Meanwhile, I would like to remind everyone that the Terry Fox Run this year is on Sunday, September 15.  If you would like to volunteer and help out, or donate to the Terry Fox Foundation, please visit this link.  Terry Fox always reminded us that “cancer can be beaten.”  Let's help make his goal become a reality.

Terry Fox Drive: Update!

Thank you to all in Winnipeg, and all other parts of Canada, for supporting the idea to name the Perimeter Highway after the late Winnipeg-born philanthropist Terry Fox.  In particular, I would like to thank the owners of local blogs "Anybody want a Peanut" and "West End Dumplings" for their recent blog entries, which encourage me to continue.

Since Friday, I have been subject to media requests from different sources, and to be quite honest, I may be way over my head.  I'm just a simple blue-collar worker, who does not want or need any type of publicity, and I certainly would never want to create the impression that I am making a name for myself, off of Terry Fox's memory.  

I have decided to contact the Terry Fox Foundation, and the Canadian Cancer Society, and ask for their blessing, in regards to this campaign.  I hope and pray they give me the go-ahead to take the campaign to the next level, and hand the petition to City Hall.  This has surpassed my wildest expectations, and I believe it shows that the majority of Winnipeggers would overwhelmingly favor renaming a road, school, community centre, or even a park after the late Terry Fox.

If anyone reading this would like to do more for the Terry Fox Foundation, please click on this link to volunteer, participate, or donate your time, effort, and/or money for a worthwhile cause.  You can also make a donation to the Canadian Cancer Society, by clicking this link.  Terry Fox ran the Marathon of Hope, because he truly believed "cancer can be beaten."  Let's help make Terry's dream a reality, and support his cause. 

Petition the City of Winnipeg change the name of the Perimeter Highway to Terry Fox Drive.

If you happen to think like I do, you may be tired of the City of Winnipeg naming highways and streets after people on City Council or other bureaucrats. Let's name a highway after a Winnipeg-born hero, and the recipient of the Order of Canada: Terry Fox.  Fox was born in Winnipeg, and spend a significant portion of his childhood in the city, before moving to British Columbia when he was 8 years old.

Despite suffering from Cancer, and having a leg amputated as a result of the disease, Terry Fox had a dream to raise money for cancer research, by running a marathon across Canada. Few people believe his run would ever get off the ground, but he managed to win over the hearts and imagination of many Canadians during the spring, and summer of 1980. 

Sadly, on September 1, 1980, Fox was forced to abandon his run, after learning the cancer had spread to the rest of his body.  He ran 5,373 kilometers, while literally dying, and gave his life to help others know that cancer could be beaten. After his death in 1981, the annual Terry Fox Run was first first held in Canada, and has grown to involve millions of participants in over 60 countries and is now the world's largest one-day fundraiser for cancer research; over $500 million has been raised in his name.

Please sign my petition  and help give Terry fox the recognition he deserves in his city of birth.  Let's rename the Perimeter Highway to Terry Fox Drive.  You can sign the petition by visiting this link:

Rename the Perimeter Highway to Terry Fox Drive

Whatever happened to Remy Shand?

This week Canadians learned of the unfortunate passing of Neil Hope, the actor who played the character "Wheels" on the CBC hit series "Degrassi Junior High."  Hope was found dead in a Hamilton rooming house on November 25, 2007, although his death was not reported until this past week.  Hope was 35.

The tragic ending to Hope's life is disturbing, to say the least.  One wonders how a star of a television series that was arguably one of the most popular teen sitcoms in Canada for most of the 80's and early 90's could have ended up so desolate and reclusive.  It personally reminds me of a once young promising local star, who seemingly vanished off the face of the earth less than a decade ago.  Remy Shand.

Remy Shand, a native Winnipegger from Garden City, sent in a demo tape to a record producer Steve Warden at the age of 19.  Warden was so impressed by Shand's work, which he managed to convince Motown Records to sign him.  Soon he released his debut album "The Way I Feel," which went on to win a 2003 Juno award for Best R&B/Soul recording.  The album was a massive hit in Canada, sold 500,000 copies in the U.S., and was even nominated for Grammy Awards. 

Shand was scheduled to release his much anticipated follow-up album "Day in the Shade." in 2003.  However, for unknown reasons, the album was never released.   Since that time, the whereabouts of Shand have been a mystery.  There has been much speculation as to where the artist disappeared to, but there has been no public confirmation as to where he resides, or if he is involved in the music industry at all.

A commentator by the name of "Jarvis"(and a supposed insider I assume), recently posted on a 2006 blog article about the whereabouts of Remy Shand.  He had this to say:

"He went through a messy divorce a few years back, and was said to be suffering from depression. He was finally getting back to making music last year, but then his mother died. According to family it hurt him so much that he didn’t even attend the funeral. Let’s just hope this man can catch a break and get back to making amazing music in the near future."

Wherever Remy may be, I hope he is enjoying life.  Perhaps the media spotlight was just not for him.  Regardless, I would not ever wish for Shand to suffer a fate similar to that of the late actor Neil Hope.

Free Press Columnist Gordon Sinclair Jr: Are his stories fact or fiction?

I've noticed more and more Free Press posters calling out Gordon Sinclair Jr., for inconsistencies in his opinion pieces for the Winnipeg Free Press. I never like to accuse anyone of fabricating a story, but after reading the comments in response to this article, I could not help doubt his version of events:

"And then, about three years ago, he got a call from Animal Services.

They had found a cat with an identification chip that led them to his phone number. John recalled how Curious George reacted when he saw him at the shelter. It was as if the cat was holding out his paws, asking John to take him into his arms.

Begging for John to take him back.

And that's how the two best friends were reunited."

---------

"Then, he thanked me for listening.

And I stood up to leave.

But before I left, I told John to stand up, too. And then I reached out my arms, the way Curious George once seemed to do with his paws. And I held him -- the way I sensed no one had for years.

Not even his best friend, Curious George."

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Seems like a touching story. Except for the fact that one Free Press commentator called him out.  It raises some questions about the article:

"Let me make something clear. Animal services cannot, nor has ever, housed cats. They simply do not have the appropriate kenneling space or facilities. Animal services and the Winnipeg Humane Society have always gotten along very well, so whenever cat space was needed, the Humane Society was called and things were arranged there."

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So, did this actually happen? Is Sinclair exaggerating? Or is it completely fabricated?

Winnipeg Zoom: The City's newest internet forum

Winnipeg has a new internet forum.  In December 2011, a forum member who uses the handle "Munchkinguy" created Winnipeg Zoom after a forum by the name of newwinnipeg.com closed it's doors after 11 years of being the main place local residents could debate politics, the arts, sports, and issues facing the city.   Having existed for less than two months, it continues to add members with each passing day.

Current issues members of Winnipeg Zoom have voiced their opinion on include the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, a rapid transit system for Winnipeg, the Northern Gateway Pipeline, Bill C-10: the new proposed crime bill, and much more.   If you would like to become a member of the Winnipeg Zoom forum, please register here.