the 4th star

Elvis Costello
Last night
Just west of Cooks Creek

Anticipation was high. Grown men were walking with purpose from the backstage area, mistakenly thinking they had missed the start of the show. Don’t worry guys. After Martha Wainwright gave her impression of what torturing kittens sounds like, Costello came on. He maintained the nervous energy of the thousands right off the bat, with Accidents Will Happen and then Mystery Dance. It was a smart decision, given the aforementioned anticipation of the grown men who walked with purpose from the backstage area. Told you not to worry, guys. I turned to Sara and thought this could be the most rock ‘n roll the main stage has ever seen. I said it different at the time, though. Less clumsy. Turned out to be a jinx, as the rock didn’t last long. I liked his shirt. People were smiling. Things then slowed dramatically. The required tension was losing itself. A conversation ensued on how it was the absolute wrong venue for the artist. Costello needs to be on a small dark stage in some ancient building — not on a sterile platform on the outskirts of Birds Hill Park. Texts of updates were sent to friends. Things relaxed even more as the darkness came. Costello makes the mistake of starting the encore with a snoozer. Good night. A good show, not a great show. I would have preferred more rock. I blame the greenspace and fresh air.

Once we get through the 6,000th tribute to Milt Stegall, there’s a little football going on at Canad Inns Stadium Friday night. Not exactly a ‘big game’ or ‘must win’ for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, but starting the season oh-and-two wouldn’t be the best of CFL head coaching career openers for Mike Kelly and his sinister image in this town. Or maybe it would be the best thing — who the fuck knows anything regarding this dysfunctional organization anymore?

Kelly seems to be talking out of both sides of his mouth since coming back to Manitoba, occasionally putting his foot right in the middle at times. He says he’s here to end Winnipeg’s 18-year Grey Cup drought, but then asks people to give his team a chance. He likes to talk about Cal Murphy, but the bravado he displays for a rookie head coach screams Jeff Reinebold. He says he wants to win and nothing else matters at the end of the day, but then suggests there are victories in things like hard work and being a good teammate.

Geesh. Forget about the answers. More questions will certainly come after Friday night’s game against the defending champion Calgary Stampeders. Let’s get the ball rolling with three queries of our own:

1. Is Milt Stegall serious?
I find it laughable that the former Bomber receiver says that he wouldn’t grumble to the media if he were blind-sided like Derick Armstrong was last week. The Beagle made a living (and continues to make a living) out of being in front of the cameras and tape recorders during his days in Winnipeg, so why would anyone take what he has to say about the Armstrong situation at face value? He would have made a bigger stink, knowing that a rookie coach is at the other end and he can do no wrong in this town. Guaranteed.

2. Stefan LeFors?
Could be a question every week. Best thing I heard following the loss in Edmonton: ‘At least LeFors is out there moving around, trying to do something.’ Yeah, it’s called running for your life and trying to stay alive. The forecast for Friday is sunny and windy. An arm strength watch is now being issued for the Polo Park region. LeFors needs to stop giving punter Mike Renaud air time, or he’ll hear it from the crowd. How the Bomber faithful respond to a poor showing will be interesting. Ever since Sammy Garza flashed the middle finger to the stands, there’s no grace period for quarterbacks in Winnipeg anymore.

3. Can the Bombers win?
Sure they can, but only if the Bombers defence can out-score the Bombers offence. No, there’s no typo there. The 2009 Winnipeg Blue Bombers need to be the 2001 Baltimore Ravens. Low scoring games, no turnovers, and hopefully the defence can win the game for you.