the 4th star

Winnipeg Blue Bombers head coach Mike Kelly on heading into the hornet’s nest that is the Labour Day Classic tomorrow afternoon:

“I love passion. I like people who get excited about things. I like people who go through life with a little bit of electricity and sparks coming off their heels and that’s what the Rider fans are. They love that football team and I think it’s a great atmosphere to go into and play. That’s what you want.”

This from the same man who cut the call-in portion of the coach’s show because fans were getting a little too ‘passionate’ about their football club. It seems whatever Kelly says or does one week does not translate as gospel in the next. A statement that there will be “no assholes” on the team is followed up by trying to bring Pacman Jones to Canada. Is there any wonder why people think he’s full of shit?

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Last thing on the Bombers before the computer goes silent for a few days.

While I understand where he’s coming from, I have to disagree with Bart’s column today. Comparing a football fan to someone who enjoys the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra or the Royal Winnipeg Ballet is like comparing apples and oranges. As I wrote this week, the community ownership aspect of the Bombers has little to do with dollars and cents, or who ultimately gets a say in the final decision. The ownership structure is more a symbol between the community and the football team, where football fans who have spent most of their lives in this town can feel like the club is truly ‘theirs.’

Why do you think there was such an uproar over the David Asper deal? People legitimately care about this team (ed note: why?). More and more young people are starting to pick up on that same passion their fathers and grandfathers had — cranking up that emotion even more. When Kelly cuts the phone lines on a coach’s show that has 30 years of tradition behind it, he’s essentially telling the average football fan that he doesn’t give a rat’s ass what they think.

I don’t blame fans for claiming they ‘own’ the team or pay Kelly’s salary. I imagine there are a fair number of them who know they have no financial stake in the club — other than buy a ticket to the games. They’re just reacting to the idea, the symbolism, of having something taken away from them.

These are football fans, don’t forget. Rational thought is usually trumped by emotion and an unwavering commitment to the home side. How else do you explain the blind faith some have in Kelly to this point?