Dear Saskatchewan Roughriders

Dear Saskatchewan Roughriders:

As I sit here on my couch watching another rough effort against the winless BC Lions, I have come to realize a couple of things.

The first thing that I realize is that I really miss the atmosphere at games at Taylor Field. Since moving to Edmonton, I have only been able to get to a handful of home games in the past 9 years, but I hope to get to more. (I know this game is in BC, but I realized it nonetheless)

But, the second thing I realized is much more profound. I liken our relationship to a father and a child (me being the father and you being the child). Let me explain.

Like any father, I love you unconditionally. I supported you when you were at your worst (2-14 springs immediately to mind) and I have celebrated with you when you were at your best. I wasn't around for the 66 win, but I have been there for every appearance at the big game for the past 42 years. And like any parent, I will continue to be there as long as I am able. However, just because I love you doesn't mean I can be disappointed in you. And let me tell you, right now I am very disappointed in the road you seem to be going down.

It looks to me like you are trying so hard to excel that when it doesn't work, you give up. As individual players, it looks like you don't trust each other to do trust that each of you will perform. This causes you to second guess each other and try to help at the detriment of your own game. It looks like you are always trying to "hit the home run" instead of playing ball control and sustaining drives. I know, you are trying to impress everyone by showing that you can make the sexy, big play. But, you can bore us all to death playing ball control if it means that you play as a team and win games.

It looks like you are going into games with the expectation that because you have been to the final for the past 2 years, the opposition is going to lay down and let you win. As professional athletes you must know that when you are successful you are the targets for every team next year. They each want to prove that they can take you down. And this year, you have been letting them.

I know, you have had your heart broken as some of your favourite players have moved away. But that doesn't mean that your heart had to go with them. You need to look inside yourself and realize that your heart is still in Saskatchewan and you need to let it show. You need to stand up and say that you are still the Saskatchewan Roughriders and players will come and go, but the team remains. You need to go out and play your hardest knowing that players will break your heart again.

Because I love you, I am starting to think that I have been much too lenient with you and you are starting to slide. Maybe it's time for some tough love from your parents. Don't get me wrong, I will still be there for you, but now it's time for you to step up and be there for me. I don't want to punish you, but perhaps I need to take away some of your freedoms until your attitude improves.

So let's make a deal. Right here, right now. You need to step up and improve and I will continue to allow you your celebrations. But, if you don't then I don't want to see a single celebration for anything. That means no celebrating sacks, touchdowns, first downs, interceptions, fumble recoveries, and any thing else that you seem to want to dance about today. Right now, you have nothing to celebrate. So what do you say? Do we have a deal?

As a family, we can do anything if we set our minds to it. My mind is set. Is yours?

Sincerely,
One of your many parents.