Why we're so excited

I've noticed that Styleygeek has been kind enough to provide some background to the Australian politics that she's been discussing. And so I thought I'd explain, for those non-Saskatchewanians in the audience, why this particular Grey Cup is such a big deal to us.

Seriously, folks, this is High Stakes Football.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have the country's most rabid football fans (I'm not saying this just as a Saskatchewanian -- it's well known). At any Rider game across the country, there's a serious contingent of fans in green, wearing watermelons on their heads.

Even out here in Victoria, it's hilarious. We -- with our flag flapping from our car -- drove past a truck today that had two small Roughrider flags flying from the front of his truck, and a giant flag flying from his hitch. The driver was painted green and had a watermelon on his head. Chris said he's seen him driving around the city for a few days now. They both honked and cheered. Some of our neighbours now have Saskatchewan flags in their windows. (The funny thing is that we've only seen Saskatchewan fans around the city.)

At the same time, we've only won the Grey Cup twice ever: once in 1966 and once in 1989. We haven't even gotten as far as the Grey Cup since 1997.

At the same time, we have a fun rivalry with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. (And, now that the Winnipeg Jets are defunct, the Blue Bombers are also Manitoba's only professional team, as the Roughriders are for Saskatchewan.) We play against each other every Labour Day Weekend. But we've never played against each other in the Grey Cup before.

And they haven't won a Grey Cup since 1990. In a league that currently only has eight teams. Everyone's saying a lot of "this is our turn" on both sides.

Okay, I'd better attend to my World's Best Nachos. (Baked in a skillet, topped with green and red papers, jalapeño peppers, avocados and both cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese.)

Apparently I'm more than a little excited today.