Applying for a visitor's visa to Swaggerville

So in the lead up to the 99th Grey Cup this weekend I faced a conundrum. The Riders weren't even close to being at the party and neither was my back-up team the Argonauts. I have been forced to choose between two teams that I have little love for on this Sunday's big game. So I threw the question out to Facebook for the definitive answer of what I should do. Unsurprisingly the answers were conflicted.

The standard answer from within Rider Nation was that I should always, and above all cheer AGAINST Winnipeg. There was no question that the Lions should be my surrogate team going into this Grey Cup. Some were even aghast that I would even consider this a dilemma.

Honest and true B.C. fans appealed to my sense of western pride and talked about how special it is when the host city gets to the Grey Cup and how fitting it would be for the Lions to win at home.

Winnipeg fans (mostly Aaron Gerrard) lobbied hard for all the good reasons why the Bombers were the natural choice for me to cheer for including - championship drought, quality of personalities on the team,  and the fact that Swaggerville is actually the most similar place to Rider Nation (which is why we normally hate them so).

The few independent voices in the discussion leaned toward Winnipeg as well citing things like geographic proximity (you cheer for who's closest to you) and the fact that Winnipeg is the underdog in this match-up. So what was I to do?

Well after much deliberation I have decided to humbly apply for a visitor's visa to Swaggerville for Sunday's game. And in my defense Rider Nation I'd like to explain why:

1. The advocates of cheering for the bombers ran a much more 'positive' campaign. I'm trying to break the habit of cheering against teams and instead choosing who to cheer for. I've even found a way in recent years to cheer for the Habs as a Leafs fan  (although I still make, and always will make an exception for the Ottawa Senators - my sanctification still has a long way to go) . The voices telling me to cheer for the Lions (mostly Rider fans) were basing their decisions solely on rivalry. That doesn't appeal to me.
2. I have more of a connection to the Bombers - not just by current geography, but my Step-Father's family is all from MB and this would be the first time in a long time that I could cheer for Winnipeg along with my Step-Dad and my brothers (who have been raised to cheer for the Bombers). Family unity plays a role in this decision.
3. The Leafs game that night against Anaheim isn't televised in Saskatchewan.
4. I like cheering for the underdog - it's satisfying when the little guy wins (for a more thorough explanation of why check out this post about the nature of power and heroism in transformers - it's rivitting I promise)
5. With Pastor Waylon already cheering for the Lions (and cheering for them over the Riders may I add) I think it's important for balance in the church to cheer for Winnipeg.

Okay, that last reason was hooey - I just don't want to live with my new Youth Pastor gloating. ;)

So there you have it. Please don't kick me out of Rider Nation for my choices - I've made them with a clear conscience. I'm only applying for a temporary visa to Swaggerville. I'm looking forward to next season when I can come home again.

Blessings on your week,

Chris