Turning Heel

Confession. I used to be a big WWF fan, and the fact that I refer to it as the WWF and not the WWE shows you just how long ago that was, and in wrestling there is a time honoured tradition of a the heel turn. When a fan favourite or "face" wrestler, usually one with a mediocre following and in need of reinvention, shocks the world by doing something dastardly or appalling and getting the fans to intentionally boo him and make him the bad guy.  I remember the day when a young and bright eyed Rocky Maivia joined the Nation of Domination and became The Rock. I remember when the Ringmaster Steve Austin went Stone Cold on everyone and busted out Austin 3:16. But the best  heel turn I remember was when Bret the Hitman Hart pulled off the unthinkable. Becoming a full on heel in the USA while remaining a face everywhere else in the world by proudly flying the Canadian flag and tapping into a lot of anti-American sentiment.

Well today I'm going to try to pull off my own Bret Hart-esque heel turn by making myself enemy number one in my former province, and making everyone hate me while simultaneously winning fans in my newly adopted province of Manitoba. Today I turn my back on Rider Nation to join the fans of the Blue and Gold. Today I’m giving the green and white a Stone Cold Stunner dropping  the mic and walking out of Riderville.

Why? Because Winnipeg is my home. One year ago this weekend I participated in an emotional farewell service in Estevan and started the long process of saying goodbye to people and a community that I loved. And as I left, one of the most common questions I received was “now you’re not going to start cheering for the Bombers are you?” And every time I was asked that I carefully chose my words as I told them that I was a Riders fan and I would cheer for the green and white when I got to Winnipeg. And cheer for them I did. I played the heel during my very first Labour Day weekend at The Bridge by pulling out and putting on my Rider Jersey and taunting the Bombers fans in the crowd with a photo of a punted Pomeranian. I hosted a Labour Day party and even a Grey Cup party and invited all the other Rider fans in the diaspora as we celebrated the hoisting of the cup on home turf - But as time has gone on, and I have learned to let go, it has become evident to me that as God has led me to this city he has led me to embrace the people, the culture and even the sports franchises wholeheartedly even if it means turning heel.

There is absolutely nothing doctored in this photo...

Some of you may remember that I arrived in Estevan as an Argos fan and it wasn’t until the beginning of the 2007 season that I finally was willing to drink the (green) Kool-Aid and get on board with the crazies in Saskatchewan and cheer the boys onto their third ever Grey Cup that season. I am not a born and bred like so many of the die-hard fans out there, I was a proselyte and I chose to come over to the green side because God had called me to be all-in where I ministered. Now I have been led to the beautiful city of Winnipeg and after a year of being the antagonist (a role I love to play) it’s time to get on board and cheer for the Blue and Gold with all my heart.

And yes, I’m well aware that in making this decision I’m trading my fandom of the reigning Grey Cup champs for a team that went 3-15 last season. And yes, I’m well aware that the outlook for the Bombers is not much better this year than last year - but it doesn’t matter. I’ve hitched my wagon to this team. I’ve bought a second hand jersey. I’m ready for whatever may come. Hate me, boo me, leave nasty comments below, it matters not. I never was that good at the banjo anyways, and I’ve always looked better in blue. But no matter what you may think of me - love me or hate me for this defection - let’s all still agree that nobody sucks like Calgary!

[Drops the mic and walks out]