Professional football players can be an intimidating lot. The padded, masked behemoths plying their trade on television every week don't look a whole lot like regular human beings, but at the end of the day and the pads are off, these guys are every bit like you or I.
And we're lucky that they are, frankly. Because of the CFL's relatively low salary structure, the men we see donning the bleu, blanc and rouge (and occasionally, a black, silver and blue third jersey) are not multi-millionaires, living in gated communities, far from the sturm and drang of the daily life.
No, these guys are family men, active and giving members of the community. They are very much like you and I, whether it's taking their kids to the neighbourhood pool in the summer, or doing the groceries, or whatever else. What's important is that they're there.
Even better, they're from here. Take Paul Lambert, a longtime fixture at left guard for the Alouettes. He grew up in Roxboro, and played his minor football in the North Shore system and at Vanier College in St. Laurent. Lambert has returned to his roots, and through an enormous amount of community involvement, has given back to the West Island and the off-island area far more than he ever received. Look at Ben Cahoon, whose impressive career and body of work are literally an advertisement for the value of hard work, perseverance and determination – and who has given everything to the game for a fraction of what NFL stars are paid.
Look at Danny Desriveaux, another Vanier College product, who overcame size concerns (much like Cahoon has) and stuck with the Alouettes. Desriveaux was living at home with his parents up until recently, and the second-year receiver, who came back to Canada after an accomplished career at the University of Richmond and stuck with the Alouettes, against all odds. These aren't NFL superstars making millions and living in an insulated dream world of $10,000 watches and billion-dollar stadiums where there are no rules and no consequences. They're fathers, sons, friends, neighbours and role models -- and we should be proud of them.
So, this Sunday, when they line up in the Grey Cup against the Calgary Stampeders at the Big O, we owe them, at the very least, our support and best wishes. But if you can, you should try to make your way down to the east end and scream your head off for the Als and be a 13th man for the team that has given Montrealers – and West Islanders so much to cheer for over the last 12 years. After all they’ve earned it.
