Smells like football in here

CALGARY -- Woke up Sunday morning in a downtown Calgary hotel room that smelled... well, like men away from their families. Men that have been eating and drinking stuff they shouldn't for too many days, and not in moderation.

In short, like football. Championship football. Grey Cup football.

Johnny Cash sang about putting on his "cleanest dirty shirt" in Kris Kristofferson's Sunday Morning Coming Down. We feel you, boys.

When the chambermaid pretends she can't hear when asked to give your room a once-over, one knows it's time to check out and head back to civilization.

Pizza, wings, beer, steak, hot sauce, nachos, free beer, Clamato juice, tequila, sausage, wine and finally more pizza. Call it a day at the Grey Cup.

There's been lots of work sandwiched by lots of taking in the local flavour and colour. Sometimes this job is a grind and at others it's a complete blast. Grey Cup is a scream. If you're a Canadian, it should be your obligation to attend a Grey Cup week at least once in your life.

There's something for everyone and it spans the ridiculous (Riders fans battling to see who can roll around in the same outrageous outfit for the better part of a week) to the hoity-toity, such as Saturday night's black-tie Grey Cup gala.

There are parties --Touchdown Manitoba, Riderville, Tiger Town, the Lion's Den and Spirit of Edmonton -- that never seem to end. There's face-painting and autograph sessions and light shows for kids and they even resurrected the Grey Cup parade this year in Calgary.

There are folks from coast to coast and even a contingent from Baltimore that continue making the trek year after year.

For a football writer, it's the highlight of a long season and a chance to get back in touch with the roots of our Canadian game. Covering it is a priviledge.

Mostly, we write about the NFL in this space, but for one week only we'll sprinkle in some CFL. Here's our Big Mouth, Big Screen look at the Grey Cup and Week 12 in the NFL:

"ö SASKATCHEWAN WASHING MACHINE: One fan explained to us how he could wear the same jersey day in and day out at Grey Cup and not stink to high heaven.

"I wear the jersey from morning to night and all week. I have a shower in my hotel room before I go to bed each night and I wear the jersey into the shower and soap it up and then rinse. Then I hang it on the door and it dries by the morning and I put it back on."

We couldn't make this stuff up.

"ö BIG BEN NONSENSE: The Pittsburgh Steelers spent the week trying to get Ben Roethlisberger into the lineup before finally realizing on Friday that he would be unable to go. Roethlisberger took a blow to the head in overtime against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 11 and suffered his fourth concussion in four years. Yet the Steelers made the announcement early in the week that he would play Sunday against the Ravens. Despite this being a critical game for this year's Steelers, using Roethlisberger risks the future of the franchise. Not to mention the young man's future health. Stupid.

TIME FOR A CHANGE: Panthers QB Jake Delhomme finished with a line of 14 of 34, with four picks, 130 yards and no TDs. A CBS studio panellist had this to say about the struggling quarterback: "Panthers coach John Fox says Delhomme gives his team the best chance to win. He's going to get himself cut and his coach fired." Ouch.

STILL CLEAN: The Colts fought off a little scare from the Houston Texans, trailing 20-7 at halftime before taking over the game in the fourth quarter to run their record to 11-0. The rest of the way it is: Tennessee, Denver, Jacksonville, the Jets and Buffalo for the Colts. Tough to see them not losing a game to one of those AFC rivals, but regardless, it looks like the Colts are well on their way to winning the AFC.

BEWARE THE CHARGERS: After starting at 2-3, the Bolts have won six in a row to sit at 8-3 atop the AFC West and make a challenge for one of the conference first-round byes. Norv Turner finally seems to have settled in as a head coach and it doesn't hurt that Philip Rivers is turning in some of the league's best play at QB. They're not one of the sexy picks in the AFC, but they're a fine-looking sleeper and should have something to say about who reps the AFC at the Super Bowl.

NEED MORE? If this jam-packed weekend of football hasn't given you a complete fix, there's one more dandy to go, and that's tonight's battle between the New England Patriots and undefeated New Orleans Saints. We picked the Saints in our weekly prediction package and still like Drew Brees to continue his MVP efforts and get the home team over in this game.

TRESTMAN TO RAIDERS? The Marc Trestman-to-Oakland Raiders rumour is beginning to gain traction. Trestman was quarterbacks coach in Oakland in 2001 and offensive co-ordinator in 2002, helping quarterback Rich Gannon to league MVP honours. Trestman has retained a solid relationship with Raiders owner Al Davis, a rarity among former Oakland employees. Trestman is respected as an offensive coach, and after two successful seasons in Montreal has established a reputation as a leader of men.

IN THE ROOM: TSN was able to gain access to both locker-rooms prior to the Grey Cup and broadcast pre-game words from Riders coach Ken Miller as well as Als boss Marc Trestman. Excellent access and compelling viewing. TSN continues to make strides and improve as football broadcasters.

REMEMBER THE TITANS: Jeff Fisher was almost looking for work after sticking with veteran passer Kerry Collins to open the season with six straight losses. Since switching to Vince Young, the Titans have reeled off five straight and at 5-6 have entered the playoffs conversation. They'd have to run the table to really make it interesting and we say they'll go 3-2 down the stretch. That won't get it done. Indy next week, followed by St. Louis and Miami, then San Diego and finally Seattle. Look for losses against the Colts and Chargers to ruin what has developed into a nice story, with Young developing into a solid QB.

GREYBEARD GREAT: Vikings QB Brett Favre, 40, has his team clipping along nicely late in the season. The Vikes are 10-1 and Favre threw for 392 yards and three TDs going 32-for-48. We popped off in this space that Favre tires late in the season and will ruin a beautiful Vikes run. No sign of that yet, and if Favre can keep his team indoors for most of the playoffs, this could be the year Minny spoils that winless record at the Super Bowl.

FAN RANT: Send us an email at the address below, keep it clean, lean and mean (by lean we're saying under or real close to 100 words) and we might print it in this space next week.

CHANNEL YOUR INNER BOOKIE: Think you've got the jam to make a pick that deserves to be printed in our Thursday picks package? Follow the same rules as above and we might print it in our Big Screen Big Mouth midweek edition.

ROAD TRIP: Taking in an NFL game this season? Send us a photo of you and your pals tailgating or hanging in the stands and we might print it our Big Screen Big Mouth Thursday picks package. How cool would that be?

gary.lawless@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition November 30, 2009 C4