Winnipeg Blue Bomber Report Record: 7–11–0
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Chuck's speech to the Bombers
Chuck Duboff has been a lifelong Bomber fan, going back to the days of Kenny Ploen and Leo Lewis. His favourite memory is of watching our boys end a long drought at the 1984 Grey Cup game in Edmonton.
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Two Bomber fans instrumental in helping rallying Bomber Nation this week were invited to speak to the team after practice on Saturday, Chuck Duboff and Jesse Martin.
Here's Chuck's speech:
First off, I would like to thank Coach Kelly, all the other coaches and John Murphy for the opportunity to speak to the team; it is truly an honor, thank you Coach.
So guys, I am 55 years old, a retired English teacher... some of you guys may have played big time college football in the States, some of you played in the NFL and all of you are now in the CFL... each and every one of you is doing something that millions and millions of people only dream of doing... I would give anything to be a Blue Bomber for just one day, but that will never happen -- don't ever take what you are doing for granted; look yourselves in the mirror tomorrow and think about your team mates, the 29000 fans who will be here and just give it everything you have; because guys, it can all be taken away so quickly... there are lot of players on this team who have gone through a lot of personal stuff and you know what I am talking about; you can be cut, you can have a career ending injury or you can have a serious personal tragedy... and it's all gone!! Like Mariano Rivera of the Yankees said at the World Series Parade yesterday (Coach Kelly is a Yankees fan like I am) -- we did it, right coach -- I have to enjoy every moment of this parade because I don't know if I will every have this chance again. The same thing goes for you guys... you have a huge game tomorrow... you don't know if you will ever have a game like this again... go out and give it everything tomorrow. I gotta tell you about one fan... he's a member of our fan club; last Sunday we had our first meeting at my condo and he didn't make it. This past Tuesday I got an e-mail from him... he found out that he has leukemia... and he said to me: "chuck, the Bombers has always been my team, and I don't care what the doctors or my wife says... I will be there Sunday to support my Bombers!! Guys, that's the kind of fans you have!! Let me tell you a little about myself... last year I went to Taiwan to teach English; I took every piece of Bomber gear with me and wore it everywhere. When you guys had night games here in Winnipeg, it was morning the next day there. I would wear my Bomber gear to the school I was teaching at, hand out Bomber souvenirs that Jeff gave me and would tell them all about the Winnipeg Blue Bombers... those of the kind of fans you have!
Coach Kelly, would you come over here; this man has been through a lot this season; I want to tell you guys something. I have watched Bomber coaches going back to Bud Grant, I watched Cal Murphy, I watched Mike Riley... I have never seen a coach more passionate about the Winnipeg Blue Bombers; I have never seen a Bomber coach stand up for his players the way Coach does, the way he is so willing to take a bullet for each and every one of you... I know you guys have his back. But, I want to tell you something Coach... there are lots of fans in this city who appreciate what you are doing... and we all just got fed up with what has been going on... and that is why we came up with the Blue Out idea, why we started the Fan Club, why we had the rally at Portage and Main, why we are doing everything we can to help sellout the stadium for tomorrow. We want you to know that there are a lot of fans who love this team... we are taking our team back from all those who choose to paint it in such a negative light.
I just wanna finish with this guys; my father passed away a few years ago; he was a huge Bombers fan and is the one who got me started watching Bomber football in the '60's -- with my boyhood hero Kenny Ploen, Leo Lewis and Bud Grant. Tomorrow when you go out there, I don't care if it is for my dad, or for me, or the 29,000 fans who will be dressed in blue tomorrow, I don't care if it is for Jovon's brother or Michael Bishop's family or for Neil McKinlay's retirement or for Troy's enjoying every nanosecond of being back with the team... go out there tomorrow and show us what it means to be a Winnipeg Blue Bomber... make us proud of you... now go get em guys!!!!!!!!
November 7th, 2009
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12 Comments
Posted by: Al
November 9, 2009 at 1:28 PM
great article!!...great attitude...Nice to see someone who doesn't go off the deep end because his team doesn't do well and start saying stupid things about everybody. Bottom line is that football fans in general are passionate but usually know little or nothing about the game...When you win, they love you, lose and you're a bum. Only the real fans will stick with the team. To be honest, the 21,000 we had before made as much noise as the 29,000 Sunday. Too bad we need those extra fans to make money because I'd just as soon the fair weather, bag-wearing, sign carrying goofballs stayed away
Posted by: Elizabeth
November 9, 2009 at 11:49 AM
Excellent writing Chuck! Excellent.Those individuals who are into the "fire Kelly and Bauer" remind me of all those aunts and uncles who don't want children 'cause they are too much trouble, and then have the audacity to tell the parents how to raise their children. Full of advice, but have no idea what goes into the raising of the child. A side comment to Floyd from the HT-C...be very careful. As I understand it your team got an illegitimate point. Fans in the north side saw that football go wide of the goal posts, but the refs called it a TD. Even JJ argued with the ref but to no avail.
Michael Bishop, I do sympathize with all the cr#@ he has gone through and is going through. Hopefully see you next year along with the rest of the team. It has been a slice this year.
I have not attended many games in the past, but, when a coach came along that reminded me of Cal Murphy...I just had to watch.
Posted by: Cal
November 9, 2009 at 10:27 AM
Are we having Fun NOW...That game was a joke, just like the coach.
Posted by: Rookie
November 8, 2009 at 11:09 AM
Well its pretty obvious that some fans cant see past there nose , coach Kelly may have a ways to go with his media skills, but you cant say he doesn't bleed Blue and Gold .By the way cooker , your right the team does belong to the fans , And I am one of them who wants it back . getting rid of Kelly now would be like turning around 1/2 way up to the top of the mountain .Go Bombers .
Posted by:
November 8, 2009 at 10:19 AM
Coach Kelly Is often quoted and maligned when he responds emotionally from his gut in defense of any citicism of him or his players. Maybe not the smartest thing to do but very human when one has a passionate nature and is working as hard as he is to build a good football team and feels a great loyalty to his players . He is often compared to Bud Grant who was a cool headed as they come and was always referred to as The Sly Fox. But my memory is that other than Jack Matheson with whom he respected and freely granted interviews, Bud Grant also did not demontrate any eagerness to be interviewed by the local press. My guess is because he did not trust them to always be fair.
My suggestion is that the press look back on that relationship between Bud Grant and Jack Matheson and maybe find some ways they can work toward a more positive atmosphere to help our Bombers be a winning team again.
A coach like his players and the referees will not always make the right decisions but in fairness to coach Kelly it is my opinion,other than the inconsistencis in quarterbacking, he has built a better team that has the potential to be champions .The fact that 29000 fans will possibly show up today says WE for the most part still belive. He has provided us with hope and the possibility of some great emotional entertainment.Let's not fall too hard if he does not succeed this time.
Posted by: Krystyn
November 8, 2009 at 9:22 AM
I'll think about it Chuck. Right now I can't as I live 2 hours from the city and it's hard for me to attend Bomber games. I have to sit through the commentary on TSN. Next year I'm moving a little closer to Winnipeg so I'll let you know then. I don't even know how to get in touch with you, though. Is the Bomber fan club only 140? Or are there more than that?
Posted by: Chuck Duboff
November 8, 2009 at 7:05 AM
that's the beauty of sports...everyone is entitled to an opinion.
Posted by: cobras83
November 8, 2009 at 3:29 AM
Cooker,
Please, speak for yourself.
I am a fan. I am a lifelong fan. I have been a season ticket holder for 32 years now and have sat through some wonderful years and coaches and teams, and I have also sat through some of the worst teams and coaches in the history of the club. In 32 years I have missed a total of 10 games, and hated having to miss them.
Is Mike Kelly the best coach we've had? Not yet, but in time he may be. Is he the worst coach? Not even in the wildest imaginations is he the worst. He's no Ray Jauch, Jeff Rheinbold or Darryl Roger. He doesn't throw his players under the bus to the media like some have.
Sure, he's gotten into scraps with the media. Do you forget when Cal Murphy banned the media from the locker rooms? Do you remember when he was fined for it?
Personally, as a fan, I like the fire Mike Kelly has for the team. Sure, he's said some things maybe he shouldn't. Sure he sometimes speaks without thinking... but he's never once hidden his passion for the team or his belief in the team as a whole.
So, speak for yourself Cooker. This fan is not pissed or embarassed by Mike Kelly. He is, however, fed up with fans like you.
Rule #38. Always support your team.
oh, and a die-hard fan doesn't boo their own team
Posted by: Roger Roger
November 7, 2009 at 10:54 PM
I agree with Cooker. Hope the Bombers lose because Kelly deserves no better.
The worse this team is the better chance Kelly will get punted.
I'm a Bomber fan and I want what is best for the team. Getting rid of that jackass coach will be the first step in the Bomber resurgence.
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