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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Kelly ready for some jeers

Hopes for 'creativity' from Rider faithful

By: Ed Tait

Posted: 09/5/2009 1:00 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

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Bombers head coach Mike Kelly likes the electricity of the Labour Day Classic. (JOE.BRYKSA@FREEPRESS.MB.CA)

Mike KELLY has made himself an easy target this season, but nowhere will the bull's-eye be bigger on his back than in Regina this Sunday.

The Bombers head coach returned to the CFL last season with the Edmonton Eskimos and lived the Battle of Alberta for the first time. But this will be his first Labour Day Classic in Regina since 1996 when he was Cal Murphy's offensive co-ordinator.

And it'll also be his first visit since his 'crotch of Canada' comment this spring where a Bomber diehard referred to Regina in those negative terms at the fan forum and Kelly later repeated it, fanning the flames of a rivalry that is already a three-alarm scorcher.

"I was on a station (Thursday) night in Regina and they asked me about it and I tried to explain," said Kelly. "It's going to be what it is. I've just got to deal with it. It's going to be fun for everybody. They asked me what do I expect from their fans and I said, 'Creativity.' I'd like for them to be more creative than, 'Hey, you're bald and you should be fired.' Come up with something that's worthwhile. Give me something to laugh about on the sideline. That's all part of the fun.

"If there's any one thing this year, I regret the fact that the 'crotch of Canada' thing has been so tagged to me and that's the perception I would feel that way about the whole province of Saskatchewan, because that's obviously not the case. They're good Midwestern people and I've spent my tour of duty in places like Iowa and Manitoba. So when I go there I'm not out of the comfort zone. But they're going to have fun with it and we'll just play along."

Fact is, the Labour Day Classic is made for a guy like Kelly, not only because he's spent so much time in the spotlight this season, but because the Irishman in him loves what the game represents.

"I love Pilsner, but Labatt's products are way better," he said with a grin earlier this week. "I love passion. I like people who get excited about things. I like people who go through life with a little bit of electricity and sparks coming off their heels and that's what the Rider fans are. They love that football team and I think it's a great atmosphere to go into and play. That's what you want. You want a group that's backin' their team and they hate you because you're the opponent. It doesn't matter what colour uniform you wear, but blue and gold brings it up to another notch."

ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition September 5, 2009 D3

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