The house that J-j-jack built

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 08/07/2011 (5241 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

No one, near as we can tell, ever referred to Winnipeg/Canad Inns Stadium as ‘picturesque’, a ‘cathedral’ or a ‘grand ol lady.’

It was never held in the same high regard as Yankee Stadium or the Montreal Forum or the Boston Garden — sporting shrines every one of them — or even revered or romanticized like Empire Stadium in Vancouver or Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium. It was and remains, in one word, functional.

And now the building’s last days are upon us.

The home of the Blue Bombers since 1953, the stadium will meet the wrecking ball after this season as the football club moves into its new home at the University of Manitoba to open the 2012 campaign.

There are potholes in the parking lot, leaks in the ceiling and coats upon coats of paint covering up some serious imperfections.

But the stadium has given its patrons some wonderful moments over close to six decades — particularly in sports and entertainment — and during the next six months the Free Press will revisit 10 of the most memorable gridiron-themed events on the day of each Bomber home game. Call it our farewell to the 58-year-old facility that has served so well.

COLD OUTER SPACE

Nov. 24, 1991

It stands as one of the most famous CFL plays of all time — put together by the Toronto Argonauts, no less — and it happened on the frozen tundra of Winnipeg Stadium.

The kickoff is fielded at the 23-yard line. The returner immediately heads up field and drifts slightly to his right, avoiding the first wave of Calgary Stampeders kick coverage.

From there, things are chill.

He breaks a tackle attempt from Junior Thurman.

He gets to the far sideline.

He outruns kicker Mark McLoughlin.

And finally, Rocket Ismail, the return man in question, avoids a slushy beer tossed from the stands as he downshifts into the end zone, arms out to his side like he’s just deployed his landing gear.

The 79th Grey Cup — the first CFL championship game to ever be held at Winnipeg Stadium — is remembered for three things.

Let’s start with the Rocket.

The Argos’ million-dollar baby, signed away from the NFL out of Notre Dame, was brought in to help bring a Grey Cup to Toronto and he did, earning the most valuable player honours in the process. Ismail only played two seasons in the CFL before bolting down to the NFL, but Winnipeg stands alone the backdrop for his brightest three-down success.

Then there was the Hollywood factor.

The Rocket and Argos QB Matt Dunigan had some star power, sure, but the Toronto ownership group that featured NHL superstar Wayne Gretzky, Canadian comedy legend John Candy, and Los Angeles Kings owner Bruce McNall was the biggest power trio Canada had seen since Rush, and they brought a whole new brand of cool to the event.

Who can forget the image of the three on the sidelines, freezing their butts off as they celebrated a 36-21 Grey Cup victory in the Winnipeg winter?

Speaking of the weather, how cold was it?

The thermostat settled in to a balmy -35 C wind chill, making it one of the coldest Grey Cups ever. That didn’t faze the mostly Manitoba crowd (51,985), which came out in droves for the first national pro football party on Keystone soil.

As for the play on the field, it was a pretty good tilt — despite the lopsided score at the end. Close through the first three quarters, the Stamps actually outplayed the Argos for most of the contest but seven turnovers — not to mention their inability to stop the Rocket — did them in.

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Calgary QB Danny Barrett threw for 377 yards (on 34-of-56 passing). He finished the day with one touchdown and three interceptions.

Dunigan only completed 12 passes on 29 attempts (for 149 yards), but two of those completions were for touchdowns. He played the game with a separated shoulder, having the joint frozen before the game.

His frozen joint was fitting.

That’s what Winnipeg Stadium was that day.

adam.wazny@freepress.mb.ca