Green fans swear blue streak

Oh well, Bombers are used to the abuse— not a big #!& deal

By: IAN HAMILTON Posted: 11:34 AM CDT Sunday, Sep. 5, 2010 Last Modified: 1:24 PM CDT Monday, Sep. 6, 2010 | Updates

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REGINA — Saskatchewan Roughriders guard Marc Parenteau is well aware that abusing the Winnipeg Blue Bombers is a big part of the Labour Day Classic for fans who sit in the east-side stands at Mosaic Stadium.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 05/09/2010 (5541 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

In fact, he’d tell you it’s the name of the game.

“You’re talking about young kids using special words that would be rated R in a movie theatre behind you and they incorporate that into your name,” said Parenteau, who played for Winnipeg in the 2006 Classic. “Let’s just say that ‘Parent’ was hyphenated with another word and then ‘eau.’ It was classy.”

Larry MacDougal / the canadian press archives
Saskatchewan Roughriders fans like to get juiced up and heckle the opposition, often forgoing the social norms generally deemed acceptable in other provinces. — Larry MacDougal / the canadian press archives Saskatchewan Roughriders fans like to get juiced up and heckle the opposition, often forgoing the social norms generally deemed acceptable in other provinces.

The 2010 edition of the Blue Bombers no doubt will hear some colourful language today when they visit Mosaic Stadium. Former Bombers who now toil for the Roughriders are happy to be on the other side of the matchup — and the other side of the field.

“On that side of the field, the fans are all green.

There’s not a lot of blue and gold,” said Saskatchewan backup quarterback Ryan Dinwiddie, who first experienced Labour Day as a Bomber in 2006.

“There’s definitely some heckling.

“You’ll hear some random things that make you laugh a little bit, but there are some things that might hurt some guys’ feelings. It’s all in good fun.”

“There’s a lot of gibberish,” adds Parenteau.

“People seem to be intoxicated. It seems like if you’re winning, they take it out on you. If you’re losing, they give you a break.”

But not much of one.

Luckily for Doug Berry, he got to use a headset as a buffer. Besides, the former Winnipeg head coach noted, he has the ability to tune out the fans who try to throw him off his game.

“I’d hear something every now and then, but it was like, ‘Forget about it. You can’t get involved with it,’ “ said Berry, now the Roughriders’ offensive co-ordinator. “For the fans, they’re just looking for somebody who will bite. It’s like throwing the bait out for the fish: Which one is going to bite? If you can find a player or a coach who will bite, you’ve got’em. They’re out of the game.”

— Postmedia News