Blue get lift from boosters

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 29/11/2011 (5369 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers were welcomed home at the James Armstrong Richardson International Airport on Monday afternoon by hundreds of flag-waving, camera-toting, loud ‘n’ proud fans cheering their beloved football team.

Though the Bombers lost 34-23 to the B.C. Lions in Sunday’s Grey Cup game in Vancouver, the players and coaches were able to put aside their disappointment and take in the festive atmosphere created by fans of various ages — from babies in strollers to seniors who came out in the middle of the day to show their appreciation to their hometown Canadian Football League team.

Some brought posters and Bombers flags and most wore some sort of Bombers apparel.

The loudest cheers were reserved for defensive lineman Doug Brown, who had announced before the 2011 season that he had plans to retire at the end of it. Fans yelled, “One more year, one more year,” for the big Canadian. One fan presented Brown with a replica of the Grey Cup made of cardboard and silver foil.

“It’s overwhelming that the people came out and did these things for us,” Brown told a huge media scrum in the arrivals area. “It’s tough for us because they (fans) deserve more and we were unable to deliver it to them at the biggest of opportunities. But that’s the nature of our fans this year and that’s why it’s such a special place to play. They’re so proud of us, win or lose, and we just wish we had a real Cup to bring to them.”

Centre Obby Khan was given a box of cupcakes by a fan to share with the offensive line.

“Our fans are the best ever,” Khan said. “It’s just the worst to be second best. We wanted to take that next step to become the best. We’ve got a lot of potential, a lot of youth. We’ll take some time off to recover, regroup and hit the gym again in a couple weeks.”

Bombers punter Jamie Boreham, who played for the 2001 Vanier Cup finalist University of Manitoba Bisons, said he felt fortunate to play for fans from Manitoba again.

“The fans here are something special, you really appreciate them. It hurts to lose but it helps to know that they’re all still there,” said Boreham, who was on the field a lot on Sunday, as the Bombers’ offence sputtered in the early-going.

Slotback Terrence Edwards, who hauled in a 13-yard touchdown catch late in the game, managed a smile when he looked around at the show of support.

“These fans are the reasons we play this game, and never quit, and play so hard that we can come back in here and hold our heads up high,” Edwards said.

He said he was so upset with the loss, he just went back to the team’s hotel after the game.

“I put my head down and I went to sleep. I didn’t have anything to celebrate,” said Edwards. “It would have been nice to get some touchdowns earlier but we’ve got to give credit to them (B.C.) They played one heck of a game, they were the hottest team in the last month.”

Bombers head coach Paul LaPolice said it will take time to get past the disappointment of not being able to finish the season with Grey Cup.

“You care about the community and you want to win for them. It brings you to tears almost, to say you can’t finish,” he said. “We’ll have to get back to work and try to do our best to bring a championship home. Right now, we’re not real happy with the results, but hopefully we can teach our players what we need to, to set the bar this high and be in the Grey Cups as a regular thing and not a sometime thing.”

ashley.prest@freepress.mb.ca