They don't have a name, but don't expect them to be called the Rough Riders because the current Roughriders are going to move heaven and earth to prevent that from happening because they feel, rightfully so, that they've had free reign.There are lots of things I don't like about this statement.
First is the fact that they won't be called the Rough Riders. I never liked the name Renegades, and the team in Ottawa should be called the Rough Riders. It's tradition, and I know we can sometimes be quick to abandon old traditions when new things arise, but as far as I am concerned, this is a tradition that is more than worth holding on to.
Second, the "move heaven and earth" and "rightfully so" parts about Saskatchewan. I'm sorry, but when did we start bending over to make sure Saskatchewan gets what it wants? It seems that in the past few years Saskatchewan has somehow become the be all and end all of Canadian football. I know they have great fan support, I know that they are one of the most profitable teams in the CFL, but the situation in Ottawa has absolutely nothing to do with them. This is just another example of the arrogance that permeates the province of Saskatchewan regarding the Riders and the CFL. For some reason, their fan base believes that only the Riders matter. Not true. Sure, they probably have the largest fan base, but so do the New York Yankees in baseball, and when they try to use their clout, fans get angry. Well, I'm doing the same with the Riders. It's not "rightfully so" regarding your use of the name Roughriders. There were two Riders before; there can be two Riders again. Get off your high horse and show some respect for the history of our game. The Riders like to bring up their history and their pride in it; it's time they started to do the same with league-wide history.When an Ottawa team hits the field again, I hope that their name will be the Rough Riders. The Rough Riders are the team of Russ Jackson and Tony Gabriel, and the history of the franchise should continue on when the new team becomes a reality.
Well said. Saskatchewan fans hide behind the reason that Ottawa using the name Rough riders will hurt the league but in reality it's a mask for their arrogance and selfishness.
ReplyDeleteThere is no fact-based reason for Ottawa to be called anything other than Rough Riders. If Saskatchewan is so concerned about the health of the league, they're welcomed to change their own name for the greater good.
http://capitalregionfootball.info/blog
Some of them claim that use of the name "Riders" (no Rough) would constitute violation of their naming rights. Maybe it would, but "Roughriders" and "Rough Riders" are different and that latter name is legally owned by someone (Horn Chen, whose cold bony fingertips may not want to let it go anyway, but we'll see). The team just needs to make sure it never uses "Riders" for any purpose. The fans on the other hand, will of course use whatever they want. First few seasons there will probably be more choice nicknames to use anyway. ;-)
ReplyDeleteI will grant Rider fans - Green Rider that is - their due as being exuberant and faithful, and good for the CFL. But sometimes it's juuuuuust a little too much. The colour is GREEN! We're Canada's Team!!! YAYYYYYY!!! Go **** yerselves. lol
Of course, the ones who have come to IWS to see their team have generally been fun and among the most congenial, joking around with us in Box H.
That BC fan who took exception to us making fun of Pottinger however... the tears were a little too much. :-D
Well written. As a lifelong Ottawa fan, I will be encouraging the reinstatement of the Rough Rider name to our new Ottawa team's ownership. Can't wait until 2013.
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