The article looks like it was taken down. Here is the original text.
In their dressing room more than a half hour after they had squeaked out a meaningless pre-season victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Monday night, the Redblacks were still celebrating like they had won the Grey Cup.
They cranked the music. They danced. They sang. They laughed.
The only thing missing was the champagne.
Apparently, this is who they are. A close group that has fun together. This, like the Harvey’s hamburger, is a beautiful thing. But they are also professionals and, at times, they have to act like it.
League rules require teams to open the doors to members of the media 15 minutes after a game. I won’t bore you with details of our job and its tough deadlines, but I will say that for much of the past three years it seems that memo has somehow gone directly to the Redblacks clutter box.
When access was finally granted Monday, reporters made their usual beeline to Henry Burris’ locker. No athlete on any team I have ever covered is more accommodating than the 41-year old veteran, but on this night, as Burris tried to answer questions, he could barely hear himself speak. He stopped a couple of times before shouting across the room for somebody to turn down the music. Nothing.
Finally, Burris excused himself, weaved past his partying teammates like he was running a quarterback draw, and turned down the volume himself.
Moments after he returned to the scrum, somebody blasted the tunes again. This time his frustration was evident as he raised his arms, hollered “hey!” a couple of times, before finally giving up with a chuckle, a shake of his head and a half serious blame on “the DBs.”
Disrespecting the media that is trying to do its job is one thing, but Burris? He is their leader, and when he speaks, he deserves their attention.
It wasn’t just him, either. Players who were called to the corner of the room to do radio interviews with the post-game hosts on TSN1200 must have found it near impossible to follow the conversation.
This, I am told, is part of the new culture in the CFL. I must be old-fashioned because I just don’t get it.
I have no idea why the Redblacks were so over-the-top giddy on this June 13 — a full 10 days before wins actually count in the standings — the same as I have no clue why, if they were so intent on dancing, they just didn’t get dressed and go to Babylon or some other nightclub down the street.
Surely, or at least you hope, it would have been a totally different atmosphere had they lost to Winnipeg. As it is, they shouldn’t have been overly thrilled with their performance in an 18-14 win over a Bombers team that missed the playoffs last season and, being the road team, didn’t use as many starters as Ottawa.
Nor could they have been happy seeing their No. 1 running back and most dangerous player, William Powell, on crutches following his first quarter injury. Or the loss of punter Ronnie Pfeffer. At that time, and probably even now, there is no definitive word on how long either will be out.
Perhaps they were just excited to have at last played a game seven months after coming so close to the Grey Cup and following weeks of beating up on each other in training camp and that is understandable. To a point.
But it is also no excuse to turn their dressing room into a disco. At least not during the 15-minute window in which visitors are permitted to get reaction and explanations for what happened in that night’s game.
This is not on coaches or management or ownership, as none of those groups were represented in the room, nor is it on the hard working media relations department, who only have so much control of the talent.
It’s on the players, pros who acted like they were still in high school.
Just a thought: Is it possible that, after their sudden rise to prominence in the East Division a year ago, the Redblacks think the trip to the 2016 Grey Cup game will be a joyride? Because that will not be the case.
While the Redblacks now have two very good quarterbacks on their roster, it’s important to remember that their competition in Hamilton, Toronto and Montreal had none in 2015.
The Ticats lost Zach Collaros and the Argos lost Ricky Ray, two pivots who, had they remained healthy, would have challenged Burris for Most Outstanding Player honours. Both will be back this season, no doubt eager to make up for lost time.
The Alouettes, who went through a slew of quarterbacks, will undoubtedly be better as well.
Throw in the fact that all teams will be gunning for the East Division champs, and the Redblacks better get serious if they want good reason to celebrate after games that actually matter
