Ok, when I get home from work I often turn on Prime Time Sports on Rogers Sportsnet and listen to what the boys have to say and who they interview. So last night was no different, got home, opened a brew and turned on the TV. And there was Bob and Stephen talking about next years Grey Cup in Toronto and how it can be successful. Anyways, and I have the utmost respect for these guys, both are very articulate, well read, intelligent and have a nice touch of humour about them. But then they go on and on about how Toronto isn't Regina and how things like pancake breakfasts aren't going to work in Toronto and how it is going to be so difficult to make the Grey Cup work in Toronto. And Bob says he is on a 60 member Grey Cup board that is in charge of organizing the events. But in the end, they had sullen faces and just weren't sure it could work. Well, wow, I was flabbergasted that these guys, as bright as they are, seemed to be really stumped as to how to make the Grey Cup something "world class" enough for Toronto to buy in.
Here's my two cents worth of advice Bob and Stephen. Why don't you simply go to the website below, the schedule of events for Super Bowl 2007 in Miami, and use this as a template for what to do next year in Toronto. It should work, adjusting a few things of course. For example you will see that there is a Billfish Tournament, not sure what that is, maybe something to do with fishing. So substitute that with a hockey tournament. Then I noticed the Super Bowl organizers have a Super Bowl Breakfast. Ok, have a Grey Cup Breakfast, just don't use the word pancake then, sounds easy enough. And finally I noticed a Volleypalooza something or other. Probably has to do with a volleyball tournament. If Toronto is too sophisticated for such an event, maybe have a Pokerooza tournament, maybe this will work there. And they do have some wine and cheese events, this will work in Toronto for sure. Here's the website fellows, go to it, I have faith that a 60 member committee can make it work with a little stealing from our neighbours to the south:
http://www.superbowl.com/features/events_schedule 8)