Gopher mascot welcome to sit in the stands, say Stamps
Calgary Herald
Published: Wednesday, November 01, 2006
The fury of a province scorned and a rodent shunned has convinced the Calgary Stampeders to offer an olive branch of sorts to the Saskatchewan Roughriders and their beloved mascot, Gainer the Gopher.
After dealing with a blizzard of complaints from 'Rider fans outraged over Gainer's ban from the football field during Sunday's West Division semi-final, the Stamps organization has relented, and now says Gainer can sit in the stands, like anyone else.
"Gainer will have and always has had the same access and privileges as any other Rider Fan sitting in McMahon Stadium," said the team in a release.
But the Stamps refuse to budge on allowing the gopher to share the field with their dog:
"The Stampeder organization has not granted field access to Gainer for the Scotiabank West Semi-Final. The organization retains the right in its home field advantage to be led by their mascot Ralph the Dog with no on field competition by the Roughriders Mascot."
There is no word on whether Gainer will be buying a ticket for the game. As of yesterday, there were 1,500 left.
I hope Gainer shows up and Calgary fans give him a rousing ovation showing that we the fans will not stoop to the levels of the brass.
It's not much of a compromise, given that all the article states is the obvious.
I guess Rider fans will have to pass the hat and buy Gainer a ticket. He'll likely need two or three....
I said elsewhere, I am not all that fond of the rat myself, but the reaction of the Stampeder organization to a Gopher mascot is Miokey Mouse.
