Tomorrow showcases one of the biggest sporting events of the year as Superbowl XLV will see two northern teams — the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers — square off on the gridiron in the Lone Star State in what is touted to be an epic battle.
Then of course, after reading the hype of the headlines, there is commentary on the wintry weather and how it is going to be too cold in Dallas for the fans to enjoy the game. One headline on The Globe and Mail website states, “Superbowl fans stunned by cold weather,” while another references the “bone-chilling temperatures” that await the fans. Ever been to an Edmonton Eskimos game?
The weather will be a cool 10 C on game day — better break out the parkas and mukluks. If this is too cold for an enclosed stadium in Texas then perhaps American fans should give their tickets to us hearty Canadians. Seriously, how many times have you been at Commonwealth Stadium and found 10 C to be balmy? We have regular season games in November that bottom out the old mercury.
This just reinforces my bias as to why our game is yards ahead of the American version. Sure the southern game is more offensively minded with four downs but in the CFL we can get ‘er done in three. Yes, our field is bigger but the American game has fewer players on the field, unless you are from Saskatchewan. Ultimately we Canadian fans are a tougher breed who, despite what Mother Nature spirals our way, are able to brave the elements and support our team in the snowiest, coldest and direst conditions (unless you are from Vancouver).
Having been to many blustery games in recent years, I find it funny that this year’s Superbowl is being written off as a ‘snowbowl’ that will be difficult for players and fans alike. Pittsburgh and Green Bay players are well attuned to cold and snow. A temperature of 10 C should be near ideal for them. Yes there were power outages and poor road conditions in Dallas due to the horrible blizzard of 2011, but let’s not get carried out of bounds by the hyperbole of non-stories. Instead, let’s fire up the chicken wings, nachos and corndogs to join in the revelry of our football cousins to the south.
I love the Grey Cup and all the festivities that surround it. Edmonton and area did a great job hosting CFL fans of all persuasions, even those from Toronto. What we don’t have though are the commercials and the glitzy peripherals that come with a Superbowl. So tomorrow, like so many of you, I will get together with friends, cuddle up to the big screen, pick my odds favourite and enjoy the banter, cheering and jeering of what hopefully will be a great game.
In truth though, I really look forward to the humorous commercials and halftime entertainment. Why? They are fun but perhaps it is because I am a little green and gold with envy that the American game runs longer than ours and that I can’t complain about watching a live football game in February in Canada. But 10 C? Come on Superbowl fans — that’s downright spring-like in this neck of the woods! Enjoy the game.
Tim Cusack will wear his Eskies gear tomorrow no matter what the temperature.
