Back to Empire Stadium

Okay, so they're calling it Empire Field now, but the important thing is that the Lions once again will be playing outdoors, the way football was meant to be played, in fine autumn weather or in rain, mud, sleet, snow and fog.  Well, fog can be a problem, as some of us remember from a Grey Cup game that had to be spread over two days when the quarterbacks could not see past the centres.

Soccer fans may now be caught up in the World Cup, Canucks boosters will be salving their wounds, and NBA watchers will be hooked on the hoops, but for many of us the real game is football.

George Plimpton wrote wonderfully about football, but there is still a great football novel waiting to be written.  For the Moby-Dick of the gridiron, our resident scribe is saving these words from Wally Buono:  

"Football is a tough sport.

 You're going to take hits.

 You're going to get hurt."

Has a touch of poetry, hasn't it?

See you Sunday at Empire St--uh--Field.