Albertans like to think that their province is completely free of rats. Maybe Gayner is just too close to lookin like a rat. He might copulate with a Stampeder line-backer and start a rat epidemic (Belinda style (doggy))?

OT:

[Deleted. Off topic. What part of the message above your commenting box did you not understand? - Ed]

Cry all you want. If you want your mascot at a playoff game, then win enough games to host one. It's that simple. We like to call it HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE.

Ralph maybe will be called Belinda this weekend.

but our real mascot is the horse. stay on your benches -Big Green Envy- or get run over.

When the Riders play here one could imagine there is more green than red at McMahon. The fun-a-phobes on Calgary city council have apparently started infiltrating the Stamp's management.

I predict a climb down by the pencil necks.

now lets all be kind it is just a game. now that e. jack u. layton has harper over a union podium and is going to pour it on to the cheering of all those lesbian ndpeers we here in calgary managed to wring one little favor from e. jack and that is to let us keep global warming for at least the sunday game so you poor stubble jumpers can get you and your varmints feet warm before your hynies are blistered

unbelievable! the best games in the CFL are the Saskatchewan games no matter where they play because they have the bestest most faithfulest fans in the league and I'm a native Calgarian! what if Taylor Field decided to ban our mascot? methinks horses would be appearing in Regina hotel lobbies...just like the good old days when it was more about team spirit and fun than money money money

I'm here in Calgary looking past the game the RIDERS are going to win in their march to Grey Cup. Gainer, don't worry about not being allowed into the Calgary game, but you might want to check into booking a flight to B.C. for the west final.

Yeah, I think somebody in the front office has had one too many lattes. Mind you, Gainer has never been my favourite rider mascot. Whatever happened to the Flame? He was always welcomed, especially when it was cold out, if you didn't mind the odd singe here and there.

Hey! CFL is hard to spell!

And last time I saw the Riders play my Stamps at McMahon, I was seated next to a Riders fan who was already pretty deep in his cups by kickoff. Then a couple of other Rider fans appeared, faces painted in green with a big white 'S' on each cheek. But because they had done their make-up in the mirror, all of the 'S's were painted on backwards.

So drunk buddy next to me starts giggling, "I've done that" he says.

Good thing they did not put complicated words like CFL on their cheeks.

As a Stamps fan, I think it is ridiculous not letting the gopher come to the game, although I suspect the reason is because the Stamps brass feared the gopher would be trampled by the horse making her frequent trips up and down the sidelines.
I think the Rider fans should be more concerned about having their team show up on Sunday and less worried about their gopher.

Well, if the Riders were hosting this game instead, I think we could have banned Burris, right?

On behalf of Calgarians everywhere, we apologize profusely for having a coaching staff that turns out to be pansies regarding large gophers.

Dont' Fear The Gopher

With apolgies to Blue Oyster Cult

Who picks a gopher as a mascott anyway? No one likes gophers, they are a pain in the ass and dig holes big deal. Mascots either have to be lovable or scary, not mildly anoying.

The simple solution to the problem would be for the rough riders to win more during the regular season games, you know those things that happen after your 15th beer in the parking lot.

Jeeez folk it is a silly football game. The gopher ban and other trivia BS gets way too much attention and coverage as if it has some major effects on this country as a whole. How many of the folks sqwaking about the gopher and other BS know as much about the soldiers that have died and those that have recieved awards for valor fighting for the freedome of this country. Says a lot about the priorities of the Canadian people doesn't it.

Dont' Fear The Gopher

With apolgies to Blue Oyster Cult

Rob C, get a life. It's all meant in fun, it's all about our culture and our games. Fan partisanship and participation in sport is what makes the events you talk about bearable.

Does your holier than thou attitude cut ice with the CFL and NHL broadcasts being shown live in Afghanistan to our soldiers serving there?

Does it cut ice with these guys?
http://www.newstalk650.com/image_show.php?id=230

Cheers,
lance

I saw a Rider flag flying at a Canadian government outpost on highway 15 the other day.

>Who picks a gopher as a mascott anyway?

Ummm, maybe Kate?

Go Stamps, but don't get in the way of Quick Six!!

Rob C:

My sincere apologies for spending a minute or two thinking about something as trivial as a football game...I clearly should have been concentrating on homelessness, poverty and the "root causes" of crime...my bad.

Anyone who has ever lived in Saskatchewan knows why Gainer the Gopher is the mascot. Buzz & Boomer out of Winterpeg is another matter. Edmonton has their fire truck which is probably easier than a dog sled and more politically correct. As far as other mascots, I don't even recall if there are any besides the real tiger that was in Hamilton.
Anyone know all of the mascots?

I must confess firstly that I am not a Riders fan - being from Winnipeg and all. I have to say that I have found myself cheering for them many times this season - especially when they were playing any other team from the 'East'. (I won't even start on how being shunted to the same conference as Toronto really didn't sit well here but that's what comes of being where the west begins). In this case, I have to say that Calgary must think that it's the Toronto of the West, only with less class. Banning Gainer?!? What member of the Calgary brain trust came up with that idea. If they thought that having him in McMahon was going to incite Rider Priders, what on earth do they think banning him is going to do.

Go Riders! (I don't know if you appreciate how much it pains a Bomber fan to say that...about as much as it would pain a Riders Fan to say Go Bombers! I suppose.)

****

>Who picks a gopher as a mascott anyway?

Ummm, maybe Kate?

****

Picks off, maybe.

>Picks off, maybe.

Giggle, giggle, smirk.

Yeah me too when I was young and on the farm.

Cheers

I posted a little video in support of Gainer on YouTube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6k72Mc_P190

The Stamps are afraid of a mascot? How utterly childish and petty can they get?

...the reason is because Calgary is Saskachewan's biggest city, it would cause confusion to the fans who's doing the cheer leading for what team, Gopher or Harvey?