It’s cold on the sidelines and Bruce McNall has finally
zipped up his jacket and wrestled a toque onto his head.
Elfie Shlegel, muppet-cute superstar gymnast turned sports
analyst, is nervously conducting a poor post-game interview.
McNall is happy, grinning and nearly bouncing in a manner
that does not belong exclusively to CFL part-owners whose
one million dollar investments have just paid off, though
this is his situation.
The Rocket Ismail, the Argonauts’ million dollar man,
has set a new Grey Cup record with an incredible 87 yard
punt return, and Bruce McNall is thinking there might
not be another play in football more absolutely satisfying
than a punt returned for a touchdown. He doesn’t wonder
at the Rocket’s personal satisfaction - didn’t notice
the snowballs thrown at Ismail as he alone sprinted expertly
toward the end zone, or the few players came to congratulate
him in the end zone. He doesn’t wonder what it’s like
for the Rocket – the million dollar man – outrunning all
his team-mates in the space of ten yards.
The Toronto Argonauts have just beaten the Calgary Stampeders
to win the Grey Cup, 36 to 21, and that is all McNall
is thinking.
