or eight years, Giulio Caravatta lived his dream of playing for the BC Lions. When he retired from sports and became a local firefighter, he started sharing his love for the game with listeners of the Lions official radio station (AM 1410). Given that not everyone who will get caught up in Grey Cup fever this week is a long-time football fan, he offers WE readers some tips of what to look for when the BC Lions take on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Sunday afternoon.
You want to have some momentum and thats one of the things the Lions have going for them. Theyve been on an incredible run and are playing the best football.
Theyre in a similar situation. They had a very good year, even though they had some struggles in the second half of the season but they won a big game last Sunday. Winnipegs defence is one of the top two in the league.
You should particularly look for whats happening where the big guys are. We call that in the trenches and that is where the game is won or lost.
For the BC Lions its Travis Lulay, Geroy Simon, Khalif Mitchell, Solomon Elimimian and Korey Banks. For the Blue Bombers its Buck Pearce, Doug Brown and Jovon Johnson.
Its just a great piece of Canadiana. People come from all over the country to celebrate the Grey Cup. The access to the players is unlike anything youve ever seen. Youll see the best players enjoying themselves [in the pre-Cup festivities] and they are willing to engage with you.
Theres no other experience like running out of a tunnel into a crowd of 40,000 people.
Whether a football fanatic or casual sports supporter, there are plenty of opportunities to get in the game with this weekends Grey Cup Festival taking place Friday through Sunday.
Beatty and Robson streets are the place to be starting Friday with the Telus Street Festival featuring free concerts on the PlayNow.com Main Stage. Catch local acts all weekend including Bend Sinister - Friday, 7:10pm, Hey Ocean! - Saturday, 8:20pm, and Louder Than Love - Sunday,11:55am.
Saturdays Safeway Grey Cup Festival Parade kicks the weekend into high gear led by Glees Cory Monteith starting at 10am on Smithe and Hornby and finishing at noon at the Vancouver Sun FanFest featuring street performers, family-friendly activities and the CFL Cheer Extravaganza.
Sunday is game day, so warm up with a ball toss at the CN field on Robson Street before seeing settling into the stadium or a warm bar to catch the real deal.
Visit 2011GreyCupFestival.ca for event list.
