Go Lions Go (Next Season...)

Ian and I attended the CFL Western Final Game at BC Place this past Saturday. For more than half of the season we have had a huge sign hanging in front of our seats. The sign has a big #33 and is for Joe Smith. I venture to say that we have the biggest sign in the stadium - it's really quite huge - I thought Ian was out of his mind when he started making it. Anyway, throughout the year we have been hopeful that Joe might come over and say 'hi', maybe even sign something and thought maybe we might get a game ball if he scored a touchdown in our end.

Either the last or second last game of the season Joe Smith made sure to wave directly at us, acknowledging our sign. It was pretty cool! A couple games ago he did score a touchdown in our end - but he kept the ball. No problem, totally fine - it's his ball...turns out he broke some record with that touchdown - so of course he kept the ball. But we kept hoping that maybe it might happen.

So, at the Western Final game...Joe scored a touchdown at the opposite end of the field from us (we sit front row end zone). We were very happy for the Lions and very happy for him. THEN...THEN....Joe actually ran down to our end of the field and threw the ball up to Ian!!! Wow! Ian was so excited...so was everyone else in our section!!! Then Joe actually came back at half time and had Ian drop the ball down and signed it for him. WOW!!! We were so excited.

[I should mention that because the sign is so big it actually hangs in front of about 6 people...all our friends and family; but when Joe came down to our end - he could have just thrown it up to the front row and whoever got it would've been happy...BUT two of Ian's brothers (Alex and Andrew) and their friend Keith all made sure to point towards Ian so that he got the ball (because he did the sign). It was very cool of them...I don't think that is something that everyone would have done...very nice of them to make sure Ian got the ball!!]

Even though the Lions lost...we're still big fans. And certainly the kindness of Joe Smith gave us an amazing experience and memory to take from that game and this season. He's a classy guy.

We didn't take Jack to the game...he's attended 2 games this season - he did really well at one and not so well at the other. The noise and chaos is a bit much for him - so he stayed home with Grandma. So...to make up for leaving him all day yesterday we had picture day today!! Here are some photos of our little Lions fan...all decked out in his Lions track suit, sitting on his Lions blanket...holding the official CFL / Joe Smith / Touchdown football...with the signature and all...