Robservations: “Owen” a debt of gratitude … a buzz around the office … and the Roughriders’ Mr. Irrelevant
A recent memorabilia lottery win was a 10 on the Ricker Scale.
Owen Ricker, a long-time fan of the Saskatchewan Roughriders and of sports in general, is in the process of clearing out his south Regina residence.
Accordingly, Darryl Ricker contacted me the other day and asked if I would like to sift through his father’s treasury of CFL collectibles.
The kind invitation was extended with the accompanying encouragement to help myself to any item that would bolster the Roughriders’ historical archive.
So, at the appointed time, I visited the Ricker residence and was welcomed by Darryl and his sister, Laurie. I was then introduced to boxes upon boxes of items that left my head spinning.
Most notable was a souvenir program that was issued on Dec. 8, 1956, when the East-West Shrine All-Star Game was played at Empire Stadium in Vancouver.
The following day, four Roughriders players — Gordon Sturtridge, Mel Becket, Mario DeMarco and Ray Syrnyk — were killed when a return flight crashed into Mount Slesse, near Chilliwack, B.C.
Also aboard Trans-Canada Airlines Flight 810 were Sturtridge’s wife (Mildred), a dedicated Roughriders supporter (Harold McElroy) and Winnipeg Blue Bombers lineman Calvin Jones.
It is eerie to see the West roster, which appears in the program’s centrefold, and the names of some of the 62 people who lost their lives.
When the game was played, nobody could have suspected that the program would become part of history.
Never before, in all my years of following the Roughriders and perusing/hoarding Green and White-related material, had I seen a program from Dec. 8, 1956.
The same can be said of other keepsakes from the ’50s, such as media guides for every team.
It is quite something to open an Edmonton media guide, for example, and see the iconic names of Jackie Parker, Normie Kwong and Johnny Bright.
Owen’s collection also included an Ottawa Rough Riders media guide from 1960 — Ron Lancaster’s rookie year.
Lancaster, then 21, was listed at 5-foot-10 and 175 pounds.
Directly above Ronnie is the good name of Russ Jackson, who in 1960 was second-year member of the eastern Riders.
(Typo alert! Jackson’s height was recorded at 6-foot-11.)
Looking at all the media guides, et cetera, I said to Darryl: “Are you sure we can have these?”
Yup.
“Really?”
No problem.
My jaw, and chins, absolutely dropped when I saw a box full of Roughriders player pictures, dating back to the late 1950s and carrying on into the 1970s.
Most of the photos appeared in Roughriders programs or promotions. I never dreamed of being able to hold the original prints.
Of particular note is a picture of Hugh Campbell, No. 21, before he switched to 31 early in his CFL career.
Also in mint condition: Various images of George Reed, along with shots of hundreds of his teammates.
Repeat: “Are you sure we can have these?”
Confirmed.
I ended up filling my car — which is nearly as old as some of the photos — with boxes, boxes, boxes.
The drive toward Mosaic Stadium was a rather careful trek. I felt like I was at the wheel of a Brinks truck.
Upon arriving at the office, I was greeted by Karina Peterson, our Community Operations Co-ordinator.
Karina helped me find a cart, which was most useful as I wheeled five boxes full of new (yet old) acquisitions toward my already-cluttered desk.
The next three hours were spent sorting, sorting, sorting.
The more I discovered, the more grateful I became.
I am still looking through everything, actually, because there is so much to catalogue.
At the same time, I am attempting to process the addition of so many gems to the Roughriders’ collection.
A few days have elapsed since I visited the Ricker residence, but it remains impossible to fathom with the remarkable generosity of Owen, Darryl and Laurie.
How could I possibly begin to thank them?
Well, this is one way, I suppose.
BUZZ WORDS
My gratitude extends to Rod and Marianne Fink, who dropped by the Roughriders’ business office on Friday and presented me with yet another treasure.
For the first time since the 1970s, I am the proud — and rather annoying — owner of a Coleco electronic football game.
Grey Cup Football, it is labelled.
My own version was a Christmas present from 1973. I don’t think I scored a touchdown until 1975.
It was craziness.
Before each ill-fated play, the coach of each team — yours truly and Kevin Kleckner, back in the day — would position the offensive and defensive personnel.
Each “player” had a magnet on the bottom. Underneath the board, there were two levers — one for offence and one for defence — that could, at least theoretically, be used to guide a chosen participant.
For a running play, the magnetic football would be placed on the foundation of the designated ball-carrier.
In the event of a pass, the ball would be dropped in the oversized right hand of a towering quarterback (possibly an equivalent of a 6-foot-11 Russ Jackson). The quarterback’s spring-loaded right arm could be bent backward and used to release the football, which would inevitably end up in the couch, the dog bowl … anywhere but in the vicinity of the intended receiver.
The quarterback doubled as a kicker, who would assuredly propel the four-millimetre-wide pigskin in the direction of Pilot Butte.
The real bedlam began when the players were set and the switch was turned on.
At that moment, all 24 gridders would begin vibrating. They soon scattered in every direction, seemingly mocking the (ha!) play design with every movement.
Inevitably, the ball-carrier would perform a U-turn and head toward his own team’s end zone. Only then would he gain speed.
I must have led the world in safety touches on Dec. 25, 1973.
All the horror was forgotten on Friday, when Rod and Marianne were kind enough to pay a visit.
They were greeted by our award-winning Administrative Assistant, Shiane de Jong, who had never seen anything quite like the Coleco electronic football game.
Nor had she seen anything quite like my salivating.
I could not wait. It was too much. I had to plug in the game and experience the vibrations (and the disruptive noise) that only Coleco electronic football could produce.
As a bonus, Rod gave me two footballs, which guarantees that I will be able to throw passes that land three or four cubicles away.
My apologies, in advance, to any unsuspecting colleague who ends up taking a small magnetic football in the side of the head.
It is all in the name of, er, research.
Yeah, let’s go with that.
KELVIN KIRK AND MY (SIC) KLIPBOARD
Shortly after the publication of this edition of Robservations, the NFL will congratulate its latest Mr. Irrelevant.
The label has long been bestowed upon the final choice in the NFL Draft.
Two such selections have spent some time with the Roughriders.
Most recently, Ramzee Robinson attended training camp with the Roughriders in 2013. He was chosen by the Detroit Lions in the seventh round (255th overall) of the 2007 lottery.
The other Mr. Irrelevant: Kelvin Kirk.
Kirk was claimed by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 17th round of the 1976 Draft, with the 487th (and final) selection.
He later played in the CFL with the Toronto Argonauts (1977), Calgary Stampeders (1978-79), Roughriders (1979), Calgary, again (1980) and Ottawa (1981 to 1983).
My Kelvin Kirk moment — a rather embarrassing spectacle — took place on Sept. 20, 1981, when the Rough Riders visited Taylor Field.
The visiting team assumed a quick 14-0 lead on the strength of back-to-back touchdown receptions by Kirk, who collaborated with Jordan Case on 51- and 30-yard scores.
In those days, I sat in Section 204, Row 14, Seats 23. From that upper-level vantage point, I kept my own statistics.
My game gear included a clipboard, to which my stats sheets were attached.
After Case threw his second TD pass to Kirk, I threw my first tantrum of the day.
I squealed my discontent, at an octave that was audible only to poodles, and slammed my right fist against the clipboard.
SNAP!
Suddenly, my clipboard — like the game — consisted of two halves.
On the following possession, the Roughriders’ John Hufnagel threw his first of two touchdown passes to Joey Walters.
Ultimately, the day included a win (26-23 by the Roughriders) and a loss (of my clipboard).
I was in Grade 12 at the time and, as you might expect after reading this item, I didn’t date very much.
It was so bad, in fact, that the female population of Campbell Collegiate gave me a nickname: Mr. Irrelevant.
ROLL CREDITS
- Nice people who deserve a plug: Pete Paczko, Jacob Paczko, Darryl Ricker, Owen Ricker, Laurie Ricker, Mark Bowley, Lindsay Mitchell, Sgt. Brandon Hubbs, Morgan Molde, Philip Blake, Karen Magnus, Glen Suitor, Dr. Cassandra Brassard, Drew Hunter, Troy Casper, Dr. Mark Anderson, Mike Woytowich, Caylee Wist, Frank Kovacs, Barry Taman, Rod Fink, Marianne Fink, Kyle Carson, Karina Peterson, Russ Jackson, Hugh Campbell, Kristin Holloway, Kevin Kleckner, Marc Mueller, Kent Maugeri and Bo Nix.
