I would be remiss if I did not mention on this site that Calgarians have become so used to losing, and therefore so paranoid of the effect a team mascot can have on a game, that they have banned--you heard me, banned--Gainer the Gopher from this weekend's playoff game between the Stampeders and the Saskatchewan Roughriders at McMahon Stadium. Gainer is of course the Riders mascot, and the plan was for him to rally against the Stamps the thousands of Riders faithful who will be flocking to the game. Not anymore, because the Stamps as an organization have decided that, "Our fans have earned the right for us to be led on the field by our own mascot without competition from Gainer." Uh, sure, okay, whatever that means. The move has of course caused an uproar in Saskatchewan, to the point where the Minister of Culture, Youth and Recreation, the Honourable Glen Hagel, stood up in the legislature yesterday to voice his dissaproval (see page 98 of the Hansard).

"Well thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is a sad day in Saskatchewan. Imagine our shock and dismay at our opponent’s display of bad blood and poor sportsmanship. Mr. Speaker, the entire province is incensed — and rightfully so — over what is clearly a violation of all that Saskatchewan people value and all that we hold near and dear.

And it begs the question: whatever happened to the rules of good conduct and proper etiquette and fair play? Mr. Speaker, football is a rough and tumble game, and we’ve witnessed other transgressions over the years. But, Mr. Speaker, this one is different. The hard hits and give-and-take that go on at field level are one thing, but banning Gainer the Gopher, the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ beloved mascot and our province’s favourite gopher, from McMahon Stadium for this weekend’s western semi-final against the Calgary Stampeders, Mr. Speaker — I say that this has simply just gone too far."

I think Hagel's anger was half-feigned, but because we're talking about the Riders, I can't be too sure. But his point still stands: whatever happened to the rules of good conduct and fair play? Whatever happened to sportsmanship? The issue here isn't even Gainer, it's Riders fans. Calgary is mad because so many Saskatchewan fans are in the seats, cheering for the opposition. But here's my suggestion to Stamps management: sell more tickets to Stampeders fans. It's revolutionary, I know, but if you can't sell tickets at your own stadium to your own fans then others will fill in the void. Furthermore, if you can't fill your own stadium with your own fans during a playoff game, then you deserve having to deal with Riders fans and their mascot. Suck it up losers, or sell some seats.

***Instant Update*** According to what looks like a Stamps press release here, Gainer is not "banned" from the Stadium; he just isn't allowed on the field. That's apparently not banning, because so many team mascots spend their time sitting in the upper bowl devouring hot dogs and cold bevvies. And speaking of dogs, what is the deal with the dog mascots in Calgary? Harvey the Hound. Ralph the Dog. You guys couldn't think of something more creative to go with the names "Stampeders" and "Flames", like, say, a Stampeder or a Flamer?