Robservations: Welcome back, Dan Farthing! 40 years since an NHL classic … and Happy New Year!
We begin today with a heads-up that was given to the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ newly appointed Head of Strength and Conditioning — Dan Farthing.
“I will try to limit the Farthing interviews to 12 per day,” I courteously notified Dan via text message shortly after his return to the CFL team was announced.
Some background: During my 102-year tenure at the Regina Leader-Post, colleagues in the sports department often kidded me about my propensity for seizing the tiniest opportunity to interview Farthing.
Guilty as charged.
But I blame him, too.
Is it my fault that he was — and still is — endlessly quotable, insightful and nice?
From the perspective of a sports writer, Farthing checked every box.
Over the years, I also got to know Dan’s wife (SueAnn) and meet their three children (Jasmine, Theron and Ella).
They are all amazing people so, naturally, stories were written about Theron (speed skating) and Ella (high school basketball).
I interviewed Ella in April of 2019, when she was in Grade 12 at Dr. Martin LeBoldus Catholic High School. She had just finished helping the LeBoldus Golden Suns win back-to-back city and provincial high school basketball titles.
At the outset, the Leader-Post feature was based on the fact that Ella wore No. 10, which was also her father’s number when he played for the Roughriders from 1991 to 2001.
“I feel super-honoured to even have the number and represent myself and proudly represent my family tradition of No. 10,” Ella said.
Now, her father is about to continue the tradition of a formal association with the Roughriders.
No. 10’s excellence as a player was recognized when he entered the SaskTel Plaza of Honour in 2009.
He rejoined the team in 2012 as the Strength and Conditioning Co-ordinator and spent four seasons in that role. Along the way, he deservedly received a long-awaited Grey Cup ring due to his association with the 2013 team.
Just over 10 years after the Roughriders’ landmark home-field Grey Cup victory, Farthing has returned to the organization.
Warning to No. 10: I am also in the team’s employ. Beware!
We both have the privilege of working in state-of-the-art Mosaic Stadium. That has been my home away from home since Feb. 21, when I debuted as the Senior Journalist and Roughriders Historian.
I am reminded of a time when I thought the Roughriders might indeed be history.
That recollection also incorporates the thoughts of Dan Farthing.
On Oct. 20, 1996, the Roughriders defeated the B.C. Lions 27-19 at Taylor Field.
As much as the victory was celebrated, there were the nagging notions of the Roughriders’ 5-12 record and uncertain future.
Hence the premise of my column: Have we just witnessed the final CFL game at Taylor Field?
It seems like a preposterous premise, all these years later, but the team and the league were very much in crisis mode at the time.
Not long after the 1996 season, the Roughriders announced plans for a life-saving telethon. The CFL, as a whole, was in dire financial straits. Grey Cup Week, 1996, felt like a death watch.
With that dark cloud hovering over everyone, I approached Farthing in the Roughriders’ dressing room — not long after then-CFL Chairman John Tory had expressed concerns that the league may fold.
“It would be terrible to see,” Farthing said. “In a place like this, it would be a tragedy to see the game disappear.”
The Roughriders would survive and, eventually, thrive.
The 1997 season began when the Roughriders won 24-23 in Vancouver. Farthing caught an eight-yard, game-tying touchdown pass from Kevin Mason with 24 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. Paul McCallum followed up with what proved to be the game-winning convert.
That comeback victory kick-started Farthing’s finest CFL season. Over 18 games, he caught 58 passes for 959 yards and helped Saskatchewan return to the playoffs after a two-season absence.
Better yet, the Reggie Slack-quarterbacked Roughriders won back-to-back West Division playoff games and advanced to the 85th Grey Cup Game.
Leading up to the game, I had a conversation with Geoff Currier — then CKRM’s voice of the Roughriders — as we walked into Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium before a practice session.
“If you had a son,” Geoff said, “you’d want him to be Dan Farthing.”
He is that spectacular as a human being.
I can hardly wait to see him at the office and congratulate him in person.
Congratulations to me, too. I get to work with Dan Farthing.
FORTY YEARS … REALLY?
Yes, really.
On Dec. 30, 1983 — precisely 40 years ago — I saw my favourite National Hockey League game, ever.
Ever, ever, ever.
Along with my great friend Richard Gordon — once a fellow occupant of Section 204, Row 14 at Taylor Field — I made the trip to Winnipeg to watch my beloved Jets oppose the New York Islanders, who were then the four-time-defending Stanley Cup champions.
The Islanders, so machine-like, appeared to be en route to an easy victory as they cruised to a 3-1 lead at dear old Winnipeg Arena.
Mike Bossy scored two of those goals, but the shot that nearly went in is the one I recall with the most clarity and awe.
Bossy, situated in the slot, one-timed a pass from Bryan Trottier and hit the crossbar behind Jets goaltender Doug Soetaert. The puck ricocheted high into the stands as a startled Soetaert rocked back and forth on his skates.
I have never seen a shot quite like that one. Considering that 40 (yes, 40) years have elapsed, I can safely presume that the Bossy blast will be unchallenged.
(Then again, Connor Bedard should be an NHLer for the next 20 years, so you never know.)
After a goal by (helmetless) Regina Pats alumnus Clark Gillies put the Islanders ahead 3-1, I presumed that the remainder of the game would be a formality.
WRONG.
Dale Hawerchuk — No. 10, a la Dan Farthing — beat Billy Smith on a breakaway.
Paul MacLean tallied shortly thereafter to create a 3-3 tie.
Just 29 seconds into overtime, MacLean scored again to give the Jets a 4-3 victory.
All these years later, I am reminded that three of the principal players in that game — Bossy, Hawerchuk and Gillies — have passed away.
More than ever, I savour the memories.
ROLL CREDITS …
- Nice people who deserve a plug: Dan Farthing, SueAnn Farthing, Jasmine Farthing, Theron Farthing, Ella Farthing, Richard Gordon, Tom Pura, Bryan Trottier, Doug Soetaert, Paul MacLean, Jack Abendschan, Marjorie Abendschan, Bev Novenski, Glen Duck, Chris Petry, Kelly Remple, Sonya Clifton-Remple, Ainsley Remple, Spencer Remple, Dante De Caria, Russell Wilson, Mike Rice, Matt Egan, Russ Matthews, Madison Matthews, Tyler Wells and Rod Fink.
ONE MORE THING …
Happy New Year!
