November 27, 2007 by maureen.ulrich.

I am really proud of the 2007 Saskatchewan Roughriders – on a great many levels.

Winning the Grey Cup was indeed a marvelous achievement. But the fact that it was done with so much class makes that victory even sweeter. The Roughriders don’t showboat, beat their chests, or trash talk their opponents to the media. Instead, they express their gratitude to their teammates, their coaches, their families, their fans.

What a great season. No scandals involving HIV infected players having unprotected sex. No talk of racism. No “bad-boy” behaviour at Regina nightclubs.

The fans who conducted themselves so well in Regina and Toronto – painting the latter city green — in the pregame and postgame celebrations are to be commended. Thank you for not tarnishing a great moment in our sporting history.

The players – whether they are Saskatchewan born and bred like Scott Schultz or from the southern US like Fred Perry – love to represent our province. I recall a time when some football players thought coming to a whistle stop like Saskatchewan was the end of the world.

Maybe players will feel differently from now on. It is pretty evident that this year’s team has been a part of something very special. Something they may never again experience.

We in Saskatchewan are fortunate to have a team that represents us all – not just one city. The Riders unify us and define us.

In the CFL it is still possible for athletes to connect with their fans. Our gentlemen wearing green and white are a far cry from some of the spoiled, egotistical millionaires who make their living in professional sports.

If you are an athlete, please remember one thing. Your primary responsibility is not to yourself – but to the young people who look up to you. Be the role model they so desperately need. Demonstrate good sportsmanship and class in everything you do. And, if in the heat of the moment you forget to do this, suck it up and apologize. And then change your behaviour. Your fans will forgive you.

Maybe you’ve heard about the line brawl involving 8 year olds in a Triple A Novice tournament in Guelph. I could write a year’s worth of blogs on elitism and parental over-involvement in minor sports. Where did children learn to act like this? It doesn’t take much imagination. Thanks to the miracle of the mass media, we can watch brawls involving adults just about any time we like.

But . . .I digress.

Back to the Riders.

The Grey Cup win wasn’t pretty. It was downright ugly in fact. It was a defensive battle that had few highlights.

But team sports should never be about the achievements of one individual. Not even Jamie Johnson, who had three interceptions.

I’ve seen NFL broadcasts. I’ve listened to the way commentators wear out names like Tony Romo and Tom Brady – as if there were no other individuals on the field. What about the rest of the players who are working their butts off?

Kerry Joseph was visibly shaken at the end of the game. In fact, it was difficult to tell from his expression if his team had just won — or lost. I said to my husband, “I think he realizes just how close he came to letting victory to slip through his fingers.”

My husband said, “No, I think he’s overcome by the way his teammates lifted him up.”

Lifted him up.

And that’s what you’ve done for all of us, Roughriders.

You’ve lifted US up.

Posted in On Sports | 1 Comment »

November 12, 2007 by maureen.ulrich.

Yes, I know.

I said there’s no money in it.

It doesn’t make the slightest iota of good financial sense.

However . . . I am starting to outline two sequels for Power Plays.

Which will bring about a Power Plays series. A trilogy, if you will. But certainly NOT a dynasty!

Some very nice things about a sequel at this point in my life.

1. I already have a publisher who has expressed interest. That cuts out the likelihood of seven rejections.

2. I don’t have to create many characters. I can very easily get by on the cast from Power Plays. I have some notion of fleshing out “satellite” characters, like Shauna’s older brother – the one who had to quit hockey because of a concussion (or as Robin would say, “Because he was concussed.”)

3. I know a great deal more about writing that I did when I started out eight years ago. I won’t have to switch tenses or forms of narration. I already know that kids prefer first person. I won’t have to “find” Jessie’s voice. I’ve already found it. I don’t foresee having to make MAJOR character or plot shifts after writing an initial draft. And with all the ideas I presently have for these characters, the book should just about write itself.

4. I have the opportunity to do things better – and put in things I didn’t touch on in the first book. The Estevan Bruins. The female Sask First program. And some things I hinted at in Power Plays. Issues like teen binge drinking and adjusting to life in a high school setting.

Power Plays Two will pick up more-or-less where Power Plays left off, dealing with Jessie’s first season of midget hockey. Maybe I’ll throw in a little of Jessie’s summer and her softball season for good measure. It’ll be nice to write about a sport besides hockey.

Power Plays Three will pick up in Jessie’ final year of midget hockey – her Grade Twelve year. My plans for this book are pretty sketchy at this point, but the focus will be on what it feels like to believe your hockey “career” is over at age 17.

Sound good? Let me know what you think.

And thanks to those of you like Wendy and Simone and that mysterious B. Howie (alias Jen the Reader Girl) who posted reviews on Amazon and Chapters. You are simply great!!

Posted in On Writing | 1 Comment »