Twas The Night Before Xmas

[Blitz]

The Night before Xmas and Christmas Day will soon arrive in this festive season. In a spirit of collegiality and goodwill I wish all Lionbackers a Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year. May the Football Gods be with us and our Leos team will be playing in Grey Cup 2024. Have a wonderful holiday season.


'Twas the Night Before Christmas'
or Account of a Visit from our Lions' Saint Rick

Twas the night before Christmas, and all through Leo Land
Not a creature was stirring, heck, not even B. C. Fan (or Toppy Vann)
All Lionbacker's stockings were hung by their chimneys with care,
In hopes that St. Rich and his assistants would soon be there;

The Lion King and Dano T. were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of Grey Cup 2024 danced in don corleone’s head;
And OV54:40 in his 'kerchief, and Hambone in his cap,
Had finally settled down for a long winter's nap,

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
Grid Iron Ernie sprang from his bed to see what was the matter.
While far away, to his window, elmo 89 flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave lustre to the swell face of Lionbacker cro (martie)
When, what to Sammy Greene’s wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,

With a driver, who looked neither lively or jolly, and in fact ‘kinda’ blue
Sir Percival knew it could be no other than the son of CFL legend Hugh
More rapid than eagles his assistant coaches they came,
And Santa Rick whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;

"Now, Jordan now, Mike, now, Ryan and Kelly
On Travis, On John, on Trysten, and of course Tanya
To the top of the stadium, to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"

As the sleigh first flew past the moon and then circled the sun
St, Rick was reminded to never give Davis the football on third and one
Then over to Rammer's house-top, the assistant coaches they flew,
With their sleigh full of footballs, and Santa Rich too.

Then, in a twinkling, Lion Guy went outside and looked up at his roof
And gazed at St. Rick, pleased he now had the proof
While at home ‘swervynmerv’ was just turning around,
When down the chimney, St. Rich came with a bound.

He was dressed all in red and black fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
Bundles of 2024 Leo season tickets he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

St. Rick had offered a new vision, not more of the ‘same’
We were winning more often but there was still no running game
Wally looked on from a distance, his droll mouth curled up like a bow
And the curly hair on his head remained, and as white as the snow.

Thankfully Omar did not hire Wally to consult, as did those old ‘Esks’
Still, ‘ol Wally advised Rick the key to success was to ‘work over’ the press.
During a game, when in doubt, Wally said: “Just give the football a boot,
“You know, you know, ya gotta make plays and ya gotta just execute”

St. Rick replied “Another season with a tailback named ‘Smoke’
The Football Gods won’t forgive, and “I’ll be having a stroke”
”Prior to next year’s playoff, disco songs will be banned.
Adams will not dance in the pocket – that can’t be part of the plan”

“Pass, pass, pass in the regular season was so, so, so much fun”
But in the playoffs, Dusty knew “five running plays would not get it done”
The Football Gods said “You gotta stop the run to win playoff games”
And if you can’t run the football, “2024 will just be more of the same”.

Santa Rick spoke not another word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all Lionbackers’ stockings and then turned with a jerk,
Laying his finger aside his strong Campbell nose,
He gave a command, and up the chimney he rose;

He walked to his sleigh, to his coaches he gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
Santa Rick then exclaimed, ere he drove out of sight,
"HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL LIONBACKERS AND TO ALL A GOOD-NIGHT!"

[Toppy Vann]

Great rendition of that classic Blitz.

All the best of this holiday season to everyone on Lionbackers and a Happy prosperous new year.

[Dusty]

Well done Blitz!! Another classic indeed!

I gotta admit that the rhyming of 'circle the sun' and 'third and one' was a laugh out loud moment for me. Lucky I was between sips of coffee....

Best of the season to all Lionbackers. I do enjoy reading and learning from the posts on this forum. Keep it up in 2024.

[Sir Purrcival]

Happy Holidays to all of the Lionbackers Family.

[DanoT]

Another great one, Blitz, but I would suggest one edit: Change St. Rich to St. Rick.

[B.C.FAN]

Great job, Blitz. Another classic. Merry Christmas to you and all Lionbackers. May we get to cheer for a home Grey Cup victory.

[Hambone]

Feliz Navidad from Mazatlan amigo Lionbackers.

[Gridiron Ernie]

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you all, good Lionbackers. I much appreciate you all for your contributions--the wide array of perspectives offered. Thanks for the smiles and chuckles Blitz--nicely done! I'd love to hear you reciting it one year, via an audio link or whatever. Something tells me that would be quite an entertainment! (Anyhow, thanks for rejuvenating me in your imagination, i.e. having me spring out of bed in this year's version. More often than not these old bones creak as I gingerly crawl out of bed, ha ha.) As has been suggested here already, may we all be lifting a common mug of good cheer come season's end next year, with a mighty merry roar!

[SammyGreene]

More brilliant stuff Blitz!! Always get a chuckle will the Wally references and let's all hope a balanced attack is on the Lions wish list.
Merry Christmas to all Lionbackers and especially Derek for his many years keeping this site up and running to share our thoughts on our favourite team.

[don corleone]

Well done Blitz and thank you. Add a little banjo and you'll have the Ballad of Jed Clampett beat.

Perhaps next year a French language verse for the many Lion fans across the country and in support of the unofficial second language of the team will be necessary. Lets hope that Mathieu Betts decides it's a good idea.

Along that theme I wish everyone "Joyeux Noel et Bonne Année " as well as a safe and happy holiday season. Good luck in 2024.

[TheLionKing]

Well done Blitz !

[Robbie]

非常感謝
聖誕快樂
新年快樂