Friday, March 4, 2011

"If you limit your choices only to what seems possible or reasonable, you disconnect yourself from what you truly want, and all that is left is compromise."  - Robert Fritz

I have always called myself an "extreme tourist".  If there is an experience, an opportunity, or an occasion to do something "more" than what is allowed or thought possible, I will take it.  This sort of thinking has actually ended in some very unique and sometimes scary situations. 

When I was 17, I was cheerleading for the Calgary Stampeders (this was before they became a tits and jiggle show).  On one particular occasion, we had been invited to our provincial rival's stadium to cheer for a game.  In the early 90's there was still a great deal of rivalry between Calgary and Edmonton sports teams and football was no exception.  This evening was "student" night at the stadium and Commonwealth Stadium was filled to capacity.  It was louder than ever and as we began cheering in earnest for our team, the fans began to cheer "Calgary Sucks, Calgary Sucks".  A positively deafening tone fills the outdoor stadium and as the evening progressed, the cheers turned from "Calgary Sucks" to "Calgary Sluts". 

Somewhere around the 3rd quarter a decision was made to remove the Calgary Stampeder Cheerleaders from the field.  Fans were belligerent, throwing garbage at us, and creating a very unsafe situation.  The Eskimo Cheerteam actually came to our side of the field to help us get off the field safely. 

As we were being herded off the field, I looked back and saw that one of the students had "fallen" out of the stands.  (Later we would find out that his friends thought it would be funny to push him over the side of the bleachers).  Obviously hurt and laying on the ground in agony, I, without thinking ran back to help one of the many fans that had hurled insults at us for 3 quarters of football.

What happened next was amazing.  I don't remember the story the way it was told to me, but then, I wasn't focused on the crowd.  My only concern was for this young boy who was clearly hurt and no one on the sidelines seemed to notice.  My coach told me that she turned to watch me run back the way we came, she called for me and I didn't notice, but she was too afraid to follow me back out to the field.  She told me that as I was helping the boy and calling for help in the midst of all the noise, the crowd in the section began to quiet, the insults were gone the garbage wasn't being thrown and the cameras panned to the cheerleader helping the fan on the sidelines.  When the team medic came, I immediately remembered the threat to my safety and got up to run back to the change rooms and join my team.  Instead, I was met with a standing ovation from grateful fans.

"Ben" and I were photographed for the Edmonton Sun the next day.  His leg was broken and he was grateful to me for the support I gave him.

How ironic that 2 months later, I would be laying on the frozen field of Commonwealth Stadium with a fractured ankle.  This time, the fans did not throw garbage.  Instead, they threw their jackets over the railing to keep me warm while we waited for an ambulance (the one on the field was for players only).  The fans continued to support me with their applause and words of support as we waited. 

I will never know if the fans knew that it was me, or if my actions only two months earlier changed minds, changed hearts, but I'd like to think that the world got just a little better because we choose to not be afraid and do what is right.