The Trews, the Game and a Few Lost Dollars
June 13th, 2025
Week One Winnipeg Blue Bombers vs BC Lions
I saw the odds prior to the game and decided it would be in my best interest to bet on the Lions. I like the Blue Bombers as much as any ticket holding fan but with our starting quarterback out for week one and a generally aged team it seemed like the safe place to put a few dollars.
The first drive of the season was a Blue Bomber touchdown scored less than 2 minutes into the season. Soon enough it was 10-0 for the Boys in Blue.
Gameday starts like any other. I woke at 3 in the morning and was awake long enough to consider pushing through and getting an early start on the day but was lucky enough to find an extra hour of shut eye around 4:30. 2 hours later I dragged my bleary-eyed self into work. A shot of espresso kept me upright, but things went downhill fast. The bad got worse but worse eventually got better. Before long the bad came back around and 9 hours later I slipped out the back door. Even the worst days at work come to an end at some point.
But none of that matters now because the sun is high and the Blue Bombers are back on the field for a new season. It would be hotter than it is but the smoke from wildfires near and far is hiding the sun, peaking light through a veil of misty dark orange.
BC Lions Quarterback Nathan Rourke was quick on his feet early but when he put the ball up he couldn’t find a target if he’s receivers had a bullseye on their jerseys. For his efforts running the ball, he dashed in the first Lions touchdown of the game, and it was 18-10 for the Bombers at halftime.
It being the first week of the season there’s some halftime entertainment for the 32,343 in attendance to the night’s sold out season opener. The Trews got the place on their feet, playing from the stands behind the endzone in the Coors section. Not ready to Go and American woman brought real energy to a place that was already riding a pretty good buzz of June heat, $10 beers and Blue Bomber football.
The halftime show was so good I nearly forgot we had come to watch football. When the game started back up it came with a feeling of oh, right. By the start of the second half the air had cooled noticeably. Winnipeg kicked off and we were back underway.
The Lions had clearly tightened their protection around Rourke who had spent much of the first half running for his life. A solid opening drive for the Lions was shut down by none other than Willie Jefferson, a long time favourite among Winnipeg fans.
The next drive Chris Streveler put up a couple big passes, including his second touchdown of the game with under seven minutes remaining in the 3rd quarter. What first enamoured Bomber fans with Streveler in 2019 was how he ran the ball hard and fast, plowing through defensemen with undeniable strength. His passing was hit-or-miss, but his ability to knock through defenders like the Kool Aid Man established a legacy for Streveler which he cemented by donning a fur coat and cigar while carrying the Grey Cup out of the stadium in Calgary after the Bombers won their first title since 1990.
That breakout season led Streveler to explore the NFL, bouncing between the Arizona Cardinals, Baltimore Ravens, Miami Dolphins and the New York Jets. That was 6 long years ago. His legs aren’t quite the unstoppable force they once were but he’s making the passing game look easy. His passing today is above and beyond what he has shown previously, giving Bomber fans something to talk about as our aging starter Zach Collaros is serving a one game suspension for failing to report for an off-season drug test.
The Lions responded quickly but Streveler was just as fast putting up another dime to put the Bombers up 14 at a score of 34-20.
At this point it was clear the Blue Bombers were to begin the season 1-0 and I was going to lose my bet. It’s my own fault really. I ignored my own advice: never bet against your team. Ride or die. If you think they’ll lose, so be it.
Bet against the favourite and you might come up lucky a few times. Bet against the teams whose jersey you’re wearing and you’re chancing fate. On a microscopic scale that is, but fate chanced nevertheless.
The 50/50 surpassed $400k so I may as well drop $40 into the pot in an attempt recoup my wagered losses. If someone’s walking out richer tonight I may as well throw my name in the hat. I didn’t walk away from Princess Auto Stadium any richer that night, but the Blue Bombers were able to start the 2025 season 1-0.