What I did not expect to see at work today:)

Now let me start off my saying....I know shit about football. When Denver is playing on our TV, I strategically scamper off to my 'crapbooking room & disappear for hours of uninterrupted bliss....

On that note, I'll tell you the rest of the story...

This morning I got to see the Grey Cup, In Person. I'm not completely stupid, I know what the Grey Cup is, but I just did not expect to see it at work:) Its an awesome old trophy, full of history, and makes you pause and go "awe" at first sight. I can only imagine the tears of joy & showers of sweat this cup has seen over the years. It is amazing & makes me understand a wee bit more why they all chase that ball around. Hell I'd be proud as hell to have that cup at my house:)

Let me say, Mr "JP" you were a very nice man to show my co-worker & I that cup. Thank you again:)

Here's the Cup in It's Case, ready for transport:)

My Co-Worker standing next to the cup:) Notice Plastic Santa in the Background...lol

Now, me - I REFUSED to take a picture next to it:) I look like hell in the morning anyway:) I did decide that I would take a picture of my hand. How do you know that's mine? Hello! Take a looky at that awesome ring there....yep...I'm still wearing it & I'll still be wearing it 35 years from now:)LOL (Now to go knock on some wood...lololol)

So......I still think that Grey Cup is really cool....I may even watch next year's game:)

Below: That's JP & I copied and pasted the Windsor Star's Story:)

Tecumseh's J.P. Bekasiak of the Montreal Alouettes shows off the Grey Cup Monday at Johnny Shotz Billiard Bar and Cafe.
Photograph by: Scott Webster, The Windsor Star, The Windsor Star

Bekasiak brings home Grey Cup

The smile on J.P. Bekasiak's face Monday left his father with a warm feeling.

Cut by one Canadian Football League club and left in limbo for nearly a month before landing with the Montreal Alouettes, Bekasiak paraded around his parents' home hoisting the Grey Cup.

"It's a significant achievement," said his dad, P. Antoni Bekasiak.

"It's nice how he is with the Cup. He's proud and looking forward."

Bekasiak and his wife Grazyna left Poland in 1981 and came to Canada when their oldest child Kamila was just eight months old.

The family stopped in Edmonton, where J.P. and his sister Ann Marie were born.

The family then moved to Wingham, where brother Anthony was born. They settled in the Windsor area in 1991.

At six-foot-six and 280 pounds, it would only seem natural that J.P. would have played football, but the family had no history with the game.

"J.P. was always into something," Bekasiak said.

"He was in soccer for a long while. He was quick in soccer and then he moved to basketball."

It wasn't until Grade 12 that J.P. finally hit the football field and his father encouraged the move.

"I thought he had the physical attributes for football," Bekasiak said.

A year of high school football and a one-year stop with the Windsor AKO Fratmen eventually led to a scholarship at the University of Toledo.

A first-round pick by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Bekasiak thought he had found a home.

Brother Anthony even followed him this year to play football at McMaster.

J.P. Bekasiak, bounced from defense to offense and back to defense, was cut by Hamilton in the spring and waited a month before landing in Montreal.

He shed 40 pounds, moved back to defense and battled his way from the practice roster onto the dress roster for the Grey Cup.

In one of the most dramatic turn of events in CFL history, Montreal rallied from a 16-point deficit in the fourth quarter to win the 97th Grey Cup.

Agony turned to ecstasy when Montreal kicker Damon Duval missed a would-be game-winning field goal only to see Saskatchewan called for too many men on the field.

Moving 10-yards closer, Duval hit the winner for a 28-27 victory.

"Those last five minutes were really difficult for me and a lot of guys," Bekasiak said. "It was really draining."

Bekasiak said even the post-game celebration was subdued.

"Everyone was tired from the emotional roller-coaster," Bekasiak said.

"We were just more relieved we won."

His personal celebration kicked off Sunday when Bekasiak got his turn with the Grey Cup, which will last until early today.

He's been hastily calling family and friends to see the Cup and share in his joy.

"It just rekindles all the memories of what a difficult year it was and what I had to do to get (the Cup)," Bekasiak said. "It's nice to share it with people who know what I've gone through the last year."

jparker@thestar.canwest.com or 519-255-5784
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