Gordon Sinclair, Jr. reports in the Winnipeg Free Press:
I had lost hope in the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Not the team.
Not the hope of the Bombers winning a Grey Cup in my lifetime or even having a winning season.
No, I’d lost hope that my campaign to have the organization erect a statute in honour of Bud Grant and all that would represent and mean to the organization and the community, had not only failed, it had been ignored.
Board chairman Brock Bulbuck had suggested when we spoke last year that it was an appealing idea. But it was a year ago this month that I wrote the first of three columns explaining why a statute to the iconic Bomber coach should be placed outside Investors Group Field.
I went on to say I had heard there had already been talk of a statue to Grant among those tasked with honouring the team’s tradition, but the statue concept needed a nudge.
“Consider this a big nudge,” I wrote. “Furthermore, consider this: The Bombers should start a fund to commission a statue to Grant…”
A year passed.
The team, I reasoned, had more pressing matters, and gradually I lost hope the statue would happen in Grant’s lifetime, if ever.
Then last Friday an email arrived, it was a courtesy message delivered by Kim Babij-Gesell, the team’s co-ordinator of communications.
H/T to The Viking Age, who helpfully rounded up a few career highlights for Grant:
If you’re not familiar with Mr. Bud Grant, here are some astounding facts about the man:
- 1st round draft pick in 1950 (#14 overall)
- Played for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1951-1952
- Played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers from 1953-1956
- Coached the Winnipeg Blue Bombers from 1957-1966
- Coached the Minnesota Vikings from 1967-1983
- Returned to coach the Vikings for the 1985 season
- 1965 CFL Coach of the Year
- 1969 NFL Coach of the Year
- Holds the CFL record for most interceptions in a playoff game (5)
- Member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame
- Member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame
- Coached the 1969 NFL Champion Vikings
- 3rd most successful professional football coach in history (290 wins)
- Played in the NBA for the Minneapolis Lakers (4th round draft pick)
- Only person in history to play in both the NFL and the NBA
After looking over that huge list of accomplishments, it isn’t hard to believe that a statue would be put up in Bud Grant’s honor. The statue will be erected at Investors Group Field in Winnipeg, Manitoba this fall according to Kim Babij-Gesell, the coordinator of communications for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
