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MARCUS ALLEN felt the tears welling up as the clock ticked down at Frank Clair Stadium. He felt a big brother's pride, felt the significance of what he was watching.
His eyes, big and brown and liquid, the eyes that have seen just about all there is to see in the NFL and Super Bowls, saw something else last night.
Marcus Allen saw something special at the 92nd Grey Cup.
His eyes reflected what he felt while watching his little brother as he stood near the middle of the field amid the blue-and-white streamers that had fallen after Damon Allen and the Toronto Argonauts won the 2004 CFL championship last night.
He stood a few feet away from where they had lifted the Cup and his brother, at age 41, was named the game's most valuable player.
"It was important for me to see my little brother play. I should say my brother," said Marcus Allen, the former NFL great and Hall of Famer. "We have a tight family and it runs deep.
''It was just an honour to see my brother do this. He's such a good guy. To see him play, to see him happy. He's my brother, but he's also my friend."
FOUND RHYTHM
After a slow start, Marcus's little brother found his rhythm, took over the game with his athleticism and leadership, and directed an Argos offence that many said couldn't and made sure that it did.
He projected an air, sent a message with his look and his body language, and without saying anything, told his teammates that this would be their night.
"Damon was in the zone," said offensive lineman Sandy Annunziata. "I was talking with the other linemen and we saw it in Damon's eyes. We said, 'Number 9 is in the zone.' Man, was he on and it couldn't come at a better time.
"He's been in the league for 20 years. You know when he's on and when he's not on by his eyes, his body language, his play calling.
"It was contagious. He's not just the MVP of this game. He's the MVP of this league, hands down."
Argos guard Jude St. John watched Allen from across the packed Toronto dressing room last night, watched as the grandfather posed with three generations of his family.
"Good job, grandpa," he shouted.
"We said all week that if we could keep the B.C. defence away from him and give him time to throw, he'd tear them up," said St. John.
He has seen Damon's "look."
"It's really hard to describe," said St. John. "He doesn't look aggressive. It's almost a passive look. You just know he is not going to be fazed. He had it tonight. He had it all week.
''You could see in his eyes he was not going to be stopped (last night)."
So Damon Allen adds more to the legend, adds another layer to a story that defies time, defies logic, defies the belief that this is a young man's game.
"He's a grandfather," said St. John. "Even to be playing this game past 40 is unbelievable. To go into the Grey Cup and be the MVP has got to be up there with crazy things. He's not slowing down.
''Somebody said if we win the Grey Cup, he should retire. He doesn't need to. He can still play."
Marcus Allen said he has seen no hint that his brother is considering retirement, nor should he.
"I played longer than anyone (in the NFL)," said Marcus. "We're a lot younger physically. When he's healthy, he can still run and do the things necessary. He still shows emotion.
NO SURPRISE
"Nothing he does surprises me. I said when I went into the Hall of Fame that every run, hit, hurt and pain, I did it for the Allen family and Damon is the same way," said Marcus. "He did it for us, too, and for his teammates and Toronto."
This was Marcus Allen's first Grey Cup.
"I picked a good one to come to," he said. ]
damon broke his fibia(SP) in august but was still able to make it back.
His eyes, big and brown and liquid, the eyes that have seen just about all there is to see in the NFL and Super Bowls, saw something else last night.
Marcus Allen saw something special at the 92nd Grey Cup.
His eyes reflected what he felt while watching his little brother as he stood near the middle of the field amid the blue-and-white streamers that had fallen after Damon Allen and the Toronto Argonauts won the 2004 CFL championship last night.
He stood a few feet away from where they had lifted the Cup and his brother, at age 41, was named the game's most valuable player.
"It was important for me to see my little brother play. I should say my brother," said Marcus Allen, the former NFL great and Hall of Famer. "We have a tight family and it runs deep.
''It was just an honour to see my brother do this. He's such a good guy. To see him play, to see him happy. He's my brother, but he's also my friend."
FOUND RHYTHM
After a slow start, Marcus's little brother found his rhythm, took over the game with his athleticism and leadership, and directed an Argos offence that many said couldn't and made sure that it did.
He projected an air, sent a message with his look and his body language, and without saying anything, told his teammates that this would be their night.
"Damon was in the zone," said offensive lineman Sandy Annunziata. "I was talking with the other linemen and we saw it in Damon's eyes. We said, 'Number 9 is in the zone.' Man, was he on and it couldn't come at a better time.
"He's been in the league for 20 years. You know when he's on and when he's not on by his eyes, his body language, his play calling.
"It was contagious. He's not just the MVP of this game. He's the MVP of this league, hands down."
Argos guard Jude St. John watched Allen from across the packed Toronto dressing room last night, watched as the grandfather posed with three generations of his family.
"Good job, grandpa," he shouted.
"We said all week that if we could keep the B.C. defence away from him and give him time to throw, he'd tear them up," said St. John.
He has seen Damon's "look."
"It's really hard to describe," said St. John. "He doesn't look aggressive. It's almost a passive look. You just know he is not going to be fazed. He had it tonight. He had it all week.
''You could see in his eyes he was not going to be stopped (last night)."
So Damon Allen adds more to the legend, adds another layer to a story that defies time, defies logic, defies the belief that this is a young man's game.
"He's a grandfather," said St. John. "Even to be playing this game past 40 is unbelievable. To go into the Grey Cup and be the MVP has got to be up there with crazy things. He's not slowing down.
''Somebody said if we win the Grey Cup, he should retire. He doesn't need to. He can still play."
Marcus Allen said he has seen no hint that his brother is considering retirement, nor should he.
"I played longer than anyone (in the NFL)," said Marcus. "We're a lot younger physically. When he's healthy, he can still run and do the things necessary. He still shows emotion.
NO SURPRISE
"Nothing he does surprises me. I said when I went into the Hall of Fame that every run, hit, hurt and pain, I did it for the Allen family and Damon is the same way," said Marcus. "He did it for us, too, and for his teammates and Toronto."
This was Marcus Allen's first Grey Cup.
"I picked a good one to come to," he said. ]
damon broke his fibia(SP) in august but was still able to make it back.
the boatmen pulled it off... I did not think that they would get past Montreal... but with calvio going down and Kwame Cavil on the sidelines, the Toronto defense stepped it up and kept on the roll they created against the Ti-Cats... This win should be great for football in Toronto and Southern Ontario... look forward to the big parade on Tues. also for those of you who did not watch the game...do not disrespect something that you do not know... if you would have taken the time to watch the game then i would be able to tolerate your blows at the CFL but you cannot make fun and disrespect something that you are ignorant about... its a different style of game and fun to watch for many canadians and americans alike... give things a chance.. you just might find something you like...(you dont have to hate the CFL to be a fan of the NFL). Ignorance may be bliss but its also a sad way of looking at life.
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