WILLIE PILE
It’s been a while since I’ve last shared a playlist song with all of you. I took a break to blog about the daily activities during our TD Atlantic trip and since then, I’ve been loading up my music catalogue to bring you a playlist song for every week through the playoffs.
This week’s song is from the movie “8 Mile” starring Eminem. The song is called “Lose Yourself” and I chose this song because it tells a story of taking advantage of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and totally focusing on the moment that matters.
The hook goes, “Lose yourself in the music, the moment, you own it, better never let it go. You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow, this opportunity comes once in a lifetime.”
This song applies to all six franchises who earn playoff berths this season, but specifially for me and my Argos, who’ve claimed a playoff spot after two years of disappointment, it takes on greater importance.
After being spoiled my first year (2007) in the CFL by hosting the East Final, only to lose and miss out on the Grey Cup in Toronto, I thought it would be easy to get back to the final and play for a chance to hoist the Cup. Then reality struck and seven wins in two seasons makes you cherish the opportunities when they come.
With everyone outside of our locker room questioning our championship legitimacy, I keep going back to what my former coach Bill Parcells used to say and that is, “Just get into the tournament, because in the ‘2nd season’, anything can happen.”
The team that gets hot and can put together a two or three-game winning streak when it counts will ultimately earn their names engraved in history.
The challenge for us is to lose ourselves in the moment and own it and to not miss the opportunity to succeed because this team as presently constructed will never be together again.
The preamble to the quest starts this Sunday in our regular season finale vs. Montreal as we look to sharpen our game plans & techniques that will give us the greatest opportunity to win the Grey Cup.