I've been to "rock bottom" before. I know what it looks like. I even know what it sounds and smells like. I didn't get there by choice. I was a victim of circumstances.
The strength of it's force can bend you over. Sap you of all energies and vitality. Leave you tired and confused in a world which you once mastered.
Sometimes there seems like there's no end in sight - The current rules you play along to in the game of life no longer work, as you franticly tread water waiting for a helping hand that may come to late.
For some, "breaking point" is reached. Depending on the indivdual or circumstance, it can a spectacular explosion or a slow, quiet spiral downhill.
But ..... I understand it's a challenge we all face inevitably, and if negotiated, provides a wealth of learning experiences, enabling you to emerge the other side with a complete new set of rules and the optimism of a fresh start.
2008 - Was the year the Bulldogs "broke".
And my .... wasn't it a spectacular meltodown ? In my almost 30 years of support, I've never seen an implosion like that before. It hurt to watch. It hurt to hear about it. There were times I just couldn't look. And always in the back of my mind was "US" - The fans !!! The members who spend their hard earned, and their time, and their voices, for little or NO reward other than an afternoon of bogan taunts from nuff-nuffs in the peanut gallery.
With the benefit of 20/20 hindsight, we now know, it was "EXACTLY" what the Bulldogs needed. A complete breakdown of what has occured, and a restructuring of rules so we may march forward again.
2009 - Will be the year "order was restored" !
While it's eternally pleasing we have resurrected ourselves in this fashion (with the architect being the son of our Godfather), at NO stage did I ever doubt, if we could get there. I knew it was ALL temporary. IT sucked, and it was painful as hell, but I knew .. one day, we'll be laughing !
I had NO idea it would come as swift or as unrelenting as it has.
I may have hated what was happening to us in 2008, but at no stage did I ever stop believing in us. I hated the players. I hated the coach. I hated what they were doing and what they were NOT doing. But for me, the reason I stick around is because of people like YOU !
Yes .... YOU !!! The one reading this !!!
You like Bulldogs. I like Bulldogs.
That's enough for me.
We all went through "Salary Cap" together. We all suffered the taunts of bogans after "Coffs" while walking down the street in our jersey.
We cheer together. We win together.
We lose together. We bleed together.
No matter how dark it gets. No matter how black it may look. No matter how many boots "they" lay into us while we're down. There simply is NO better collective of sporting fans anywhere in the world who have the bond, the legacy or the history that the Canterbury Bulldogs DO !
I walk down the street and get random Hello's from our folks just because I wear our logo on my person somewhere ! If not, I'll get a wink from an old fella and an approving nod ! Someone will say "cool jersey" and I'll reply, "you clearly have excellent taste, this ones a keeper lady !". Maybe I'll get a random toot of the horn and a "GO Bulldogs" from a passing car, or from a little fella standing behind me at the crossing holding his mums hand.
These people kept me afloat during 2008. And because of it, I never stopped believing.
) people commented on how great my jersey was, or gave me a smile simply because i was wearing the blue and white, it made all the jeering and bad jokes worth while! up the DOGGIES!
