The moment would earn a place in history, but Saskatchewan Roughrider and placekicker, Dave Ridgeway, didn’t know that. He was just doing what he did best – kick the ball. But when he drew back his foot in the closing moments of the 77th Grey Cup game in 1989, he thrust that oval pigskin clear to a 35-yard field goal. His kick edged the Roughriders to 43 on the scoreboard, three points past the opposing Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

Well, the West didn’t win the 100th Grey Cup game on Sunday, November 26th. The Centennial Grey Cup – just in case you missed it – landed in the East. The Toronto Argonauts community will celebrate all year. Calgary is likely already planning a comeback. No doubt our Riders are doing the same.

The government recognizes the passion so many of us have for our favourite professional sports teams. That’s one reason why it has commemorated the 100th Anniversary of the Grey Cup games in several ways. Prime Minister Harper, who attended the game, noted those ways, including a Grey Cup 100 Train, the Grey Cup festival in Toronto, the 100th Grey Cup one-dollar coin, and my personal favourite, a special series of Grey Cup stamps produced by Canada Post. Each team has its own stamp, and each stamp portrays a memorable moment from a past Grey Cup.

You’ve likely seen some of those stamps. Dave Ridgeway’s kick is portrayed in the background of the Roughrider stamp. In the foreground is another legendary past team member, George Reed, voted the MVP of the 54th Grey Cup, when the Riders defeated Ottawa. I was fortunate to personally attend this game in Vancouver. I collect stamps for fun, and that stamp is sitting on my desk, torn from a recent piece of correspondence. (By the way, you don’t need to add a stamp when mailing a letter to your M.P.)

Temporary diversion and enjoyment is only one reason to appreciate football – or any other professional sport. Besides generating positive (and other) feelings, pro-sports leagues generate dollars. Ultimately, each team is a business. Each win stabilizes their franchise financially.

According to a report by the Conference Board of Canada, which has undertaken an analysis of the pro-sports market in Canada, professional sports teams generate at least 1.5 billion dollars annually. Extrapolating information from the three Western CFL teams, public financial reporting suggests the league brings in between $120 and $150 million annually. Keeping our sports leagues strong is one means, among many, to keep Canada strong.

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The audio version of Garry's Dec. 3, 2012 op-ed column can be heard by clicking here