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November 10, 2018

“It’ll happen. It’ll happen.”

WINNIPEG, MB - JULY 21, 2016: The Calgary Stampeders won 33-18 against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Investor's Group Field on Thursday night.

The large, wet flakes of snow beginning to swirl inside McMahon late Saturday morning made an apropos backdrop for a guy talking about perhaps finally, after eight years of climbing, planting a flag at the top of his professional Everest.

On three occasions since migrating north, Bakari Grant has found himself within hailing distance of the summit, of being able to take in the breathtaking view from the absolute top, only to be turned away.

In 2013, a 24-point Rider second quarter condemned his Hamilton Tiger-Cats to a 43-25 loss at Mosaic Stadium, sending the Saskatchewan flatlands into green-hued raptures.

In 2014, as everyone hereabouts remembers with relish, a hankie on the field at BC Place as lickety-split Brandon Banks set sail into the Calgary Stampeders’ end zone on a late punt return flipped the dream into nightmare.

Then in 2016, as everyone hereabouts remembers with chagrin, the agony was prolonged into OT before being denied by the Ottawa RedBlacks in the cruelest possible fashion.

“I mean, I think the difference between being older and younger,’’ reckons the 31-year-old Grant, “is that when you’re younger and you get a taste, you automatically think that’s the way it’s supposed to be; that you’ll be headed to Grey Cups every November.

“You lose one, maybe two, and just figure: ‘It’ll happen. It’ll happen.’ And then, suddenly, you’ve been around awhile, seven or eight years, and it still hasn’t happened.

“I played with guys like Marwan (Hage) who never even even had the opportunity to play for a Grey Cup over a 10-,11-year career. You can be at the top of the game, be an all-star every year and never get the chance to win one.

“So I understand how much of an opportunity this is. You see guys all day on social media at this time of year: ‘Hey, flights booked, heading home to start off-season training.’

“I mean, you never want to be doing that in November.”

Three trips to the prom. Three times a wallflower. The man has to feel he’s owed.

“It’s always painful. They all hurt. But to pick one? Obviously, ’14. Being on the other side, thinking you’d won, having guys celebrating on the sidelines, on the field, feeling that ‘Yes!’ sensation, only to have it taken away … that’s as tough as it gets. Then going back, watching the film a million times and realizing the call could’ve gone either way.

“For me, I’d say ’13 was the most special. We weren’t even supposed to be there. Nobody at the beginning of the year was picking us to go anywhere, do anything. We go out and get a new head coach, don’t have home field and game in the playoffs and still reach the Grey Cup.

“Just a bunch of guys, fighting.

“Then the last one, when I was here with Calgary, down on the two-yard line, we can’t get the go-ahead touchdown, take the field goal, andlare … a heartbreaker.

“None of them sit easy.”

Grant, of course, had been at home in Oakland, staying in shape after unexpectedly being cut by Saskatchewan at the end of training camp, when the Stamps called in mid-October at the height of their bordering-on-unbelievable injury epidemic at the receiver positions.

He jumped at the offer.

Asked if his career would seem somehow incomplete if he doesn’t ever get that elusive ring, Grant interrupts with an admonishing tut-tut.

“No, no,’’ he cuts in, “there is no ‘don’t get it …’

“The big thing about Grey Cups, about playoffs, whether this is your first year or your last, if you don’t cherish the moments, you’ve missed out. And you’ll always feel that way.

“I mean, you’re with the guys, with your pack. You’ve got to live it up. Look at me out here this week at practice. I’m having a ball. Savouring every minute. This is what I love to do. I love being around my teammates. I love competing.

“Two wins away. It’s not gonna be easy. It never is. But we’ve a real good chance here.”

Catches. Yards. Touchdowns. Headlines. All-Star nods. Acclaim.

All well and good, fine and dandy.

But that ring, the bling, is the thing.

One more – one last? – assault on the summit, the chance to enjoy that breathtaking view after finally planting his flag eight years into the climb.

“That,’’ says Bakari Grant, as if anyone needed reminding, “is why I’m here.”