Choosing between loyalties

Andy Fantuz will find comfort and appreciation from the fans in Hamilton, but it will be interesting to see what kind of reception he receives when the Cats play in Regina, where the talented receiver is loved by the fans – or perhaps was loved.

Following his signing with the Tiger-Cats on Friday -- spurning an offer to re-sign with the Riders after playing his entire six-year career with Saskatchewan -- Fantuz effectively turned his back on the franchise. If past history with new teammate Henry Burris is any indication, Fantuz could be headed for a rough ride when he returns to Riderville wearing the Ticat colours on July 28.

Burris has become accustomed to a lustful chorus of boos from the Rider fans after he bolted the franchise following three seasons in Regina to sign a free-agent deal with Calgary in 2005. We’re not sure if the fact Burris is now with Hamilton after an off-season trade with Calgary will cause Rider Nation to change their thoughts about him. Then again, he may be joined by Fantuz in the Rider doghouse.

The announcement of Fantuz’s decision to leave the Riders happened on the same day 17-year veteran Gene Makowsky announced his retirement. Makowsky, a five-time CFL all-star and twice voted the Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman in the Canadian Football League, simply could not juggle his playing career with his political career.

Last year, he became an elected Member of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan, where he is essentially a rookie. The Roughriders actively pursued and signed two Canadian offensive linemen, Brendan LaBatte and Dominic Picard, in free agency knowing they had to address that area of the team. Makowsky had already made his decision and had told the team, so it was just a question of when it would be announced. Hanging up his cleats allowed the Roughriders to use his salary to pursue other players and leave some money in the kitty if Fantuz decided to re-sign.

The news of Makowsky’s retirement and the press conference announcing it leaked out at roughly the same time that news of Fantuz’s decision started to filter in. It’s either a hell of a coincidence, or a strategic move by Rider management to soften the blow fans must have felt when losing a star player to another team.

Fantuz’s decision to leave is directly related to his desire to play closer to his place of birth in Chatham. The fact he played at the University of Western Ontario didn’t hurt, but the chance to play in front of family and friends was too great to pass up. You can’t blame him for wanting to take advantage of that opportunity.

By staying in Saskatchewan, he would have sacrificed a more lucrative contract than Hamilton was offering – think about it, would he leave for the same amount of money? – but wouldn’t have to re-invent himself on another team. He was a star in Regina – a cereal box called Fantuz Flakes bore his name – and enjoyed business opportunities outside of football. That’s how crazy the community/province is about Rider players, notably the stars.

Going to Hamilton he now becomes the feature receiver on a team that has worked hard in the off-season to change its offence with the acquisition of Burris, the signing of free agent running back Martell Mallett and the hiring of head coach George Cortez, whose background is on the offensive side of the ball. There is reason for Ticat fans to be optimistic about the team’s offence this year after its lack of production resulted in the firing of head coach Marcel Bellefeuille, the trading of quarterback Kevin Glenn and the recent release of running back Avon Cobourne, a high-priced free agent who really didn’t produce as he had in Montreal, hence he’s gone after only a year.

Fantuz will likely be featured on and off the field far more in Hamilton than in Regina. They’ll go on an all-out blitz to market him, and he’s shown in the past he likes that role. It’s a good fit for him and the team.

The Cats haven’t won the Grey Cup since 1999 and have struggled just to make the playoffs since Bob Young bought the team after the 2003 season. He and current president Scott Mitchell have tried every formula to cobble together a winning team: signing or trading for big-name players, while hiring coaches and general managers with successful pasts. Maybe this will be the Ticats’ year to finally go all the way to the Cup and win. Young deserves to at least experience that feeling for all the time, effort and money he has pumped into the Ticats.

Burris had a disappointing season last year, which led to his trade, while Fantuz struggled upon his return from a failed tryout with the Chicago Bears and was forced to shut it down before the season ended with a wonky ankle. But the season before, Fantuz led the CFL in receiving yards and was voted the Most Outstanding Canadian Player. This year will be a challenge for him to find the form from two years ago and earn his worth in his new home.

He’ll find out later this year how the Rider fans feel about him when he returns to his former football home.

His first regular-season game with the Ticats is against the Roughriders on Canada Day.

If it’s true that there is a Rider fan in every part of the country, then there will likely be some Rider Priders in Hamilton, cheering for their beloved team – the one that used to include Fantuz.

Perry Lefko keeps you connected to all the news in the CFL on sportsnet.ca. He is also a regular contributor on other sports, including the UFC.