A day before the Montreal Alouettes beat the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Gray Cup game, quarterback Cody Fajardo gave a speech to motivate the troops that gave you chills.
A practicing Catholic, the American is not a man who swears a lot. Now, for an occasion like this, he was not going to miss the opportunity to support his words with a few well-placed blasphemies.
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In his address to his teammates, Fajardo talked about the pundits’ low expectations and the underdog role the Sparrows have embraced so well.
“When I signed here it was crazy because I remember the first predictions about the rankings of teams in the league. Or [les experts] had they placed us? Ninths,” he recalled in the preamble, in a video shared Tuesday by the Alouettes.
“I remember being at home and watching this. I said to myself: “Fuck you! Watch us go!” That’s what I said,” he said, accompanying his words with a bang on a table.
“When we lost four in a row and they said we were going to have a losing record… Fuck you! You will see!”
“When they said, ‘You’re not going to host a playoff game.’ What did I say? Will make you see! You will see!”
“You won’t beat the Argonauts and their 16-2 record.” Will make you see! You will see!”
“You’re not going to beat the Winnipeg team. Cody, you’re 0-9 against Zach Collaros.” What did I say? Will make you see! You will see!”
“That’s what I’m going to bring tomorrow,” Fajardo concluded. I will give everything, as I know you will give everything. Win or lose, I love you guys. It’s so much better when you win a cup. The memories created are so much better.”
Inspired by the speech of the man who would later be named MVP of the final, the Alouettes beat the Bombers 28 to 24 on Sunday at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton. We bet that Fajardo will once again have a speech in his pocket on Wednesday during the parade of champions in Montreal.