In another game where the Bombers were in it until they were not, the Bombers fell to 3-2 on the season and lost again to Calgary. But on Friday night, something more important than football happened.

In front of a packed house at Princess Auto Stadium over 32,000 fans welcomed back Milt Stegall – including myself and my son. Unless you have been living under a rock, and whatever team you cheer for, you know that Milt Stegall is a legend in Winnipeg. The fans love him, he loves the fans, and he is still very connected to the city even with charity events.

But in heartbreaking news, just over a month ago, Milt Stegall’s son, Chase, passed away suddenly. So when Stegall stepped back from football for a while nobody faulted him, not one bit. And while the Bombers lost big time against Calgary on Friday night, humanity won.

We live in a ever increasing polarizing world. There is so much out there that can divide us and cause people to be at odds with each other. And guaranteed, in a stadium of over 32,000 fans there would be enough differences around issues that could cause a lot of division. But sports can bring people together especially when they are cheering for the same team.

However, on Friday night, many people came together for another reason; not just to cheer on a great previous Bomber, but to stand in solidarity with the man Milt Stegall and his family. And the standing ovation just did not end.

And Milt’s response,

“That tops everything in my Winnipeg Blue Bombers career right there,” he said. “When I broke the touchdown record, when I had that last second catch (100 yarder), anything, that tops everything and nothing comes close. I wasn’t expecting the emotion. It wasn’t just cheers that were coming out, it was ‘We’re with you, Milt.’ That’s what it felt like. ‘Your pain is our pain’ but we’re all going to get through it.

“I’m not surprised, but it was still unexpected. It was good. It was good. It was good.

So while the Bombers did not win, fell 3-2, and are now in third place in the West chasing the pack, perspective was experienced on Friday night. Yes, football is a game, yes football is a livelihood for some, but family should always come first. And for Milt Stegall, when he was facing this reality head on (likely as he has numerous times before) and during his journey of pain and healing, Bomber fans reached out and tried to give back to him just a bit of what he has given us.

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