| Angry fans trash CFL kicker's house after miss
REGINA, Saskatchewan (AP) - Angry fans trashed the house of a Canadian Football League kicker after he missed a short field goal in overtime of a playoff game.
Saskatchewan's Paul McCallum missed an 18-yard attempt and the Roughriders lost the CFL West final to the British Columbia Lions 27-25 on Sunday in Vancouver. Within hours, eggs were thrown at his home and manure dumped on his lawn.
"We're taking it very seriously," Regina police spokeswoman Elizabeth Popowich said Monday. "I think everyone is really dismayed by this sort of event."
Popowich said police received the first call saying McCallum's house had been pelted with eggs about an hour after the game. While his wife was out cleaning up the mess, a second vehicle pulled up in a neighbor's driveway and dumped the manure.
Soon after, another vehicle passed by and the people inside allegedly made "threats against the property of the home owner," Popowich said.
She would not elaborate on the threats.
Mark Conrad Lehmond, 31, was charged with making threats and is scheduled to appear in court Dec. 15. Police were still investigating.
Saskatchewan's politicians even weighed in, with MLA Glenn Hagel rising in the house to offer McCallum support.
"I would ask all members to join with me in condemning the actions of a few and in offering our support to Paul McCallum and his family," Hagel said.
McCallum missed two field goals during the game. After his second miss, which would have given Saskatchewan a three-point lead, McCallum fell to the turf and lay on his back, holding his helmet with his hands.
"I didn't do my job," he said. "I pulled it. I was trying to hit it straight. I mis-hit it. I let a lot of people down, especially the guys in this locker room."
The miss was worth one point because the ball was not brought out of the end zone, giving the Roughriders a 25-24 lead. But B.C. kicker Duncan O'Mahony then hit a 40-yard field goal for the win and a trip to the Grey Cup against Toronto on Sunday.
That's Saskatchewan for you!
Those prairie folks need a little excitement once in a while. | |
