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The Leader-Post from Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada • 40

Publication:
The Leader-Posti
Location:
Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
Issue Date:
Page:
40
Extracted Article Text (OCR)

REST COPY The Leader-Post Regina July 11, 1989 THE FAIRHOLM FAMILY Ex-Als star watches son rise By Nick Miliokas L-P Sports Writer wouldn't be totally accurate to say that Jeff Fairholm is following i in the footsteps of his father, Larry. He's a slotback with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, and his father played as a defensive back with the old Montreal Alouettes. The subtle difference in team and 1 position notwithstanding, it is indeed a case of: Like father, like son. "Everything I've done in my life has been a case of following in my father's footsteps," says Jeff Fairholm, beginning his second season with the Roughriders. "He's been a very strong influence in my life, a very positive influence." Larry Fairholm's career in the Canadian Football League spanned eight seasons, 1965 through 1972.

Jeff, the oldest of three children, was born in 1965, the year his dad was a rookie with the now-defunct Montreal franchise. Jeff Fairholm doesn't remember specific plays, or even specific games, from the early stages of his father's career, but he has retained the essence of what it was like growing up as the son of a football star. He recalls being taken along to weekend practices at the Autostade, where, as an impressionable four-yearold, he shagged punts and kickoffs after the workout had ended. He remembers players like Sonny Wade, the quarterback, and later Mark Kosmos, the linebacker. He remembers the thrill of being invited into the locker room, the excitement of being surrounded by people other kids saw only on television.

Most of all, he remembers Ben's, the delicatessen located just a short drive away from the stadium, where his dad would take him after practice. While the adults talked football, he would munch on his smoked meat sandwich and look at the framed pictures of Alouette players hanging on the wall. Ben's was to the Montreal Alouettes what Toe Blake's Tavern was to the Montreal Canadiens. It was a shrine to the local heroes, a place to worship, a place to dream. In 1970, the year the Alouettes won the Grey Cup by defeating Calgary 23-10, Jeff Fairholm was watching from the stands at CNE Stadium in Toronto.

He had chicken pox, but he wouldn't have missed that game for anything in the world. Fairholm played minor football in a West Island park league. At various times, he played with and against a fellow running back named Alonzo Highsmith, the son of former Alouette Wally Highsmith, who would go on to play college ball at the University of Miami and who now plays in the National Football League with the Houston Oilers. Fairholm's high school years were spent at Appleby College, a private school for boys, in Oakville, Ont. By this time, his heart was set on playing professional football.

During one of his high school games, he came to the attention of Dave Strack, the athletic director at the University of Arizona and father-in-law of Dave Singer, the head coach at Appleby College. Arizona offered Fairholm a scholarship, even though he had no high school game film to submit as evidence of his talent. He was offered the scholarship strictly on Strack's recommendation, but the Fairholm bloodlines, no doubt, had something to do with it too. Arizona is Larry Fairholm's alma mater. Fairholm, who turned down scholarship offers from Penn State and Ohio State, went to Arizona as a running back, but that changed two days into freshman camp when one of the wide receivers dove for a ball without benefit of pads and a separated his shoulder.

"I was open to anything," Fairholm says. "I was willing to do whatever they wanted, just to make an impact. That was probably the best thing that happened to me. I went from eighth-string running back to third- What's in Store depends on what sells What's in By David Moser -P Sports Writer he Saskatchewan Roughriders want to turn The Store from a marketing success into a financial success. Football fans have flocked to the Roughriders' merchandising outlet at Taylor Field and scooped up T-shirts, football jerseys, pins, spoons, hats, clocks, mugs, jackets and whatnot all festooned with the Saskatchewan Roughriders logo, name, colors or all three.

But the volume was not all the Roughriders were looking for they wanted the profit to go along with the numbers. The club is in a fiscal battle to keep itself in business, so profit and loss at The Store is critical. "It depends on how you measure success," Larry Mueller, the Roughriders' assistant general manager and The Store's supervisor, said in regard to last year. "We were successful in the fact we moved a lot of product, but we weren't successful in making it count on the bottom line. "We sold a lot of stuff, but didn't make any money." Gross receipts were approximately $400,000 in 1988, an increase of $300,000 from the first year of operation.

This year, it is hoped sales will top the $500,000 mark. Mueller said the concept of the retail outlet at Taylor Field is a good one. He said the financial aspect and the fans aspect have to balance. "It's getting better all the time," he said. "It's still only the second year, so we're still creating an awareness that it's open six days a week from 9 to 5.

That's positive. But people don't know that. "People come on game day and think that's the only time it's open, but we're open all the time." Big crowds at The Store on game day have, in fact, cost the 'Riders some sales. The crush of fans and long lineups have hurt The Store. On a good day like the Blue Jays exhibition game in May The Store sold $25,000 worth of merchandise.

Without the lineups, the teal could have been more. '89 Leader-Post photo by Robert Watson Gut might sound kind of corny, but my dad is a model father. We're a very close family, the perfect family most of the time. Jeff Fairholm string receiver in one day." Fairholm had experience catching the ball out of the backfield, but he had never played receiver. He was taught the position by a senior player, Jay Dobyns, who would later have a tryout with the Ottawa Rough Riders.

"He was a Steve Largent-type, no speed but great hands," Fairholm says. "We practised and played together, and spent hours and hours watching game films." The hard work and dedication paid off. He did not catch a single pass in his freshman year (1984) but over the next two seasons he made 46 receptions for 722 yards and three touchdowns. His fortunes changed, for the worse, in 1987. Head coach Larry Smith had moved from Arizona to Southern Cal, and his replacement was the former Hawaii coach, Dick Tomey.

The change in head coaches result- Leader photo by Robert Watson Roughriders paraphernalia for sale include shirts, jackets, jerseys, towels, caps and bandanas To alleviate the crunch, the 'Riders are putting souvenir booths on all levels of the stadium, as well as outside the east and west gates. Both covered outlets will also be open. In addition, the Roughriders are going to experiment with hawkers in the stands. "We have to experiment to see if it makes people mad to have somebody walking up and down the aisle," Mueller said. "It doesn't in, baseball because it's a slowmoving game, but in football you can't miss ed in a change in philosophy.

The 'Cats went from a passing team to a running team. Not surprisingly, Fairholm's production dropped off dramatically. He caught only six passes as a senior. "I made up my mind to retire from football," Fairholm says. "I was burned out.

I didn't have any fun my senior year, and I'm not i interested in playing unless I'm having fun. In that respect, my attitude hasn't changed a bit. As long as I'm having fun, I'll keep going. But I'm not afraid to say, 'That's When I have to drag myself to the park, I'll quit." Fairholm might have called it quits after his final year at Arizona had it not been for the dogged persistence of Dan Rambo, Saskatchewan's assistant general manager of player personnel. "Dan Rambo is the main reason I'm a Saskatchewan Roughrider," Fairholm says.

"If he hadn't shown the interest, I doubt I'd be playing pro football today." The Roughriders made Fairholm their first selection in the 1988 college draft. He was the second pick overall, behind Orville Lee of the Ottawa Rough Riders. Both teams chose wisely. At the Schenley Awards last November, Lee won as the most outstanding rookie and Fairholm was the runner-up. Fairholm's numbers as a rookie (45 catches, 833 yards, 10 touchdowns) surprised even his coaches.

John Gregory had been planning to bring him along slowly, but Fairholm won a starting assignment in training camp and was one of the reasons Saskatchewan made the playoffs for the first time in 12 years. Larry Fairholm, now 46 years old and following his son's career with interest, says: "I've always been proud of Jeff, primarily as a person, secondarily as an athlete. Not to put any pressure on him, but he's just starting to show his potential." Pressure is something Larry and Joyce Fairholm have tried not to put on any of their children Jeff (23), Randy (21), and Joy (17). They know there is a fine line that separates support and encouragement from pushiness and stage-parenting. "My dad made it clear to me that it was my decision," Jeff Fairholm says.

"It might sound kind of corny, but my dad is a model father. We're a very close family, the perfect family most of the time." Says Larry Fairholm: "I downplay the father-andson thing. There's no pressure on Jeff from me. If I think he's doing something stupid, as an individual, I'll chastise him for it. But i if it has to do with football, I don't interfere.

"Maybe," he adds, "it's easier if you're an athlete yourself. As a former athlete, I would hope that I have an appreciation for what he's going Jeff Fairholm is married to his college sweetheart, Susan, whom he met at a Super Bowl party in Tucson. He was taking marketing; she was studying to become a nurse. They live and work in Regina the year 'round. Fairholm works for Innova Office Furnishings, preparing himself for the day he retires from football and takes over his father's business, B.D.I.

Facilities Management, a firm which designs and sells office furniture. There have been times when Jeff Fairholm has wondered what it would be like to run a pattern against his father, and Larry Fairholm has wondered what it would be like to defend against his son. The closest they have come to finding out was the day in Oakville, the year after Jeff Fairholm's freshman season at Arizona, when Jeff's high school quarterback made their fantasy a reality, sort of. "I'm in pretty good shape," Larry Fairholm says, "but Jeff was beating me all over the place. I was tired, but I said, 'One He ran a post-corner pattern.

When he ran the post, I didn't react, so when he cut for the corner, I was right there. I didn't have to move. I knocked him down." "He knocked me down with one of his famous forearms," Jeff Fairholm says. "It was the sort of thing that makes me glad I didn't have to play against him." all comes through us. "So anything the coaches are wearing can be bought here.

How many people in Chicago bought one of those sideline sweaters that say "BEARS" because (head coach) Mike Ditka wears one? Where can get it or is it just for the coach?" The Store is also going to have more control over the quality of its merchandise. The color and layout are all going to be coordinated. "Sometimes we got carried away last year," Mueller said. "We had blacks. We're not black.

We're green-and-white, with a little silver. "There were 10 different greens. We want one color kelly green. We're in control now and totally responsible. When we make a mistake, we're going to feel it.

So we have to be sure on the merchandise." The Store is also looking at its inventory. "We're not going to carry 100 lines of Mueller said. "We're going to narrow the lines and bring in a product that will sell. We're going to slim the inventory down. We're going to go on a week-to-week basis." That doesn't mean there will be a reduced choice in The Store.

It means that instead of 100 kinds of seat cushions last year, there will now be one. Mueller added that the seven other Canadian Football League teams are constantly quizzing general manager Al Ford at league meetings about the success of The Store's operation. Mueller said The Store will continue as long as it produces profit for the team. "The Taylor Field offices are cramped for space," Mueller said. "'The Store's space could be used elsewhere.

We can't afford to give up space like that and not make money on it. If we're not in it full bore, turn around and close it." Mueller said the team hopes to show $100,000 profit from its projected $500,000 in sales in 1989. "We think we want to pocket, after all costs, 18 to 20 per cent so $100,000," Mueller said. "That's an awful lot of work for $100,000. But the other side of the coin is that a lot of people are wearing the greenand-white and that's positive." any plays.

We'll play it by ear during the The biggest seller in The Store is the sofirst couple of games." called sideline sweater with the word Mueller added that the 'Riders are not "ROUGHRIDERS" printed across the midworried about saturating the market with dle. It is worn by the coaching staff during green-and-white souvenirs. They feel there games and personal appearances that is will always be a market. a conscious marketing strategy by The "How many blue jeans can you sell? No- Store. body ever runs out of blue jeans there's "Our biggest sales people are our always a different market," Mueller said.

Mueller said. "In the past, "The only thing we have to do is, once we (equipment manager) Normie Fong would get the fans here, we have to make money go and order all the stuff he needed for the on then! coaches without checking up here. Now it.

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