It wasn't supposed to be this way! Chris Szarka broke into the CFL in 1997 as a young fresh-faced rookie fullback whom the great Geoff Currier once described as somebody whose "gonna be a phenominal football player!" Wearing number 32 to start his career, Szarka surrendered the number when Mike Saunders returned to the football team late that season. Chris would switch over to number 33, a label which fans would later consider the trusty 'Szark' who plays each game like it's his last. That young rookie would get to play in a Grey Cup that November to remember and looked like he was a part of something special developing for the Rider nation. Unfortunately we sit a decade later and 'Szark' still hasn't seen a home playoff game. The one chance this grizzled vet may ever get to play in that long dreamed about game, has gone up in smoke. His partially severed fingers will keep him out of Sunday's Rider-Stampeder game. It would be nice to see the Roughriders somehow honour Szarka with a chance to take part in the pregame festivities or somehow get the spotlight on Sunday when fans could salute this longtime warrior. After all, Rider nation knows he's earned it!
(Rider fullback Chris Szarka will watch Sunday's western semi-final from the sidelines)
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