Great
Big Sea released their third Canadian
album 'play' during the Summer of 1998. The first hit
single from their new album release was entitled 'Ordinary
Day'. Concurrent with the release was the country-wide
airing of the rock video on the MuchMusic
network. The video was a big hit and quickly rose to the top
of the charts.
'Ordinary Day' has a rugby theme so the rock video
producers wanted to stage a simulated rugby game with real
rugby players as "extras". The Lions were contacted because
our home pitch is Sunnybrook Park
- an ideal setting for the video. As producers are known to
do, they changed their minds and decided to shoot the video
at Marilyn Bell Park - home pitch of the XL's
RFC (Over 40's club) - along the shores of Lake Ontario.
Since our 1st XV were playing somewhere out-of-town, the 2nd
XV received the honours to be rock video stars for the day.
About time the 2nd XV received some recognition! University
of Toronto RFC were their scheduled competition for that
sunny June day. It was agreed to do the production after the
league fixture for a generous stipend and all the beer we
could drink - AFTER the production was completed. That did
not go over very well with the players! It was a scorcher
of a day with little breeze off the lake. More like a sweat
box.
The production went on for something like four hours with
retake after retake. That's usual fare but try explaining
that to thirsty rugby players who were knackered before the
shoot even started! When it was all said and done, everyone
was so exhausted that they gladly accepted the cases of beer
and retired to a house party to meet up with the Felines and
1st XV. It was often overheard during the course of the evening
that endless scrummaging and tackling scenes provided the
most grueling "fitness session" ever endured!
And
I say way-hey-hey,
it's just an ordinary day
and it's all your state of mind
At the end of the day,
you've just got to sayit's all right.
Alas, their match fitness and rugby skills improved significantly
from that day forward. Perhaps it was subtle coincidence but
our 2nd XV had their first winning season in three years!
No, it wasn't "just an ordinary day".
It's
up to you now if you sink or swim
Just keep the faith and your ship will come in.
