Annunziata: The best of what to see, do, and drink at the 101st Grey Cup

It's not every day the CFL community gets to experience the cold and quirky, football-crazy landscape that is the City of Regina. Where Rider Green is the official colour of an entire province and domed stadiums are for wimps, this year’s Grey Cup, the 101st, promises to be special. And for those unfortunate fans unable to attend, for your reading pleasure, this year’s Grey Cup "Best of List."

Best mascot: Gainer the Gopher.

A revered rodent with a slight drinking problem equals one great mascot. Gainer's not really dancing on the sidelines, more like stumbling. After a public unmasking, turns out Gainer is really Toronto Mayor Rob Ford!

Best storyline: Ticats coach Kent Austin returns to Regina.

Two of the three Grey Cups won by the Riders, he helped bring. Once as a player, the other as head coach. The reception should be warm right up until kick-off, when 'Kent' becomes another four letter word with a hard 'K' sound. Watch and listen as the Rider faithful take 'fan heckling' to a whole new level.

Best statistic: The Provincial birth rate for Saskatchewan sees a dramatic spike on Aug. 24, 2014.

Cold weather, Grey Cup late nights and a whole lot of booze provide the perfect incubator for a Saskatchewan bundle of joy. Toss in a Riders’ victory and the Saskatchewan school system is suddenly overrun with little boys named Darian and Weston!

Best-selling product: Beer and beads.

One will cost you, the other you have to earn. Two great Grey Cup products that give new meaning to the term 'supply and demand.’ Synergy at its best, consumption and objectification have never been so much fun.

Best event: 1989 Grey Cup reunion.

What starts off as an enjoyable luncheon between Tiger-Cat and Roughrider alumni from that classic '89 tilt, ends in an ugly brawl. Tony Champion, contorting badly, beaks his ribs and Dave Ridgeway, always eager to see Ticat players bent over and distraught, kicks some more balls. All the while, Angelo Mosca and Joe Kapp high five each other at the bar.

Sandy Annunziata is a two-time Grey Cup champion who battled in the trenches along CFL offensive-lines for 11 seasons. Hard hitting and thought provoking, he takes you beyond the field and inside the locker room as he delivers a candid view of the game, the health of the league, the business of sport and the sometimes fragile psyche of pro athletes.