So Rob Ford is now an Ottawa Senators fan?
Say it ain't so, Rob?
I was teasing Toronto's former mayor Monday when he was on his way back from the nation's capital after a vacation with Renata, Dougie and Stephanie. They were at Saturday's game against Detroit which lit up Twitter. The lineups for pictures with him were huge. Sorry, haters. He's still a rock star.
"We were treated so well by the fans and the team and I want to thank them for that warm welcome," said Councillor Ford. "It was a great game and I do admit I was cheering for the Senators as I would for any Canadian team when I am in their building."
I was putting together my annual top 20 people (running in Wednesday's paper) when I noticed just how many Ford columns I had done. Here are my top ten:
10: The year started with the ice storm and power outrage and Mayor Ford did an excellent job in leadership. He worked tirelessly and some were starting to talk about the idea of restoring his authority until ...
9: The Steak Queen will forever be known for great food and where Mayor Rob Ford reunited with old pal Sandro Lisi. In addition to photos of them there was the now famous Jamaican patois video. So much for a better 2014.
8: It was the next day he didn't show up to the Economic Club of Canada luncheon. Everybody thought the worst. Well, he had a good excuse. He was stuck in the elevator at the Hilton for 45 minutes. ECC president Rhiannon Traill smartly got a picture. The haters really thought they had him that time.
7: Less than two weeks later word got out Mayor Ford was in a squabble with Vancouver police. On the phone he told me he had received a jaywalking ticket. Here he was being surveilled by Toronto Police but B.C. cops got him for walking against a stop light. Even he thought it was funny.
6: In April there was a collective gasp on council when Mayor Ford voted against a motion honouring Nelson Mandela. Turns out he accidentally pressed the wrong button but it still made national headlines. There was worse scandal to come.
5: In late April there were rumours of Ford being out at night "inebriated" at Sullie Gorman's pub in Etobicoke where he is said to have made derogatory comments about Tim Hudak and Councillor Karen Stintz. Turns out this was true and along with Jenny Yuen, Mike Peake and Don Peat, I obtained an audio recording of the disturbing conversation and played it for him, After hearing for himself his belligerent ranting he told me he was embarrassed. To his credit, about 45 minutes later he called to tell me he was "taking a break" and going into rehab. He said he may die if he did not. It was a bad day for him but perhaps the best thing to ever happen to him.
4: The next time I talked to Mayor Ford was May 7 when he told me "rehab is amazing" and "reminds me of football camp." Always optimistic. There were fumbles to come but also a string of sobriety that he claims to enjoy today. People can be cynical but there are many who feel for him. The next big encounter was June 1 when he told me he was getting back in the mayor's race. We had that on front page June 2 with him taking a swim in the treatment centre pool. I love the smile on his face.
3: The election campaign got going and the mayor was holding his own until the first week of September when a pain in his gut landed him in hospital and he was diagnosed with cancer. It was a rare, 13-centimetre tumour that had also spread. Tough days there.
2: Sun photographer Stan Behal and I visited Ford in Mount Sinai while he was in one of this rounds of chemotherapy where his will to live was clear.
1: Ford and his family last Tuesday came into the Newstalk 1010 studios for my Late Shift show and I found them to be happy and feeling positive. It was nice after all they have been through. We reported about his tumour having shrunk and he is hopeful it can get down to 2 cm after radiation so that they operate. Even his harshest critics are hoping for that.
That was quite a year. The guy is a survivor. No quit in him. Ford said all he can do is move forward and represent the taxpayers the best he can. When I spoke with Rob Monday he talked about how he has become closer with his wife, kids and family and is a man who understands his mistakes and is praying for a second chance with his health. He had an appointment with a doctor late Monday. Many are praying along with him. But cheering for the Ottawa Senators?
Ford says he will always be solid Maple Leaf blue and white. Good thing, because that might be one thing in these parts he wouldn't be forgiven for.
joe.warmington@sunmedia.ca
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