Sometimes the sure thing doesn’t pay out

Context: Written during the 2009 Grey Cup game (Canadian Football League Championship game)

After switching off the Grey Cup (I stopped watching after the Alouette’s vaunted defense gave up their 27th point). It dawned on me that no matter how it stacks up, in football, as in life, there are just no sure things. Every pundit that talked about the CFL (admittedly not a huge subset of sports writers) had the Alouettes victory parade already planned. When I sat down to watch the game, I expected to see an annihilation of biblical proportions.

Evidently, no one told the Roughriders from Saskatchewan (not to be confused with the hopefully soon-to-be-resurrected Rough Riders from Ottawa) that they were supposed to roll over and die. Saskatchewan decided to make it an exciting and close game (which, luckily, the Alouettes did finally win).

Football and Financial Planning?

What does this have to do with Financial Planning? First thing is, I didn’t have anything to write about before the game started,. There was almost a “Sorry, no post today, busy watching the Grey Cup”, but thanks to the closeness of the game, I had a story idea watching the game.

Second point is, no matter what assurances any financial planner, financial pundit or financial blogger makes about any financial plan, investment idea, or stock tip, they could very well be wrong (like the 90% of writers who picked the Alouettes annihilating the Roughriders).

Be skeptical about any advice you get. Look in depth into what you are being told. Remember: no matter what decision you make, there will be risks involved in your decision. There are no sure things, keep that in mind.

Yes, the Alouettes did manage to pull the game out on the last play of the game, but the contest itself was much closer than expected, and it took a lot of luck for the Als to finally succeed (when they were supposed to win easily).

Yes, I also had to rewrite this post. I had it all done with 4:00 left in the game and I was sure the Als were losers. Even when you are sure something is going to happen, sometimes things change drastically very quickly (like the Als comeback).

Remember, my only advice is, there are no sure things in life.

Oh and Congrats Alouettes, I never doubted you for one minute (where did that bandwagon go?).

Bring back the Ottawa Rough Riders too!

NB: They did but now they are called the Ottawa RedBlacks