Bouncing Back: From National Joke to Grey Cup Champs

by Paul Woods

For three decades the Toronto Argonauts were a national joke: a team that not only lost most of the time, but usually did so in embarrassing fashion. The franchise bottomed out in 1981 with just two wins. But 1981 was not a complete disaster because, even while finding new and more creative ways to lose, the Argos were assembling many of the key components that helped the franchise return to excitement in 1982 and Grey Cup glory in 1983. Thirty years after that long-awaited triumph, Bouncing Back takes readers on a wild ride through the three eventful and mesmerizing years that culminated in the 1983 Grey Cup, from crushing humiliations through sensational resurgence and finally the ultimate triumph.

224 pages, Paperback

First published June 24, 2013

Reviews

[Benjamin Kahn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book about the Toronto Argonauts from 1981 to 1983, and the end of their 31 year Grey Cup drought. I grew up in Toronto, but the Argos were never really on my radar until they made the Grey Cup in 1982. I was downtown with my family and a visiting uncle from Thunder Bay the night before the Grey Cup, and witnessed Yonge St closed to traffic due to the mass of excited fans. That always stayed with me, and watching them win the next year continued to build my fandom.

The Argos would eventually become my favourite team, and my wife and I actually held season tickets for seven years, until my first child was born and it was too hard to go to the games. Still a huge fan, and this book brought back memories of when I first became aware of the Argos.

[Dave Cottenie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ana amazing look back at a Toronto Argonaut team that broke a 31 year Grey Cup drought. The reading is easy and quick and Woods weaves each chapter right into the next one. His use of quotes make it feel like you are reading a documentary with the players reminiscing about the team of yesteryear. It is all wrapped up neatly in the final chapter with a central theme that may have been central to the team’s success. Excellent!