Calgary Stampeders get their closeup on NBC sitcom recalling movie star's CFL days
The Calgary Stampeders were ready for prime time this week.
That's because the Stamps and Calgary, were the focus of Tuesday's episode of Young Rock, an NBC sitcom based on the early years of Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson.
It's no secret that Johnson has a strong Calgary connection, and the season premiere of the series paid hilarious tribute to Johnson's short time as a Stampeder.
"After not hearing my name called by the NFL draft," Young Rock said in the episode, "I was signed by the Calgary Stampeders."
And art imitated life, as the real-life rookie told CTV News' Glenn Campbell in a 1995 interview.
"As one of the newest members what do you have to say to the fans?" Campbell asked young Dwayne Johnson, an aspiring defensive tackle.
"Now we gotta do that here, go 18 and 0, go all the way to the Grey Cup Nov. 19," Johnson told Campbell.
On the show, Young Rock was asked the same question.
"We're going 18 and 0, wooo!" he said.
'ITS AN ADJUSTMENT'
The Rock didn't exactly thrive in his brief stint as a CFL player.
"It's an adjustment (for players)," said Stampeder historian Darryl Slade. "I think a lot of American players have (to make one) when they come up here. I mean, the field is bigger in Canada. There's one more player on the field."
Stampeder historian Darryl Slade
While he struggled to make a dent in the CFL, Slade thinks Johnson's Calgary experience clearly stuck with him.
"I think he liked the people and the city itself," Slade said. "If he had stayed around, he probably would have made a good CFL career."
The show also had fun with the CFL's famously low salaries.
"Practice guys make 350 a week," said the actor playing coach Wally Buono in Tuesday night's episode.
"Dollars?" asked Young Rock.
"Loonies," said fake Buono.
"The CFL is not known for high salaries," Slade said. "Dwayne and about five or six guys were staying in one of the rooms in the motel village (near McMahon Stadium)."
Through flashbacks, fans got a glimpse of memories with coach Wally Buono, as well as teammates Doug Flutie and Jeff Garcia, both of whom went on to have successful NFL careers.
"I think it's really nice to see that being featured down in the U.S.," said Slade, who wrote a book about the history of the Stampeders.
The episode was a tribute to a city and team that left an indelible impression on the former WWE wrestling star who went on to be one of Hollywood's top movie stars – and named his production company, which produces the show, Seven Bucks because Johnson said that's how much money he had when he left Calgary.
The rumour is that there will be more Calgary Stampeders on next week's episode.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Slovakia's populist prime minister shot multiple times in attempted assassination
Slovakia's populist Prime Minister Robert Fico is in life-threatening condition after being wounded in a shooting after a political event Wednesday afternoon, according to his Facebook profile.
Transport Canada's UFO 'lead' planned to meet with U.S. intel officials, called info requests a 'wild goose chase'
Canada's transportation department had a UFO 'lead' who tried to 'quell' media interest and planned to meet with U.S. intelligence officials.
'Very expensive lunch': Sask. driver handed a cell phone ticket for using points app in McDonald's drive-thru
A warning from a Saskatoon driver about using your fast-food app while in the drive-thru line — a trip to get some free lunch cost him a lot more than he bargained for.
'The Fly' has become notorious in France after a brazen escape. What's his criminal history?
A prisoner nicknamed “The Fly” has become notorious in France overnight after a daring and bloody escape from a prison convoy in Normandy that left two guards dead.
BREAKING Ontario's 'crypto king' Aiden Pleterski arrested
Aiden Pleterski, the self-proclaimed 'crypto king' from Whitby, Ont., has been arrested in Durham Region after allegedly running a Ponzi scheme worth more than $40 million.
BREAKING Barge hits a bridge in Texas, damaging the structure and causing an oil spill
A barge hit a bridge in Galveston, Texas, on Wednesday, spilling oil into surrounding waters and closing the only road to a small island, officials said.
Person responsible for 1996 drugging of 'Titanic' crew likely not a local: Halifax police
Halifax Regional Police believe a non-resident could be responsible for the infamous drugging of numerous crew members of the 'Titanic' movie with a hallucinogenic in 1996.
Latest updates on the biggest wildfires burning in Canada
Thousands of people in Western Canada remain displaced from their homes as wildfires threaten their communities, triggering evacuation orders and alerts.
OPINION Your attention span is shrinking, studies say. Here's how to stay focused: Sandee LaMotte
Regaining your focus requires you to be mindful of how you are using technology -- a daunting task if you consider the average American spends at least 10 hours a day on screens.