Hello Leo! Goodbye Leo! Welcome back Leo! Goodbye Leo! Welcome back again Leo! Goodbye Leo!
It's a refrain that became commonplace with Leo Cahill, probably the most famous, well-liked and hated coach in Argo history. He even wrote a book titled "Goodbye Argos", to combat the chants that used to rain down on him at Exhibition Stadium.
But he was always entertaining and always in the public eye, as the old Irish wit would somehow seem to make its way into print. Some of that resurfaced last week when Cahill made his entrance back into Argo territory as the general manager of his new team, the Ottawa Rough Riders, whom he joined in the off-season. His target was Argo coach Don Matthews, and the following was one of several barbs he threw at him at a media conference last week:
"I did the CBC when he was coaching for several years and I wasn't exchanging Christmas cards with him," said Cahill, who used to be a colour commentator on CFL telecasts on CBC, as well as working for Toronto radio stations CHUM and CFGM. "But I certainly talked to him on numerous occasions - when I could get sign language through."
Cahill's comments were widely distributed in the press, but met with a certain glint in the eye, a "that's just Leo for ya" pose they'd seen before. As a three-time member of the Argos in different eras and under different owners, Cahill's comings and goings made for colourful anecdotes with each passing.
The first incarnation, from 1967-72, was probably the glory years for the Argos in Toronto, when Cahill took a team that was in decline on the field and at the box office and made them into local heroes. In his first year as the Argo head man, he led the team into the playoffs for the first time in six years, and in 1968 and '69, the Argos had 9-5 and 10-4 records, yet could not defeat Ottawa in the playoffs. During that 1969 campaign, one of Cahill's famous quotes, saying only "an Act of God" could beat them, became CFL folklore, as the skies opened up over Lansdowne Park and the Argos were defeated.
Then came the 1971 Grey Cup, when "Leon slipped, and I fell" became another Cahill trademark, remarking on the famous fumble that cost the team a Grey Cup win. A year later, Cahill was gone, and he returned in 1977 for his second installation as head coach. But that only lasted a year and a half, as Cahill was unceremoniously dumped again.
He returned a third time as the team's general manager in 1986, and recruited players like Willie Pless and Gil Fenerty, but personality clashes with the likes of Ralph Sazio led to his tenure ending in 1988. While he hinted at some ill feelings toward the Argos last week, saying he's been treated well in Ottawa and "which is more than I can say about Toronto", there are still some fond memories he will cherish.
"You have to feel some loyalty and some feeling of appreciation for a lot of times you've spent with the Argonauts and a lot of good years, a lot of associations with good people," said Cahill.
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