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ARRRRRRRRRRRRGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOS!

Marcus Allen felt the tears welling up as the clock ticked down at Frank Clair Stadium. He felt a big brother's pride, felt the significance of what he was watching. His eyes, big and brown and liquid, the eyes that have seen just about all there is to see in the NFL and Super Bowls, saw something else last night. Marcus Allen saw something special at the 92nd Grey Cup. His eyes reflected what he felt while watching his little brother as he stood near the middle of the field amid the blue-and-white streamers that had fallen after Damon Allen and the Toronto Argonauts won the 2004 CFL championship last night. He stood a few feet away from where they had lifted the Cup and his brother, at age 41, was named the game's most valuable player. "It was important for me to see my little brother play. I should say my brother," said Marcus Allen, the former NFL great and Hall of Famer. "We have a tight family and it runs deep. It was just an honour to see my brother do this. He's such a good guy. To see him play, to see him happy. He's my brother, but he's also my friend." After a slow start, Marcus's little brother found his rhythm, took over the game with his athleticism and leadership, and directed an Argos offence that many said couldn't and made sure that it did. He projected an air, sent a message with his look and his body language, and without saying anything, told his teammates that this would be their night. "Damon was in the zone," said offensive lineman Sandy Annunziata. "I was talking with the other linemen and we saw it in Damon's eyes. We said, 'Number 9 is in the zone.' Man, was he on and it couldn't come at a better time. He's been in the league for 20 years. You know when he's on and when he's not on by his eyes, his body language, his play calling. It was contagious. He's not just the MVP of this game. He's the MVP of this league, hands down."

posted by todd at 09:07 PM on November 22, 2004