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Randy Ambrosie, a passionate proponent of all things CFL in his capacity as the commissioner, once walked out of a showcase game at halftime.

It was one of the classic contests in league history.

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But he left, regardless. He simply couldn’t take it anymore.

And who could blame him?

The aforementioned game was played in Toronto on Nov. 26, 1989, when the Saskatchewan Roughriders outlasted the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 43-40.

One week earlier, the Roughriders had upset the Edmonton Eskimos 32-21 to advance to the league final. Ambrosie experienced that game for all four quarters, as the Eskimos’ starting right guard.

Photo by Bruce Edwards / Edmmonton Journal

He was down on all fours, disconsolately staring at the Commonwealth Stadium turf, as the Roughriders rejoiced en route to their dressing room.

“It’s still heartbreaking,” Ambrosie said Sunday when Randy’s Road Trip visited Regina.

“We were 16-and-2 that year and playing a team that came into that game with a 9-and-9 record. To just lay the egg that we laid, you do get over it a little bit, but I don’t think you ever get over it completely.”