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• Still with Masoli, that was a masters class in quarterbacking he put on display in the semifinal. The last two years, Ottawa and Toronto have come out of the East to win the Grey Cup. The bet here is Hamilton makes it three in a row.

Photo by Peter Power / THE CANADIAN PRESS

• And finally, when I think of Willie Mays I don’t think of his final days with the Mets. When I think of Johnny Unitas I don’t think of his final days with the Chargers. And, in my memory, Bobby Orr was never a Blackhawk.

Which leads us to Buono. Like other greats, Buono has left behind a body of work which transcends the final inglorious act of his career. Yes, the fairy tale ending would have been nice and, yes, you can easily make the case Buono stayed too long at the dance.

But let’s take out the wide-angle lens and look at the totality of his career.

In 12 seasons as the Lions’ coach he won 129 games. In 11 seasons in Calgary he won 153 games. His 282 career wins are the most in CFL history and would place him third on the NFL’s all-time list behind Don Shula and George Halas and ahead of Bill Belichick, Curly Lambeau and Paul Brown.

Read that sentence again slowly.

As for his impact on the Canadian game, we can talk about the Wally coaching tree which stretches across both sides of the border and his innovations — he was instrumental in developing the spread offence which changed the professional passing game.

But here’s the real thing. Since 1972, he’s been a part of the CFL and the CFL has been a part of him. When I was 20 we used to drive from Ottawa to Montreal to watch the great Rough Riders-Alouettes tilts at the Big O. He was part of those Als’ teams. I’m now 63 and the past 18 years of my professional life have been spent in close proximity to Buono.

I’m also teeing it up on the 17th hole of my career and don’t know how much longer it will run. But when I look back I’ll think of the extraordinary people I’ve encountered, people I would have never met in a different line of work, and know how lucky I’ve been. Buono will be on that list.

“I’ll go home, wrap things up and start a new life,” he said after the loss in Hamilton. “I’ve been doing this a lot of years. I’ve talked to a number of people who’ve retired and they’re doing OK. I’m not that different. Hopefully I’ll be OK.”

Don’t doubt that for a minute.

ewilles@postmedia.com