In fact, there have been many occasions in which the release of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers' annual financial statement cried out for an accompanying casket, a half-dozen pallbearers and a priest chanting, 'Ashes to ashes, dust to dust...'

"The beauty of all this is we're not talking about where the next paycheque is coming from, we're talking about the future of the organization, a new facility and some very, very positive things," said Bomber president and CEO Lyle Bauer on Tuesday. "Today (when the numbers are released) will be, for our fans and the club, all very good news. People should be pleased in what they're going to see and hear. I would venture that this is probably the healthiest the franchise has been in at least 30 years."

When the backslapping and high-fives are complete, the Bomber board must get down to outlining this team's future because that tidy little nest egg the Grey Cup has delivered can evaporate in a hurry if the team's fortunes on the field take a nasty turn. Like it or not, that's the simple reality of life in the CFL.