Regardless of the sport, Saskatchewan Roughriders receiver Chris Getzlaf always had to match up against the best athlete on the block.
That'd be his younger brother, Ryan.
"We went head-to head quite a bit," Chris recalled. "We pretty much had no other choice. When we'd be playing with our friends, they'd never let us play on the same team, so we were always against each other -- no matter what we were doing.
"We've had that competitive rivalry our entire lives. We would always help each other and push each other, and I think it's helped both of us in the long run."
Hard to argue with that.
Ryan already owns a Stanley Cup ring and a gold medal from the world junior hockey championship, and the Anaheim Ducks centre is being billed as a shoo-in to skate for Team Canada at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games.
Chris, meanwhile, will hit the field today at McMahon Stadium in search of his second Grey Cup crown, albeit his first as a key contributor. The 26-year-old was stashed on the Riders practice roster when the club sipped from the Grey Cup two years ago, but he'll be lining up with the starting offence this afternoon.
Perhaps there's something in the water in the Regina neighbourhood where the brothers were raised?
"I'd like to think it's because of the homemade sausage I fed them," quipped their father, Steve. "But I'm not sure if that's true or not."
All kidding aside, Chris can thank his tireless work ethic for his success on the football field.
While Ryan always seemed to be on the fast track to fame on the frozen pond, starring for the WHL's Calgary Hitmen before being selected in the first round of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, Chris wasn't exactly a sure thing to earn his paycheques in the world of professional sports.
The soft-spoken receiver spent two seasons with the Regina Thunder junior team, then joined the University of Regina Rams for a pair of Canada West campaigns. He was eventually drafted by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the fifth round of the 2007 CFL Canadian Draft then traded to his hometown team four months later.
After spending the better part of two summers on their practice squad, Chris has been a pleasant surprise for the Riders this season, racking up 531 receiving yards and scoring six touchdowns.
Some have even suggested he's moved out of his brother's shadow, but Chris isn't too worried about that.
"I'm not really big on individual accolades," Chris shrugged. "The big thing is we're here. We're in the Grey Cup. You've worked all year to get to this point, and now you're one game away from the championship. You have to enjoy it."
While several of Chris' friends and family members will be in the stands for today's Grey Cup at McMahon Stadium, Ryan will be following the action from the Honda Center in Anaheim.
After watching his brother skate with the Stanley Cup in 2007, Chris understands the emotions Ryan will feel if the Riders win.
"It's an amazing feeling. He's a guy who worked so hard and so long to get to that point, and to see him hoisting (the Stanley Cup), it meant a lot to me," Chris added.
"I imagine he'll feel the same."
WES.GILBERTSON@SUNMEDIA.CA
