MONTREAL - As one of the seven deadly sins, pride is something conventional spiritual wisdom tells us is best avoided, lest it manifest itself as hubris.

Apparently, Rider Nation forgot to consult with its spiritual advisers before the Grey Cup.

Rider Pride was the overwhelming theme in the week leading up to Sunday night's game, and the casual observer might have had a difficult time identifying the other team involved, even though the other team was the defending champions.

The Alouettes and their entourage were a Grey Cup week afterthought, overshadowed by Saskatchewan's travelling football circus, which the CFL and its media partners gladly exploited to the promotional maximum. 

Karma responded to Hubris

Rider Nation milked the attention for everything it was worth, and then some.

It's the "then some" that sometimes makes Rider Pride objectionable.

A year ago, their team lost the Grey Cup because they couldn't count to 12, yet Rider Nation descended on Edmonton awash in expectation that bordered on a sense of entitlement.

In a situation that called for at least a shred of humility, they chose unrestrained swagger, and poked karma with a sharp stick. Karma responded accordingly.

Pride goeth before the fall

Of course, it wasn't just karma that was Saskatchewan's undoing.

The Alouettes facilitated the process with some terrific halftime adjustments on both sides of the ball.

Either way, for the second straight year, ill-advised Rider Pride just gave way to another deadly sin: Rider Envy.