I tend to stick with the professional sports on this blog, but today was the WHL trade deadline and was left scratching my head and wondering....
Why did the Regina Pats do what they did? They not only chose to keep Jordan Weal but at the same time were what you would refer to as 'buyers'. They picked up Martin Marincin from the Prince George Cougars. In return they sent a forward to the Cougars as well as some bantam picks, a 1st, a 2nd and a 4th. So here are my questions:
Do the Regina Pats really think they are going to make a run at the WHL Title this year? Next year? I don't see them being anywhere close to an elite team in this league. So WHY give up the future (the picks to PG along with the kids and picks they would have gotten for Weal) for this? Seriously this could truly backfire on GM Chad Lang.
Secondly, the Pats know have 8 defencemen on their roster, 9 if you include Tyler Bortsmayer who is playing in the SJHL and could be called up at anytime. Not only that but their back end was pretty good to start and probably didn't need to be tinkered with. If they are going to make a run, what they needed was some front line scoring to take some of the pressure off of Jordan Weal. That never happened, and come play - off time, stick one of those diggers out there to make Weal's life miserable and who is going to put the puck in the net for the Pats? I mean honestly, I thought the bad decisons of this organization would have disappeared as quickly as Brent Parker stepped down as GM. Oh well...if I were a Regina Pats season ticket holder..I would not by happy. While it is okay to be optimistic, far too often the Pats think they are on thr brink of greatness...only when the definition of greatness is a fifth place finish at best and with any luck possibly a second round of play - off's.
One more note about the trade deadline...Brett Connolly who played with Team Canada at the WJHC and up to that point played the entire season in Tampa Bay had his rights dealt from Prince George to Tri - City for get this....three draft picks including a first and a second. Is it just me but is that basically like Tri - City just giving up picks for nothing. Look...if Brett Connolly was going to play in the WHL this year Tampa would have sent him down before he played ten games at which point they are not required to pay the entire year of his NHL salary. Do you honestly think Steve Yzerman and the Lightning want to pay this guy $900, 000 to play in the WHL the remainder of the year? I would think not.
Surprisingly enough, really the only team I see as a contender who made a substantial move was the Brandon....doesn't change my pick to win the league. I will take the Kamloops Blazers to host the Ed Chynoweth trophy this season. Go Blazers!!!!
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Monday, January 9, 2012
I am Back....
It has been a while since I have blogged. Rather than try to explain my absence, know only that I will try my best to blog more regularly in the New Year. I realize that all five of my followers yearn for my knowledge and insight so I will provide it as necessary.
Let's start with the topic of choice most days on this blog...the Riders. We are now preparing for the free agency season to start in February 15th as a coaching staff is now in place. Rather than get into a long winded spiel about what I like and dislike about each member of Cory Chamblin's staff I will say this...he brought in young new faces to replace the old boy's club. He kept only two coaches from last years staff, Craig Dickenson and Richie Hall, both of whom I see as being worthy of another season in green and white. The more I hear and read about Chamblin the more I am excited for the season to start...the fact that he was able to put a staff such as this together speaks a lot about him and the respect he has of others within the coaching fraternity.
Free Agency starts in February as has been stated and that is always a finger crossing period. Will Andy Fantuz leave? Well the choice is his but bringing in Khari Jones and Jason Tucker is a tremendous addition to Darian Durant and the offense in general. In saying that I would think we have as good a chance as any to retain Andy's services. Other than that, I will just throw this out there...Justin Hickman is a FA this year....is it possible he follows his old DC to the prairies? Would sure help us out a lot. Offensive Line is a glaring need and these is a local grown product from Weyburn who if the NFL doesn't pan out is a great lineman in this league...Brendan Labatte would be a huge upgrade over now MLA Makowsky. As far as who we sign and who we lose; that's not my doing and regardless of what I think or hope, what will happen will happen but I still anticipate the 15th of next month.
On to the NFL and what a ridiculous OT rule the apparent greatest league in the world has adopted. While the NFL has the most talented players in the world, you have to wonder who is making the rules. Case in point, one play into OT yesterday and the Pittsburgh Steelers season is over. I am in no way, shape or form a Steeler fan but that is brutal the way it ended. Essentially their season is over because they lost a coin toss. A good analogy would be an extra inning game in baseball where the visiting squad hits a homerun in the top of the inninng..Game Over; or a shootout in hockey in which Team A scores on their first shot and that's it. Come on NFL...be like the CFL and NCAA where at least you get an opportunity to match your opponent. I can only hope that the Superbowl is not decided that way.
Speaking of Superbowl, is anybody going to touch New Orleans???? And what IF Tim Tebow takes out the Patriots???? I love the playoffs.
The NHL is our final stop today and Brad Marchand had a hearing with the NHL over a hip check on Sami Salo which led to a concussion. While the check has been brought into question, I can't help but yell when I hear Canucks bench boss Alain Vigneault go off about how Brad Marchand is going to get hurt if he continues to play like that. How can this guy say that without looking down his bench at two of the biggest jabroni's in the league (yeah I used the word jabroni) in Maxim Lapierre and Alex Burrows. While Marchand is at least willing to back up his actions, those two clowns just talk and talk but never answer the bell. Now those are two guys who are about due to have their rectums handed to them on a platter. Not condoning the Marchand hit, just saying Alain Vigneault can't point the finger at somebody who is twice the player those two clowns are.
Lastly the WHL trade deadline is tomorrow. Will the Regina Pats do the right thing and trade Jordan Weal? The Pats are going nowhere in the post season and they could get a lot in return for Weal. Two years ago they dropped the ball by keepign Jordan Eberle and Colten Teubert only to finish eighth and lose in the first round. That put that club back three years. They had a jackpot coming in return for Eberle by what I hear and balked. If they don't trade Weal this year they may as well just admit to their fan base that they are fine with being irrelevant for the next half decade. That is the way things go in Junior Hockey...take advantage of things when you can because you know there will be lean years, but you accept that. Unfortunately for Pats fans upper management always sees the glass as half full when the rest of us can see it is half empty.
Have a good one,
HM
Let's start with the topic of choice most days on this blog...the Riders. We are now preparing for the free agency season to start in February 15th as a coaching staff is now in place. Rather than get into a long winded spiel about what I like and dislike about each member of Cory Chamblin's staff I will say this...he brought in young new faces to replace the old boy's club. He kept only two coaches from last years staff, Craig Dickenson and Richie Hall, both of whom I see as being worthy of another season in green and white. The more I hear and read about Chamblin the more I am excited for the season to start...the fact that he was able to put a staff such as this together speaks a lot about him and the respect he has of others within the coaching fraternity.
Free Agency starts in February as has been stated and that is always a finger crossing period. Will Andy Fantuz leave? Well the choice is his but bringing in Khari Jones and Jason Tucker is a tremendous addition to Darian Durant and the offense in general. In saying that I would think we have as good a chance as any to retain Andy's services. Other than that, I will just throw this out there...Justin Hickman is a FA this year....is it possible he follows his old DC to the prairies? Would sure help us out a lot. Offensive Line is a glaring need and these is a local grown product from Weyburn who if the NFL doesn't pan out is a great lineman in this league...Brendan Labatte would be a huge upgrade over now MLA Makowsky. As far as who we sign and who we lose; that's not my doing and regardless of what I think or hope, what will happen will happen but I still anticipate the 15th of next month.
On to the NFL and what a ridiculous OT rule the apparent greatest league in the world has adopted. While the NFL has the most talented players in the world, you have to wonder who is making the rules. Case in point, one play into OT yesterday and the Pittsburgh Steelers season is over. I am in no way, shape or form a Steeler fan but that is brutal the way it ended. Essentially their season is over because they lost a coin toss. A good analogy would be an extra inning game in baseball where the visiting squad hits a homerun in the top of the inninng..Game Over; or a shootout in hockey in which Team A scores on their first shot and that's it. Come on NFL...be like the CFL and NCAA where at least you get an opportunity to match your opponent. I can only hope that the Superbowl is not decided that way.
Speaking of Superbowl, is anybody going to touch New Orleans???? And what IF Tim Tebow takes out the Patriots???? I love the playoffs.
The NHL is our final stop today and Brad Marchand had a hearing with the NHL over a hip check on Sami Salo which led to a concussion. While the check has been brought into question, I can't help but yell when I hear Canucks bench boss Alain Vigneault go off about how Brad Marchand is going to get hurt if he continues to play like that. How can this guy say that without looking down his bench at two of the biggest jabroni's in the league (yeah I used the word jabroni) in Maxim Lapierre and Alex Burrows. While Marchand is at least willing to back up his actions, those two clowns just talk and talk but never answer the bell. Now those are two guys who are about due to have their rectums handed to them on a platter. Not condoning the Marchand hit, just saying Alain Vigneault can't point the finger at somebody who is twice the player those two clowns are.
Lastly the WHL trade deadline is tomorrow. Will the Regina Pats do the right thing and trade Jordan Weal? The Pats are going nowhere in the post season and they could get a lot in return for Weal. Two years ago they dropped the ball by keepign Jordan Eberle and Colten Teubert only to finish eighth and lose in the first round. That put that club back three years. They had a jackpot coming in return for Eberle by what I hear and balked. If they don't trade Weal this year they may as well just admit to their fan base that they are fine with being irrelevant for the next half decade. That is the way things go in Junior Hockey...take advantage of things when you can because you know there will be lean years, but you accept that. Unfortunately for Pats fans upper management always sees the glass as half full when the rest of us can see it is half empty.
Have a good one,
HM
Monday, December 12, 2011
Something's a Brewin...
I have much to say about the CFL and today's BIG trade. Before that, let me get a few things off of my chest....
The NBA is a joke, plain and simple. For the third time in less than a week, a trade involving New Orleans PG Chris Paul has been vetoed by the league. Unfortunately for Paul along with both Los Angeles team who have had deals for the Wake Forest product worked out, the Hornets are being run by the NBA team at this point as they look for a buyer. In the minds of the owners, these potential deals make the rich richer in terms of the Los Angeles clubs.
Essentially nobody wants Paul to be traded at the expense of another team getting better. Well, here is how it will play out. Chris Paul will be forced to play the season in New Orleans because no deal for him will be allowed. Next summer comes along and Chris Paul walks away from the only organization he has known in his short career, signs where ever he wants and what do the Hornets get???? Not a damn thing. The only club this is really hurting is the Hornets; they have had three deals worked out, all of which see them getting significant returns for Paul. In the end, attendance in New Orleans struggles, continued ownership problems abound and before you know it this franchise is moving for the third time in a decade. Way to go NBA...way to go.
Sidney Crosby will miss his third straight game with what the Penguins are referring to as concussion like symptoms. This is very, very troubling. If this is indeed a concussion, you know what this means for Crosby? The Penguins? The NHL? Hockey Canada? This means that the best player in the game is pretty much done at the ripe ol' age of what? 24? I am unsure on his exact age but this is potentially awful news for the Crosby and the NHL.
And now on to the CFL.....
A monster deal today coming out of the Alberta capital as the Eskimos have sent QB Ricky Ray to the Toronto Argonauts for Steven Jyles, a draft pick, and a Canadian kicker. Some have gone so far as to say this is being done by the CFL Board of Governors to ensure the Argo's are competitive next year as they aim to host the Grey Cup. What this is in reality is the Eric Tillman factor. Tillman has done the exact same thing with Ray that he did with Kerry Joseph, surprisingly enough with the same dance partner as in 2008. Ray is 32 and nearing his expiration date; Tillman knows that. The Argos are in the market for a proven QB..a pocket passer that they hope can take the mold of Anthony Calvillo. After all the double blue does have the OC from Calvillo's finest days in Montreal in Scott Milanovich. We all know how well Kerry Joseph did in Toronto and without some serious upgrades at the reciever position, I don't see things going much better for Ray.
I know this is the second time Tillman has traded for Jyles, but I honestly don't think this is his idea of a starting QB next year. If you ask me, he has something up his sleeve and we will see another QB land in Edmonton soon. Is it possible the Stamps ship Henry Burris to their arch - rival? Is Burris on the way to Hamilton which in turn would allow one of Kevin Glenn or Quinton Porter join the Evil Empire? Buck Pierce? Who knows what is in store in Edmonton. What I do know is if Tillman feels that Jyles is the answer, I think that makes the Eskimos a far inferior team entering next season than they were at the end of 2011.
Is it a salary dump in order to make a play for Andy Fantuz come February? Tillman made no qualms about the fact he inquired about the availability of the Canadian reciever at this past season's trade deadline. Tillman also was the man who drafted Fantuz in the first place. It could make sense, but again I don't think Fantuz would go there unless a more established QB is in place.
OR....does this make Toronto the front runner to sign Fantuz? He is from Ontario, and that football team could be better with some help at reciever and Ricky Ray has done wonders for guys like Fred Stamps. The possibility of huge numbers for Fantuz with Ray delivering is strong.
Time will tell. The Riders would love to keep him, the fans want him to stay. At the end of the day, I think this trade today is the start of a bizarre season of transactions in the CFL and until next June, we won't know who is where.
The saga continues in the search for the next Head Coach of the Riders. Brendan Taman to this point has interviewed six candidates, and Kent Austin won't go away. It is reported that Austin wants $600, 000 per year and a lot more responsibility than simply Head Coach. Marc Trestman makes $500, 000 per year and has a much better track record than Austin. Austin was a HC for ONE YEAR!!! Sure it was a Grey Cup but we aren't going to give him everything he wants based on one season are we? The fans will cry murder if they don't sign him, but seriously people he is only here until the next great offer comes south of the border.
I have said it for a while now, I would like to see Dave Dickenson running the show here next year. He could do wonders for this offense and Darian in particular. It has been said over and over that he has no interest in living in Regina. I wish people would stop making crap up. If he didn't want the job why would he come for an interview last week, and based on what Taman and O'Day said on the Sportscage on Friday, be more than willing to set up shop in our provincial capital and coach the team that embodies everything the CFL is about.
If it isn't Dickenson, I would like to see Mike O'Shea get a serious look. He is young, full of energy, and even though a defensive guy, innovative which is something we have been lacking in the past few seasons.
According to Rod Pederson's blog a decision will be made on the new coach before the second week of January so I guess time will tell.
The NBA is a joke, plain and simple. For the third time in less than a week, a trade involving New Orleans PG Chris Paul has been vetoed by the league. Unfortunately for Paul along with both Los Angeles team who have had deals for the Wake Forest product worked out, the Hornets are being run by the NBA team at this point as they look for a buyer. In the minds of the owners, these potential deals make the rich richer in terms of the Los Angeles clubs.
Essentially nobody wants Paul to be traded at the expense of another team getting better. Well, here is how it will play out. Chris Paul will be forced to play the season in New Orleans because no deal for him will be allowed. Next summer comes along and Chris Paul walks away from the only organization he has known in his short career, signs where ever he wants and what do the Hornets get???? Not a damn thing. The only club this is really hurting is the Hornets; they have had three deals worked out, all of which see them getting significant returns for Paul. In the end, attendance in New Orleans struggles, continued ownership problems abound and before you know it this franchise is moving for the third time in a decade. Way to go NBA...way to go.
Sidney Crosby will miss his third straight game with what the Penguins are referring to as concussion like symptoms. This is very, very troubling. If this is indeed a concussion, you know what this means for Crosby? The Penguins? The NHL? Hockey Canada? This means that the best player in the game is pretty much done at the ripe ol' age of what? 24? I am unsure on his exact age but this is potentially awful news for the Crosby and the NHL.
And now on to the CFL.....
A monster deal today coming out of the Alberta capital as the Eskimos have sent QB Ricky Ray to the Toronto Argonauts for Steven Jyles, a draft pick, and a Canadian kicker. Some have gone so far as to say this is being done by the CFL Board of Governors to ensure the Argo's are competitive next year as they aim to host the Grey Cup. What this is in reality is the Eric Tillman factor. Tillman has done the exact same thing with Ray that he did with Kerry Joseph, surprisingly enough with the same dance partner as in 2008. Ray is 32 and nearing his expiration date; Tillman knows that. The Argos are in the market for a proven QB..a pocket passer that they hope can take the mold of Anthony Calvillo. After all the double blue does have the OC from Calvillo's finest days in Montreal in Scott Milanovich. We all know how well Kerry Joseph did in Toronto and without some serious upgrades at the reciever position, I don't see things going much better for Ray.
I know this is the second time Tillman has traded for Jyles, but I honestly don't think this is his idea of a starting QB next year. If you ask me, he has something up his sleeve and we will see another QB land in Edmonton soon. Is it possible the Stamps ship Henry Burris to their arch - rival? Is Burris on the way to Hamilton which in turn would allow one of Kevin Glenn or Quinton Porter join the Evil Empire? Buck Pierce? Who knows what is in store in Edmonton. What I do know is if Tillman feels that Jyles is the answer, I think that makes the Eskimos a far inferior team entering next season than they were at the end of 2011.
Is it a salary dump in order to make a play for Andy Fantuz come February? Tillman made no qualms about the fact he inquired about the availability of the Canadian reciever at this past season's trade deadline. Tillman also was the man who drafted Fantuz in the first place. It could make sense, but again I don't think Fantuz would go there unless a more established QB is in place.
OR....does this make Toronto the front runner to sign Fantuz? He is from Ontario, and that football team could be better with some help at reciever and Ricky Ray has done wonders for guys like Fred Stamps. The possibility of huge numbers for Fantuz with Ray delivering is strong.
Time will tell. The Riders would love to keep him, the fans want him to stay. At the end of the day, I think this trade today is the start of a bizarre season of transactions in the CFL and until next June, we won't know who is where.
The saga continues in the search for the next Head Coach of the Riders. Brendan Taman to this point has interviewed six candidates, and Kent Austin won't go away. It is reported that Austin wants $600, 000 per year and a lot more responsibility than simply Head Coach. Marc Trestman makes $500, 000 per year and has a much better track record than Austin. Austin was a HC for ONE YEAR!!! Sure it was a Grey Cup but we aren't going to give him everything he wants based on one season are we? The fans will cry murder if they don't sign him, but seriously people he is only here until the next great offer comes south of the border.
I have said it for a while now, I would like to see Dave Dickenson running the show here next year. He could do wonders for this offense and Darian in particular. It has been said over and over that he has no interest in living in Regina. I wish people would stop making crap up. If he didn't want the job why would he come for an interview last week, and based on what Taman and O'Day said on the Sportscage on Friday, be more than willing to set up shop in our provincial capital and coach the team that embodies everything the CFL is about.
If it isn't Dickenson, I would like to see Mike O'Shea get a serious look. He is young, full of energy, and even though a defensive guy, innovative which is something we have been lacking in the past few seasons.
According to Rod Pederson's blog a decision will be made on the new coach before the second week of January so I guess time will tell.
Monday, November 21, 2011
Has it been three weeks???
Yes, it has been three weeks since I last blogged. I have wanted to blog, tried to blog, but just didn't. It is not like there hasn't been a ton of relevant material to give you my views and opinion on; from the Penn State fiasco to the Milan Lucic hit, to the CFL play - off's, the world of sports has given me more than enough material to discuss.
To go back a week, Milan Lucic should absolutely have been suspended for his hit on Ryan Miller of the Sabres. Really liked the way Lindy Ruff dealt with the situation. A guy who clearly has a vested interest in these events kept his cool when others, like John Tortorella would have blown a gasket, and just said that the bar has been set; goalies out of their crease are free game and contact with them will get you a grand total of two penalty minutes. Look I know contact with a goalie is going to take place from time to time but Lucic made no attempt to either slow down, get out of the way or lessen the impact of the blow. A lot of people have applauded the work of Brendan Shanahan in his approach to supplemental discipline; I am not one of those people. I see what he is trying to do, he is trying to make those offenders accountable by lengthening suspensions in the hope that these punishable instances don't repeat themselves as regularly. However, Shanny has certainly missed the boat a couple of times aside from the Lucic hit. Go back three weeks, Andy Sutton got five games for an open ice hit on Gabriel Landeskog of the Avalanche. Granted his elbow did come up but Landeskog got up and skated away..no injury at all. I can see giving Sutton a game or two, but five games for a first time offender? Then you look at what happened the night before the Sutton incident...Wojtek Wolski of the Rangers deliberately elbows Daniel Alfreddson in the kisser..Alfreddson is concussed and that doesn't warrant a suspension??? And might I add Milan Lucic also concussed Ryan Miller. So two guys concuss opponents with deliberate actions and walk away scott free but another delievers a hit in the heat of the moment, causes no injury and sits out five. To me that is shameful...get some consistency Shanahan!!!
Justin Verlander of the Detroit Tigers is a stud. When was the last time a MLB player won both the Cy Young and MVP in the same year? Today, Verlander captured the double feature earning AL MVP honors ahead of Jacob Ellsbury and Jose Bautista. All you naysayers can complain all you want about pitchers not warranting an MVP award but this is an award given to the player who means the most to their team. Where would the Detroit Tigers have been without this guy??? Not only was he the best pitcher in all of MLB this year, he was the best player. Case closed.
The Grey Cup is set for Sunday in Vancouver and the home town fans will get to watch their B.C. Lions beat up the Winnipeg Blue Bombers en route to the title. The B.C. Lions are just too good, flat out. Travis Lulay is close to, if not already the best QB in the league, their defence is down right nasty and Paul McCallum is pretty much automatic. Yeah, I said it..BC in a landslide. Can you believe that these guys started the year 0 - 5???
And now on to my beloved Riders, and a few ideas I want to touch on. For starters, Rod Pederson questioned us this morning on his blog as to what was more painful..having the Riders miss the post - season or losing in the Grey Cup Final. While it was odd and troubling to not watch the Riders the past two weeks, it pales in comparison to losing the big one. I was in Calgary in 09' for the 13th man debacle. I was so thrilled to get to watch my team play for a Championship, and at one point I was on my feet hooting and hollering, high - fiving my old man because not only did I watch them play for the Grey Cup, I watched them win the Grey Cup...and then that god damn orange flag. I have never been so deflated in that short a period of time in my life. The LRT ride back to the hotel was as quiet as you could ever imaging given the fact we were cramped in their like sardines.
At the same time, last year's loss to Montreal in Edmonton might have been more difficult to follow, but only for this reason. I honestly didn't have any expectations of winning the Grey Cup in 2009 whereas last year I really felt we were the better team and just didn't really play the way we expected them too. Regardless of the situation, a loss in the big game is a bitter pill to swallow and I would take a missed post season over a Grey Cup loss any year. I know it doesn't help the bottom line, but as a fan the bottom line doesn't impact me that much.
And the saga contines, who will the Riders hire to replace Grandpa? A lot of names have been bantered about, some I like, some I fear and some are just interesting. Apparently this week will see Corey Chamblin and Mike O'Shea interview for the job. I don't like the idea of Chamblin as he is a defensive guy, and I really think we need to find an offensive minded guy to run the show. I only say this because it would be better for Darian and our offense which struggled mightily at times last year. Not that Chamblin isn't a good coach and I know Taman wanted him last year, but not my first pick. Then again, I don't think Jim and the boys around the big round table at Mosaic could give two hoots about what a teacher from Norquay, SK thinks.
O'Shea on the other hand is if nothing else, interesting. He certainly isn't afraid to be innovative and take chances. One needs only to look at how his Argo's Special Teams made us look ridiculous during both their visits to Mosaic over the past two years. Do I think he get's the job, no, but good on the Riders to look into some new blood.
The name that outright horrifies me is George Cortez...another one of those great coordinators for a lot of years who never got a chance. I hope we learned from last year. My pick if I were running things and could have my choice...Dave Dickenson calling the shots, brother Craig running the Offensive side of the ball and keep Richie in charge of the D. Just my thoughts.
Lastly, we all got a glimpse of how scary the Edmonton Oilers could be in the not to distant future. The league leading Chicago Blackhawks, fresh off of a 5 - 1 manhandling of defending Stanley Cup Champion Vancouver two nights earlier, visited the Oilers on Saturday night. Final score of 9 - 2 for the Oilers with a combined 13points out of Eberle, Hall and the Nuge. Yeah that's right...from this moment on I shall refer to him only as The Nuge. Great to watch and here's to hoping they hand around for a long time and in the process return the Oilers to the pinnacle of the NHL.
Later....
PS...Tad, if you read this, do I know you? If I do, who are you, and if I don't thanks for being a follower.
To go back a week, Milan Lucic should absolutely have been suspended for his hit on Ryan Miller of the Sabres. Really liked the way Lindy Ruff dealt with the situation. A guy who clearly has a vested interest in these events kept his cool when others, like John Tortorella would have blown a gasket, and just said that the bar has been set; goalies out of their crease are free game and contact with them will get you a grand total of two penalty minutes. Look I know contact with a goalie is going to take place from time to time but Lucic made no attempt to either slow down, get out of the way or lessen the impact of the blow. A lot of people have applauded the work of Brendan Shanahan in his approach to supplemental discipline; I am not one of those people. I see what he is trying to do, he is trying to make those offenders accountable by lengthening suspensions in the hope that these punishable instances don't repeat themselves as regularly. However, Shanny has certainly missed the boat a couple of times aside from the Lucic hit. Go back three weeks, Andy Sutton got five games for an open ice hit on Gabriel Landeskog of the Avalanche. Granted his elbow did come up but Landeskog got up and skated away..no injury at all. I can see giving Sutton a game or two, but five games for a first time offender? Then you look at what happened the night before the Sutton incident...Wojtek Wolski of the Rangers deliberately elbows Daniel Alfreddson in the kisser..Alfreddson is concussed and that doesn't warrant a suspension??? And might I add Milan Lucic also concussed Ryan Miller. So two guys concuss opponents with deliberate actions and walk away scott free but another delievers a hit in the heat of the moment, causes no injury and sits out five. To me that is shameful...get some consistency Shanahan!!!
Justin Verlander of the Detroit Tigers is a stud. When was the last time a MLB player won both the Cy Young and MVP in the same year? Today, Verlander captured the double feature earning AL MVP honors ahead of Jacob Ellsbury and Jose Bautista. All you naysayers can complain all you want about pitchers not warranting an MVP award but this is an award given to the player who means the most to their team. Where would the Detroit Tigers have been without this guy??? Not only was he the best pitcher in all of MLB this year, he was the best player. Case closed.
The Grey Cup is set for Sunday in Vancouver and the home town fans will get to watch their B.C. Lions beat up the Winnipeg Blue Bombers en route to the title. The B.C. Lions are just too good, flat out. Travis Lulay is close to, if not already the best QB in the league, their defence is down right nasty and Paul McCallum is pretty much automatic. Yeah, I said it..BC in a landslide. Can you believe that these guys started the year 0 - 5???
And now on to my beloved Riders, and a few ideas I want to touch on. For starters, Rod Pederson questioned us this morning on his blog as to what was more painful..having the Riders miss the post - season or losing in the Grey Cup Final. While it was odd and troubling to not watch the Riders the past two weeks, it pales in comparison to losing the big one. I was in Calgary in 09' for the 13th man debacle. I was so thrilled to get to watch my team play for a Championship, and at one point I was on my feet hooting and hollering, high - fiving my old man because not only did I watch them play for the Grey Cup, I watched them win the Grey Cup...and then that god damn orange flag. I have never been so deflated in that short a period of time in my life. The LRT ride back to the hotel was as quiet as you could ever imaging given the fact we were cramped in their like sardines.
At the same time, last year's loss to Montreal in Edmonton might have been more difficult to follow, but only for this reason. I honestly didn't have any expectations of winning the Grey Cup in 2009 whereas last year I really felt we were the better team and just didn't really play the way we expected them too. Regardless of the situation, a loss in the big game is a bitter pill to swallow and I would take a missed post season over a Grey Cup loss any year. I know it doesn't help the bottom line, but as a fan the bottom line doesn't impact me that much.
And the saga contines, who will the Riders hire to replace Grandpa? A lot of names have been bantered about, some I like, some I fear and some are just interesting. Apparently this week will see Corey Chamblin and Mike O'Shea interview for the job. I don't like the idea of Chamblin as he is a defensive guy, and I really think we need to find an offensive minded guy to run the show. I only say this because it would be better for Darian and our offense which struggled mightily at times last year. Not that Chamblin isn't a good coach and I know Taman wanted him last year, but not my first pick. Then again, I don't think Jim and the boys around the big round table at Mosaic could give two hoots about what a teacher from Norquay, SK thinks.
O'Shea on the other hand is if nothing else, interesting. He certainly isn't afraid to be innovative and take chances. One needs only to look at how his Argo's Special Teams made us look ridiculous during both their visits to Mosaic over the past two years. Do I think he get's the job, no, but good on the Riders to look into some new blood.
The name that outright horrifies me is George Cortez...another one of those great coordinators for a lot of years who never got a chance. I hope we learned from last year. My pick if I were running things and could have my choice...Dave Dickenson calling the shots, brother Craig running the Offensive side of the ball and keep Richie in charge of the D. Just my thoughts.
Lastly, we all got a glimpse of how scary the Edmonton Oilers could be in the not to distant future. The league leading Chicago Blackhawks, fresh off of a 5 - 1 manhandling of defending Stanley Cup Champion Vancouver two nights earlier, visited the Oilers on Saturday night. Final score of 9 - 2 for the Oilers with a combined 13points out of Eberle, Hall and the Nuge. Yeah that's right...from this moment on I shall refer to him only as The Nuge. Great to watch and here's to hoping they hand around for a long time and in the process return the Oilers to the pinnacle of the NHL.
Later....
PS...Tad, if you read this, do I know you? If I do, who are you, and if I don't thanks for being a follower.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
I think....
I apologize about not commenting on the big announcement coming out of Regina earlier in the week until today. However, I have two reason(s). For starters, this is one of the busier weeks in my school year as Report Cards go out tomorrow. That being said, I have been focusing my efforts on that aspect of my life, which let's face it, pays the bills. At the same time, I was preoccupied on Monday night with the cutest little kitty and pumpkin you have ever seen.
In addition, I wanted to take time to really think about the announcement that Ken Miller is stepping away from the football club entirely as of tomorrow night. And here it goes....
Before we talk about this past season and the train wreck it became, let's talk about what Miller has done for this club. He took them to back to back Grey Cup Championships. Granted, we lost both but this is something that we as Rider fans were very proud of. Mr. Miler himself can be proud of that as he is the first Rider coach to accomplish this task.
Ken Miller guided this football team to hosting the 2009 West Final; something the fans at Mosaic, or formerly Taylor Field had been waiting decades for. And that is NOT a hyperbole, we had waited since the 70's for that to take place.
Ken Miller had a way to motivate this football team. In 2008, 2009, and 2010, it didn't seem to matter how they came out, they always finished strong, played with heart and desire and made you truly proud to be a fan of the Riders.
And then.....(those of you opposed to criticism of Ken Miller need to step aside at this point)
Following last years Grey Cup defeat, Miller stepped aside as coach but chose to stay as VP of Football Operations. That is when Mr. Miller in my opinion started to tarnish the legacy he had meshed out amongst Rider folklore. It seemed from the word go, the power of this position went to his head.
He hired Greg Marshall despite reports that this was not the man Brendan Taman, the GM of this club wanted to hire. Taman wanted Corey Chamblin, Miller wanted Marshall. You ever wonder why Greg Marshall was an assistant for 17 years? He showed why early and often.
However, at the same time, would it be easy to do your job when your boss is looking over your shoulder all season. Miller was in the stands at practice, in the locker room before games and on the sidelines during games. I would not be surprised if he was camped out at the foot of Marshall's bed. It looked as though the man Miller wanted to hire so badly was never worthy of his trust. For that I feel bad for Greg Marshall. Granted he did a poor job as Head Coach but it is hard to do your job when you are always looking over your shoulder.
Then, Ken Miller realizes he made a poor hire, and walks down from his office, back on the turf, to run the team that he had led to bigger and better things the previous three seasons. While it looked good in the beginning, three consecutive victories, the magic was clearly gone. He could not motivate them to play with the passion and desire of the previous three seasons (see mid September to now). The team was no better under Miller than they were under Marshall. In fact, they may have been better under Marshall in terms of their ability to occasionally find that sacred place most teams visit two or three times weekly. I believe they call it the endzone???
As things turned from bad to worse, our starting QB; our best player, the present and future of this football team, Darian Durant, suffers a broken foot. Essentially the season is over at this point, sit him down right? Nope, he plays for the next three weeks, not leading us to either the endzone or a victory. That's it, season over, sit him down right? Nope, put him in there in a meaningless game. At the same time, we need to remember he hadn't led this team to the endzone in seventeen quarters!!! No other coach in the universe would allow this to happen, let alone if that individual has a broken foot. I say no other coach because for some rhyme or reason, Miller felt he still needed to play, probably to get a victory to justify that he did the right thing mid - season by firing Marshall and taking over himself. Well, Durant led them to the endzone but he also left Calgary with a possible concussion thanks to an old, tired O - Line who was never upgraded with Miller at the helm.
Finally, common sense prevails and they sit Durant. Hey, this will give us an opportunity to look at Cole Berquist. Give him the ball in these last two games. They mean nothing in the standings so lets see what we have here? Hey, it might be another Drew Tate; let's give him a chance before we lose him having no idea as to what we may have had slip through our fingers. Again, in a ludicrous decision in my mind they give the ball to Ryan Dinwiddie, a guy we all know does not have what it takes to be a starter in this league, and is a questionable back up at that. A guy who was so bad that he was once benched for a guy with a broken foot. Why?
So Dinwiddie leads us to a victory. No wait, the defence led us to a victory and Dinwiddie sucked. Ok, one more game, means nothing, give the kid the ball. Nope, rather Miller says he is done with the team, and just to piss us all off one last time, we are starting Dinwiddie on Friday.
In closing, these are my thoughts. Ken Miller would have gone down as a Rider legend had he done the right thing at the end of last season; walk away completely. Instead he chose to stay, made far too many questionable decisions in terms of bith staff and personnel and now walks away with a very much tarnished reputation in the eyes of many Rider fans, yours truly included. Where I would have been sad to see him go at the end of last season, at this point he can't leave fast enough.
I strongly believe that he was maybe in a nice way told, either do both next year (coach and VP) or do nothing. Had he stayed on as VP, I really don't think anyone of any value would have been interested in the position. After all, who wants a senile, 70 year old wathcing their every move?
Thankfully he chose to walk away before he did any greater damage to this organization than he has already done over the last six months.
In addition, I wanted to take time to really think about the announcement that Ken Miller is stepping away from the football club entirely as of tomorrow night. And here it goes....
Before we talk about this past season and the train wreck it became, let's talk about what Miller has done for this club. He took them to back to back Grey Cup Championships. Granted, we lost both but this is something that we as Rider fans were very proud of. Mr. Miler himself can be proud of that as he is the first Rider coach to accomplish this task.
Ken Miller guided this football team to hosting the 2009 West Final; something the fans at Mosaic, or formerly Taylor Field had been waiting decades for. And that is NOT a hyperbole, we had waited since the 70's for that to take place.
Ken Miller had a way to motivate this football team. In 2008, 2009, and 2010, it didn't seem to matter how they came out, they always finished strong, played with heart and desire and made you truly proud to be a fan of the Riders.
And then.....(those of you opposed to criticism of Ken Miller need to step aside at this point)
Following last years Grey Cup defeat, Miller stepped aside as coach but chose to stay as VP of Football Operations. That is when Mr. Miller in my opinion started to tarnish the legacy he had meshed out amongst Rider folklore. It seemed from the word go, the power of this position went to his head.
He hired Greg Marshall despite reports that this was not the man Brendan Taman, the GM of this club wanted to hire. Taman wanted Corey Chamblin, Miller wanted Marshall. You ever wonder why Greg Marshall was an assistant for 17 years? He showed why early and often.
However, at the same time, would it be easy to do your job when your boss is looking over your shoulder all season. Miller was in the stands at practice, in the locker room before games and on the sidelines during games. I would not be surprised if he was camped out at the foot of Marshall's bed. It looked as though the man Miller wanted to hire so badly was never worthy of his trust. For that I feel bad for Greg Marshall. Granted he did a poor job as Head Coach but it is hard to do your job when you are always looking over your shoulder.
Then, Ken Miller realizes he made a poor hire, and walks down from his office, back on the turf, to run the team that he had led to bigger and better things the previous three seasons. While it looked good in the beginning, three consecutive victories, the magic was clearly gone. He could not motivate them to play with the passion and desire of the previous three seasons (see mid September to now). The team was no better under Miller than they were under Marshall. In fact, they may have been better under Marshall in terms of their ability to occasionally find that sacred place most teams visit two or three times weekly. I believe they call it the endzone???
As things turned from bad to worse, our starting QB; our best player, the present and future of this football team, Darian Durant, suffers a broken foot. Essentially the season is over at this point, sit him down right? Nope, he plays for the next three weeks, not leading us to either the endzone or a victory. That's it, season over, sit him down right? Nope, put him in there in a meaningless game. At the same time, we need to remember he hadn't led this team to the endzone in seventeen quarters!!! No other coach in the universe would allow this to happen, let alone if that individual has a broken foot. I say no other coach because for some rhyme or reason, Miller felt he still needed to play, probably to get a victory to justify that he did the right thing mid - season by firing Marshall and taking over himself. Well, Durant led them to the endzone but he also left Calgary with a possible concussion thanks to an old, tired O - Line who was never upgraded with Miller at the helm.
Finally, common sense prevails and they sit Durant. Hey, this will give us an opportunity to look at Cole Berquist. Give him the ball in these last two games. They mean nothing in the standings so lets see what we have here? Hey, it might be another Drew Tate; let's give him a chance before we lose him having no idea as to what we may have had slip through our fingers. Again, in a ludicrous decision in my mind they give the ball to Ryan Dinwiddie, a guy we all know does not have what it takes to be a starter in this league, and is a questionable back up at that. A guy who was so bad that he was once benched for a guy with a broken foot. Why?
So Dinwiddie leads us to a victory. No wait, the defence led us to a victory and Dinwiddie sucked. Ok, one more game, means nothing, give the kid the ball. Nope, rather Miller says he is done with the team, and just to piss us all off one last time, we are starting Dinwiddie on Friday.
In closing, these are my thoughts. Ken Miller would have gone down as a Rider legend had he done the right thing at the end of last season; walk away completely. Instead he chose to stay, made far too many questionable decisions in terms of bith staff and personnel and now walks away with a very much tarnished reputation in the eyes of many Rider fans, yours truly included. Where I would have been sad to see him go at the end of last season, at this point he can't leave fast enough.
I strongly believe that he was maybe in a nice way told, either do both next year (coach and VP) or do nothing. Had he stayed on as VP, I really don't think anyone of any value would have been interested in the position. After all, who wants a senile, 70 year old wathcing their every move?
Thankfully he chose to walk away before he did any greater damage to this organization than he has already done over the last six months.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
WHY??? WHY??? WHY???
As I told you yesterday, common sense seemed to have reappeared with Ken Miller and Saskatchewan Roughriders over the weekend as the decision to shut down Darian Durant seemed to have finally come. Granted, two weeks late, but better late than never. Today, that became official, Durant WILL be shut down for the last two weeks. We can only assume he will hold a clipboard as the third QB and see the field only in the event of an emergency. Great news....and now this.
What the hell is wrong with this organization? Ryan Dinwiddie will get the start for the Riders on Saturday when they host the Hamilton Tiger Cats. The same Ryan Dinwiddie who started in Edmonton three weeks ago and proceeded to launch three interception in the first half. The same Ryan Dinwiddie who sucked so bad in that first half that he was benched for a guy with a broken foot. So now, as we are officially out of the hunt for a post season berth why is this decision made?
I mean seriously, myself and most other sensible football fans know what Ryan Dinwiddie brings to the table. He is not that good, never has been that good and to me is not even a quality back up. I would even go so far as to say the Riders would be better off parting ways with him in the off season. So why, why, why do they refuse to give Cole Berquist the ball?
Sure they say he might see game action over the next two weeks, but to me, he has earned the right to not 'maybe see some garbage time' but rather take the ball and see what he can do with it. He has been from all accounts a great team player the last three years he has been here. Shows up for practice, does as he's asked, goes to meetings, watches video, everything a good football player should do. So how do the Riders reward him??? Put Ryan Dinwiddie in..come on! If ever there has been the right opportunity to show his value to this team both now and in the future, this is it. The team has NOTHING to lose, and to be honest, a lot of Rider fans want to see what he can do. Those naysayers who say why start the third string QB? Well because the starter has a broken foot and the back up should be the fourth string. May I also ask a question...who was the Riders third string QB in the 2007 Grey Cup? Who was the Riders third string QB for much of 2008? Yup, Darian Durant, the same QB many refer to as our franchise player, the future of this organization. At the same time if you remember back to the pre - season opener against Edmonton, argubaly the only time most of us have seen Berquist play, the kid showed he has a big league arm. In fact, I would go out on a limb and see he has the best arm of all three QB's on the roster at this time.
Look I am not saying Cole Berquist is going to supplant Darian Durant as the starter, or that he is the next greatest thing to come into the CFL. All I am saying is given what he has done the last couple years, coupled with the current situation the football team is in, this is the time to give him a good, honest look. Hasn't he earned that right?
One more football note, from south of the border. I get so sick of reading, what seems like weekly, a story of an NFL player in trouble with the law. In the words of my esteemed old man, "a million dollar talent with a ten cent brain'. What brings this up? Minnesota Vikins CB Chris Cook missed this weeks game against the Green Bay Packers at the Metrodome because he was a couple of blocks away in jail. The 24 year old, who the Vikes took with the 34th pick overall in 2010 has been arrested and charged with assault on his girlfriend. It is alleged that he choked her and punched her in the nose. Why?......apparently because he found out she talked to an ex - boyfriend. Uh....PSYCHO!!! Roger Goodell, you need to tell low class scumbags like this that jobs in the NFL are entitled only to those with some semblance of class and integrity. Just my thoughts though. I highly doubt Roger Goodell is one of the four followers of this blog.
And finally, a shout out to my good friend Jon Keen, the voice of the Kamloops Blazers. Last season was Keener's first in the 'Loops and lets just say the team didn't exactly 'blaze' their way through the regular season. Anyways, a 9 - 3 start to this season and a likely berth in the CHL Top 10 later this week couldn't happen to a better guy.
Later....
What the hell is wrong with this organization? Ryan Dinwiddie will get the start for the Riders on Saturday when they host the Hamilton Tiger Cats. The same Ryan Dinwiddie who started in Edmonton three weeks ago and proceeded to launch three interception in the first half. The same Ryan Dinwiddie who sucked so bad in that first half that he was benched for a guy with a broken foot. So now, as we are officially out of the hunt for a post season berth why is this decision made?
I mean seriously, myself and most other sensible football fans know what Ryan Dinwiddie brings to the table. He is not that good, never has been that good and to me is not even a quality back up. I would even go so far as to say the Riders would be better off parting ways with him in the off season. So why, why, why do they refuse to give Cole Berquist the ball?
Sure they say he might see game action over the next two weeks, but to me, he has earned the right to not 'maybe see some garbage time' but rather take the ball and see what he can do with it. He has been from all accounts a great team player the last three years he has been here. Shows up for practice, does as he's asked, goes to meetings, watches video, everything a good football player should do. So how do the Riders reward him??? Put Ryan Dinwiddie in..come on! If ever there has been the right opportunity to show his value to this team both now and in the future, this is it. The team has NOTHING to lose, and to be honest, a lot of Rider fans want to see what he can do. Those naysayers who say why start the third string QB? Well because the starter has a broken foot and the back up should be the fourth string. May I also ask a question...who was the Riders third string QB in the 2007 Grey Cup? Who was the Riders third string QB for much of 2008? Yup, Darian Durant, the same QB many refer to as our franchise player, the future of this organization. At the same time if you remember back to the pre - season opener against Edmonton, argubaly the only time most of us have seen Berquist play, the kid showed he has a big league arm. In fact, I would go out on a limb and see he has the best arm of all three QB's on the roster at this time.
Look I am not saying Cole Berquist is going to supplant Darian Durant as the starter, or that he is the next greatest thing to come into the CFL. All I am saying is given what he has done the last couple years, coupled with the current situation the football team is in, this is the time to give him a good, honest look. Hasn't he earned that right?
One more football note, from south of the border. I get so sick of reading, what seems like weekly, a story of an NFL player in trouble with the law. In the words of my esteemed old man, "a million dollar talent with a ten cent brain'. What brings this up? Minnesota Vikins CB Chris Cook missed this weeks game against the Green Bay Packers at the Metrodome because he was a couple of blocks away in jail. The 24 year old, who the Vikes took with the 34th pick overall in 2010 has been arrested and charged with assault on his girlfriend. It is alleged that he choked her and punched her in the nose. Why?......apparently because he found out she talked to an ex - boyfriend. Uh....PSYCHO!!! Roger Goodell, you need to tell low class scumbags like this that jobs in the NFL are entitled only to those with some semblance of class and integrity. Just my thoughts though. I highly doubt Roger Goodell is one of the four followers of this blog.
And finally, a shout out to my good friend Jon Keen, the voice of the Kamloops Blazers. Last season was Keener's first in the 'Loops and lets just say the team didn't exactly 'blaze' their way through the regular season. Anyways, a 9 - 3 start to this season and a likely berth in the CHL Top 10 later this week couldn't happen to a better guy.
Later....
Monday, October 24, 2011
What's that....Common Sense???
In the wake of Friday night's fifth consecutive loss, a game in which Darian Durant needlessly started, something positive appears to be emanating from Mosaic Stadium. This time, the smell is somewhat pleasant and refreshing as opposed to the foul stench of absurdness that has been the case the last few weeks. Upon arriving back in Regina from Calgary, both Darian Durant and Ken Miller stated that it is more than likely that Durant will shut it down for the final two games on the schedule; Saturday against Hamilton and next week in Edmonton.
Why Durant started in the first place on Friday is beyond me....broken foot....nothing to gain....and a near concussion all add up to an awful decision by Ken Miller. You can't clump Brendam Taman into that equation because Miller obviously has veto power over Taman. The questions going through my head are the following:
We all know the current management system being utilized by the Riders is ridiculous. How many other organizations sees the Head Coach have more input than the General Manager. Was the decision to start Durant one to prove unequivocally that Ken Miller is in charge of this organization?
Was the decision to start Durant an indication that even Miller himself is perhaps questioning the decision to fire Greg Marshall and Doug Berry in mid August? It sounds like it was he who made that decision, obviously assuming he could do a better job. Well you know what, he didn't and perhaps Durant was in there trying to earn the team a couple of more victories to help justify the decisions made prior to Labour Day.
Or, as the conspiracist theory might say, was this a move to alleviate any debate as to whether or not Durant is indeed the best QB on the football team. While I certainly think he is a very good QB and Ryan Dinwiddie is not, why are the Riders so against giving Cole Berquist the ball. Is it possible that they fear he could move this offence and thus lead to a QB controversy which could last the entire off season? Only time will tell but I can tell you that if the decision is made to start Berquist, I will be excited to watch the Riders for the first time since BC crushed us at home in late September.
Regardless of why the decision was made, and my theories could be far off base, but at least they are finally doing the right thing in terms of the QB position.
One last final note, and this is directed at a lot of people. Why is it so wrong for somebody to choose not to attend the games when the team themselves have not been in attendance since September? This morning on Rod Pederson's blog he made a point of saying those who choose not to attend given the Rider's recent performance are not loyal and should more or less be ashmaed of themselves. Added to this unnecessary remarks are comments on this blog who call the loyalty of fans choosing to stay home into question.
Let me say this once, being a fan is not a marriage, it is a choice. As a season ticket holder, I can choose to attend, or skip, any game of my pleasing. Put it this way, why would I go and spend more money, on top of the ticket I have already paid for, to support a team who has given up not only on themselves, but on the fans who help to keep this organization afloat, and as such, provide them with employment?
Seriously, packing Mosaic Stadium this weekend does nothing to let the management, coaches and players of this organization know that the last year and a half have been unacceptable. I say the last year and a half because let's face it, we didn't exactly light the world on fire the last six weeks of last season. I understand we are not going to win each and every week, and a berth in the Grey Cup is not a right, but a privilege.
However, when the team on the field appears to be putting forth a minimal effort, that is just wrong. This team has done relatively nothing to change the face of this team over the last four years. Yes, I know we have been to Grey Cup three of the last four years, success doesn't mean you can remain static and not look to make changes. Case in point, our offensive line were past their prime in 2007. Did we get any younger? No. Has this hurt our football team? You bet your ass it has.
I guess what I am trying to say is that even though there are thousands of Rider fans out there, who will continue to be fans today, tomorrow, next year and so on, the Riders of 2011 haven't done much to continue to earn our support. The only way for we, the fans to let them see this is to exercise our right to stay home. I might go, I might not...I don't care what YOU say.
Enough with the Riders.
With football still and last night the New Orleans Saints manhandled the Indianapolis Colts 62 - 7. What stands out for me from this game is how poor an analyst Cris Collinsworth is. In the second quarter, Collinsworth talked about how happy the Saints should be with their team. At this point the Saints had scored on all four possessions and were up 28 - 0. What was Collinsworth so impressed with that he felt like telling an international audience? He was really impressed with the Saints defence? Are you kidding me? Curtis Painter is behind centre for the Colts! Who is Curtis Painter? He is no Peyton Manning that is for sure. It wasn't so much the Saints defence dominating as it was the Colts offence resembling a young Hollywood vixen trying to make it big...ANEMIC! Honestly Cris Collinsworth, every defense in the league has looked good against Curtis Painter this year, and there is only one common factor there...Curis Painter.
The Edmonton Oilers put forth a very complete game on Saturday night, shutting out the New York Rangers 2 - 0. Ryan Nugent - Hopkins once again impressed, scoring the game winning goal midway through the second period. There is NO way the Oilers can send this kid down to Red Deer. He has been their best player thus far in the season. At the same time, sending him down would split their best line right down the middle. He has more than proven that he is capable of playing at this level, so those wo say he isn't ready for the grind of an NHL schedule, he is going to have to get used to it sooner or later; may as well be now.
That's all..Talk to you tomorrow.
Why Durant started in the first place on Friday is beyond me....broken foot....nothing to gain....and a near concussion all add up to an awful decision by Ken Miller. You can't clump Brendam Taman into that equation because Miller obviously has veto power over Taman. The questions going through my head are the following:
We all know the current management system being utilized by the Riders is ridiculous. How many other organizations sees the Head Coach have more input than the General Manager. Was the decision to start Durant one to prove unequivocally that Ken Miller is in charge of this organization?
Was the decision to start Durant an indication that even Miller himself is perhaps questioning the decision to fire Greg Marshall and Doug Berry in mid August? It sounds like it was he who made that decision, obviously assuming he could do a better job. Well you know what, he didn't and perhaps Durant was in there trying to earn the team a couple of more victories to help justify the decisions made prior to Labour Day.
Or, as the conspiracist theory might say, was this a move to alleviate any debate as to whether or not Durant is indeed the best QB on the football team. While I certainly think he is a very good QB and Ryan Dinwiddie is not, why are the Riders so against giving Cole Berquist the ball. Is it possible that they fear he could move this offence and thus lead to a QB controversy which could last the entire off season? Only time will tell but I can tell you that if the decision is made to start Berquist, I will be excited to watch the Riders for the first time since BC crushed us at home in late September.
Regardless of why the decision was made, and my theories could be far off base, but at least they are finally doing the right thing in terms of the QB position.
One last final note, and this is directed at a lot of people. Why is it so wrong for somebody to choose not to attend the games when the team themselves have not been in attendance since September? This morning on Rod Pederson's blog he made a point of saying those who choose not to attend given the Rider's recent performance are not loyal and should more or less be ashmaed of themselves. Added to this unnecessary remarks are comments on this blog who call the loyalty of fans choosing to stay home into question.
Let me say this once, being a fan is not a marriage, it is a choice. As a season ticket holder, I can choose to attend, or skip, any game of my pleasing. Put it this way, why would I go and spend more money, on top of the ticket I have already paid for, to support a team who has given up not only on themselves, but on the fans who help to keep this organization afloat, and as such, provide them with employment?
Seriously, packing Mosaic Stadium this weekend does nothing to let the management, coaches and players of this organization know that the last year and a half have been unacceptable. I say the last year and a half because let's face it, we didn't exactly light the world on fire the last six weeks of last season. I understand we are not going to win each and every week, and a berth in the Grey Cup is not a right, but a privilege.
However, when the team on the field appears to be putting forth a minimal effort, that is just wrong. This team has done relatively nothing to change the face of this team over the last four years. Yes, I know we have been to Grey Cup three of the last four years, success doesn't mean you can remain static and not look to make changes. Case in point, our offensive line were past their prime in 2007. Did we get any younger? No. Has this hurt our football team? You bet your ass it has.
I guess what I am trying to say is that even though there are thousands of Rider fans out there, who will continue to be fans today, tomorrow, next year and so on, the Riders of 2011 haven't done much to continue to earn our support. The only way for we, the fans to let them see this is to exercise our right to stay home. I might go, I might not...I don't care what YOU say.
Enough with the Riders.
With football still and last night the New Orleans Saints manhandled the Indianapolis Colts 62 - 7. What stands out for me from this game is how poor an analyst Cris Collinsworth is. In the second quarter, Collinsworth talked about how happy the Saints should be with their team. At this point the Saints had scored on all four possessions and were up 28 - 0. What was Collinsworth so impressed with that he felt like telling an international audience? He was really impressed with the Saints defence? Are you kidding me? Curtis Painter is behind centre for the Colts! Who is Curtis Painter? He is no Peyton Manning that is for sure. It wasn't so much the Saints defence dominating as it was the Colts offence resembling a young Hollywood vixen trying to make it big...ANEMIC! Honestly Cris Collinsworth, every defense in the league has looked good against Curtis Painter this year, and there is only one common factor there...Curis Painter.
The Edmonton Oilers put forth a very complete game on Saturday night, shutting out the New York Rangers 2 - 0. Ryan Nugent - Hopkins once again impressed, scoring the game winning goal midway through the second period. There is NO way the Oilers can send this kid down to Red Deer. He has been their best player thus far in the season. At the same time, sending him down would split their best line right down the middle. He has more than proven that he is capable of playing at this level, so those wo say he isn't ready for the grind of an NHL schedule, he is going to have to get used to it sooner or later; may as well be now.
That's all..Talk to you tomorrow.
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