As I sit down to write this post, the Rider season is for all intent and purposes over a week old. However, that being said things don't get 'real' until Friday when they travel to Edmonton to open up the pre - season against the Eskimos. After a return home for the finale of the pre - season, June 29th sees them kick it off for real once again in Edmonton before hosting the Stamps on what has become my favorite day of the year, the home opener. While I haven't been to watch camp in Saskatoon, here are my random thoughts about the club as we approach the start of what I desperately want to be a 'magical' season at Mosaic.
* Kory Sheets got himself into a little bit of hot water over the winter, having faced domestic violence charges in Florida. Nobody was aware of this until yesterday when the story broke which prompted a statement from the club. While I don't like the fact he was in front of a judge, the fact that the charges were dropped and he met any and all requirements ordered by the courts ends it for me. He did what he had to do to be able to come back to play for the Riders which says a lot about the type of guy he is. Sheets was a guy who dabbled here and there for a few years after his career at Purdue ended. Last year he earned an opportunity and made the most of it and looks to build on it this year. We all make mistakes and I don't think Kory will put himself in that position again. While some talk about the Riders record in this department, let's fact it. Kory Sheet is not even close to being compared to the likes of Trevis Smith and Kenton Keith. In my books, this issue is over, done with, been addressed and let's concentrate on football. The fishbowl that is Saskatchewan is small enough without these types of problems being continually brought up by the media and fickle fans. If you want what's best for this team and the player, in this case Kory Sheets, one of our most dangerous offensive weapons, shut up and support him.
* It has been a while since Weston Dressler has appeared at camp. He is currently listed as day to day with what is being called an abdomen injury. I can only hope that this is simply a strain or small tweak and his absence is simply the Riders carrying out due diligence when it comes to our marquee receiver. If you ask me, Weston will be there on June 29th, if not earlier playing with the same gumption and heart that we all love about him. I have read several reports that when active at camp, he went all out, refusing to give up on a single play. We all know he has made the team and could not catch a single pass in camp but still line up for real in the season. The fact he play's 110% on every play is a testament to how hard he has worked to get here and how he refuses to ever take that for granted.
* Patrick Neufeld will be out for a while with a broken fibula. That being said, I don't think the Riders have terrible reasons for concern as Ben Heenan can quickly fill that hole and maintain the Canadian ratio. On the other hand, the ability to play Canadians elsewhere could very well open up a spot for Jose Valdez, the biggest of the linemen in camp, any by most accounts a player who has been more impressive with each passing day. It was reported he handled John Chick very well in camp yesterday which is no small task.
* It will be interesting to see who wins the final spots at reciever. As I said last year there is an abundance of talent and potential in that group. Find me another team who can sport the names of Dressler, Simon, Getzlaf, Smith, Bagg, Sisco, Johnson, etc. Maybe BC has players equal to the quality of the the starters but I don't think they have the depth we have at this point.
* I could go on and on about the Riders but won't. But elsewhere in sports....
* The Stanley Cup Final drops the puck on Saturday in the Windy City when the Hawks welcome the Boston Bruins to town in what should be a great series. My pick? Boston in six.
* After being eliminated in four straight while scoring only two goals, Pittsburgh Penguins captain said that he didn't think the Bruins did so much a good job of shutting them down as the Penguins failed to score. Huh? Uh Sid, the reason you couldn't score has a LOT to do with the system the Bruins played which minimized your chances. Sure Rask played great but give the Bruins some credit. It is one thing to have a rough game here and there but to struggle so mightily for four games with the line - up the Penguins boast, credit needs to fall on Claude Julien's system that was designed to slow down the high - powered Penguin offense.
* How must Jarome Iginla feel? Could have been a Bruin, should have been a Bruin, instead he watches the Bruins play for the Cup while he sits at home contemplating where he will end up next year. Where does Iginla end up next year? Surely he has to go to a contender, right?
* The Edmonton Oilers parted ways with Ralph Kruegger this week after one very short, disappointing season in the City of Champions. I have no issue with this move, or with how it was done. While many have bemoaned Craig MacTavish for doing so via Skype, I would argue he had to do it this way. For starters he clearly liked what Dallas Eakins brought to the table. Eakins was avery hot commodity in coaching circles and MacT didn't want to miss out. Ralph Kruegger lives in Switzerland, and there was not enough time to fly there for what amounted to a five minute discussion. There were far worse ways this could have been done and at least MacTavish realized it had to be done face to face and Skype provided that opportunity.
* Apparently John Tortorella is interviewing for the Vancouver Canuck job. When will teams realize that he is not a good coach. His actions and words do more to belittle and embarrass his best players when a good coach should be a motivator. Calling out a guy in public for a poor game or streak of inconsistency is not how you get guys to play their best.
* Back to the Oilers and in a press conference last week management more or less said Shawn Horcoff and Ales Hemsky will not be back next year. Great by me. Hemsky has always been that guy who should do more and has had more than enough time to make the next step. He won't bring much in return but does clear up some cash. As for Horcoff, I can't see anyone wanting him to be honest. The guy was great the year they went to the Finals and then cashed in with a big contract. Since then? DUD. Thank god for the buyout option which I believe get's used on Horcoff.
* Heard a rumor this week; Sam Gagner to Toronto for Jake Gardiner. I truly don't think the Leafs make that deal.
* The Blue Jays still stink. Jose Baustista should be embarrassed. When you are hitting .250 and making $11M, don't act like a child after striking out. If it weren't for Edwin Encarnacion and the work of the bullpen I would hate to see where the Jays are at this point. Oh wait, they are the fourth worst team in the Major's so I guess it can't get much worse.
* US Open goes this week and I can only pray that Tiger shoots 80 - 80 and misses the cut so my Father's Day weekend doesn't have to include painfully watching Tiger hit every single shot and listen to Johnny Miller basically confess his man crush for Tiger on every hole. Interestingly enough Tiger is paired with Adam Scott for Thursday and Friday. If you don't recall Tiger's old caddy, Steve Williams now carries the clubs of Scott and didn't exacltly have a cordial ending with Tiger.
* Tim Tebow is still in the NFL. How does this happen? The guy is terrible. He can't throw a football worth a hoot but has landed a job in New England to back up Tom Brady. I wonder if Tebow will break down and cry during one of Bill Belichick's profanity laced tirades at the half?
That's all.
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Monday, June 3, 2013
Hallelujah!!!
Sometimes in my world it is hard to be a fan. 'My teams' as I refer to them have in the past been rather, well let's just say, underperforming. The Oilers were nowhere close to a play - off spot this year despite lofty expectations. The Blue Jays have been a colossal disappointment in my eyes. The Washington Redskins were a bright spot this year. And the NBA is, well, the NBA and something I will watch only when required. That being said, the only NBA mention today is that I sincerely hope that the Indiana Pacers knock off Miami tonight in Game Seven. What a treat that would be for all those who root for the underdog.
That being said, every year around this time something pops up which will more or less consume me for the next five plus months. I will read as much as I can, watch as much as I can, and just generally immerse myself in much of the CFL, in particular the Roughriders, as humanly possible.
Training Camp kicked off yesterday in Saskatoon as the Riders kick off the 2013 season, one which will see Mosaic Stadium host the 101st Grey Cup in November. The eternal optimist I am when it comes to being a fan, I have very high hopes for this club this season and want nothing more than to sit there with the old man in Novemeber and watch the Riders play for the Cup on their home turf. My Dad and I have been to a Grey Cup featuring the Riders before but let's just say 2009 wasn't really a bright spot in my sporting experiences.
Camp got off to an even better than expected start with the return of John Chich after a four year hiatus in the NFL with the Indianapolis Colts and Jacksonville Jaguars. Chick, who says he is better than he was when he headed south in 2009 instantly makes our defence that much better. If he is 75% of what he was when he left, we have truly improved the strenght of our D - Line. It is not out of the question to say that a healthy, productive Chick, along with likely starters Keith Shologan, Tearrius George and Ricky Foley could have turned our biggest weakness into a strenghth on the that side of the ball. Throw in the recently acquired Jermaine McElveen and we could be the envy of the league when it comes to pressuring the QB and stopping the run.
I love the fact that Chich was very open about his decision to come to Regina for a second time. He loved it here the last time, knew what Ridernation has to offer and he embraces that. His wife is on board as well which provides us the hope that he could be around for a few years to come. There are those naysayers who will say he is old and past his prime. To them I would say time will tell.
One bit of news which surprised me somewhat was the fact that the Riders have Tyron Brackenridge playing Safety. I know he has the skillset required to play in that position but thought Craig Butler was very effective at Safety. Then again moving Butler to the WILL linebacker position could provide us better coverage over the middle against the likes of Nik Lewis. Again, before I render judgement I would point out that Corey Chamblin and Richie Hall know a lot more about running a CFL defense than I do, so again, time will tell. We all know from last year Coach Chamblin is not afraid to make adjustments so things could very well change between now and July.
Offensively, the sky is truly the limit for this club in my mind. The addition of George Cortez, who we all know likes to stretch the field and 'go big' if you will is music to this fans years. Darian Durant can on any given day be the best QB in this league. If the system works like it should, you add that skillset to the recieveing corps we have along with the likes of Sheets and Sanders in the backfield and look out. Taj Smith, Weston Dressler, Chris Getzlaf, Rob Bagg, Geroy Simon, Greg Carr, and the list goes on. I realize Smith and Carr in particular have a lot to prove and Bagg needs to stay healthy but who wouldn't like that crop of recievers in camp. Not to mentions Kierrie Johnson who apparently was very impressive from what I understand on Day One of camp.
Whether or not Butler stays at LB, they still have two quality men there. Rey Williams just makes his way to the ball and prior to an ankle injury last seaosn Abraham Kromah was quite impressive as well.
In the secondary, there are a lot of decisions to be made as evidenced by the turnover back there last season. All I can say based on last season is prior to injust Milt Collins was pretty good, Terrell Maze was the most consistent all season despite the fact people still want to pin the loss in the WSF on him and I really liked the play of Macho Harris at the end of the season. I would not be surprised to see Harris line up at one of the Halfback positions on June 29th in Edmonton.
Again, the Riders become my second life this time of year, and if you come to this blog semi - regularly you will quickly realize that. Please, keep coming back, see what I have to think and don't be afraid to throw in your two cents from time to time. It would be vey much appreciated.
On to the NHL, and here are my random thoughts as both Conference Finals are underway:
* Johnathon Quick looks human after LA's Game Two loss in Chicago. Don't count out the Kings quite yet though. Despite being in an 0 - 2 hole they are very tough to beat at home.
* I love watching the Pittsburgh Penguins grow frustrated as they did on Saturday night against Boston. The Bruins are clearly trying to goad the more skilled Pens into the style of play the Flyers made them play in the opening round last year and we all know how well that went. Crosby needs to get his nose out of those scuffles if the Pens have any hope of winning. His skating into Tukka Rask was in a word, classless and what is he thinking playing with the big boys like Chara. Unless the Pens get back to the puck control game they need to play for success, Boston will win that series in short order.
* Damien Cox still thinks he knows everything about all that is sports. For an increased sense of frustration on your part coupled with a not so subtle hint of egotistical rhetoric give him a follow on Twitter. He could be incensing you in a matter of seconds.
* The Edmonton Oilers HAVE to make some moves this year to address their glaring needs on the back end as well as provide them with some grit. Ryan Jones is a keeper but the Ben Eager isn't getting it done. Shawn Horcoff should probaly start concerning himself with that inevitable phone call also. I would not be shocked to see Mactavish do something big. It might not work, but at least it will show an effort on his part to make necessary changes unlike his predecessor.
* Tiger Woods weekend at Muirfield was delightful; at least from a fan's perspective it was. He said after the conclusion of yesterday's round the greens didn't look fast but they rolled fast to account for his poor putting. Uh, wouldn't he have figured this out by, oh I don't know, Friday?
* Another solid week for Graham Delaet, T21 and a coold $50K in his pocket.
* Got to run, it's been fun.
That being said, every year around this time something pops up which will more or less consume me for the next five plus months. I will read as much as I can, watch as much as I can, and just generally immerse myself in much of the CFL, in particular the Roughriders, as humanly possible.
Training Camp kicked off yesterday in Saskatoon as the Riders kick off the 2013 season, one which will see Mosaic Stadium host the 101st Grey Cup in November. The eternal optimist I am when it comes to being a fan, I have very high hopes for this club this season and want nothing more than to sit there with the old man in Novemeber and watch the Riders play for the Cup on their home turf. My Dad and I have been to a Grey Cup featuring the Riders before but let's just say 2009 wasn't really a bright spot in my sporting experiences.
Camp got off to an even better than expected start with the return of John Chich after a four year hiatus in the NFL with the Indianapolis Colts and Jacksonville Jaguars. Chick, who says he is better than he was when he headed south in 2009 instantly makes our defence that much better. If he is 75% of what he was when he left, we have truly improved the strenght of our D - Line. It is not out of the question to say that a healthy, productive Chick, along with likely starters Keith Shologan, Tearrius George and Ricky Foley could have turned our biggest weakness into a strenghth on the that side of the ball. Throw in the recently acquired Jermaine McElveen and we could be the envy of the league when it comes to pressuring the QB and stopping the run.
I love the fact that Chich was very open about his decision to come to Regina for a second time. He loved it here the last time, knew what Ridernation has to offer and he embraces that. His wife is on board as well which provides us the hope that he could be around for a few years to come. There are those naysayers who will say he is old and past his prime. To them I would say time will tell.
One bit of news which surprised me somewhat was the fact that the Riders have Tyron Brackenridge playing Safety. I know he has the skillset required to play in that position but thought Craig Butler was very effective at Safety. Then again moving Butler to the WILL linebacker position could provide us better coverage over the middle against the likes of Nik Lewis. Again, before I render judgement I would point out that Corey Chamblin and Richie Hall know a lot more about running a CFL defense than I do, so again, time will tell. We all know from last year Coach Chamblin is not afraid to make adjustments so things could very well change between now and July.
Offensively, the sky is truly the limit for this club in my mind. The addition of George Cortez, who we all know likes to stretch the field and 'go big' if you will is music to this fans years. Darian Durant can on any given day be the best QB in this league. If the system works like it should, you add that skillset to the recieveing corps we have along with the likes of Sheets and Sanders in the backfield and look out. Taj Smith, Weston Dressler, Chris Getzlaf, Rob Bagg, Geroy Simon, Greg Carr, and the list goes on. I realize Smith and Carr in particular have a lot to prove and Bagg needs to stay healthy but who wouldn't like that crop of recievers in camp. Not to mentions Kierrie Johnson who apparently was very impressive from what I understand on Day One of camp.
Whether or not Butler stays at LB, they still have two quality men there. Rey Williams just makes his way to the ball and prior to an ankle injury last seaosn Abraham Kromah was quite impressive as well.
In the secondary, there are a lot of decisions to be made as evidenced by the turnover back there last season. All I can say based on last season is prior to injust Milt Collins was pretty good, Terrell Maze was the most consistent all season despite the fact people still want to pin the loss in the WSF on him and I really liked the play of Macho Harris at the end of the season. I would not be surprised to see Harris line up at one of the Halfback positions on June 29th in Edmonton.
Again, the Riders become my second life this time of year, and if you come to this blog semi - regularly you will quickly realize that. Please, keep coming back, see what I have to think and don't be afraid to throw in your two cents from time to time. It would be vey much appreciated.
On to the NHL, and here are my random thoughts as both Conference Finals are underway:
* Johnathon Quick looks human after LA's Game Two loss in Chicago. Don't count out the Kings quite yet though. Despite being in an 0 - 2 hole they are very tough to beat at home.
* I love watching the Pittsburgh Penguins grow frustrated as they did on Saturday night against Boston. The Bruins are clearly trying to goad the more skilled Pens into the style of play the Flyers made them play in the opening round last year and we all know how well that went. Crosby needs to get his nose out of those scuffles if the Pens have any hope of winning. His skating into Tukka Rask was in a word, classless and what is he thinking playing with the big boys like Chara. Unless the Pens get back to the puck control game they need to play for success, Boston will win that series in short order.
* Damien Cox still thinks he knows everything about all that is sports. For an increased sense of frustration on your part coupled with a not so subtle hint of egotistical rhetoric give him a follow on Twitter. He could be incensing you in a matter of seconds.
* The Edmonton Oilers HAVE to make some moves this year to address their glaring needs on the back end as well as provide them with some grit. Ryan Jones is a keeper but the Ben Eager isn't getting it done. Shawn Horcoff should probaly start concerning himself with that inevitable phone call also. I would not be shocked to see Mactavish do something big. It might not work, but at least it will show an effort on his part to make necessary changes unlike his predecessor.
* Tiger Woods weekend at Muirfield was delightful; at least from a fan's perspective it was. He said after the conclusion of yesterday's round the greens didn't look fast but they rolled fast to account for his poor putting. Uh, wouldn't he have figured this out by, oh I don't know, Friday?
* Another solid week for Graham Delaet, T21 and a coold $50K in his pocket.
* Got to run, it's been fun.
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Since Last Time...
Since I last blogged....
* the Halifax Mooseheads defeated the Portland Winterhawks Sunday night 6 - 4 to capture the Memorial Cup in Saskatoon. What many expected the final to be almost turned into a run away with the Mooseheads getting up 3 - 0 early only to have Portland twice come back from three goal deficits to get within one but were unable to bury the equalizer.
* While I said Mac Carruth would hurt the Winterhawks chances, I can now admit that I should eat some crow. Carruth was pretty good against London in the semi and made some great saves to keep his club in it on Sunday.
* I said it last week and I will say it again; Nathan McKinnon is the 'real deal'. He was head and shoulders above the rest last week and has in my opinion rightfully overtaken the #1 spot in the latest ISS rankings. That being said, I would believe Colorado is leaning towards big Seth Jones to avoid being in a situation similar to the Oilers; all forwards and not much on the back end.
* the NHL play - off's are nearly into the third round with only Chicago and Detroit still battling for the final spot in the Western Conference Final against the Los Angeles Kings. That being said, it wasn't so much watching the Kings/Sharks game that had my attention last night but rather following Twitter. Damien Cox was very vocal with not enjoying the performance on the ice bemoaning the slow pace, no room and general lack of scoring opportunities. To me, Damien Cox clearly does not understand that this is not the seventh game of the regular season, rather it is a one game, winner goes on to play in the Conference Final while the loser's season ends. Do you really think Daryl Sutter and Todd McClellan wanted to engage themselves in a run and gun, wide - open brand of hockey. No, this is the play - off's and the deeper you go the tighter the checking and more important sticking to your system becomes. Sure we would all love the 6 - 5 OT game but as a fan I understand that the play - off's take on a greater meaning and requires a more disciplined brand of hockey. It hasn't been since the Oilers of the 80's that running and gunning came with success in the post season. Look at the Washington Capitals as a prime example; all run and gun and wide open hockey but never able to translate regular season success to play - off success.
* We can all agree that Joe Pavelski should have tied the game late in the third but was unable to get the puck off the ice. Damien Cox goes on Twitter to poke fun at this inability to bury the big one. Put yourself in that position, do you really think in the heat of the moment with the lack of time he had that he didn't try to score and was simply lazily banging it in; hell no! It is guys like Cox who just grind my gears in that they make it seem like they have all the answers and rationale as to why the game has changed and how players can and should do more, but they have NEVER been in that position.
* One more, anti - Cox note. He also was quite open about his displeasure for some icing calls late in the game. Two points Damien: (1) San Jose was trying to stretch the play. When doing that mistakes happen. Simply passing back and forth amongst D partners with short up ice passes are not going to catch the Kings off guard that late in the game. Chances need to be taken in order to tie the game, and (2) While L.A. iced it a couple of time, they didn't do so to slow the game down, they did it to save their season. Could you imagine how stupid a lazy, up the middle of the ice play would have been that late in the game. It goes back to what you learn as a kid, DO NOT pass it up the middle in your own end. Up the boards and OUT. I would much rather take my chances on a defensive zone draw than try to non chalantly dump it up the middle and see the puck in the back of my net.
* For what it's worth, I hope the Bruins beat the Penguins. The only reason I have any desire to see Pittsburgh win it all is for Jarome Iginla. Short of that, the thougth of Crosby and Malkin raising the Cup makes me nauseous. At the same time while I once despised Detroit, I find myself rooting for them to knock off Chicago tonight. Granted, I don't think it happens but I hope it does.
* At the rate they are going through starting pitchers, look for Jimmy Key to take to the hill for the Blue Jays in the next two to three weeks. Esmil Rogers will become the 11th Blue Jays starter tonight in only their 50th game.
* Brett Lawrie should be ashamed of his actions on Sunday. When you are hitting .205 you have absolutely no right to belittle the play of anybody be it teammate or opponent.
* John Tortorella was fired today by the New York Rangers in a move some would say was shocking. If you ask me, the Brad Richards benching could have had something to do with it. The Rangers are playing Richards a lot of money, and probably didn't like him being the scape - goat for this years play - off failure. Given the combination of skill and heart the Rangers had this year, there is no reasonable explanation for their struggles this year. Tortorella will be missed by some for his relationship with the media, but given what he had, they should have had a better season. That being said, John Tortorella will coach again in the NHL.
* With John Chick still unsigned by the NFL team, are he and the Riders close to a deal, or is he still exploring NFL opportunities. While some would say John Chick's best days are behind him, I would argue that at the age of 30 and having spent the last =four seasons in the NFL, the man can stil play and would be an instant upgrade at DE.
* Rider camp kicks off this weekend in the Bridge City. I can not wait to get this season rolling especially after the way last season ended. I think there is a LOT of reasons to be optimistic and hopeful of a home play - off game this year. Mosaic should be a fun place to be this year.
* Another good showing for Graham Delaet this week. Sunday's 74 knocked him down to T22 but another good pay cheque places him 56th on the money list with more than $850, 000 to date.
* All for now; off to take the kids to the sitter; Men's Night awaits.
* the Halifax Mooseheads defeated the Portland Winterhawks Sunday night 6 - 4 to capture the Memorial Cup in Saskatoon. What many expected the final to be almost turned into a run away with the Mooseheads getting up 3 - 0 early only to have Portland twice come back from three goal deficits to get within one but were unable to bury the equalizer.
* While I said Mac Carruth would hurt the Winterhawks chances, I can now admit that I should eat some crow. Carruth was pretty good against London in the semi and made some great saves to keep his club in it on Sunday.
* I said it last week and I will say it again; Nathan McKinnon is the 'real deal'. He was head and shoulders above the rest last week and has in my opinion rightfully overtaken the #1 spot in the latest ISS rankings. That being said, I would believe Colorado is leaning towards big Seth Jones to avoid being in a situation similar to the Oilers; all forwards and not much on the back end.
* the NHL play - off's are nearly into the third round with only Chicago and Detroit still battling for the final spot in the Western Conference Final against the Los Angeles Kings. That being said, it wasn't so much watching the Kings/Sharks game that had my attention last night but rather following Twitter. Damien Cox was very vocal with not enjoying the performance on the ice bemoaning the slow pace, no room and general lack of scoring opportunities. To me, Damien Cox clearly does not understand that this is not the seventh game of the regular season, rather it is a one game, winner goes on to play in the Conference Final while the loser's season ends. Do you really think Daryl Sutter and Todd McClellan wanted to engage themselves in a run and gun, wide - open brand of hockey. No, this is the play - off's and the deeper you go the tighter the checking and more important sticking to your system becomes. Sure we would all love the 6 - 5 OT game but as a fan I understand that the play - off's take on a greater meaning and requires a more disciplined brand of hockey. It hasn't been since the Oilers of the 80's that running and gunning came with success in the post season. Look at the Washington Capitals as a prime example; all run and gun and wide open hockey but never able to translate regular season success to play - off success.
* We can all agree that Joe Pavelski should have tied the game late in the third but was unable to get the puck off the ice. Damien Cox goes on Twitter to poke fun at this inability to bury the big one. Put yourself in that position, do you really think in the heat of the moment with the lack of time he had that he didn't try to score and was simply lazily banging it in; hell no! It is guys like Cox who just grind my gears in that they make it seem like they have all the answers and rationale as to why the game has changed and how players can and should do more, but they have NEVER been in that position.
* One more, anti - Cox note. He also was quite open about his displeasure for some icing calls late in the game. Two points Damien: (1) San Jose was trying to stretch the play. When doing that mistakes happen. Simply passing back and forth amongst D partners with short up ice passes are not going to catch the Kings off guard that late in the game. Chances need to be taken in order to tie the game, and (2) While L.A. iced it a couple of time, they didn't do so to slow the game down, they did it to save their season. Could you imagine how stupid a lazy, up the middle of the ice play would have been that late in the game. It goes back to what you learn as a kid, DO NOT pass it up the middle in your own end. Up the boards and OUT. I would much rather take my chances on a defensive zone draw than try to non chalantly dump it up the middle and see the puck in the back of my net.
* For what it's worth, I hope the Bruins beat the Penguins. The only reason I have any desire to see Pittsburgh win it all is for Jarome Iginla. Short of that, the thougth of Crosby and Malkin raising the Cup makes me nauseous. At the same time while I once despised Detroit, I find myself rooting for them to knock off Chicago tonight. Granted, I don't think it happens but I hope it does.
* At the rate they are going through starting pitchers, look for Jimmy Key to take to the hill for the Blue Jays in the next two to three weeks. Esmil Rogers will become the 11th Blue Jays starter tonight in only their 50th game.
* Brett Lawrie should be ashamed of his actions on Sunday. When you are hitting .205 you have absolutely no right to belittle the play of anybody be it teammate or opponent.
* John Tortorella was fired today by the New York Rangers in a move some would say was shocking. If you ask me, the Brad Richards benching could have had something to do with it. The Rangers are playing Richards a lot of money, and probably didn't like him being the scape - goat for this years play - off failure. Given the combination of skill and heart the Rangers had this year, there is no reasonable explanation for their struggles this year. Tortorella will be missed by some for his relationship with the media, but given what he had, they should have had a better season. That being said, John Tortorella will coach again in the NHL.
* With John Chick still unsigned by the NFL team, are he and the Riders close to a deal, or is he still exploring NFL opportunities. While some would say John Chick's best days are behind him, I would argue that at the age of 30 and having spent the last =four seasons in the NFL, the man can stil play and would be an instant upgrade at DE.
* Rider camp kicks off this weekend in the Bridge City. I can not wait to get this season rolling especially after the way last season ended. I think there is a LOT of reasons to be optimistic and hopeful of a home play - off game this year. Mosaic should be a fun place to be this year.
* Another good showing for Graham Delaet this week. Sunday's 74 knocked him down to T22 but another good pay cheque places him 56th on the money list with more than $850, 000 to date.
* All for now; off to take the kids to the sitter; Men's Night awaits.
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Quick Thoughts...
Seeing as this blog got it's first even mention via Twitter this past weekend, this post if for my good buddy Scott Giroux. In no particular order, here are my thoughts:
* I had the opportunity to attend the Memorial Cup on the weekend. Not only were there good times with good friends, but some pretty good hockey to watch as well. Given what I saw, regardless of their showing against Saskatoon on Sunday, I have trouble seeing anyone other than Halifax win it all. To me they looked a little tired against Saskatoon on Sunday. I would imagine they gave it all against Portland on Saturday to try to send the message there was no debate as to who the number one team in Canada was.
* Goaltending will hurt Portland. Mac Carruth is not that good. As per conversations I had this weekend, he is an average at best goalie lucky enough to play behind a very good team. Halifax got him seven times and the Shane McColgan goal last night stunk something awful.
* If I were the Colorado Avalanche heading into the draft, my mind is made up on Nathan McKinnon. He is a lot bigger than I thought, skates like the wind, has great hands; all the intangibles needed for a good career in the NHL. Blowing past Seth Jones like he was standing still on Saturday was beautiful.
* While I went to Saskatoon questioning the worthiness of Saskatoon being in the tournament, I quickly found myself rooting for them. Should they go on to win it all, all those naysayers will need to quickly be quiet as for the Blades it will take defeating the three league champions in four nights; a very monumental task.
* The one thing the Blades clearly have going for them is the play of their goaltender. To this point Makarov has been brilliant. He alone kept the Blades in it on Friday against London when in all reality they should have been done 3 - 0 in the game's first five minutes.
* Overshadowed by McKinnon, Drouin and Jones in Saskatoon this week is Max Domi. The son of former tough guy Tie Domi, Max has great speed, tremendous hands (see between the legs saucer pass for goal on Monday) and is clearly very solid on his feet. Ask Shane McColgan about that one.
* I would almost bet my mortgage that the organizing committee in Saskatoon never imagined they would get this type of attendance. They are yet to pack 10, 000 into the CUC this week.
* Going to Jr. A hockey the Weyburn Red Wings hired Bryce Thoma to become the team's next head coach. Talk about big shoes to fill.
* Down the road in Estevan the Bruins are still to name a new Head Coach. A deck conversation on Rowles Road Saturday night led to speculation that my inner circle may know who the new man is; time will tell.
* The Riders are a little more than a month from kicking it off for real. Still people lament every personnel change the Riders make which to me is just an excuse to cover up another sad existence.
* One of these weekends, Weyburn's own Graham Delaet is going to break through on the PGA tour. Today's 64 certainly didn't hurt.
* I can't stomach the thought of watching the NBA Play - off's. I would seriously rather watch 19 Kids and Counting.
* I honestly feel bad for the Toronto Maple Leafs. To make it worse, given the way the Rangers have looked against Boston, the buds would have had a legitimate shot at the Conference Finals.
* Did Daniel Alfredsson really say that he doesn't think the Senators can come back and beat the Penguins? I know Pittsburgh presents a real challenge but that is not the type of talk you want from your leadership. Don't make the Messier guarantee but certainly give your fans reasons to believe in your chances.
* The Toronto Blue Jays are still a disappointment.
* Are the New York Islanders really only a solid goalie away from becoming a legitimate contender in the NHL's Eastern Conference?
* OUT.....HM
* I had the opportunity to attend the Memorial Cup on the weekend. Not only were there good times with good friends, but some pretty good hockey to watch as well. Given what I saw, regardless of their showing against Saskatoon on Sunday, I have trouble seeing anyone other than Halifax win it all. To me they looked a little tired against Saskatoon on Sunday. I would imagine they gave it all against Portland on Saturday to try to send the message there was no debate as to who the number one team in Canada was.
* Goaltending will hurt Portland. Mac Carruth is not that good. As per conversations I had this weekend, he is an average at best goalie lucky enough to play behind a very good team. Halifax got him seven times and the Shane McColgan goal last night stunk something awful.
* If I were the Colorado Avalanche heading into the draft, my mind is made up on Nathan McKinnon. He is a lot bigger than I thought, skates like the wind, has great hands; all the intangibles needed for a good career in the NHL. Blowing past Seth Jones like he was standing still on Saturday was beautiful.
* While I went to Saskatoon questioning the worthiness of Saskatoon being in the tournament, I quickly found myself rooting for them. Should they go on to win it all, all those naysayers will need to quickly be quiet as for the Blades it will take defeating the three league champions in four nights; a very monumental task.
* The one thing the Blades clearly have going for them is the play of their goaltender. To this point Makarov has been brilliant. He alone kept the Blades in it on Friday against London when in all reality they should have been done 3 - 0 in the game's first five minutes.
* Overshadowed by McKinnon, Drouin and Jones in Saskatoon this week is Max Domi. The son of former tough guy Tie Domi, Max has great speed, tremendous hands (see between the legs saucer pass for goal on Monday) and is clearly very solid on his feet. Ask Shane McColgan about that one.
* I would almost bet my mortgage that the organizing committee in Saskatoon never imagined they would get this type of attendance. They are yet to pack 10, 000 into the CUC this week.
* Going to Jr. A hockey the Weyburn Red Wings hired Bryce Thoma to become the team's next head coach. Talk about big shoes to fill.
* Down the road in Estevan the Bruins are still to name a new Head Coach. A deck conversation on Rowles Road Saturday night led to speculation that my inner circle may know who the new man is; time will tell.
* The Riders are a little more than a month from kicking it off for real. Still people lament every personnel change the Riders make which to me is just an excuse to cover up another sad existence.
* One of these weekends, Weyburn's own Graham Delaet is going to break through on the PGA tour. Today's 64 certainly didn't hurt.
* I can't stomach the thought of watching the NBA Play - off's. I would seriously rather watch 19 Kids and Counting.
* I honestly feel bad for the Toronto Maple Leafs. To make it worse, given the way the Rangers have looked against Boston, the buds would have had a legitimate shot at the Conference Finals.
* Did Daniel Alfredsson really say that he doesn't think the Senators can come back and beat the Penguins? I know Pittsburgh presents a real challenge but that is not the type of talk you want from your leadership. Don't make the Messier guarantee but certainly give your fans reasons to believe in your chances.
* The Toronto Blue Jays are still a disappointment.
* Are the New York Islanders really only a solid goalie away from becoming a legitimate contender in the NHL's Eastern Conference?
* OUT.....HM
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Nothing in Particular
It has been far too long since my last rant, or thoughtful analysis of the world of sports. People may not even read this but according to my site I have four followers who thirst for my knowledge. So in no particular order, here are my thought about the world of sports, with obvious preference for those ideas that come to mind first between now and the end of this post.
* The Edmonton Oilers are embarrasing themselves. A team that was supposed to make a run for the play - off's are no where close to where many predicted. They seem to have no drive or desire; Taylor Hall is the only consistent on this team. Ryan Smyth HAS to retire. And to make matters worse, the Old Boys Club that has become this organization is making it worse. Craig Mactavish probably wasn't the best hire in the world as GM. I hope he proves me wrong but this allegiance to the group who dominated the 1980's has to end. Kevin Lowe made himself out like a complete ass by using his Stanley Cup Rings as validation of his hockey knowledge. Try doing that without Wayne, Mark and Jari Mr. Lowe. Ralph Kruegger has GOT to go. I watch most games and fail to see the roses and lollipop positives Ralph keeps chirping about. Time for Mr. Katz to make some serious changes at the top of this organization as they are wasting a lot of young talent on 13th, 14th and 15th place finishes.
* The Toronto Blue Jays are thus far quite disappointing.
* I hate to admit it but I truly hope that the Maple Leafs make some noise in the play - off's. I like their chances to win at least one round.
* It is great to see the New York Islanders playing the way they are. Young team, good coaching and look at the results. Perhaps the Oilers should look to see what is being done on the Island as they move forward.
* Did anyone see the brawl at the conclusion of the QMJHL play - off game last night between Baie Comeau and Blaisville - Broisband? Twelve suspensions and a $1000 fine to the player who has been deemed the instigator. A $1000 fine for a kid playing Major Junior hockey is like an NHL'er recieving a $1 million dollar fine. Send's a message for sure but come on, $1000??? Better hope the team helps him out with that one.
* I have next to no interest in the NBA Play - off's.
* Winter sucks and is going to take away some quality time from my golf game this year.
* The NFL Draft goes tonight and if the New York Jet's DON'T pick a QB they should be ashamed of themselves. Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow (who I think is still with the Jets) could be the two worst QB's in the entire NFL right now. A change at that position was needed about twelve months ago.
* Claude Noel is a gem; tells it like it is but doesn't come across nearly as arrogant as John Tortorella. Speaking of Torts, love watching the Rangers struggle, particularly with him at the helm.
* The Oilers should make a big move this summer, something that gives them either grit, help on the blue line or a combination of both. I would not be surprised to see one of the young studs, not including Taylor Hall in a different uniform come next October.
* A little less than two months away from the Riders season opener in Edmonton. July 5th's home opener can not come fast enough for me.
* Say what you will, Brian Burke is very much responsible for the Leaf's return to the post - season. The same could be said for Scott Howson as the Blue Jackets fight for a play - off spot nobody saw happening.
* The Edmonton Oilers are embarrasing themselves. A team that was supposed to make a run for the play - off's are no where close to where many predicted. They seem to have no drive or desire; Taylor Hall is the only consistent on this team. Ryan Smyth HAS to retire. And to make matters worse, the Old Boys Club that has become this organization is making it worse. Craig Mactavish probably wasn't the best hire in the world as GM. I hope he proves me wrong but this allegiance to the group who dominated the 1980's has to end. Kevin Lowe made himself out like a complete ass by using his Stanley Cup Rings as validation of his hockey knowledge. Try doing that without Wayne, Mark and Jari Mr. Lowe. Ralph Kruegger has GOT to go. I watch most games and fail to see the roses and lollipop positives Ralph keeps chirping about. Time for Mr. Katz to make some serious changes at the top of this organization as they are wasting a lot of young talent on 13th, 14th and 15th place finishes.
* The Toronto Blue Jays are thus far quite disappointing.
* I hate to admit it but I truly hope that the Maple Leafs make some noise in the play - off's. I like their chances to win at least one round.
* It is great to see the New York Islanders playing the way they are. Young team, good coaching and look at the results. Perhaps the Oilers should look to see what is being done on the Island as they move forward.
* Did anyone see the brawl at the conclusion of the QMJHL play - off game last night between Baie Comeau and Blaisville - Broisband? Twelve suspensions and a $1000 fine to the player who has been deemed the instigator. A $1000 fine for a kid playing Major Junior hockey is like an NHL'er recieving a $1 million dollar fine. Send's a message for sure but come on, $1000??? Better hope the team helps him out with that one.
* I have next to no interest in the NBA Play - off's.
* Winter sucks and is going to take away some quality time from my golf game this year.
* The NFL Draft goes tonight and if the New York Jet's DON'T pick a QB they should be ashamed of themselves. Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow (who I think is still with the Jets) could be the two worst QB's in the entire NFL right now. A change at that position was needed about twelve months ago.
* Claude Noel is a gem; tells it like it is but doesn't come across nearly as arrogant as John Tortorella. Speaking of Torts, love watching the Rangers struggle, particularly with him at the helm.
* The Oilers should make a big move this summer, something that gives them either grit, help on the blue line or a combination of both. I would not be surprised to see one of the young studs, not including Taylor Hall in a different uniform come next October.
* A little less than two months away from the Riders season opener in Edmonton. July 5th's home opener can not come fast enough for me.
* Say what you will, Brian Burke is very much responsible for the Leaf's return to the post - season. The same could be said for Scott Howson as the Blue Jackets fight for a play - off spot nobody saw happening.
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
The Madness & More
Starting tonight one of the greatest tradition's in all of sports will play out for the 75th time. Of course I am talking about the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. My thoughts on this wonderful three weeks of sports will be continued later.
Ryan Miller sure sounded off upon hearing about Patrick Kaleta's disappointment over being a healthy scrath. While Miller has since recanted what he said and apologized to Kaleta, you can sure see the frustration in his eyes and hear it in his words. That is one unhappy goaltender. One must wonder if anything else has been said or done within the locker room that hurts Miller's credibility in the eyes of his teammates? Do the Sabre's consider moving him at the deadline or in the summer? There are a few teams out there who would surely improve with the services he can offer between the pipes.
The Edmonton Oilers continue to struggle in their youth movement. While they are obviously playing better hockey this year than they have in the past, they continue to 'lay an egg' at unfortunate times. One needs to look no further than the debacle that was the third period and overtime of Friday night's game against Detroit. An undisciplined and generally speaking, poor period cost the Oil the extra point. While getting a single point is better than nothing, in this era of three point games, losing a point like that to a team you are trying to catch for a post - season berth is almost inexcusable. Those who want to point the finger at Jeff Petry for his play on Datsyuk in OT; a lot better blue liners have been victims of Datsyuk's in the past and it never should have gotten to that point.
Sergei Kostitsyn's play on Sunday night was truly embarrasing. Even as an Oiler fan watching Lenart Petrell bury the short - handed goal to give the Oilers a lead they wouldn't relinguish I was still terribly embarrased for Kostitsyn. Who abandons the back - check for a line change at such an inopportune time? Reports say Kostitsyn won't play tonight in Columbus. I wouldn't be surprised to see him in the press box into the weekend.
The talk continues surrounding Jarome Iginla and whether or not the Calgary Flames should trade their seventeen year veteran on or before April 3rd. As an Oiler fan I obviously detest the Flames, but not Iginla. He plays the game with heart and the way it was meant to be played. He leads by example and is as loyal a professional as you will find in sports. That being said if the Flames don't move forward and trade Iginla they are simply putting their club back a few years. They could get a combination of youth and draft picks in return for their long - time captain; something that organization sorely needs. One need look no further than their desperate attempt to sign Ryan O' Reilly to prove their own cognizance of the fact they need to get younger. Iginla, Kiprusoff and Bouwmeester should all be active at the deadline simply for the sake of the organization. In addition there is nothing saying that Iggy wouldn't return as a UFA come July 1st.
The Vancouver Canuck's have struggled over the last two weeks like we haven't seen them do so in nearly a decade. I can't help but think the goaltending issue is partially to blame for these struggles. In my opinion, it would be tough to play night in, night out with a revolving goaltender, and not only for the goaltenders. For the sake of the team, one of those goalies, presumably Luongo needs to go. The state of flux the Canucks are in is desperate need of some form of continuity. I would wager a significant sum of money if Mike Gillis could make the deal with the Leaf that was on the table at the draft (Luongo for Kadri, Bozak and a 1st) he would noe hesitate to do so.
The New England Patriots will not be the same team without Wes Welker. He along with Tom Brady have been the achilles heel of that team for the better part of the last decade. Allowing him to go was a mistake that I am sure Robert Kraft, Bill Belichick and the entire organization will antagonize over for a few years. At the same time what a tremendous acquisition by the Broncos. Without hesitation I would say that the Broncos instantly became the odd's on favorite to win the Super Bowl in New York next February.
And let the madness begin.....
The play - in games of the NCAA tournament take centre stage tonight which will officially fill out the bracket for the NCAA Men's Basketball tournament. Given the parody that we saw in the NCAA this year, anything is possible. There is no clear cut favorite to win it all, and with a little bit of luck and solid play, I would suggest there are no less than 20 twenty teams who could win it all.
While Gonzaga may be the nation's top ranked team at season's end, they are certainly not the favorite to win it all. I don't even have them in the Final Four in my bracket. If you ask me the most rounded team moving on is Indiana where the likes of Zeller and Oladipo have not lost often, and never by a large margin. The Big Ten is very well represented in this year's tournament with seven berths. In fact, Michigan was the fifth seed in the Big Ten tournament, but a fourth seed in the Big Dance and a team who has a legitimate chance to win it all.
I made my picks today, and took Michigan, Michigan State, UNLV and New Mexico to reach the Final Four. When all is said and done the maize and blue of Michigan will be victorious over their state rivals in the Championship game. While I could once again be guilty of picking with my heart, (something I often do), here's to hoping the next three weeks are as exciting and dramatic as they are expected to be.
Monday, March 4, 2013
General Thoughts & Opinions
Since it has been a while, here are just some random sports related thoughts from the past few weeks which have entered, and are yet to escape the vast space within my mind:
* It is sometimes very difficult to be a Rider fan. I find it particularly annoying when fans bemoan and belittle our play over the course of the year and say this guy, that guy and the other guy need to be fired. In saying that, we all know the Riders had some weaknesses on the field last year, namely on the defensive side of the ball. Our pass rush was at times obsolete and our secondary proved to be our achilles on a couple of occasions. What does GM Brendan Taman, along with Jeremy O'Day do about it? They go out and get arguably the best cover man not only available, but one of the best in the league in Dwight Anderson. They follow that up with some depth signings included Weldon Brown and Tristan Black, and then they go out and pick up the best pass rush option available in free agency, snagging Rickey Foley away from the Argos. Most fans would be happy to see management making strides towards improving areas of weakness, right? Nope, not in Saskatchewan. Here they are seen as guys that are too old, or bring too much baggage, claim that Taman doesn't know how to evaluate talent and he should be sent packing. My words to those fickle, always complaining fans, your lives must really suck if the Riders make you that angry in the off - season.
* Dennis Rodman was an idiot throughout his playing career. He maintains his status as a complete moron, not with his recent trip to North Korea, but his statement after that the country has great leaders and all Kim Jung Un wants is to discuss basketball with Barack Obama. Go get another tattoo, maybe dye your hair another neon color or something but Dennis, leave the foriegn diplomacy to guys with common sense. In no world is the leader of a nation who spends money on nuclear arms while his people starve seen as a good guy who is just misunderstood.
* Watching the PGA Tour can be so damn aggravating. Yesterday I anxiously tuned into the final round of the Honda Classic hoping to watch Canadian Graham Delaet make a run at his first tour victory. While they showed a few shots of the Saskatchewan native, we all had to endure every single shot Tiger Woods shot en route to a 76 and a top 50 finish. Really? By the turn he had no bearing on who would win the tournament so why on earth does anybody, even the biggest Tiger fan want to see his birdie putt on 16 to get him to +5 and only fourteen shots back with two to go? Absolutely sickening. I know people want to watch Tiger but if you are spending your Sunday afternoon to see him struggle to shot 75, you need to make better plans for the weekend.
* Speaking of the PGA, I do not buy Rory McIlroy's story that tooth pain was the root (sorry for the pun) of his withdrawal at this week's stop. If that had been the case would he not have brought that up when approached in the parking lot moments after walking off the course? While we may never know the real reason for his WD, I would hope that it was something that actually warranted his decision. Many people buy tickets to these touranments, and to have the number one ranked player take off after 27 holes is a shame. Compounding the problem is that there are guys on the alternate list watiting to get a spot and who need to play to make money to maintain status, something Rory won't have to worry about for a long, long time. If he walked off simply because he wasn't playing good and took a spot away from someone who actually needed it, that is shameful.
* Speaking of shameful, Calgary Stampeder Head Coach John Hufnagel left the Coach of the Year luncheon early saying he had a flight to catch. Brutal excuse; an embarrasement to himself, his organization and the CFL as a whole. If he isn't fined by the league he should be. He does coach in Calgary, so in a way this isn't a surprise however.
* CFL schedule comes out this week and word on the street is tomorrow will be the day where my summer plans can start to be made as my schedule will revolve around the Rider home games. It bothers me that so many season ticket holders complain about the schedule saying that Rider games interfere with other plans. Uhm, you bought tickets for a reason I would think; that is to watch the Riders. If they are getting in the way of your plans, perhaps you need to make better plans. I live three and a half hours from Mosaic and have missed one game in four years. Sometimes being a fan involves sacrifice, and to me missing a day at the lake to spend the day/evening at Mosaic is NO sacrifice.
* This morning Damien Cox tweeted that other than AAA hockey, there should not be body contact as those kids need to learn how to play, not how to check. Uhm, Damien is hitting not part of the game? Thus learning to play the game should mean learning how to hit, be hit and do so in a safe manner. I get it that hitting in hockey is often given a bad rep because of some careless acts by a select few players such as Patrick Kaleta, Matt Cooke and Dan Carcillo to name a few but you can't change the entire face of the game. Furthermore, not everybody who makes it in hockey plays AAA. Some pretty good hockey players have come from lower ranks, and to have them play without hitting would be wrong in my mind.
OUT!
* It is sometimes very difficult to be a Rider fan. I find it particularly annoying when fans bemoan and belittle our play over the course of the year and say this guy, that guy and the other guy need to be fired. In saying that, we all know the Riders had some weaknesses on the field last year, namely on the defensive side of the ball. Our pass rush was at times obsolete and our secondary proved to be our achilles on a couple of occasions. What does GM Brendan Taman, along with Jeremy O'Day do about it? They go out and get arguably the best cover man not only available, but one of the best in the league in Dwight Anderson. They follow that up with some depth signings included Weldon Brown and Tristan Black, and then they go out and pick up the best pass rush option available in free agency, snagging Rickey Foley away from the Argos. Most fans would be happy to see management making strides towards improving areas of weakness, right? Nope, not in Saskatchewan. Here they are seen as guys that are too old, or bring too much baggage, claim that Taman doesn't know how to evaluate talent and he should be sent packing. My words to those fickle, always complaining fans, your lives must really suck if the Riders make you that angry in the off - season.
* Dennis Rodman was an idiot throughout his playing career. He maintains his status as a complete moron, not with his recent trip to North Korea, but his statement after that the country has great leaders and all Kim Jung Un wants is to discuss basketball with Barack Obama. Go get another tattoo, maybe dye your hair another neon color or something but Dennis, leave the foriegn diplomacy to guys with common sense. In no world is the leader of a nation who spends money on nuclear arms while his people starve seen as a good guy who is just misunderstood.
* Watching the PGA Tour can be so damn aggravating. Yesterday I anxiously tuned into the final round of the Honda Classic hoping to watch Canadian Graham Delaet make a run at his first tour victory. While they showed a few shots of the Saskatchewan native, we all had to endure every single shot Tiger Woods shot en route to a 76 and a top 50 finish. Really? By the turn he had no bearing on who would win the tournament so why on earth does anybody, even the biggest Tiger fan want to see his birdie putt on 16 to get him to +5 and only fourteen shots back with two to go? Absolutely sickening. I know people want to watch Tiger but if you are spending your Sunday afternoon to see him struggle to shot 75, you need to make better plans for the weekend.
* Speaking of the PGA, I do not buy Rory McIlroy's story that tooth pain was the root (sorry for the pun) of his withdrawal at this week's stop. If that had been the case would he not have brought that up when approached in the parking lot moments after walking off the course? While we may never know the real reason for his WD, I would hope that it was something that actually warranted his decision. Many people buy tickets to these touranments, and to have the number one ranked player take off after 27 holes is a shame. Compounding the problem is that there are guys on the alternate list watiting to get a spot and who need to play to make money to maintain status, something Rory won't have to worry about for a long, long time. If he walked off simply because he wasn't playing good and took a spot away from someone who actually needed it, that is shameful.
* Speaking of shameful, Calgary Stampeder Head Coach John Hufnagel left the Coach of the Year luncheon early saying he had a flight to catch. Brutal excuse; an embarrasement to himself, his organization and the CFL as a whole. If he isn't fined by the league he should be. He does coach in Calgary, so in a way this isn't a surprise however.
* CFL schedule comes out this week and word on the street is tomorrow will be the day where my summer plans can start to be made as my schedule will revolve around the Rider home games. It bothers me that so many season ticket holders complain about the schedule saying that Rider games interfere with other plans. Uhm, you bought tickets for a reason I would think; that is to watch the Riders. If they are getting in the way of your plans, perhaps you need to make better plans. I live three and a half hours from Mosaic and have missed one game in four years. Sometimes being a fan involves sacrifice, and to me missing a day at the lake to spend the day/evening at Mosaic is NO sacrifice.
* This morning Damien Cox tweeted that other than AAA hockey, there should not be body contact as those kids need to learn how to play, not how to check. Uhm, Damien is hitting not part of the game? Thus learning to play the game should mean learning how to hit, be hit and do so in a safe manner. I get it that hitting in hockey is often given a bad rep because of some careless acts by a select few players such as Patrick Kaleta, Matt Cooke and Dan Carcillo to name a few but you can't change the entire face of the game. Furthermore, not everybody who makes it in hockey plays AAA. Some pretty good hockey players have come from lower ranks, and to have them play without hitting would be wrong in my mind.
OUT!
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