Those Mean, Nasty Riders

TSN's the Reporters is one of my favourite shows on the network. It probably ranks right behind Around the Horn and Pardon the Interruption. I found it very interesting during the thumbs up/thumbs down segment when Damien Cox of the Toronto Star decided to rail on the Riders for the story made public this week about Ottawa getting the Riders permission to rejoin the CFL as long as their nickname is not the "Roughriders". I don't have a problem with this. I think its dumb for two teams to have the same name in a 9 team league----and don't give me any of this "Rough Riders" compared to "Roughriders" crap. Anyhow, this is what Cox said....



"My thumb is down this week to the apparent reality that Ottawa's new CFL team, whenever it starts, will not be called the Rough Riders. Now I know it was a long-standing joke that two teams in the CFL were named the Roughriders. To me it was a link to the past, and an opportunity for the new Ottawa team to make that link and establish a new identity in Ottawa. It's not that they don't own the name - they do now - it's that the Saskatchewan Roughriders don't want them to. The second team in everybody's heart in Canada kind of looks like a big bully in this case. "



What do you think? Are the Riders being a bully here or are they protecting their own interests? Perhaps Rod Pedersen can have Damien explain himself on "The Sportscage" today. Having said that, I'm sure there are many who want to vent to RP about Saturday's performance.

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If I told you after three weeks of the season that the Riders would have the same record as Montreal and Calgary, you would have said yeah that's OK. What would you have said if I told you after four weeks the Riders would have the same record as Toronto. You would likely be going ballistic calling for the head of everyone right from Ken Miller to Gainer.



Speaking of Mr. Pedersen, I had this article sent to me by a blog reader on Sunday. Its an interesting little take on just what did or didn't happen this week. I'll let you judge for yourself. By the way, there is going to be a new group of voices heard across the WHL this year. Besides Dan Plaster taking over for Rod, there will be four other new play by play men in the league. Edmonton, Kamloops, Vancouver and Prince George have either gotten or need new ones. You usually see several coaching changes, but I don't know if there have ever been this many play-by-play changes.

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Helio Castroneves has proven road rage is alive and well on the streets of Edmonton. Did you see that post-race meltdown after the Edmonton Indy was over? If not, watch Sportscentre or look for video of it. WOW!

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Is the TV show on Muchmusic "The Hard Times of RJ Berger" this generation's version of "Saved By the Bell". Have you seen this show? Its worth a laugh or two. Former Seahawks cheerleader Amber Lancaster is one of the stars. She's not hard to look at.

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My oldest daughter is spending some time with relatives and my youngest daughter is spending the week with Grandma and Grandpa. It means Mrs. Mitch and yours truly have a nice, quiet house for a few days. What to do? What to do!

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One of my buddies was absolutely outraged at the 2nd and short call last night where Wes Cates was stuffed for a loss. He said that play changed the game and gave Calgary the momentum they needed. He then went on to launch into a diatribe on Doug Berry's play-calling and Ken Miller's coaching. As I said yesterday, I think Miller had a bad game on the sidelines last night but even the best of coaches are going to have those. As for the play call, I will say this. Was anyone complaining when Berry pulled that double reverse to Rob Bagg on the Rider goal-line against Edmonton out of his bag of tricks. NOPE! Like I said yesterday, you aren't going to be successful on every call. No one wants to give the Stamps credit for making a play, but I guess that should be expected in a place where everyone wears green-tinged glasses. That's not a criticism, its just a fact!

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Former Moose Jaw Warriors and Team 1260 Morning Host Bryn Griffiths has an outstanding Facebook status on his page Sunday night. Griffiths says Kelly Campbell should talk to the Eskimo Cheer Team GUYS- they haven't dropped one in years! OUCH!

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The more I watch the Blue Jays, the more I think they might have a shot at contending in the AL East next year. I was SO wrong about their performance this year.

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CFL commish Marc Cohon in an online chat with the Globe and Mail yesterday said 43 percent of the games last year were decided in the last three minutes. Is that true? How would that compare to NFL games decided in the last two minutes? I'm too lazy to look that one up. Speaking of Cohon, I still say there is no better commissioner when you compare him to Bettman, Selig, Stern and Goodell. In fact if I had to rank the five, it would be Cohon, Goodell, Stern, Selig and Bettman but the gap between two and three is wide.

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When did TSN and Sportsnet become movie channels? Kingpin was on TSN last week, Bull Durham is on this week, Youngblood (worst sports movie ever) was on Sportsnet Sunday night. What gives? Does this mean the poker fad is fading. One can only hope!

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Congrats to Cape Breton Nova Scotia for winning the Canadian Big League Championships. They knocked off previously unbeaten BC 6-3 to win the title at Optimist Park Sunday afternoon. Cape Breton beat the host team to get to the finals.

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The Regina Red Sox have captured the Eastern Division title in the WMBL. They did so with a win over Weyburn Sunday night. Playoffs start Friday against an opponent to be named. I think I know where I might be Friday night.

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Can someone please tell me why they would want to participate in "The Running of the Bulls" in Pamplona, Spain. Who's kidding who, I cheer for the bulls. If you're that dumb to get in the way of a stampeding bull, too bad for you!
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Why do croutons come in airtight packages? Aren't they just stale bread to begin with?