The Rivalry Is Dying

Games between the Moose Jaw Warriors and the Regina Pats used to mean something. There used to be an atmosphere in the building when the two teams played. There used to be some anticipation that the hate between the two teams would spill over. Lately, games between the two--at least in Regina--have been rather tame, rather hum-drum. They've been games between two teams that you wouldn't know are rivals. I'm not calling for the two teams to drop the gloves and go at it at every whistle, but it would be nice if there was some heat between the squads. There is absolutely nothing fierce about this rivalry anymore. Is it because both teams don't have characters anymore? Is it because the game has become too homogenized? Whatever it is, someone needs to fix it so that games between these two teams are games that fans want to go to.
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I will say this about Moose Jaw. Warriors fans will be happy over the next few years watching Morgan Rielly do his thing. The 16 year old defenceman is some kinda player. If he keeps developing, he might be number one overall material. As for Quinton Howden, I would take that guy on my team anyday of the week.
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The Winnipeg Blue Bombers season is over and I'm guessing its something that is extremely frustrating for Paul LaPolice. Perhaps it was fitting that the Stampeders beat the Bombers 35-32 because it ended a season that saw Winnipeg lose nine games by four or fewer points. The win-loss total certainly doesn't show how good a team Winnipeg was this year. LaPo has this team on the right track. A break here and a break there and a young team that gained some valuable experience will be very good next year. Very good!
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Was it "be a bad driver day" yesterday in Regina. There were idiots driving all over the place. Some of these idiots were even people yakking on their cellphone. I thought a crackdown was coming this month. Regina's finest were absent on the roads I was on yesterday. If they had been, they might have been writing a few tickets. What happens if you phone to rat on someone who is talking on their phone?
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Did anyone catch the Breeders Cup or highlights. Two jockeys got into a fist fight. They are now chucking the knuckles in horse racing! Where is the hue and cry to clean up the sport and to reduce the violence!
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Joe Thornton's hit on David Perron was NOT suspendable. That is getting a little carried away.
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Canada's national womens soccer team is off to the World Cup. Does anyone care? Did you know Canada had a national womens program?
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Word has it one of my biggest critics was at the same Regina establishment as me during the lunch hour Friday. He didn't come over to say HI, he didn't want to introduce himself even though he takes runs at me all the time. All I can say is I was so heart-broken---oh wait that was indigestion. As you can see, the feelings are mutual.
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There's not a lot of talk about the NFL game in Toronto this Sunday is there. Even the ESPN guys seem to have forgotten about it because they were talking about the game being played in Buffalo when doing weekend previews today. OOPS!
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I would have no problem if the Blue Jays signed Canadian lefty Jeff Francis to a contract. I would have no problem if the Cubs signed him either.
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Its a week late, but I just saw video of the whole dust-up between the Rams and Huskies before their football game last week. OK, the Rams may have been a little out of line for stomping on the U of S logo and yeah, they were expecting something to happen. However, whoever the member of the Husky alumni was that threw a punch at a Rams player is lucky he didn't get his lights dimmed. What a frickin clown! Who was that guy?
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As you go into the weekend, remember this. Friends are like condoms. When things start getting hard, they protect you!
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GO RIDERS!!