Xmas Is Three Weeks Away

Yes, Christmas is three weeks away. Have you done your shopping yet? Have you even thought about what you are getting for those that you have to buy for.

Memo to self: I love Legends and other sports memorabilia stores, but one of these days I have to learn never, ever to go into one of those establishments. The lure is so tempting and the merchandise is so addicting. There is so much good stuff in there that one could really drop a serious wad of cash if he wanted to. They have NFL couches in there. I can only imagine the look on Tracey's face if she came home one night to see a Seahawks coach in the basement. It might end up with me crashing the car into the neighbour's hydrant and tree. If the day ever comes that I win the lottery(and I would gladly accept winning tonight's MAX draw), I am headed to that place with a U-Haul. It won't be my only stop either.
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Theoren Fleury is in Regina Friday night to sign copies of his book. Have you read that book yet? There is some good reading in there. Some creepy reading, but good nonetheless. Theo paints a very good story of how tormented his soul was thanks to the evil that was Graham James.
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The Pats are back home this weekend after their successful West Coast road trip. They have a home date against Brandon Saturday, Prince Albert Sunday and Kelowna on Wednesday. I won't be able to see the first two games, but I do want to see the Rockets. Saturday night is the annual Teddy Bear Toss in which fans are invited to throw a teddy bear on the ice when the Pats score their first goal. The teddys are rounded up and are given to kids at both hospitals. In fact, I think my six year old might have gotten some from last year's event when she was hospitalized in September. The nurse came into her room with a great big box of stuffed animals, and even though she was tightly clutching her Funshine Bear, she needed more comfort and plucked a couple of bears out of that box and gave them a nice home. Bottom line---if you are going, take something with you as it does go to a great cause. I don't know who thought up of this idea that runs across the Western Hockey League, but it is a great promotion.
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This snow isn't going away is it?
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The NFL needs to re-think this Thursday night football. The games are terrible! Its tough for teams to get over one game on a Sunday night and then get their bodies ready for a game on Thursday. Since the NFL started this late-schedule diet of Thursday games just to appease the NFL network, I don't think there has been one game that has been an entertaining game to watch. The most entertaining game on the tube last night was the Oregon-Oregon State football game.
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Jim Hopson tells Rob Vanstone in today's LP that the "13th man" slogan isn't going anywhere. The 13th man will be a haunting reminder for a long time of what happened last Sunday, but its become too big a piece of the Rider fabric to just throw it away like last night's dinner. Hoppy also tells Rob he'll be sticking around for the 2010 season, but someone new will likely have the position in 2011 as his extension expires in March of that year. I don't know who succeeds Jim, but lotsa luck. How do you replace someone who changed the culture of this team and turned them into one of the elite if not the elite franchise in the CFL. I remember Jim saying one of the things he wanted to do was make the Riders like those Eskimo teams of the 70's and 80's with other teams asking and wishing they could be like them. The amount of GC's may not be the same, but that mission has been accomplished.
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I have no idea what will happen with Rider free agency, but I hope Eddie Davis and Omarr Morgan are back. You need that experience in the secondary and both men have proven they can still play the game at a high level.
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Good luck to Pat Simmons, Amber Holland and Stefanie Lawton as they begin play at the Roar of the Rings Olympic curling trials. If these rinks have made it this far, there is nothing to suggest they can't take one more step and be the rink(s) that represent us in curling in Vancouver. The favourites would have to be Jennifer Jones and Shannon Kleibrink on the womens side, and Kevin Martin and Glenn Howard on the mens side, but you just never know.
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The Jays can't keep Marcos Scutaro as he signs a two year deal with Boston. That will hurt Aaron Hill as well. Who's the leadoff hitter now?
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The World Cup of Soccer draw is later today. Charlize Theron is helping with that draw. If that's the case, is it on TV?
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The Oilers thump the Wings in Detroit?? I can't figure out that team!
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One Tiger joke for you before I leave. Word is Elin Nordegren is going to make money by having a series of seminars with golfers on the PGA tour. Those golfers have finally found out that there is someone out there who can beat Tiger with a golf club in their hand. The seminars were set up by Phil Mickleson.
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