Is There Any Doubt Now?

If Rider fans aren't feeling good about their teams' chances to get back to and win the Grey Cup in 2010, then what's the matter now. I think its safe to say the moves on Wednesday to lock up Darian Durant and re-sign Wes Cates means the Riders should have the best offence in the CFL. Take a look at what this team has right now

QB-Durant, Harrell, Bergquist
RB-Cates, Charles, Dorsey
FB-Szarka, Hughes
SB-Dressler, Fantuz, Getzlaf, Clermont
WR-Rodriguez, Bagg, Quinn, Armstead
OL-Smith, Makowsky, O'Day, Bell, Goodspeed, Bates, Johnson, Parenteau, Best, etc. etc.

This has to be one of the most talented groups assembled across the CFL in quite a while and you know more moves are going to be made. On paper, one would argue right now that the Riders have the best team in the West and that statement is made after all the off-season losses they have incurred. Defensively, there are still some questions (defensive end, secondary), but I would have to think Brendan Taman and Ken Miller will find guys to vacate the spots left open by John Chick, Stevie Baggs, Renauld Williams and Eddie Davis. Perhaps some of those guys are already here. Only time will tell.
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The Pats last home game is Friday night and those going to the Brandt Centre (and I hope there are many who are) will have a chance to see Jordan Eberle chase his 50th goal of the season in what will be his last home game. Eberle got 47 and 48 in a win over Saskatoon Wednesday night. The win means Brandon will likely win the Eastern Division and get the number two seed overall in the conference. It means a first round date against possibly the Swift Current Broncos. Regina hockey fans will want to know that the paperwork has indeed been signed and that the Broncos will call the Brandt Centre home for their first round matchup against either the Wheat Kings or the Calgary Hitmen. Dates for the games have not been announced yet. If its Brandon, four of the seven games might be played in Regina as Brandon won't have the Keystone Centre for Game 7 if it goes that far. If you haven't heard, the Broncos won't have their rink because Jennifer Jones and company will be there doing their thing at the World Womens Curling Championship.
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If I were Matt Cooke, I might want to come down with the flu next week. For some inexplicable reason, the Pittsburgh forward will NOT be suspended for his brutal head shot on Marc Savard last Sunday night. The Penguins are in Boston next week. That one could be ugly. Who's kidding who, it will! How the NHL can let this hit get away unpunished is simply beyond me. Its not like Cooke is a Lady Byng candidate. The fact he is getting off without even a slap on the wrist is just plain stupid. If anything erupts in the rematch next week, the blood of whoever will be on the hands of the NHL.
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I said it earlier this year and I'll say it again. Sabres defenceman Tyler Myers might be the best rookie in the NHL this season. He has future Norris Trophy winner written all over him. If his name isn't on the list of those who are already thinking about the 2014 Canadian Olympic team, I just have to ask why? By the time Sochi rolls around, he could very well be the best blueliner in the NHL.
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The Canucks are going home. They finished a record 14 game road trip Wednesday night in Phoenix. They haven't played a home game since January 27. Yes, the trip was broken up into two segments because of the Olympic break, but you have to think that group can't wait to get back home and start resuming their normal lives. Many Canucks were Olympians, but I'm guessing guys like Luongo, Kesler and the Sedins weren't staying at their regular home during the games. Still with the Canucks, just how good is Alex Burrows?
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I'm not sold on the new rule aimed at stopping headshots in the NHL. There just seems to be too much grey area. One thing that I don't like is the fact a minor penalty can be called. A minor penalty? If you are guilty of a headshot, it should be at least four minutes if not more. Two minutes in the sin bin will not stop what the league wants to or at least says they want stopped.
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I heard the great Dan Patrick discussing this on his Wednesday morning radio show and it just made me raise my eyebrows and go huh? Sports Illustrated's Tom Verducci says the idea of "floating" realignment has been suggested. It would create almost an A division and a B division in both the National and American Leagues. With the Yankees and the Red Sox ruling the roost in the AL East, the Orioles, Rays and Jays know their chances at making the playoffs are slim. Under Bud Selig's idea, those that felt they could compete with the Yankees and Red Sox could move into the AL East----well those that are in the AL Central because baseball doesn't want to see a division that has a West Coast team and an East coast team in it. I really don't see what good this would do for the sport. Blue Jays fans might be going its a way to give our team a better chance at making the playoffs, but at what price. The idea is just plain dumb. It really doesn't make any sense. I hope this idea passes and dies without a whimper.
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Raptor Chris Bosh had a great one Wednesday night in Sacramento. During the 1st half of the Raptors-Kings game, Bosh was walking to the Toronto bench when a fan yelled at the soon to be free-agent. "Hey Bosh, you coming to Sacramento next year or not." Bosh just looked at him and said "hell no". Hey, you asked!
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Thats it for me. As you go into your Thursday, I leave you with this....

Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional