Random Thoughts

Its late October and while the temperatures are getting colder and the leaves continue to fall, there is no immediate sign of snow and that's a good thing as far as I'm concerned.

What isn't a good thing is that there might not be any meaningful football in Regina to speak of in November. The Riders are three games away from their season ending, the Thunder are done and the Rams might not make the playoffs. YIKES!!!

Ken Miller has seemed a little more agitated this week at practice as he gets questioned on why this is being done and why that is being done. I personally don't understand some of the moves that are being made, but in some cases he can't do what he might like to. With guys like Dan Clark, Nick Hutchins and George Hudson on the 9 game injury list, the team can't do anything there because they have used up their nine game exemption by taking Ernie Wheelwright off. What is disturbing there is that Wheelwright went back on to the 9 game list this week after just one appearance in which he made I think just one catch. That doesn't make a lot of sense unless he was re-injured severely on Sunday. I didn't see it.

If Gene Makowsky wins for the Saskatchewan Party in Regina Dewdney, his football career will be over. If he should lose, I would not be surprised to see #60 back next year. The guy can play. I think he's been the Riders best o-lineman again this year.

What type of coin is it going to take to keep Andy Fantuz in Rider green? Who gets sacrificed for the money that will be thrown Andy's way?

Rod Pedersen thinks Ken Miller will be back as Head Coach in 2012. I agree and disagree with him. I think Miller will be back in 2012 IF he is back in 2013 as well when the team hosts the Grey Cup. If a two  year commitment can not be given, I think he will be bought out.

The only person that has the answers, and I don't know if he has them yet, is Riders President and CEO Jim Hopson. I have confidence that after the year is over, he will sit down with the board and formulate a plan that will get this team back to the upper echelon of the CFL. I have said it once and I have said it before, Jim Hopson is a huge reason why this team is enjoying the success it has been (this year's on-field product excluded) and the Hoppy hate that some have is to me just inexplicable and foolish. Yeah. the Greg Marshall thing didn't work out, but are you going to tell me that every decision you have made has worked perfectly?

You gotta admit that the decision made by John Hufnagel to bench Henry Burris and start Drew Tate when his team is fighting for first takes some cajones. I've got to think that Henry's days are over in Cowtown and that he will be with another team in 2012. He's not going to BC with Travis Lulay there and Ricky Ray appears to have some years left in him in Edmonton. Darian isn't going anywhere here despite what Marty York says. If A-C were to retire, he could end up in Montreal, but his best bet is Toronto or Hamilton. Would Calgary want the #1 pick overall in a deal involving Burris?

Speaking of guys on new teams. Is it safe to assume Luca Congi has kicked his last ball in green. Where does he end up?

The Calgary Flames are one borrrrrrrrrrrrrrring hockey team.

What happened to the kid that used to dress up as Miikka Kiprusoff and imitate him at games? Did he finally grow up and realize how stupid he was?

Are the Leafs actually a good team now?

The love affair between Roberto Luongo and Vancouver Canucks fans continues to crumble. Why do I see Luongo not being in Vancouver at this time next year?

I have met Bret "The Hitman" Hart many, many times, but I have never interviewed him. That changes on "The Sportscage" today at 5 o'clock as he will be in studio with me. I wish I could give him more time cuz I could talk to him all day. I don't know where to start.

"The Hitman" is here to sign autographs before tonight's Pats-Calgary game at the Brandt Centre. Game time is 7. Go out and watch this Pats team that shows no signs of slowing down.

I know a lot of people out there don't like Joe Buck, but I'm a fan

If ESPN can give Dan Lebatard a show, TSN can surely give a show to Rob Vanstone.

Take a good look at the new Sportsnet logo. The swoosh starts just where the "T" ends and continues through the "S" and the "N". In other words, the swoosh highlights "TSN". Apparently Chris Cuthbert also noticed this and tweeted it last week. I tweeted it last night only to be told about Chris' tweet. OOPS!!!



Who are these idiots occupying Victoria Park and why? Two words---water cannons!! I have no time for these people.

I knew who I was voting for before the election was called and there is no reason for me to change my thought process after seeing the first couple of weeks of the campaign.

Have you noticed that no one really cares about the NBA lockout. When the NFL lockout was on, it was getting attention daily high up on places like Sportscentre. Not so this time around. The average NBA player makes 5 million a year and that is higher than baseball and football. A lot of these players are just sitting on the bench earning that coin. No thanks!!

That's all I got. See ya on the Cage at 5 and maybe at the Brandt Centre tonight. Its either that or Game 2 of the World Series or the Oilers-Minnesota game. Decisions, decisions, decisions.