Weekend Thoughts

--Did you get up caught up in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans---this week's stop on the PGA Tour. I did. It was great to see Weyburn's Graham DeLaet get some TV time this weekend as he looked for his first victory battling the likes of Ernie Els, Bubba Watson and Luke Donald. He didn't wilt under the pressure, but he couldn't get the putting game going and as a result finished tied for 4th with a score of 16 under. More importantly, he got a cheque for over 280-thousand dollars. He needs to make another 170-thousand to keep his tour card and he has 14 more tournaments to do so. I like his chances. I also like the fact that the Canadian got some air time on American TV this weekend. He was front and center Sunday morning on "The Golf Network" with interviews and everything. The only down part was the starter on the first tee announced him as being from "Sashwan" or "Sasakwan" or something like that. Would it really have hurt the starter to pull Graham aside and ask him how to pronounce it?

--The Riders should send Graham some merchandise and have him wear a couple of golf shirts for future tournaments. What better partnership than having Saskatchewan's product on the PGA Tour representing the /=S=/. Someone can make that happen over at the Rider offices can't they? That would be cool.

--Speaking of the Riders, they are making last second plans for Thursday's CFL draft. I have no clue who they are taking with the number one pick. I know it won't be Tyrone Crawford after he went in the 3rd round of the NFL draft to the Cowboys. That means its between Ben Heenan and Shawmaud Chambers. The Riders have lots of Canadian o-lineman and they have lots of Canadian receiving talent as well. I'm sure Brendan Taman, Alex Smith and whoever will hum and haw about this one until the time comes to make the pick.

--Why is the CFL draft on a Thursday afternoon?


--Why is the WHL bantam draft happening Thursday? The league won't get much press because of the CFL draft.

--Luke Schenn spent virtually all season in the doghouse of the Toronto Maple Leafs, yet he is still considered good enough to play for Team Canada at the World Championships. Ron Wilson destroyed this kid and if he gets the right coach, I still think he can be one of the best young defencemen in the NHL. If the Leafs wanted to make a package for the first overall draft pick and Schenn was a part of it, I would listen if I were the Oilers.

--I don't have a problem with Sidney Crosby skipping out on the World Championships this year after the concussion problems he went through. Some people have ragged on Sid for not going, but they aren't ragging on Jonathan Toews for not going and he has the same excuse. I'm sure both will be ready to go in Sochi in 2014.

--The more these playoffs go on, the more I think I would like to see Mike Richards and Jeff Carter skating for the Stanley Cup against the team that traded them in the off-season.

--The Kings need to go back to their purple and gold unis.

--Nine picks after the Leafs took Jiri Tlusty in the 2006 entry draft, the Flyers took Claude Giroux. OOPS!!! Others that went between those two include Riku Helenius (Tampa Bay), Ty Wishart (San Jose), Mark Mitera (Anaheim). I repeat, OOPS!!! For what its worth, the Oilers didn't have a first round selection in that draft.

--Since Marty Brodeur came into the NHL, he has reportedly played Philly with 15 different goalies. A friend of mine and myself tried naming those goalies on Sunday. We didn't come close. We had Hextall, Bryzgalov, Bobrovsky, Biron, Boucher, Esche, Leighton and Hackett. On my way home from watching the game at his place, I remembered the ever famous Roman Cechmanek. Who are we missing?

--Can someone tell me exactly what David Legwand was thinking on that one Phoenix goal last night. Holy brain cramp!

--That massive investment by the L-A Angels of Anaheim on Albert Pujols isn't exactly paying any early dividends is it? The Angels start combined with Texas's start may make it too tough for the Angels to catch up and we are just wrapping up the first month of the season.

--I guess I'll watch the Jays game tonight to check out Texas Ranger pitching sensation Yu Darvish. Is he everything that he is made out to be? He has shown signs that he could be. Yu meet Bautista!

--When I get to be his age, I want to have Buck Martinez's hair. Who's kidding who, I'd take that now and I'm in my mid 40's.

----I can't help but wonder if Colin Thatcher sent any text messages to Mark Stobbe this weekend? Rumour has it Thatcher was at the Rider workout in Moose Jaw this week.

--The NFL Network's Mike Mayock had the greatest line this weekend when talking about a linebacker (can't remember the name) during the draft on Saturday. Mayock said when talking about the guy---there's only one weakness I could find on this kid, but it was a big one. He's allergic to contact!

--The NFL Network also started unveiling its top 100 players of 2012 this weekend and Regina's own Jon Ryan was not ranked 90-100. I'm sure the Seahawks punter has to be higher ranked don't you? Its either that or he was ranked at 101!

--How many Division 1 schools in the US were beaten by the U of R Rams when it came to players taken in the NFL draft? I know they had just as many as Tennessee. I don't know about you, but I really hope to see Akiem Hicks having a major role with the Saints defence this year and having the talking heads talk about Regina and Saskatchewan and the CIS as a whole.

--Point discussed on the weekend---How many U of S Huskies have made the CFL in recent years? How many U of R Rams have made it? The Huskies may be winning more games, but the Rams are putting more players in the pros it would seem. In fact, the only three Huskies that I know of who were on CFL rosters last year (and I know I'm probably missing a couple) were Dylan Barker (retired), Scott Flory, Grant Shaw and Jade Etienne. That just adds to the debate as to who has the better program?

--True of false, there is someone connected to the Regina Pats on every one of the four remaining Western Conference teams in the Stanley Cup playoffs. The answer would be true---Derek Morris (Phoenix), Barry Trotz (Nashville), Barret Jackman (St. Louis) and Anze Kopitar (L-A), Yes, the Pats took Kopitar in the import draft, but he ended up going straight to L-A. If the Kings had sent him back to junior, he would have been on his way to Regina. I guess when push comes to shove, you could add Martin Hanzal's name on that list as well as the Pats took him as well, but his agent didn't want him coming to Regina for whatever reason so his rights went to Red Deer.

--So let me get this straight, Quebec students are paying the less of any student in Canada when it comes to tuition and yet they are protesting in the streets because of a tuition hike that will still leave them far behind other provinces. Does this make sense to you? Like I said when Vancouver was hit by the riots---I have just one word. Watercannons!

--John Cena beat Brock Lesnar??

--Thank you Kaley Cuoco for posting bikini pictures of yourself on vacation on Twitter. I don't think I am the only man to say that.

--I learned on the weekend that I apparently break the "bro" code when I send an emoticon to another guy in a text. Is that really against the code? If so, I'm sorry!

--Where can I find a "giggity band" in Regina. If you didn't watch Family Guy last night, you have no idea what I'm talking about.

--I wrap up this posting with this story. I have nothing to say on it except you poor bastard.

--Have a good Monday!