This And That

The Saskatchewan Roughriders will take on the BC Lions Saturday afternoon at Mosaic Stadium in a 1 o'clock start. The winner of the game will be the lone unbeaten team in the CFL. It will be a gorgeous Saturday afternoon to watch a game. However, the game for some odd reason still isn't sold out. I know its bothering Rod Pedersen who asked listeners of the Sportscage why they aren't showing up to support the football team. The reason really isn't crystal clear, but what is becoming crystal clear is that the moniker of "Worlds Greatest Fans" may no longer apply. Don't get me wrong, there are many that bleed green that are there no matter what. However, its becoming more and more evident that some just no longer are supporting the football team for whatever reason. Perhaps the team has to implement blackouts again. This would not be fair for those who drive a long ways to Regina for the game, but it would seem as if the thrill of attending football games at Mosaic is wearing off for some. Are those people waiting for the new stadium? Are those people not convinced this team is better than many thought they were going to be? I don't know what it is, but the Rider Nation certainly isn't as strong this year as it has been in the past. The joint should be packed Saturday. I'm hoping it still will be.

It is said attendance is up slightly in the CFL from this time last year. That is all and good, but lets take BC out of the equation and then ask what the numbers look like. I'm guessing the crowds at BC Place were a little bigger than the ones at Empire Field. If you take BC out of the equation, what do the numbers look like?

Kansas City Royals fans embarassed themselves at the All-Star festivities this week. Royals fans let Yankees 2nd baseman Robinson Cano hear it for not selecting hometowner Billy Butler to compete in the Home Run Derby. They booed loudly when Cano was at the plate for the competition and that continued right through the game. The AL team was made up of Cano (captain), Prince Fielder, Jose Bautista and Mark Trumbo who went 1-2-3 in the competition. Where exactly was Butler supposed to be? I'm surprised KC fans didn't boo the MVP selection even though Butler went 0-2 with a strikeout. The game and the festivities the day before the game are all meant to be fun and meant to be a celebration of the game. The fans of Kansas City didn't see it that way. Commissioner Bud Selig now says it may be mandatory for All-Star game hosts to have a player in the home run derby. Why? What if the team that hosts the game doesn't have a hitter but a pitcher as their representative? Is the ballpark of choice not sold out for the home run contest and the all-star game. You don't need to sell tickets, but you do want to see the best. If the best isn't one of your guys, too bad. Suck it up!

Congratulations to Jordan Eberle for getting his number retired by the Regina Pats. Its a great move for a great individual. The only question I have is why not hold the press conference to announce it before the dinner instead of at the gala so that it could have maximized the TV and radio sports as that certainly would have been the lead at 6 and whenever. It would have carried right through the day into the golf tournament. Needless to say, the Brandt Centre will be packed October 9 when Portland visits to see the number 7 join the likes of other great Pats like Staniowski, Wickenheiser and Hicke.

Chad Novak has decided to vacate his mayoral campaign saying politics are dirty. I think life will go on. Speaking of mayors, Glenn Hagel is stepping down in Moose Jaw. One can only assume that the job should go to Rob Carnie or Kelly Remple.

An interesting story in the paper about two gentlemen who tried to defraud SGI by running their cars into each other. The sad thing was the incident was witnessed by a smart SGI investigator and both basically abandoned their claims. The question I have is why weren't these idiots charged with fraud?

How busy will the St. Johns Ambulance people be at Craven? How bad will the sunburns be? What type of stench will there be in the campgrounds from those who haven't showered for a few days after whooping it up in the heat? How many will be taking Monday and Tuesday off to recover? How many will have the weekend of their lives!

You couldn't ask for a better night to be at Currie Field than what it was on Thursday as the Regina Red Sox were beaten by Okotoks. I think those two teams will play at Currie again in a few weeks, but the stakes will be a little bigger if you know what I mean. Still with the Red Sox, I think Adam Geiger (their play-by-play guy) needs to belt out the 7th inning stretch a la Harry Caray one night.

Corey Chamblin is a smart man. The Rider coach came out with cold water for the media who were waiting to interview players after practice on Tuesday. Chamblin is already trying to sway voters for coach of the year honors. Thanks Coach! Next week, can you put on an apron and barbecue some burgers up for us? If not you, communications assistant Reid Lambden or Ryan Pollock will do.

Is Edwin Encarnacion worth 27 million over the next three seasons? 21 OK, but 27?

Kobe Bryant says the 2012 US Olympic team could beat the Dream Team. Kobe, you are an idiot! Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley are laughing at you and for good reason.

I know many of you that read this on a day to day basis don't watch Monday Night RAW, but for those that do, Monday's show may have been one of the worst I have ever seen. It was god-awful.

Wrestling fans, do you know that WWE hall of famer Tito Santana will be in Regina next Tuesday night when High Impact Wrestling returns. That should be a good night. I am hearing rumours that Rod's favourite blog commenter Obama may be in attendance. Obama vs Santana---I like it!!!

Th-th-th-th-that's all Folks!!!