This And That

Wow, what an eventful few days it has been. A lot of different things are going on so its time to weigh in on some of them

Riders head coach Corey Chamblin indicated Tuesday that he would remind his team that every team in the league has a player in the CFL player awards except his team. I am guessing Chamblin is also letting his players know about the all-star selections or should I say lack of them. Yeah, its a little tough for Kory Sheets to get all-star recognition with Jon Cornish and Andrew Harris also in the West, but Dominic Picard doesn't get recognized nor does any member of the number 2 ranked defense in the league. Add that to some statements uttered this week about the Riders not being ready for primetime and I would certainly say this team has been disrespected and that can turn into a real positive for you. Just remember the 1989 Western final.
---
Chamblin rattled the cages of some this week when he attempted to close practice. I had no problem with it. NFL teams routinely close a good portion of their practices to the media, yet those same reporters are given a chance every day to talk to players and coaches and in the end everyone gets the story they want. While media members (this one included) aren't crazy with the fact that we have to wait for about a half hour between talking to Chamblin and talking to the players, Corey and the guys have been very accomodating answering question after question after question on the same topic from a different guy day after day. I've had no problems with them and if there are any media members out there that say they have perhaps its their problem.  End of story!
-----
Speaking of rattling cages, my good buddy Derek "Duke" Meyers had tongues wagging and people pounding at their keyboards when he told Rod Pedersen on "The Sportscage" that he could care less if the Riders win or lose. Derek is entitled to his opinion and yes, there are some out there who don't care if the team wins or loses, but its a good news story to me when a local team is winning whether it be the Riders, Rams, Pats, Red Sox or whoever so I will disagree with him on that.  Where Derek is 100 percent right though is when he says at the end of the day it means nothing to him as far as bonuses or anything else if the home team wins or loses. I don't think Global is giving Derek any extra $$$$ when they win. I didn't get any extra $$$ in my days at CJME and I don't get extra $$$ from the Riders for writing stories when they win. There is nothing in the job description that says you have to root for the home side. You can be as positive as you want to be and wave the flag, but win or lose, you aren't getting any perks. If you disagree, do you get any perks or added pay at your job when the Riders win?
-----
At least Derek didn't mention anything about harm coming to the other team by way of a plane crash or anything. I've never met Dean 'Boomer' Molberg from the Fan 960 and from what I have heard, I don't really want to meet him. His comments about hoping the Riders go down in a plane crash is just unacceptable in today's world. He has apologized for those comments and you can take it for what you will. That little incident will stain his reputation much like the mooning incident has stained Jon Cornish's reputation. Should he be fired? I know I would have been if I had ever said anything like that whether it was meant to be light-hearted or not over at CJME. He has been suspended for his comments so at least management is taking some kind of action----albeit delayed.
------
Jon Cornish or Chad Owens for MOP. That's a tough one. I might have said Cornish a couple of weeks ago, but how can you ignore the numbers Owens put up. It will be close. Meanwhile, its Moonman against Bagpuncher for top Canadian. Cornish will win that one. How does Emry get the East nomination and not Luca Congi. That is just wrong. Its also wrong that a backup defensive lineman in BC is the West nominee for rookie of the year.
-----
It was a swing and a miss as to who the two Alberta teams would start at quarterback this weekend. I am shocked Drew Tate is starting for the Stampeders after what Kevin Glenn did this season. I shouldn't be surprised at Kerry Joseph starting in Edmonton because he has proved he still has it, but I thought a young Matt Nichols might get the call. After hearing Joseph had been declared the starter, I started to wonder if Corey Chamblin would throw a curveball and say Drew Willy is starting.
------
It was only the Jacksonville Jaguars, but I was impressed with the play of the Indianapolis Colts and rookie quarterback Andrew Luck. If that team can stay together over the next few years, they could be right back in the Super Bowl chase. Reggie Wayne is playing like he's 23 instead of 33, Luck is everything that was advertised and that defense which has Jerrell Freeman on it can fly to the football.
----
I'm guessing this snow that we are getting won't be going away.
----
Thank you to Costco for reducing the price of gas in our fair city. The opening of a Costco gas bar has meant the price of gas has plunged in Regina over the past couple of weeks. The Leader-Post had a story suggesting we could see gas below one dollar a litre in the near future. I didn't think we would ever see that again!
-----
Why doesn't Dora the Explorer parents ever ground her for wandering so far from home and why do they seemingly not care where she goes or what time she gets home? Is this the message we are to give to our kids?
-----
I was at the Pats game against Seattle on Wednesday and got talking to someone I hadn't spoken to for a while. He was going home after the 2nd period because he said the game just isn't entertaining anymore and that there is no fire-wagon hockey where teams go up and down the ice creating one scoring chance after another. I couldn't disagree with him, and if no one finds a way to liven it up right from the NHL (if they ever come back) down it will stay that way. On election night, the guys at ESPN Radio were talking about the four main sports and where they will be when it comes time to have the next presidential election. It was thought football will just keep getting bigger with basketball and hockey improving their profiles and baseball taking a huge hit. I just can't see how hockey's profile can be raised the way it is right now.
----
I would love to see TSN or CBC or Sportsnet or somebody take a page from the NFL Network and do some shows like "A Football Life" revolving around CFL personalities past and present. A one hour documentary on players and coaches like George Reed, Tom Wilkinson, Don Matthews etc. etc would be riveting.
-----
Tweet of the week comes from the LA Kings who of course got people riled up during the Stanley Cup playoffs for some less than flattering tweets about the Canucks. On Tuesday night as Americans were voting, whoever is behind the Kings account tweeted "Remember, your vote could decide who congratulates us at the White House".
------
Its been said before, but it will be said again. Brad Nessler and Mike Mayock are an outstanding p x p duo on the NFL Network. Wayyyyy better than Tirico and Gruden if you ask me.
----
For some strange reason, I see the Riders taking advantage of a Calgary secondary that has some changes in it and winning 29-24. Chris Getzlaf will re-emerge as part of the Riders offense and have another big game in Calgary. Speaking of Getzlaf, he didn't have the touchdowns that Andy Fantuz had, but he had the catches, the yards, an all-star berth and he is playing this weekend. I think Chris had a better year than Andy who is just the latest in a list of players to have their careers go south when leaving Saskatchewan.
-----
Good luck to the Rams in Calgary this weekend. Remember the game will be on TSN Saturday afternoon and if you're not in front of a TV, Michael Ball and Marco Ricci will have the call on 620 CKRM. It would be huge if the Rams could pull off an upset. They did it in Regina a couple of weeks with ago with Marc Mueller sitting on the sidelines so it can be done.
------
Rule number 1 of laziness......if you can't reach it, you don't need it!
-----
Have a good weekend. If you are travelling to Calgary or anywhere on a Saskatchewan highway drive safely as it sounds like it will be an ugly couple of days out there.