This And That

There it is! In less than 72 hours, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Saskatchewan Roughriders will play to get their mitts on that trophy and like many of you I can't wait. It would not bother me one bit if they were playing this game this afternoon instead of Sunday. I am ready!!! I may be a basket case on Sunday (did I say may), but I think I am ready to soak in everything that will happen Sunday night and hopefully those things that are soaking in are nothing but good thoughts as the Riders will have beaten the Tabbies. 

I like to people-watch and it will be interesting to see how the crowd is as they walk in and throughout the game. This is technically not a home game for the Riders so they won't have "BRING EM OUT BRING EM OUT" as they come out from under the helmet if they even do come out from the under the helmet. They want the crowd to yell it as the players are introduced. Will they? How nervous will they be? I know they will be chanting HENNNNNNNNNN-RYYYYYYYYY when the Ti-Cats touch the ball but can they do it for four quarters or will Burris silence them. Will some fans count the players on the field when Luca Congi comes out for a field goal? When its over, what happens? Does Kent, Hank and Andy ruin what has been a great party so far or does that party continue for a few days. 

If the Riders win, will fans storm the field? Part of me wants to see that happen so they can enjoy it with their football heroes and another part of me wants them to stay out of the celebration so that the players have the stage to themselves. How crazy will it get downtown? It is so compelling and its just about here. 

The WOLF's Chad McDonald has summed it up rather nicely with this little bit....

If that doesn't get you ready, what does!!!!

I will play a very minute bit in 620 CKRM's game day coverage, but I am honored to have a spot in the broadcast booth besides Rod, Carm and the rest of the gang on Sunday. I will do my usual pre-game bit with Rod, the pre-game interview with Coach Chamblin  and then co-host the halftime show with Phil Andrews. During that halftime show, you will hear an interview with the man who kicked the Riders to a victory the last time they played the Tiger-Cats in the Grey Cup as I spoke with my good friend Dave Ridgway this week. As you may or may not know, Dave had a radio show on CJME when I was there and I operated and co-hosted that show with him. We became very close at that time and we have continued to keep in contact with one another over the years. I was hoping he would make his way here for GC 101, but he was more than gracious to give me some time to talk about 89 along with this current matchup as he still follows the CFL from his home in the US Midwest.  Speaking of the 89 Cup, did you know that game had 8 players in it who are now CFL hall of famers. Can you name the 8???

There's yours truly with a pair of characters. It was great having Luc Mullinder and Lance Frazier on our team this year as the insight they brought was tremendous. Losing Lance at the end was a tough one, but when the guy has an opportunity closer to family in the U-S, how can you be disappointed. Its good to see Lance back doing his Riderville duties and I, and many others, wish him nothing but the best as he moves onto the next chapter of his life. 

Wouldn't it have been a lot easier had the banners of Kent Austin and Roger Aldag come down for a week with a Ti-Cats banner and a Rider banner or a banner of Burris on one side and Durant on the other. I'd have had no problem with that. 

I believe it would have been humourous for Mayor Michael Fougere to rename Hamilton Street to Roughrider Street this week. I sent him a tweet on this idea, he failed to get back to me.

Did anyone notice it was former Pat Frank Kovacs bringng in the Grey Cup during the opening ceremonies. I did,

Some have asked me how I've enjoyed Grey Cup week and to tell you the truth, I haven't been able to enjoy it the way I would like to. When you've got that little 9-5 job sitting on the desk, it is tough to get out and take in everything. I did attend the coaches news conference and I was highly impressed with the way Riders coach Corey Chamblin stood in there. If his team is as cool and relaxed as he was on Wednesday morning in his first ever coaches newser, this team will be ready on Sunday. I heard his demeanour hadn't changed any at the Riders team lunch. I don't expect it to change before kickoff at all. 

I don't know why, but there is just something about this picture that I absolutely love. What is Darian thinking as he looks at that trophy. We all know he should have had his hands on it in 2009 and one can only wonder how much differently he would be treated by Rider fans if he had gotten his hands on that thing back then. People do forget he won the game for us only to have it cruelly yanked away because of the ultimate mistake. That trophy is something Durant craves, needs and desires. He has had a look in his eye the past two weeks. I just don't see how he is denied this time. 

Congrats to Brendon Labatte, congrats to Brett Jones, congrats to the University of Regina Rams and congrats to Weyburn minor football and the city itself. I have just one question for the fine people of Weyburn and that question is who is your male athlete of the year. Is it Labatte, Jones or Graham DeLaet. That's not an easy decision to make. 

Someone in Weyburn needs to help me. Speaking to reporters after, Labatte said he thinks 3 players in the CFL have come from Weyburn. There is himself, Jones and who else? I have no idea.

Could the Riders have another North Dakota receiver on their hands. Rumour is the team has put Greg Harden on their neg list. Harden is said to be a slightly taller version of Weston Dressler and has broken some of Dress' records at UND. I'll have to ask Brendan Taman if the news I've received is correct. I'm thinkin it is!

There is some anger in the community over the fact the Pasqua Hospital is closing its emergency room for three months at night starting next Thursday. I understand the anger and I understand the frustration. What I don't understand is why it was the Plains Health Center was closed. Regina is a growing city and we need more hospitals and not less. Whose bright idea was it to shut down that facility? I really believe a lot of the healthcare problems in Regina could be alleviated if a 3rd hospital was around. We used to have it!! We need one with the way the city is growing. 

I will never understand how it is that someone must roar in front of you and in some cases cut you off just to get off at the next exit or turn at the next left or right. Is it that important? I guess it must be when you could just trail in behind and do what you have to do without worrying about the person in front of you. 

How many degenerates out there have purchased every team's cheerleader calendar. Actually, I might know a couple who have or will do that before the weekend is over. No, sadly I don't work with who I am thinking of. 

For the record, I have no problem with the CFL season starting when it does and ending when it does.

BREAK UP THE OILERS----they've won three in a row!!! Is Armageddon upon us?

I complain vociferously about CFL officiating, but I do shake my head at some of the calls in the NFL as well. How New England did not get one more play from the one yard line Monday night is beyond me. If that wasn't interference on Rob Gronkowski, what is?  

Can I ask the football gods once they have taken their attention away from the Grey Cup to please not forecast rain in Seattle for the Monday niter against the Saints. I don't want to get wet while watching that game. 

Week 12 NFL Lock Of The Week ---Baltimore over Jets 

Week 12 NFL Upset Of The Week ---Patriots over Broncos 

The 8 players in the 89 Grey Cup game who are now Hall of Famers were from the Riders---Elgaard, Jurasin, Aldag, Narcisse. The Hamilton players were Rocky Dipietro, Grover Covington, Miles Gorrell and Earl Winfield.

Grey Cup Fact # 5 --This will be the 7th time these two teams have met in the Grey Cup, The Ti-Cats hold a 5-1 lead.

Riders 33 Ti-Cats 24!!!!

OOPS!!!!!!!

How does the CFL let this happen to them?? That's one or two levels beyond embarrassing. 

Win or lose, take pride in your city. Have fun, but don't do anything stupid that will paint you or this place in an embarrassing light. We are not Vancouver and we are not Montreal!!

GO RIDERS!!!!!

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