Something To "Mitch" About

There are many slogans used to describe Saskatchewan. I think I added one Saturday morning. The tweet read "Saskatchewan---we don't change time and we go from 52 below one Saturday to zero the next." I then let Premier Brad Wall know he could have that if he wanted. Yes, he did retweet and favourite the comment as did many others. I actually think I was trending in Saskatchewan for a short time. That's scary! While I said he could have it if he wants it, I'll be choked just a little if the phrase shows up on a brochure or something. Somehow, I don't think I have to worry. Then again, Pat Fiacco might want it for Tourism Saskatchewan. I doubt it.

I'm sure Tim Hortons is just fooling us with the latest roll up the rim campaign. I'm 0-15 so far. I am the JP Arencibia of coffee drinkers I guess. Is anyone winning? I haven't heard of people winning a lot of free coffees, but you go into the store and it says X amount of people are winning so again---it just must make me the Arencibia of coffee drinkers. I'm sure soon to be graduating U of R journalism student Arielle Zerr is now reading this and fuming seeing she is one of the biggest Arencibia fans out there. Sorry Arielle!


Speaking of the Blue Jays, I had a chance to watch one of their games this weekend. There is still a thought out there this team can win the American League East. I just don't see it. The Yankees loaded up again, Baltimore is better, Tampa remains a solid club and the Red Sox are the Red Sox. It will be damn tough for that team to contend and they will have to win the in-division games to have a chance. Then again, they should be better than the Cubs. CSI may have to be called in at times after their pitching staff gets murdered by the likes of St. Louis, Cincy and Pittsburgh. Let the fun begin!


Another year where Saskatchewan fails at the Brier. I don't think Steve Laycock would have lasted long had his draw attempt in 10 not sailed through the house in his last round-robin game, but it is somewhat disturbing knowing another year has passed by and our Brier drought continues. Can we lobby Ottawa and get an order-in-council to mandate a Saskatchewan win? Can we find Kevin Martin a job in our province? Perhaps Sammy Richardson needs to dust off his slider.

Congrats to Kevin Koe. His rink wins the Tim Hortons Brier and will become the first Team Canada at the event in Calgary next year. However, adding Team Canada and Nunavut means some teams won't be there. A pre-qualification event will be held with Nunavut, the Yukon, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island competing with one team advancing. The reason Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island are there is because of Brier wins from 2012-2014. Yes, this means the day could come where Saskatchewan isn't represented at Canada's national mens curling championship. This idea is just dumb. We stick with a bronze medal game, but eliminate some provinces. I'm not sure the Canadian Curling Association has thought this out. I'm OK with Team Canada and I actually think that is long overdue, but I'm not OK with some provinces not being included. Someone needs to enlighten me how this is supposed to improve the sport and grow it. Saying sorry you're not good enough is not a reason for me.

I will be honest here. Part of me is pulling for the Winnipeg Jets to make the Stanley Cup playoffs. Yes, this Oiler fan feels somewhat dirty for saying that, but it had to be said. By the way, I love the fact the Jets play so many Saturday afternoon games. It gives us folk a chance to hit Highway 1 heading East Friday night or early Saturday morning, go to the game and then turn around and come back well before midnight on Saturday. The question now is "When do I take advantage of this and do it?" Hey Vanstone....ROADIE!!!!!!

The Swift Current Broncos aren't going away. This last week of the WHL season will be a great one with advantage going to the Broncos when it comes to the schedule to wind things down. The Pats have a huge game against Prince Albert Wednesday night. The Raiders are playing some great hockey and should be considered that team you don't want to play in the first round, but Regina might. With just two home games left, its time to get that playoff buzz in the building.

While on the topic of the Raiders, the greatest player to ever wear their jersey (no, not Curtis Hunt) had his uniform retired in Dallas on Saturday as the Stars paid tribute to Mike Modano. It was a great ceremony as all retirement ceremonies go, buy why were former Dallas Cowboys quarterbacks Troy Aikman and Roger Staubach there? Does Roger Staubach even know who Mike Modano is? It seemed strange.

It can't be easy for the Kootenay Ice right now with the Tim Bozon story floating above them, but they have to be congratulated. You can talk about model franchises in the league, but put the Ice right up there amongst the top. They clinched a playoff spot this week meaning for the 16th straight year they are going to the playoffs. They have had runs that have ended as WHL and Memorial Cup champs in those 16 years and the people of Cranbrook have never seen their team not make the playoffs. It only makes the playoff drought the Pats have had over the last umpteen years that much worse. We don't have to worry about that this year though do we. What would the longest streak be for the Pats when it comes to playoffs? They made it every year in the late 70's and 80's didn't they?

Less than two months away from the return of Jack Bauer. A new "24" starts May 5. Can't wait! This installment of the show will also star Yvonne Strahovski of "Chuck" and "Dexter" fame. I'm OK with this!

I can't believe the amount of people asking me about Kevin Glenn saying he would be a good fit here as the backup. With all due respect to Kevin, the Riders don't need him. Darian Durant is entrenched as the starter which is what Kevin wants to be.  The cost for what would be a backup quarterback is too high and it prevents Tino Sunseri from perhaps being groomed as the next guy once Durant gives way in a couple of years. It just doesn't make sense. Some say he makes a good insurance policy should Darian get hurt and with the style of play he has that chance is likely. Its a valid argument, but its also a what-if. Lets roll the dice if it comes to that.

Would the Stampeders perhaps be smart in trying to get Glenn back? You have the oft-injured Drew Tate and the improving, but not proven as a starter Bo Levi Mitchell. Glenn had a great year under center last year for Calgary so bring him back and let him compete for that number one job. The price has to be right though and if the stories are correct, Ottawa is asking way too much. Rumour has it they want Winnipeg's first round pick from the Bombers. Rick Walters isn't that stupid. Joe Mack might have been.

Word out of Calgary is the CFL and the players association are miles apart on a new CBA. This league isn't stupid enough to have a work stoppage. I'm sure the players are being greedy because of new TV money and while the salary cup does deserve to go up a lot with the new TV money in there, lets just relax and take a reasonable approach to things. I can't even imagine what it would be like in these parts if there was no CFL in the summer because of a lockout or a strike.

CFL commish Marc Cohon surprised me at the Grey Cup when he announced during his "State of the League" address that the CFL had better ratings in the  US than Major League Soccer. However, I read a report this week that staggered me even more and that report states more people are going to NHL games than NBA ones. The building is more full for hockey games than basketball games. This makes me wonder about that "No one cares in the  US" attitude that is so prevalent and why no one is hopping on the "What is happening to the NBA" bandwagon.  What this report doesn't do is break it down between Canada and the U-S. We all know that we jam our buildings to the seams in Canada and that doesn't happen in places like Florida and Nashville. Take the 6 Canadian teams out of the equation and what do the numbers say. Its still an interesting discussion.

How much does ego mean in the WWE? Quite a lot. Paul Levesque (Triple H) has a major role within the company as many wrestling fans know. In fact, I am told he does a lot of the booking or script-writing. Levesque should know the people want to see Daniel Bryan in the main event of the upcoming WrestleMania, but he is content in having a no marquee value bout between Randy Orton and Dave Batista as a "marquee" event with the belt up for grabs. This leaves the WWE's most popular wrestler in Bryan to fight you guessed it----Triple H. Don't be surprised to see this match be the final match at the 30th anniversary of WrestleMania in a couple of weeks. It will be somewhat sad to see the match for the belt which should be the last or 2nd to last bout likely be the 3rd last match or earlier because no one wants to see it. Its not quite in the same category as a Dixie Dragon vs Bucky McGraw match, but its close when it comes to viewer appeal.

George Stromboulopoulos as the new host of Hockey Night in Canada? Hearing that and word the new Rogers consortium is ready to add Paul Romanuk as its number 2 hockey guy behind Jim Hughson has me feeling a little ill. No offense, but what does George S know about hockey? We know he is a Habs fan. Where does this leave Ron McLean? Where does this leave Elliotte Friedman? Where does this leave PJ Stock? Oh wait, I've gone too far. There will be something definitely wrong in Canadian broadcasting if someone like Romanuk is doing hockey on a full time basis while other junior and junior A guys looking to take a step up get shafted as do the likes of my good friends Rod Pedersen and Peter Loubardias. Paul Romanuk? Cmon Rogers, you can do better than that can't you?

I'm not always sarcastic, sometimes I'm asleep!


I think that's about all for now. Have a great week!