The usual weekly Friday collection of thoughts running through my muddled brain
--Thumbs up to the Saskatchewan Roughriders and thumbs up to head coach Corey Chamblin. The 36 year old Coach C could have written his ticket. You know he was on the radar of teams across football's wide landscape after leading the green and white to the CFL's version of the holy grail in 2013. He could have done a Kent Austin and headed off to the NCAA, he could have maybe taken an NFL job, but he didn't. He is deciding to stick around here and guide this team to what he hopes is another Grey Cup or two before the team moves to its fancy, shiny new digs in 2017. He wants to stay in Regina and keep this thing going. He told Brendan Taman after the 2012 defeat what he wanted and what he needed to make this team a winner in 2013 and he was in the office just days after the Grey Cup to tell Taman what his gameplan was for 2014. This guy is a winner and like the football club is investing in him, he is investing in us. If you haven't before, its time to get behind this combo because good things are still on the horizon for this football club despite the off-season losses. Am I saying back-to-back champs? No, because a lot more goes into it and everything has to fall in the right place, but with Chamblin as the commander-in-chief, I feel pretty good about this team's chances.
--I admit it. I'm a traditionalist when it comes to sports. If its not broke, don't fix it. Sadly, that is not the approach of NHL general managers. Why do they keep tweaking the rules of what is a great game? Why can't they just leave the game the way it is? They won't talk about safety issues by instituting no-touch icing, but they come up with a ridiculous idea to not kick someone out of the face-off circle, but move them back a foot. How does this improve the game? Then again, the players association seemingly isn't any better. I heard players association boss Matt Schneider talking about how the game needs to "slow down" this week. Slow down??!! Are you fricking kidding me? Teams and their trap-like mentality bore many. If anything, find a way to speed up the game and prevent teams from utilizing the trap. Do you want to see a 2-1 game with a combined total of 40 shots on goal or a 6-5 game with 65-70 shots on net?
--Someone tried explaining the SJHL playoff format to me the other day after I looked at their website. How can a team that wins a division be seeded 7th as is the case with the Sherwood Division Melfort Mustangs? Is that a mistake? I would think a division winner would get no worse than the number 3 seed. If a division winner isn't going to get the reward of being placed high in the seedings, than why not just have one big division instead of three small ones.
--The conversation was had at the Brandt Centre Wednesday night about what type of crowd the Pats will get for Games 1 and 2 of their first round series against whomever. It disappointed me to see a crowd of less than 4-thousand out for what was a big game against Prince Albert. Is it too much to ask for 5-thousand for the playoff games? I hope not.
----The stars of High Impact Wrestling are back at the Hungarian Club Friday night and that means Pete Paczko and I will be back behind the mike. Hilarity is bound to ensue. The gronks at ringside have yet to see my Access blatherings so they are still blinded by the undying support given to people that don't deserve it while not giving any respect to the likes of Robbie Gamble, Wavell Starr and Bull Bodnar. It will take a while, but attitudes will change. Oh yes they will!
--What exactly did the Toronto Blue Jays do to improve themselves this season? No trades, no moves in free agency, no nothing.
--What is Marcel Desjardins smoking in Ottawa. He wants two starters and a draft pick for Kevin Glenn. CMON!!!! To expect that type of bounty for a starting quarterback is simply ridiculous.
--Eric Decker has gone from catching passes from Peyton Manning to catching passes from Geno Smith. Good luck with that Mr. Decker. ESPN's Colin Cowherd went off on Decker the other day and I couldn't argue with his thought process. Decker should have been doing whatever he could to stay with the Broncos and win a Super Bowl. Win that thing and then go for financial glory if you want, but in running for the money, it shows the type of player he is and that certainly sends the wrong message. Cowherd went on to compare Decker to former Seahawks receiver Golden Tate. He has won the big prize and now he has decided for some financial stability by signing for big money with the Lions. In doing that, he hopes to be able to cash in with another big contract before his playing days are done. He may not win another Super Bowl, but he has what many players would like to have. Sadly, Eric Decker will likely not win a trophy, but he will have the $$$$ and that is obviously OK with him.
--One reason why the Edmonton Oilers have struggled over the past many years. Despite offensive talent like Eberle, Hall, Nugent Hopkins, Gagner, Yakupov, etc. etc, they have not finished in the upper half of the NHL when it comes to goals in a year.
--One reason why you don't discount the L-A Kings as a Stanley Cup contender. Since April 2009----a span stretching almost five years, they have lost just once after leading after two periods. That stat is simply amazing. Oilers colour man Bob Stauffer threw that beauty out Sunday night during the Kings-Oilers game. Talk about being able to close one out.
--Its time to close this one out. I leave asking this question.....Is the hokey-pokey really what its all about?
18 comments:
the melfort mustangs are seeded 3rd and get home ice in the first round vs a team that had more points but in a different division. After the first round they'll be re-seeded according to points.... Meaning if Melfort wins round one...they'll likely be a lower seed.
Four years might be a little much for a head coach especially if things implode on him. I don't see that happening though. This guy is committed. Solid move!
Mitch:
At the end of the day, it doesn't matter who is seeded where in the SJ playoffs. That's because Trent Cassan will have his Terriers holding the Cup again. Count on it!
Chamblin demands nothing but excellence from those around him. He's very Austin-like in that manner. He jokes about getting a statue if he wins another. I say start pouring the foundation and find someone to create it.
Rick
Four years? That sounds to me like some upstairs are a little too giddy over the GC. Everyone knew this team would do what it takes to win last year by stacking the roster. That roster isn't stacked anymore. Coaches who are only two games above 500 don't usually get four year extensions. I think they should have waited to see what he does this year with a lineup that won't be so powerful before mortgaging the future.
a 4 year deal tells me that the Riders have reset the roster and are rebuilding and that it is going to take some time.
The real test question is will Chamblin still be the coach of the Riders to open up the new stadium?
The NHL desperately needs to change a bunch of rules. With all the video tape out there to study the coaches have killed the game with their defence first attitude. Every coach in the NHL thinks perfection is to win 1-0. This shows in the Oilers organization, all those offensively skilled guys but the coach won't let them do their thing because he wants them playing defensively. Draft nothing but defensemen and fill in your forwards with everyone else's rejects, you don't want them to score anyway. Give me the days of the Islanders or Oilers dynasties, when hockey games were won 7-5 or 6-4. That was hockey. Like Bobby Orr says in his book, he wonders if todays coaches would even let him play now.
The bigger question about the SJHL playoffs is WHO CARES? This is a WHL city so lets talk Pats and the upcoming playoffs.
Nick
LOVE the Chamblin extension. We will win another GC before Taylor Field meets the wrecking ball.
Remind Peterson how refreshing it is that he doesn't have you on the Sportscage anymore.
Don't look now but there are a lot people who care about the SJHL.
The length of contract has NOTHING to do with a rebuild in my opinion. Rather, I see it as a sign that the Riders really like what they have at the helm in Chamblin and don't want to worry about re - negotiating a new deal in the foreseeable future.
Also remind everyone how refreshing it is that there will always be people like you to laugh at!
Signed,
U.R. Dumber
Anyone thinking Toronto wins 80 games this year is delusional.
Who cares what the SJHL playoff format is! At the end of the day, Bill Chow will do whatever it takes to get Humboldt into the finals again if not let them win it.
Make sure you make life tough on Crazy Horse Scruff!
1. Great move by Riders
2. NHL is killing itself by taking the defensive attitude to games. Open it up, create some excitement, etc. etc.
3. The SJHL is a second rate league with second rate players. It was that way when you were there too Scruffy. The best players from this province are either playing in the Dub or are in Alberta or BC
4. The Jays startng pitching will take them as far as they are going to go.
5. Yes, the hokey pokey is what its all about
Marcus Alexander Bagwell
You can't kill a game that is dead to many already. The NHL could be so much better, but they refuse to do what is needed to make it such.
LD
Post a Comment