Something To "Mitch" About

Well, it didn't have the ending Rider Nation wanted, but you can't say the 1st official CFL game at Regina's Taj Mahal wasn't entertaining.

The question now is "Where do you stand on this Riders team that is 0-2?".  If there was frustration after the loss in Montreal, I'm guessing there were some who wanted to jump off the Hill Towers after the OT loss to Winnipeg.  A Twitter poll I am running says 63 percent of you as of the time of this writing are still optimistic, and that's a good thing. 

Once again, it was a nightmarish night for Tyler Crapigna. He knows and so do others that the team wouldn't have the record they do if he makes end-of-game kicks.  I'll give him credit though. It didn't last long, but when myself and others swooped in on him, he stood there and answered the questions. He had a chance to run and hide, but he took account for it. I have to wonder if Dave Ridgway might have had an opportunity to speak with him after. He would be the perfect guy to give a peptalk.

The negativism against Kevin Glenn somewhat confuses me. Yes, he threw two INT's, but he also threw for almost 400 yards. He threw 4 TD's and he brought the team back in the 4th quarter.  If Brett Smith did that, you would be celebrating.  If Brandon Bridge or Marquise Williams did it, you would be buying their jersey. Did KG let Weston Dressler and others constantly get behind him? Did KG fumble a kickoff at the 9? Did he miss a kick in OT?  Criticizing his performance is somewhat puzzling. His age means nothing either. He should have 2 wins on his resume this year or at least a win and a tie!

--How big was the smile on Weston Dressler’s face at game’s end.  I don’t think Dressler did a Durant at the end of this game, but you have to think he was smiling like a butcher’s dog.  The one big mistake Chris Jones has made since his arrival in Regina was in this humble blogger’s opinion was letting number 7 go.  I sometimes wonder if  Jones has realized that. The guy can still play. It’s something all of us know. Some had mentioned to me it would be somewhat poetic if Dressler was the first player to score a TD in the new stadium.  He wasn’t, but he might have been the player of the game.  By the way, it still doesn’t look right seeing him on a CFL field not wearing green. I don’t know if it ever will.  

--Where would the secondary be if Justin Cox had not had a legal issue crop up and Marc-Olivier Brouillette not retired? 

-- As for Jones. the knives continue to be out on him. That is understandable, as patience is wearing thin and no one wants to seemingly be a part of a rebuild, but if you want him gone as many of you seemingly do, then who should step in midseason? Who? Getting rid of Jones means you are right back at square one.  Is that what you really want? If so, the team is no further ahead. This team is better than the 2016 version. They have gone right down to the last play in both games before the verdict has been determined.  Be frustrated all you want, but pull back just a little and put the torches and pitchforks away. If these results were double digit losses and there were no signs of encouragement. go hard with the hate, but that isn't happening.  

THE FIRST NIGHT -  If you didn’t know how grand of a building Mosaic Stadium was before, you do now. I received a text from Edmonton just after kickoff last night from a friend who had only seen the outside of the building and not the inside.  He asked “It can’t be THAT nice can it?”   Yes it can!  Walking around before the game, you could see the excitement of people as they just gawked. Who’s kidding who. I was one of them. I walked down into Pil Country before the game started. I have to be down there during a game at some point.  

I was on the concourse level getting some 50-50’s when I realized I wouldn’t be able to get back up to the press box in time before the Riders came out. I went and stood near the Riders entrance and it was sooooooo loud. So much louder than the old Taylor Field.  When this team starts to win, there will be no team who wants to come in here. 

How about the 50/50. 554 thousand dollars!! Yes the jackpot started at 100 grand and to tell you the truth I thought the jackpot would end up in the 250-300 thousand dollar range.  It was at that by kickoff wasn’t it? We’re in an economic downfall and money is tight right?  Not on this night it appeared. Did anyone NOT buy a ticket? Did anyone also notice the figure slowly started to go down and not up at the end?

Weather-wise. It was perfect. Can we pre-order some more of those. The forecast is calling for 33 degrees when the Ti-Cats visit town next Saturday night.  It will be a great night for football!! 

I am guessing whoever won could not care one bit that the Riders lost.  If it was 554 grand for this game, what will it be for the next game. It obviously won’t start at 100-thousand like it did for this game, but could we expect a 300-400 thousand dollar jackpot for the Hamilton game The bar has been set.  Meanwhile, someone is trying to figure out what to do with 277-thousand dollars that he didn't walk into Mosaic Stadium with. What a nice problem to have!!

I wonder if the Argos had a 50/50 that started at 100-thousand if the total purse would end up being 110-thousand? Just sayin! 

NHL FREE AGENCY -   The Winnipeg Jets really gave Dmitri Kulikov 13 million over four years?  That was one of the thoughts that popped up as my phone went crazy with the announcement of one signing after another.   Other thoughts:

--The Jets are still a good goalie from getting into the playoffs. Is Steve Mason the answer?

--The Stanley Cup champion Penguins were decimated losing many players. The core guys are still there, but they lost a lot of depth.

--The Chicago Blackhawks appear to show no sign of wanting to remain as a Western Conference powerhouse. Their salary cap problems may have finally caught up with them.

--When will the aging Jaromir Jagr and Jarome Iginla sign with anyone? Will they? Could this be it for them? I have to think someone will offer a one year deal to both.

--Can we put the Lightning down for another Stanley Cup seeing Chris Kunitz is now with them? Cups seem to follow him as we've seen.

--Patrick Marleau in Toronto? I did not see that coming!

--Carey Price signs a monster deal in Montreal which is great for the Habs, but it doesn't answer the question as to who is going to score for them come playoff time.

BYE BYE BLUE JAYS - Toronto baseball fans, there will be no playoff baseball for your club this year. Put the blame on that directly on whoever decided to let Alex Anthopoulos go. Mark Shapiro and Ross Atkins have basically destroyed the team.

Yes, they were good enough last year to get back to the playoffs, but the moves that have been made along with some injuries have killed the team this year. What now? There isn't a lot you can deal away while keeping an eye on the future. You are not getting rid of Aaron Sanchez and Marcus Stroman. You would be crazy to send Josh Donaldson elsewhere. You may be able to get some good prospects for Roberto Osuna, but he is still young.

Will anyone want Tulowitzki's contract. No one wanted Bautista in the off-season, and I'm guessing that is still the case.

It's ugly Blue Jays fans, and it's not getting better anytime soon.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HITMAN -  Not only did Canada turn 150 on Saturday, but the "Excellence of Execution" turned 60. Happy Birthday to Bret "Hitman" Hart....a Canadian treasure and a Canadian icon!