Something To "Mitch" About

There was some good Friday night at Mosaic, and there was some bad. At the end of the day, the Riders have another victory under their belt, and are one win away from being in the Western Conference playoffs with an 11 win season. Who called that at the start of the season? I was calling for 9 so this team has exceeded what I thought they would do. 

As for Friday, as I said there was some good and there was some bad.  First the good:

• I was wrong. I didn't think Trent Richardson would be an impact player on this team. I thought he was done after a failed NFL stint. If he had played like he did Friday while in the NFL, he would still be there.  That arguably might have been the best game of Richardson's pro football career. He is becoming a force in this offence at the right time of year. I do question why he was in the game so late as that ankle injury could be worrisome. If he stays healthy, he becomes a worry for opposition DC's
• I thought Chad Owens was supposed to just be a guy to return kicks? Yeah right! I knew if Owens got on the field he could be the player he has been. He showed it. Where do you put him when Naaman Roosevelt comes back.
• Three thumbs up to the Rider organization.  The Darian Durant tribute was perfect. It was also done at the right time. I had no clue if the Riders would honour the face of the franchise for the last decade, but they did and they did it right. Well done 

The bad:

• Focus! Where was it! As some said to me on the weekend, its a good job they were playing Montreal because other teams would have won this game going away. That can't happen next weekend in what is basically a playoff game. 
• Do I even have to start with the Bakari Grant play?  I don't know what was worse---the play itself or the fact Jock Climie actually tried to defend him by saying he got lost on the field.  Milt Stegall promptly told Climie he shouldn't be lost on his own field since he plays on it every day. That was simply unacceptable
• The QB rotation. I don't understand it. Does anyone? I kept waiting for Marcus Crandell and Steven Jyles to take some reps. 

Bottom line is that 3rd place in the West is up for grabs next Saturday at Mosaic when the Eskimos visit. Neither team wants to go in the playoffs on a losing note. The playoffs start now. 

The playoffs also start for the University of Regina Rams next weekend.  They will go in on a losing note after getting thumped 44-15 in Vancouver.  It means another date at TBird Stadium next Saturday afternoon which is not what the Rams wanted.  The 2nd quarter is not what they wanted either. 

They went into the 2nd quarter up 5-0 and went into the locker-room at the half down 35-5.  Give all credit to UBC as they were the better team and they took it to the Rams especially after scoring twice in 30 seconds after a fumbled kickoff.  However, it seemed as if the 13th man was against the Rams and by the 13th man, I mean the officiating in Vancouver.  How a completed pass which was evident to everyone including supporters of UBC could be called incomplete was incomprehensible.  There were other calls as well that were very questionable. As I said on the broadcast, it appeared as if Stampede Wrestling's Cedric Hathaway was the official. 

As mentioned, several at UBC also thought there was a definite odour surrounding the performance of the stripes.  At least neutral refs will be used next weekend which should please Blake Nill and Steve Bryce. The T-Birds will have the momentum as they should after winning by 29, but somehow I think next weekend will be different.  The same could be said with the other semi between Calgary and Alberta.  If the Golden Bears beat the Dinos by 50 in Calgary again next weekend, they can just hand the Vanier Cup to the U of A.  After all, Calgary was 7-0 coming in.  Then again, good Calgary football teams seem to struggle in late October and November right?

Speaking of which, the Stampeders have suddenly turned very ordinary. I didn't see any of the game Saturday night, and many were predicting the Eskimos to win.  Many are feeling as if the Stamps are once again guilty of taking their foot off the pedal now that they have first place in the bag. I can't disagree. 

The Bombers are limping to the finish line.  Are they ever!  However, injuries are playing a major part there as was evidenced Saturday against BC.  Yes, injuries are hitting everyone at this time of year, but if you don't have the likes of Nichols, Harris, Adams, Leggatt, Westerman etc etc, you are in trouble. Still want to go through the East? 

It was a rather sombre Friday for many before the Rider game as the old girl came down. Around 5000 people flocked back to Taylor Field for one last visit.  It was like being there before a game. There were a lot of people where I stood at the corner of 10th and Retallack to see it come down.  For a while I didn't think it was going to. The delay of over an hour was very maddening for some who couldn't stick around for an extra 80 minutes. Perhaps the city should have told us 2 o'clock instead of 1 if they knew some final checks had to be made. Whatever! As I said on Twitter,  I was thinking Capital Pointe would be put up before the grandstand came down. 

When it did come down, it was surreal.  Some of those who didn't think they would feel emotion did and vice-versa.  Now the mess has to get cleaned up because the site of the now toppled over structure is saddening. It is a day Rider Nation won't forget. 

While in Vancouver, I was interested to see how the various teams there would be marketed and what signage there would be.  The winner was---------the WHL's Vancouver Giants.  I saw zero when it came to the Lions, the Whitecaps and the Canucks. Zero!  Why? Until teams start stepping up with marketing campaigns, they can expect to sit there and wonder why crowds are down. Yes, people may want to stay home and watch games on TV in a comfort-controlled environment, but it would seem as if our friends on the West Coast aren't trying-----or at least aren't trying in Richmond and at UBC.

I want to see Deshaun Watson play against Russell Wilson in a Super Bowl! My god that game was fantastic. One of the best I've seen.  When CFL fans tell you the NFL game is boring, show them this game. Classic!!!

I don't know who is winning this year's World Series, but I want it to go 7. It has been fantastic! The Astros and Dodgers are treating baseball fans to one heckuva series. We have just about seen it all in these games.  If you are a fan of either team, I don't know how you've survived.  It's like each game of the Stanley Cup final going into triple OT.   As for this baseball talk, how about we talk about how poor the pitching has been.  No one was talking about the baseball when the Dodgers bullpen were putting up zero after zero after zero.  At some point credit the hitters who are taking advantage of the many mistakes being made.

That's all I got. Have a great week!