This and That

--Welcome to Friday and the usual thoughts running through my muddled mind. As always, they come in no particular order.

--I will be the first to admit I was wrong.  I wasn't sure if the right thing was being done by showing the Humboldt Broncos return to the ice.  I didn't think there was a need for it.  As I had stated before, I just want the city,the organization and those affected to get a sense of normalcy in their lives. While I hope that still is the case, it didn't really dawn on me until hearing TSN's Ryan Rishaug say it before the game on Sirius/XM Radio and having Humboldt mayor Rob Muench and then Scott Thomas, the father of Evan Thomas--one of the 16 killed say it.  Thank you!  After having Saskatchewan, Canada and the world come through for the team in the wake of arguably the worst day in Canadian sports history, Humboldt wanted the stage to say thank you.  Did they ever! How could you say no?

You knew TSN would knock it out of the park and they did. While people may forget what the final score was as time goes on, I don't think anyone who witnessed the proceedings at the Elgar Peterson Arena will forget the post-game ceremony as banners commemorating the 29 who were on the bus were unveiled followed by what was a powerful address from Thomas as he thanked everyone on behalf of the families for wrapping their arms around them and showing support in one way or another whether it was donating to the GoFundMe page, leaving their sticks out or doing anything to show support in the wake of the tragedy.

Those of us in Saskatchewan know what hockey means to Humboldt and for many of us, we knew that on April 5.  What happened on April 6 and beyond only cemented what we knew, but now the world knows it as we remain #HumboldtStrong

--Rider Nation will fill up Mosaic Stadium on what will be a cool Saturday night to watch the green-and-white try to make it five in a row. Can they beat the REDBLACKS in a game that TSN/Sportscage contributor Chris Schultz labelled as "dangerous.  What scares me going into this one is the four-game win streak came against Western Division opponents---team you need to beat and have to beat.  You need to and have to beat Eastern Division opponents as well, but is the same intensity there. We will find out Saturday!  I'm not betting against them.  With Ottawa leading the East, is it too early to think of this as a possible Grey Cup preview.  Yes, it probably is.

--Is Brett Lauther the CFL special teams player  at this point in the season? If he isn't, the guy on the other side Saturday night, Ottawa's Lewis Ward is

--I don't know what is more baffling.  The fact the CFL did not recognize Willie Jefferson as one of the "performers" of the week for his effort against the Bombers in the Banjo Bowl or the fact his own team didn't nominate him for the player of the game award after.

--Former Riders GM Brendan Taman says in the Leader-Post this week that there are three tiers to the CFL at this time.  Tier 1 is Calgary, Edmonton and Saskatchewan.  Tier 2 is Hamilton and Ottawa with Tier 3 being the Bombers, Lions, Alouettes and Argos.   I can't disagree with this.

--What happened to the CFL in the Maritimes? Is that still happening? Is it dead?  An update is needed. Who's kidding who, the National Lacrosse League got to Halifax before the CFL.

--Is it safe to say Max Pacioretty went from playing on a crap team to a team where he can play craps after the game? 

--Being an Oilers fan, I am not feeling very optimistic about the upcoming season.  Darnell Nurse begins training camp without a contract and teams in the Pacific Division have added the following players-----Pacioretty, Erik Karlsson, James Neal, Noah Hanifin, Paul Stastny and Ilya Kovalchuk while Edmonton has added Tobias Rieder and Kyle Brodziak.  YEESH!!

--If the bid to get the Olympics back to Calgary in 2026 doesn't have a new rink for the Flames and a new stadium for the Stampeders, it does not bode well for Calgary sports---especially the Flames. Could they end up in Quebec City, Kansas City, Houston?  How about going back to Atlanta? I bet that announcement made Flames ownership flip their collective lids.  Do the people of Calgary have the appetite at this time to have another Olympics knowing it will hit them in the pocketbook.  I am thinking the answer is no.

--Week 2 NFL Lock of the Week --  49ers over Lions
--Week 2 NFL Upset of the Week -- Jaguars over Patriots

--Why is it so many establishments have Monday Night Football  with big prizes yet I never see any place having a Friday night football promotion with a big prize on the line?  You are attracting the same demographic so why not?  I just don't know if that's a league thing, an advertiser thing or a sponsor thing though.  Its likely a combo of all 3.  I don't know why you wouldn't want to get people inside your business on a Friday night knowing someone could walk out at the end of the year with a trip to Grey Cup.

--Speaking of Grey Cup, we must be getting close to an announcement on the halftime show.  I am going to go out on a limb and say Brett Kissel.

--Curling on TSN isn't the same when Vic Rauter is doing the p x p.  I don't know who is calling the action at this event overseas that has been happening, but its not Vic thus its not right.

--That's all I got.  Enjoy the weekend.  Go check out the Rams tonight and the Riders tomorrow.  Going to be another great September weekend of football in the YQR.