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Lots Of Rider News

The Saskatchewan Roughriders and Ottawa REDBLACKS announced the REDBLACKS historic debut in the Canadian Football League will take place in Saskatchewan on June 14^th. The game is the REDBLACKS “home” pre-season game and the “visiting” Roughriders have agreed to host it while Ottawa’s TD Place stadium undergoes its final fit-up for the regular season home opener in July.

 

“We’re going to have a lot of fun with this game,” stated Roughriders President/CEO  Jim Hopson.  “The REDBLACKS will be on the home side of the field, introduced from their own inflatable helmet and we’re working on a whole series of fan entertainment features to make it really seem like their home game.”

 

“What better place to open a new CFL era than in the city with the most vibrant fans in the CFL,” said Jeff Hunt, President of OSEG Sports. “Since we’re the home team, I was promised by Riders President and CEO Jim Hopson that the crowd will be cheering for the REDBLACKS and I fully expect that will be the case,” said Hunt (tongue in cheek).  “In all seriousness, though, it will be an incredible experience for fans at the game in Saskatchewan and a taste of things to come for our own incredible fan-base in Ottawa.”

 

Fans can expect further ticket and game day details by early March.

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The Saskatchewan Roughriders announced today that non-import defensive back Paul Woldu has re-signed with the team, while non-import receiver Jade Etienne has agreed to terms. As per team policy financial details of the contracts were not released.

 

Woldu (6’ – 170) will be entering his seventh CFL season and third with the Green and White, after originally signing with the team as a free agent ahead of the 2012 season. Last year, the Regina native led the team with 21 special teams tackles while appearing in all 18 regular season games. He added 1 special teams tackle and one fumble recovery in the playoffs.

 

The University of Saskatchewan product has played 98 career regular season games totaling 38 defensive tackles, 72 special teams tackles, and three interceptions - returning one 72 yards for a touchdown.

 

He is a three time Grey Cup champion winning with the Montreal Alouettes in 2009 and 2010 before adding his third in 2013 with the Roughriders.

 

Etienne (6’3 – 188) was acquired by the Riders in trade from Winnipeg on February 6^th.

 

The University of Saskatchewan product will be entering his fourth CFL season after originally being selected in the first round (4^th overall) by Winnipeg in the 2011 Canadian Draft.  Last season the Regina native totaled 19 receptions for 265 yards and two touchdowns in 14 regular season games.

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The Saskatchewan Roughriders  announced non-import fullback Graeme Bell is retiring from the Canadian Football League.

 

Bell (5’11 – 230) is a veteran of nine CFL seasons appearing in 97 career regular season games. The University of Saskatchewan product originally entered the CFL in 2005, signing as a free agent with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. In 2009 Bell joined the Edmonton Eskimos, before being acquired by the Green and White in May 2011, where he would spend his final three seasons.

 

The 33-year-old registered 18 career carries for 66 yards and one touchdown while adding seven receptions for 28 yards and two touchdowns. He also had 60 career special teams tackles.    

 

At the conclusion of the 2012 season, Bell received the Jake Gaudaur Veterans Award recognizing the CFL player that best demonstrates the attributes of Canada’s Veterans. 

 

Bell won his first Grey Cup in 2013 as a member of the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

 

The Riders have also announced the release of running back Chris Garrett, defensive back Milt Collins and defensive back Diamond Ferri

 

 

 

 

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Something To "Mitch" About

Its been quite a start to 2014 for Saskatchewan on the athletic stage. You've had Jon Ryan, you've had Graham DeLaet and now you've had Mark McMorris. I saw a lot of bleary-eyed people Saturday and the reason was McMorris. I think many of us stayed up late Friday night/Saturday morning to watch McMorris do his thing, and I think I can say we weren't disappointed. I won't sit down and watch the Winter X games when they are on, but I will watch McMorris and I am just constantly amazed at what this kid and others can do. There are some Olympic sports that in my younger years might have had me say "I can do that., but there is no way I could even come close to doing what he can. What makes the accomplishment greater is you know there is no way he could have been feeling great because of that broken rib he suffered just before the games.

While I knew McMorris was going to have to qualify for the final around midnight, I was prepared for that, but I didn't know the final was right away. I thought it was a night-time event in Sochi. It meant Mrs. Scruffy had the bed all to herself as I just napped on the couch. Reading the Twitter feed of many of my Regina media cohorts, they also stayed up. It just begs the question as to why the Press Box or 4 Seasons didn't invite us all over for some early morning Olympic watching. We could have had coffee guys.

I found the scene to be very reminiscent of when Sandra Schmirler won gold in Nagano. I was living in a south end apartment at the time and the final was on early in the morning. It was about the 6th or 7th end and I got out of bed for whatever reason. As I  looked out the window, 90 percent of the lights on the street were on and they weren't normally so I knew everyone else was doing what I was. I don't think mine was the only other neighbourhood either.

Congratulations to U of R Cougar basketballer Brendan Hebert for setting the all time school record for career assists over the weekend. He's done it in only his 4th year and while he's only got a couple of games left this year, he has another whole season next so that record is one that might be sticking around for a while.

Speaking of basketball at the U of R, the womens team should be really saluted for what they did while without the services of Head Coach Dave Taylor. The team had some big games in front of them and they had to be knocked off their feet when they found out their coach had measles. It put assistant coach Carly Graham in a tough spot, but she found a way and the girls found a way to just keep going and just keep winning. Taylor was back on the bench this weekend, but the girls were just dominant in defeating Calgary twice. I would love nothing more than to see this team head to Windsor for the Nationals and do to them what they did to the U of R at last year's nationals. They certainly deserve an opportunity after what they have been through.

So guys, what are your plans for two weeks with no NHL to watch? Is this the time where we check out what the Toronto Raptors are doing? With Valentines Day happening Friday, this might be the time to really go all out for that love in your life.

Rachel Homan, that was impressive. Can you do that again next year in Moose Jaw? I don't know if anyone has had an easier time in winning the Scotties than she did. At no time, did she ever need to throw her last rock of the game.

The Brier won't have Kevin Martin or Glenn Howard in it. When is the last time a Brier was held without one of those two rinks in it?

I am fully aware the "native" nickname issue is a very tender one and I see both sides of the debate, but its time to either do it all or don't do it at all. The issue has hit close to home now with a group wanting Bedford Road high school in Saskatoon to change their name to something else from "Redmen". If that happens, then how much longer till Balfour in Regina has to change its name. Personally, I could care less and I don't have a problem with Braves, Indians, Warriors, Redmen, etc. etc. etc. I know a lot of people do, especially the native population and that's fine. All I am saying is that you can't have this one change their name like the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux and not have this one like the Florida State Seminoles change their name. You either get rid of all nicknames with a native connotation to it like the Redmen, Warriors, Braves, Indians and yes even the iconic Indian Head on the Chicago Blackhawks jersey or you let them all stay. Its as simple as that in my mind.

It would appear as if the CFL is going to Halifax sooner than later. Commissioner Marc Cohon was in the Nova Scotia city this past week and I think it was for more than a fact-finding mission. I would love to see the CFL as a 10 team coast-to-coast loop for many reasons. I don't think I'm alone with that.thought. I had to laugh this week when I heard a TSN personality talking about how this story was flying under the radar and no one was talking about it. Well, perhaps if your fine station started talking about it instead of giving us a daily 15-20 minute hockey report and concentrate on one of the holdings that you own it wouldn't be that way. Don't get me wrong----I like a lot of what TSN does, but they could be a LOT better in many different areas.

Don Simons with the Regina Humane Society was outraged this week when he was asked to talk about a story involving a Regina man given a lifetime ban of owning animals while being fined 1 dollar. Simons says the one dollar fine is a joke and he is 100 percent correct with that statement. Simons also correctly pointed out that its more of a crime to park at an expired meter than it is to abuse an animal and that is a very sad statement. I have no time for people who abuse animals-----none whatsoever. What would ever make someone abuse a cat or a dog is beyond me. The guy in this case should be going to jail as far as I'm concerned.

 

That is former Sports Illustrated swimsuit cover model Christie Brinkley. She's the best of the bunch as far as I'm concerned. Brinkley turned 60 this week. She is rockin that bikini at age 60 ladies and gents. Rockin it!

How many times can I buy a POOLS ticket and have everything right except for one game and then hope that's good enough only to find out it isn't. ARRRRRGGGHHHH!!!  I had that happen a couple of times over the NFL season and I think this past Saturday might have been the 5th Saturday this year where I've had all the NHL winners except one. Damn you Carolina!!!! Damn you Montreal!!!!

Question for you. What winter has been more tiresome? This one because its been colder than usuall or last year because of all the snow we received. Surprisingly, the answer is about 50/50 in people I have spoken to. I'm not a big fan of this, but I would rather have it than all the snow we had last year.

There's been a lot of talk over the Super Bowl and the play of the Seahawks defence. It has had some ask  " Is The Legion of Boom is the best "D" the NFL has ever seen?" I say the answer is no as that honour would go to the 85 Bears. However, I would say the performance of the Seattle D is the best performance by a defense in the Super Bowl game itself. When the 85 Bears won, they faced Tony Eason and Steve Grogan and when the 2000 Ravens won, they faced Kerry Collins in the Super Bowl. The Seahawks faced Peyton Manning who despite his playoff inefficiencies will go to the Hall of Fame.

I've rambled long enough for a Monday. Have a good week everyone!

Sholo Speaks On Being a REDBLACK

Keith Shologan isn't going to lie.

The defensive tackle was not exactly doing cartwheels when the Ottawa RedBlacks plucked him from the Saskatchewan Roughriders roster in December's expansion draft. Just like that, he had gone from the CFL's top team to the franchise with less than half a roster.

"For me, going from winning a Grey Cup, I was excited and hoping to ride that wave for at least the first part of the off-season," said Shologan, who built a house in Regina a year and a half ago. "So that was kind of taken away from me, which was kind of bittersweet. Actually, it was bitter."

If the Alberta native was wearing a frown in December, it was gone this week in the nation's capital. A smiling Shologan and a handful of other RedBlacks had a meet-and-greet with 500 season ticket holders at a downtown hotel on Wednesday night as part of the annual CFL Congress meetings.

"It kind of lights a little fire inside of you," said Shologan, who had been to Ottawa only once before this week, and that was when he was in Grade 9.

The rest of the RedBlacks roster, meanwhile, is slowly but surely coming together. It currently features 46 players, which would be just enough to field a team, but CFL squads are permitted to carry 75 players during the off-season, so general manager Marcel Desjardins still has a ways to go. The uniforms haven't been revealed and their stadium, TD Place, won't be finished until just before the start of the season, but the team will conducts its training camp at Carleton University in Ottawa.

Normally when a player gets traded or signs with a new team, he's at least familiar with the city because he has played there before as a visitor. That's not the case with many of the RedBlacks. Thomas DeMarco, a former B.C. Lions quarterback, had never been to the Canadian capital before this week, so he was doing as much reconnaissance as he could to get ready for his move from Virginia in May.

"I have a map from the front desk (of the hotel)," DeMarco said with a laugh. "I'll take a look at how to get around. There's a lot of one-way streets here and I don't want to be that guy driving the wrong way."

Remarkably, DeMarco has experience with expansion teams, as he was part of the reborn football program at Old Dominion University in 2009. He believes new teams, which should have trouble with chemistry, actually develop a tighter bond than usual.

"Here, we all want to be a part of something special," DeMarco said. "Ottawa's had a team before and faltered. We want to be a part of the team that builds and makes it a strong ninth team in the league, to make sure that we can win games, have a tradition.

"Even though we don't have any chemistry together, you put together a bunch of guys who are used to winning, used to competing and have experience in the league, and it's just like every other year when you shuffle the board with an existing team."

Other than the lack of uniforms, the unfinished stadium and the half a roster, the players don't feel like they're part of an expansion team. They are in the midst of their winter training at their usual off-season homes are waiting for their first team gathering, which will probably occur at a mini-camp in April somewhere in the U.S.

That's when the RedBlacks will probably notice they're an expansion team, as they'll have to break out the name tags. That's also when the veterans like Shologan, DeMarco and Henry Burris will get to work.

"We don't have a group yet," Shologan said. "You don't know who makes up the team, which guys are going to be around, who's going to make the team. Realistically, that's going to be a camp thing, but hopefully we're going to get a mini-camp in April and then that's going to build some ties. And then we'll get into main camp, and then by the end of that is where we need to build. That's a challenge for our coaching staff, and that's the challenge for some of the guys who have been around.

"If we can become a team in the next couple months and when the season starts, I think we're going to be competitive."

(Ottawa Sun)

Here We Go Again....

Figure skating, a sport that has long faced serious credibility problems over its judging, appears to be on the cusp of another scandal.
French publication L’Equipe has reported that the United States and Russia have struck a deal to mutually assure higher marks for their countries, while also shutting out Canada from the gold.

The allegation implies the pact would see the U.S. judge dish out favourable marks to Russia in the team event, where the U.S. is not a contender for the podium, in exchange for the Russian judge boosting the scores for Americans Meryl Davis and Charlie White in the ice dance.
The pact, if true, would essentially lock down gold for each country in those events, while also blocking Canadian ice dancers Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir from repeating their gold medal performance at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

The possibility of another high profile judging scandal – especially one involving Canada – raises the odour of the 2002 Salt Lake Olympics where Canadian pairs team Jamie Sale and David Pelletier lost the gold to Russia’s Elena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze amid a series of puzzling scores for presentation and technical merit.

French judge Marie-Reine Le Gougne later revealed she had been pressured by French figure skating officials to award the Russians high marks, in exchange for similar treatment for France’s ice dance team.

Sale and Pelletier were eventually awarded a duo gold along with the Russians, but figure skating was irrevocably tainted in the eyes of fans and sponsors. The sport would spend several years being dragged through the mud in the headlines – including the arrest of a Russian mobster who was accused of organizing the scandal, though he was never charged.

Figure skating has attempted to clean up its problems since then by revamping the scoring system in an effort to make the judging more objective. Among the changes, marks are now anonymous under a so-called “blind judging” system designed to prevent specific judges from being exposed to pressure. And when final scores are tabulated, the highest and lowest marks are dropped, in order to weed out heavily inflated scores, or unusually low marks.

However, there are questions as to whether the new system has done what was intended. Critics of the new method argue the anonymous judging system actually reduces transparency on figure skating judging, making it impossible to know which judges potentially juice their scores.
In a sport considered to be one of the most glamorous at the Olympics, even a fraction of a point, can be the difference between gold or silver.

The scandal unfolds as Virtue and Moir are set to face off against Davis and White Saturday night in Sochi in the ice dance segment of the team event. The individual ice dance short program will be skated Sunday Feb. 16 and the long program will be on Monday Feb. 17.

McMorris Wins Canada's First Medal

Canada's first medal in Sochi comes courtesy Regina's Mark McMorris. The 20 year old Regina native captured bronze in the mens slopestyle event in the wee hours of Saturday morning.

McMorris was touted as a gold-medal favourite leading up to the Games. He suffered a setback when he fractured a rib two weeks ago at the X Games, and a disappointing qualifying round in Sochi forced him to compete in the semifinal earlier Saturday in order to earn a spot in the final.
McMorris fell on the landing of his final jump in the opening run of the final and scored 33.75 points. He needed a strong second run to land on the podium, and the 20-year-old delivered with a score of 88.75.
American Sage Kotsenburg won gold with a score of 93.5, and Staale Sandbech of Norway won silver with 91.75

"To get on the podium is just a dream come true," said McMorris. "I can't explain this. I've just been through a roller coaster over these last few weeks."

This And That

 

 

 

Just the weekly assorted thoughts running through my muddled mind

 

 

--I'm still basking in the glow of the Seattle Seahawks Super Bowl win. The city of Seattle honored the champs Wednesday and it was something else. Around 750-800 thousand fans turned out in either downtown Seattle or at CenturyLink Field or the neighbouring Safeco Field to honor the champs. FOX Seattle did an outstanding job of covering the event from top to bottom and I was riveted. I know our fan base is a passionate one in Saskatchewan. but the "12's" give them a run for their money. I'm just happy to say I'm a part of both.

 

 

 

 

 

--There was a lot of support thrown Jon Ryan's way because of his involvement in the Super Bowl and Regina may have turned into a Seahawks town because of what's happened over the past couple of weeks. You knew the Saskatchewan support would be there for the Regina product because there was a lot of it before he even had the opportunity to play in the game. I will throw this at you though. Considering what has happened in this neck of the woods this month, where would your allegiances lie if Super Bowl 49 had the Seahawks going up against the Kansas City Chiefs. Think about it for a second!

 

--I made my first trip to CenturyLink Field for a game and the Seahawks win the Super Bowl. Could the same thing  happen with the Cubs when I make my first pilgrimage to Wrigley Field. Hmmmmmmm??? Yeah, that's stretchin it!

 

 

--If you heard Tuesday's Sportscage, you heard Ben Hebert go off on the Saskatchewan Curling Association. The lead on the Kevin Martin rink, who is from this fine province of ours, defended the Brock Virtue rink after their actions at the Sask-Tel Tankard final on Sunday in which Virtue was tossed out marking two years in a row a member of the team had been kicked out. I didn't agree with all of what Hebert said like the SCA is out for that rink because two members are from Alberta, but I do agree with him on the SCA being a little too strict. Curling is an emotional game and its not like the curling your mom and dad grew up with. There's a lot on the line now and emotions are going to come out. We see guys "act up" on the ice quite a bit when it comes to broom tossing, swearing and other things. The CCA doesn't kick out guys and girls for acting up, so why should the SCA.  Hebert's best point might have been no one is talking about Steve Laycock winning, but what happened during the game. He's right. Laycock deserves his moment in the sun and he's not getting it.

 

 

--It has come to my attention Paradise Cinemas in northwest Regina has closed down meaning there is now no longer a place in this fine city to do any mini-golfing. This must change!

 

 

--If Regina now has a Swiss Chalet, can we now find a way to get a Hooters, Outback Steakhouse, Buffalo Wild Wings, Fuddruckers and Olive Garden here. That's in no particular order either.

 

 

--Like many of you I am cringing over the tax hike that is being proposed in the budget. This city is growing and its reputation seemingly improves day by day by day. With growth means higher taxes, but 15 percent (7 property tax and 8 water and sewer) is a little too much. I would take 10 and I think a lot of Reginans would as well. That would still be a hit and I know you and I won't be getting a 10 percent raise anytime soon, but that number would be a little more manageable.

 

 --My excitement towards the Olympics is lukewarm. I think that will change once I see our athletes doing their thing. Like many of you, I will be concentrating on how A) the mens hockey team does and B) the Saskatchewan contingent.

 

 

--Henrik Sedin is not going to the Olympics. Who will Daniel spoon with now? Can those two be apart from one another for two weeks? 

 

--If I am Kevin Glenn, I am some kinda pissed right now.

 

--If I am the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, I am some kinda pissed right now. Where do they go now? Is Glenn an option? They did sign Drew Willy to a contract after a trade with the Riders, but if I am a Bombers fan, I am wondering why they just didn't wait for free agency so they could have gotten him for nothing instead of losing Jade Etienne. I don't know if we know how good Etienne can be in this league. Its early, but I think Brendan Taman took Kyle Walters to the woodshed on this one.

 

--Do you think Henry Burris looked at the "talent" in Winnipeg and realized he had better talent to work with in Ottawa.

 

--Does Burris' signing mean Ottawa won't have enough for what seemingly is free agent to be Craig Butler. I had heard the Renegades were ready to make him a big offer. It still might come, but the offer could be reduced because of Hank's pricetag.

 

--I find it interesting Luca Congi asked for his release and there is no indication as to whether or not the Riders will be re-signing Chris Milo. Once again, I have heard the REDBLACKS would like to get their mitts on Milo. Could Luca be returning? Right now, I would say no, but never say never-----especially in the CFL.

 

--I am told the CFL schedule should be in our  hands by this time next week.

 

--With CBS getting the Thursday night football package, what does this mean for "The Big Bang Theory". If CBS can have Kaley Cuoco as their sideline reporter or any part of the broadcast for that matter I'm OK with it. Speaking of which, I knew there was a reason I loved FOX Sports 1's Charissa Thompson....

 

 

Then again, she is a Seattle girl!

 

--Can Stefanie Lawton find a way to beat Rachel Homan this weekend and win the Scotties so that she's Team Canada for the 2015 event in Moose Jaw. Here's hopin!

 

--That's all I got. Have a great weekend!