May today's blog be the official closing ceremonies for DOWN Week.
You can't be depressed forever! The boys did us proud and it's definitely time to move on.
For those sports fans in and around Regina, the Regina Pats have just what the doctor ordered; home games this weekend against Brandon (Saturday) and P.A. (Sunday).
Going to the rink always makes you feel better! The Queen City Kids have been on quite the tear lately and I know the fans are excited to get an eyeball of them.
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Ahhh where to begin.
Well, I really enjoyed this tweet from Lions receiver Geroy Simon last night:
"From: @geroysimon
Watching Jets & Bills. Why isn't the dirt from the bases down in the Rogers Centre like they do for CFL games? my bad forgot who's playing!"
Geroy's Twitter updates are always entertaining. There's a reason he was voted one of the nicest guys in the CFL..
Speaking of Twitter, stay tuned all the way to the bottom of this post. At least, if you're a guy...
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T.O. was in T-O last night as his Buffalo Bills took on the New York Jets.
Terell Owens was asked before the game if the media was making too much of Tiger Woods' personal "affairs".
"No," said Owens. "That's the nature of the business. When you're a big time star like Tiger, then those types of things make headlines. I'm sure he'll handle it
and try to keep it as in-house as possible."
Even the presence of T.O. wasn't enough to spur ticket sales for the NFL game. Word is they were giving away tickets in order to fill Rogers Centre.
I watched the game until the paint finished drying, and then changed the channel. The Jets won the game 19-13 and Braylon Edwards scored the lone touchdown. Jay Feely kicked four field goals. Yay.
The CFL has nothing to worry about with regards to the NFL invading Canada.
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THANKS!
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WHL 2 - Wildlife 0.
The Swift Current Broncos' bus collided with a deer during Wednesday's road trip to Prince Albert. The deer did not win.
And an elk threw himself in front of the Regina Pats' bus in the Rocky Mountains on the team's return home from Spokane on the weekend. The collision reportedly caved in a portion of the bus' front bumper, and smashed out a headlight.
The elk lost that battle too.
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Some guy wrote in this week and said to quit crying about the Grey Cup, and write about something meaningful like CFL free agency.
Well while fans are scrambling to cobble together makeshift lists of all the league's pending free agents, the truth is we won't know for sure who that all includes until at least New Year's Day.
Jamie Dykstra in the CFL office said in an email this week that the official list of free agents won't be available until the New Year.
We got lucky that we learned ahead of time who the Riders' free agents are.
But this blog won't be the source for how Rider contract negotiations are going. Not by a long shot.
As juicy as they may be, I'm not getting caught in the middle of THAT again.
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And, the players themselves aren't looking ahead to free agency either.
Take for instance this quote from Rider CB Omarr Morgan who's due to become a free agent February 15:
"I don't know. I haven't thought about it, man. I still have this game in the back of my mind. I do
want to come back here and play but there may be some changes made. We'll see, in January/February."
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I got some much-desired face time with Rider President Jim Hopson yesterday.
Among other things, I cleared up some confusion regarding his contract status.
He confirmed his recent extension wil expire in March of 2011. That means he'll get through the 2010 season, but the team will be looking for somebody new for the 2011 season.
I got the distinct impression he'll be ready for retirement after that.
He also noted that as long as he's the Rider President, he'd like Ken Miller to be the coach.
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This BlackBerry was on the receiving end of many well-wishes this week, and for that I'd like to thank everyone.
One was from Lethbridge Hurricanes coach & GM Rich Preston who wrote "Tough one."
Rico, of course, was the 14-year old ball boy on the 1966 Grey Cup champion Roughriders. His father Ken was Saskatchewan's GM at the time.
The younger Preston retired from pro football after that season in order to "go out a winner".
He did mix in a party with the Roughrider cheerleaders the night they won, and announced his retirement the next day.
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Slick move by Alouettes GM Jim Popp prior to Grey Cup Sunday.
He had Als jerseys shipped to the ESPN NFL Countdown crew prior to their show Sunday morning.
Tom Jackson and Chris Berman proudly sported theirs on set.
I'd love to get Berman up here to guest speak at the Rider AGM or Plaza of Honour night next year.
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Congratulations to CKRM newsman Roger Currie who won our yearly CFL pick pool.
He went a God-like 50/64 on his predictions, and won a $100 gift card to the Press Box Sports Bar which was used up West Final Sunday.
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That Grey Cup ending was proof again why we love, and hate, sports.
I woke up Monday morning wondering if I really wanted to do this much longer.
Free Coors Light in a hospitality suite at the Calgary Hyatt Sunday night was more likely the reason for this notion however.
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I wore the same suit and shirt from Friday to Monday on Grey Cup week.
Once I got home I didn't know whether to dryclean them or burn them.
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There was a flood of complaints come into CKRM World Headquarters after the Grey Cup regarding Corus Radio's national radio broadcast which was carried on 620.
More than anything, they felt the Calgary-based radio hosts were mocking the Rider Nation over the loss.
Before blogging, I went back and listened to it and truthfully I didn't hear anything offside by host Jock Wilson.
I'm sure they were filled with glee over the Riders losing, but I didn't hear them rubbing our nose in it.
You could hear Als play-by-play man Rick Moffatt and colour man Ed Philion high-fiving each other right after Duval's game-winning field goal but Carm and I would've done the exact same thing.
Mostly I think Rider fans tuned into 620 after the game wanting to hear the Riders' reaction to the loss but there was precious little of it.
Fans have a bond between themselves and the team's radio rightsholder but the Corus contract barred us from doing our own show.
In the future, I'd like to see the national chain offer the option of selling the local rights BACK to the rightsholder.
That way they could make some of their own rights fee back, and each team could have their own broadcast as well.
I don't doubt for a second our owner Paul Hill would have stepped up with a blank cheque if given the opportunity.
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One thing I came away from Grey Cup with was an iron-clad friendship with Montreal Alouettes and Canadiens play-by-play man Rick Moffatt.
We spent lots of time together and he said he appreciated by candid, no-B.S. nature. I came away with a deeper appreciation for his dedication to our craft and his professionalism.
It's good to have guys like that in your corner.
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A CBC news reporter asked Colten Teubert on Wednesday if he and Jordan Eberle would have a tough time "getting up" for the 2010 World Juniors after the way last year's tournament went down.
"Two rings are better than one!" Colten responded.
No kidding. Ask the Riders about that.
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I've often wondered recently what's the shelf-life for this nation's love affair with the Riders.
Sort of like everybody loving the 80s Oilers before they eventually began hating them because they won so much.
Well for one, the Riders will need some more championships before that becomes a threat.
And two, the way the Riders lost has garnered nationwide empathy for the team, and their brand is stronger than ever entering 2010.
They'll be Canada's Team for quite some time to come.
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I can't bring myself to poke fun at Tiger Woods (other than that photo of him and his wife I posted the other day). But the American talkshow hosts are having a ball with it.
Said Fox Sports Radio's Steve Czaban yesterday:
"Word is Tiger and Elin Woods plan to undergo 'Intense Therapy'. What do they mean, like two-a-days? What is this, training camp???"
Czaban continued:
"I'M AS MAD AT TIGER'S BUDDIES MICHAEL JORDAN AND CHARLES BARKLEY AS I AM AT TIGER!!!! DIDN'T THEY TEACH HIM HOW TO DEAL WITH GROUPIES???
EX-NAY ON THE VOICEMAIL-TAY! THESE GUYS ARE EXPERTS ON THAT STUFF!!"
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A local curling note from our friend Joe "Broken Toe" Gunnis of Moose Jaw:
Annual Moose Jaw Youth Bonspiel
Dates: December 11, 12,13, 2009
Spiel Information: 32 Team Limit, 4 Game Guarantee, All Games 8 Ends, Prize Payout, Includes Saturday Afternoon
Lunch Divisions: High School Boys, High School Girls, High School Mixed, Junior High Open, Elementary Open
Entry Fee: $120.00 Per Team
Entry Deadline: December 4th, 2009
Hotel Information: Heritage Inn Bonspiel Rate $99 Plus tax (Based on Double Occupancy)
When Calling for reservations ask for the Hillcrest Curling Preferred Rate
Heritage Inn
Phone Number:
306-693-7550
Contact:
Leslie Glova (Phone 306-692-5089)
Email: moosejawhillcrest@sasktel.net
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Press Box Sports Bar Friday buffet lineup:
Montreal spiced shaved roast beef Sweet chili glazed ham
Perogies
South west chicken strips
Mashed potatoes and gravy
Schezuan chicken stirfry
Mixed veggies
Pizza buffet
Assorted squares for dessert.
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And oh yah, you can now follow Watermelon Kim on twitter at www.twitter.com/kimkrueckl
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!
Later Skater,
RP
(Pats Girls Photo Courtesy Greg Johnson Photography)
