Yes, you read that right.
Also, slotback Andy Fantuz was back on the practice field for the first time in a month as he has recovered from a hamstring pull which has caused him to miss four games.
Click the link below to hear the audio from Coach Miller and Fantuz:
http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=d76e6134d4df39870c814df2efeadc50e04e75f6e8ebb871
.jpg)
Regina, Saskatchewan – The Regina Pats returned from their weekend tournament in Edmonton and were greeted with a Monday off, but the front office was busy, reassigning four players:
It's finally here!
The week of Labour Day Classic XLIII!
Ever since Winnipeg Blue Bomber coach Mike Kelly called Saskatchewan "the crotch of Canada" just before training camps, I couldn't wait to see what the reaction of Rider fans would be at the L.D.C.
Now, we only have to wait six more days! The 4-4 Roughriders line up against the 3-5 Blue Bombers this Sunday afternoon at 2:00 at Mosaic Stadium and the game was sold out before the tickets were even printed.
Honestly, I was with many Rider fans who thought the Bombers' slow start (and the coach's quirky behaviour) would cost Kelly his job and he may not have even made it to Labour Day. Although CJOB Radio Winnipeg's Geoff Currier assured me Kelly would in fact be on the eastside sidelines, for two reasons:
1) He has a multi-year contract and the Bombers can't afford to fire him, and ...
2) He's buddies with Bomber President Lyle Bauer, who's giving him a long leash.
So, let's turn it loose on Sunday! If you have tickets over there, let me know some of the beaks you have for the Bomber coach down below in the comments section!
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The other tremendous thing about Labour Day Classic weekend is that it's like a mini-Grey Cup atmosphere. Fans from both teams start pouring into Regina Friday afternoon and it's a weekend-long party that lasts until Monday.
I remember last year, I got reports that a Bomber fan was weaving in and out of cars (while walking) at the corner of Victoria Ave and Broad St offering drivers a sip of his beer for 25 cents!
The hotels, bars and restaurants are packed and it's like a huge Saskatchewan homecoming for Rider fans and the ultimate road trip for Bomber fans.
In honour of this, what say we paint the town GREEN for the week? What I mean is, adorn your business in Rider Green & White and send the photos to me at sportsline@harvardbroadcasting.com. It'll be free advertising for your business, appearing here on the blog.
Here are some examples of what I'm talking about:
The Rider display in the Molson/Coors Light sales office in Regina....
Brent Kaminski's Southland Mall Safeway.....For Twitter enthusiasts, you'll enjoy the tweets from Chad Ocho Cino (the Bengals receiver) at:
http://twitter.com/OGOchoCinco
He promises to be the ultimate NFL Insider, beating Chris Mortenson and Adam Shefter of ESPN to the punch. He's already broken a story about Tom Brady's injured shoulder.
Should be interesting to watch!
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Can I forfeit my CFL picks for the rest of the year? What a joke!
The Ticats led for 50 minutes only to blow it in Edmonton Saturday night in the last minute. Crazy! I needed that one.
And how can you have any faith in the Argos anymore? Remember rookie coach Bart Andrus had a big mess to clean up when he tookover, unlike Marc Trestman in Montreal who walked into a great situation.
However the Argos have already completely overhauled their offensive scheme once, and they don't appear to be getting any better.
It should be panic time in Toronto; they've lost 10 straight at home and have forgotten how to win.
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Last week's coverage of Canada's mens Olympic hockey team camp in Calgary was fascinating. The Olympics in Vancouver are certainly going to be an exciting time.
It got me to-wondering: Will the Detroit Red Wings suffer this year because their coach Mike Babcock is pre-occupied with his Team Canada duties for the Olympics?
I bet they do.
Kevin Lowe said since Babcock was hired as head coach of Team Canada, it's been like the Stanley Cup Playoffs for him every day since, in terms of dealing with the monstrous pressure and mammoth expectations from Canada.
It would be human nature to lose focus on your club team.
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We found out the reason for the Hamilton TigerCat-Edmonton Eskimo game at Commonwealth Stadium being moved from Thursday to Sunday last week.
The answer: AC/DC.
Man those guys have power!
Speaking of, check out this cool panoramic 360 look at Mosaic Stadium from the concert, and see if you can pick out my brother leaning on the stage:
http://www.leaderpost.com/panoramas/acdcregina_082509/index.html
One thing about those old rockers like AC/DC and the Rolling Stones; they always start their concerts on time, which I appreciate. Obviously, they need to get to bed early. Didn't Flo-Rida make fans wait TWO HOURS when he was here in the spring?
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One more reason to look forward to the upcoming Regina Pats season....
Wireless internet on the bus!! That will make those eight, sixteen and twenty hour marathon road trips go by a little quicker.
Seriously though, I'm getting pretty keyed up for the 2009-2010 campaign.
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The Brandon Wheat Kings will host the Memorial Cup tournament this spring, and prognosticators are already handing the Wheaties the East Division pennant, if not the Conference flag too.
Hey why not? They're loaded. But I think the Pats will be on their heels.
Hotshot Pats sophomore Jordan Weal said in an interview this week they have automatic respect for coach Curtis Hunt because he coached in the NHL.
There's no question the return of Hunt has had a calming influence on his charges.
Let's see if it translates to the ice....
Their season opens September 18 at Saskatoon, the same night as the Riders Plaza of Honour Dinner.
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Sheesh -- we're getting old. 16-year-old forward John Odgers, 5-11 and 178 pounds, is in camp with the WHL's Prince George Cougars.
John is the son of former NHL tough guy Jeff Odgers, who also happens to be a member of the Cougars' scouting staff.
Odgey was a veteran in camp with Brandon when I had a sip of coffee with the Wheat Kings as a 16-year old goaltender twenty years ago.
Man time flies. And I'll NEVER forget the dressing room tricks Odgey could do with a skate-lace.
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Thanks to the owners/managers of Habano's for having me in to judge the first round of the Malibu Rum Best Regina Beach Bod contest Thursday night.
For some reason, the competition was barely advertised however we still ended up with a decent crowd.
Let's pack it this Thursday night for the FINALS! The winner gets $1,000 plus a prize package from Habano's and lots of good stuff.
I chose this nice young lady to win. I'm not sure who the guy is:
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Sooooo, Swift Current is overrun by a rat infestation?
Nope. Too easy.
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Sure enough, just as I say the blog fad is dying, three new blogs spring up. Check 'em out:
Our friend Ernie Waldner in Swift Current blogs about the Broncos and Legionnaires at http://www.erniewaldner.com/.
Pats goalie coach Ryan Cyr has a blog for his goaltending consultant company at http://www.gdiprairies.blogspot.com/.
And my friend Chris Pollock has started a new blog as well. I lost the link but perhaps Chris can post the link in the comments section.
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ESPN has hit a home-run with former Tampa and Oakland coach John Gruden on their Monday Night Football telecasts.
He's EXACTLY what was needed on those broadcasts, and Chucky could end up as the next John Madden if he wants to.
He's not as high-energy, but his analysis is superb.
I wouldnt be surprised though, if Gruden would rather be on the sidelines and will likely jump at the next coaching opportunity.
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The start of the NFL season sure is exciting.
I've been to just one NFL game, and it was back in 1995 when Pats GM Brent Parker bought the whole team tickets to watch the New York Jets and the Seattle Seahawks in the old Kingdome.
Boomer Esiason was the Jets QB, but I can't remember who was calling signals for the Seahawks. If I'm not mistaken, former Rider Andrew Greene was on the Seahawks roster for that one.
The Pats players and I spent much of the game running around the Kingdome trying to see as much of the stadium as we could. That group included Rhett Gordon, Chad Mercier, Dion Zukiwsky and Ross Parsons.
Have you ever been to an NFL game? Let's hear your stories in the comments section...
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Former Rider WR Matt Dominguez is on the payroll of CTV Regina, working as an analyst. His insights are tremendous, but he's dying to get back on the football field.
In the meantime, he's volunteering as the offensive coordinator of the RIFL's Riffel Royals. Matt says his offence is SO smooth that they've even need to HUDDLE this season.
I'll have to get out to watch some of their games to see if this is in fact the case.
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Jessica Simpson has put a hex on Tony Romo for dumping her a day shy of her 29th birthday.
And people can't figure out why he dumped her. That family appears to be crazy.
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George Strait's new album Twang is #1 on CMT's chart of country albums.
I picked it up as soon as I saw it on sale in HMV but I must admit, and it pains me to say it, it's not his greatest effort.
Maybe I jinxed him when we met at Craven!
That first song, Twang, is pretty good though. But that's about it...
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I have a new favourite Blizzard from DQ. It's likely not new, but I tried one of the kids' Reese's peanut butter cup Blizzard. IT'S OUT OF THIS WORLD!
What's your favourite? I've been reluctant to sway from the Oreo or Crispy Crunch ever since the Blizzard debuted 20 years ago.
We were all amazed at the south Albert DQ when the girl behind the counter turned it over and it never fell out. Amazing!
Has anyone ever seen a Blizzard slide out when turned upside down and shaken?
I've never seen it.
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Okay that's it for today on the MMG.
HAVE A GREEN WEEK!
RP
SATURDAY AUGUST 29
Edmonton Wildcats 10 @
Calgary Colts 24
SUNDAY AUGUST 30
Edmonton Huskies 7 @
Regina Thunder 38
Saskatoon Hilltops 18 @
Winnipeg Rifles 16
Both teams were coming off opening day losses and looking to rebound. The Pats were shut out 4-0 by the Oil Kings, while the Tigers fell 5–2 at the hands of the Moose Jaw Warriors.
The Pats scored first on the power play in the opening period. Tomas Hricina's point shot finds its way through a screen and past Tiger goalie Tyler Bunz. The first ends 1-0 with the shots on goal even at eight.
The second period begins with a scrap, as Thomas Carr of the Tigers, and Regina's Matt Delahey go toe to toe. Still in the first minute, the Tigers take an additional penalty, and the Pats capitalize with the man advantage. Alex Pym walks in from the point and goes top corner on Bunz to make it 2-0. The Tigers get on the board late in the frame as Emerson Etem set up Kale Kessey for a one timer, and it was 2-1 Pats.
Regina got it back in less than a minute later, when Michal Poletin scored to make it 3 – 1. The gates were open; the Tigers Emerson Etem then scored on the powerplay and the period ended 3 – 2 for the Pats.
The Tigers tied it up early in the third. After a great break out, Mike Forsyth ended up tapping in a feed from Curtis Valk, beating Regina goalie Linden Rowat to make it 3-3.
In the scrum after the goal, Regina took a penalty, and the Tigers were quick to capitalize. Etem scored his second of the game to make it 4-3 for the Hat, and that is your final.
The Oil Kings Pre-season Invitational features two more games Saturday. The Red Deer Rebels play the Moose Jaw Warriors at 3:00 pm. The Oil Kings take on the Swift Current Broncos at 7:00 pm.
The Tournament wraps up with two more games Sunday. The full schedule is available at www.oilkings.ca.
Summary:
First Period
REG – Hricina (Pym, Miller) PP, 2:53
Shots on Goal: REG 8 / MH 8
Second Period
REG – Pym (Metz) PP, 1:013.
MH – Kessey (Etem) ES, 12:564.
REG – Poletin (Weal, Pavkovich) ES, 13:405.
MH – Etem (King, Shinkaruk) PP, 15:27
Two Period Shot Totals: REG 24/ MH 15
Third Period
MH - Forsyth (Valk) ES, 4:35.
MH – Etem (Collins, Carlson) PP, 5:49
Final Shots on Goal: REG 30/ MH 20
REG- Guhle 11/12, Rowat 5/8
MH – Bunz 29/30
Moose Jaw scorers: Spencer Edwards (3), Antonin Honesjek, Joel Edmondson.
Medicine Hat scorers: Hunter Shinkaruk, Mike Forsyth.
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Prince Albert, Saskatchewan - The Raiders announce that 19 year-old defenseman Blaine Tendler has decided to retire from the Western Hockey League effective immediately to pursue other interests.
Tendler plans on returning to the family farm in Viceroy, Saskatchewan this weekend to assist in the harvest, then pursue his post secondary education, as provided by the WHL, in the trade of welding.
CFL Week 9 Sked:If you're a Rider fan, you should read the above link. It's a tremendous read...
This year's inaugural inductees include:
Ron Hextall (Melville Millionaires) - Hextall used the Millionaire program as the initial stepping stone toward his glorious career in the National Hockey League, predominately spent with the Philadelphia Flyers. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy as a rookie in 1987 for being the NHL's MVP during the playoffs. He also was the first ever netminder to shoot and score a goal at the NHL level, something he also accomplished in the playoffs. He's currently the Assistant General Manager for the Los Angeles Kings.
Chris Chelios (Moose Jaw Canucks) - Chelios spent three years in the SJHL and parlayed his Junior 'A' career into an NCAA scholarship before landing on the scene with the Montreal Canadiens in 1985, getting named to the NHL All-Rookie Team. He has won three Norris Trophies for being the NHL's top defenseman. The 25-year NHL veteran is hoping to begin his 26th season this October.
Wayne Kartusch (SJHL President) - Kartusch spent 26-years as President of the SJHL, resigning his post in 2003. He has received numerous accolades and honors for hard work and dedication to the sport of the game. He has been bestowed a lifetime membership to the SHA as well as the Canadian Junior Hockey League. He's also been named Hockey Canada's Volunteer Of The Year. He was enshrined in Saskatchewan's Sports Hall Of Fame in 2007.
Ron Rumball (Weyburn Red Wings) - Rumball has provided the Red Wings with forty years of service, holding roles on the Board of Directors, Director Of Scouting, Assistant Coach, Interim Head Coach, and General Manager. A retired school teacher, Rumball continues to seek out talent for the Wings, who have a storied history as one of the SJHL's most storied franchises. His most recent major accomplishment was serving as GM for the 2005 RBC Cup champions.
Dwight McMillan (Weyburn Red Wings) - McMillan has won over a thousand regular season games in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, putting him in an extremely elite class with Scotty Bowman (NHL) and Brian Kilrea (OHL). His tenure as a player and/or coach has spanned five decades with Weyburn and he wielded some magic in 2005 by taking a fifth place team and leading them to an RBC Cup (national championship). McMillan has ties back to the Red Wings as far back as 1961 when he appeared as a rookie on the very first Red Wing club ever.
The SJHL is extremely proud and pleased to announce the creation of the virtual Hall Of Fame and Wall Of Honor as well as to recognize these five very special individuals for being the first ever inductees.
(Sent from my Prairie Mobile Communications BlackBerry Curve)
Some local odds & ends entering another hot Thursday around here, and the first day of school for Regina kids. Hope you had a great summer!:
Hey Rod, love your blog.. I read through it everyday! Couldn't help but notice all the rider fan pics from around the world and thought I would share these ones of my family in Cairo, Egypt.
Hey Rod, thought I would send this picture along from our wedding in Mexico. My wife was great about getting a picture taken in our Roughrider shirts. Even though she's a B.C. girl she's joined the Rider nation. If we could only get my father-in-law to get off the Lions bandwagon.
LUMSDEN, SK – With 8 veteran players out of the line-up, it was the youngsters' time to shine in the annual Regina Pats Prairie Mobile Communications Blue & White game.
Free agent wide receiver Matt Dominguez was our featured guest on Access 7's In The Huddle Tuesday night.
Some notes:
- His surgically repaired knees are at 100% strength and he's ready to return to the field.
- He DIDN'T sign the offer from Winnipeg because their intention was to put him on the practice roster.
- He is currently the offensive coordinator with the RIFL's Riffel Royals and has been seriously been bitten by the coaching bug. But he won't coach pro football at this time for two reasons: 1) he still wants to play and 2) he doesn't want to take the time away from his young family.
- Matt's 14-year old nephew Tory is living with him and enrolled at Riffel. He's a junior American Olympian trackster who plays running back. Uncle Matt wonders what it'll take for Tory to be considered a non-import by CFL rules.
- For more, tune into the In The Huddle replay Thursday night at 7:00 on Access!
(Sent from my Prairie Mobile Communications Blackberry Curve on the 1x Network)
MOOSE JAW, SK -- The Moose Jaw Warriors in partnership with McDonalds officially opened the Warriors/McDonalds Room in the Pediatrics Ward of the Moose Jaw Union Hospital today. Warriors’ players, staff and board members were on hand for the grand opening.
Over 44,000 people were thrilled by AC/DC's performance at Mosaic Stadium Tuesday night. Here are some notes that come to mind the morning after:
Hey Rod, it's one half of the twins...
Roddy, here I am on our small Coast Guard Vessel North... Very North on the MacKenzie River Near Tuktoyaktuk, NWT. I actually saw a flag flying outside the library in a very small community in the North where we layed over (Fort Simpson?)... betweeen the Canadian and Territorial flags. Pretty fantastic range the Green has, eh?Kidding!
What do you think their last song will be?
Rod - We just got back from San Diego and our family had our photo taken on the USS Midway Aircraft Carrier.
Hi Rod
Hey Rod, here's a pic of myself on our Alaskan Cruise honeymoon (the wife's taking the picture!) with the Hubbard Glacier in the background.It's Australian Day here on the blog in honour of AC/DC's performance at Mosaic Stadium tonight.
1,000 workers will be scurrying around the home of the Roughriders today getting ready for the big show. I'll be one of the 38,000 in attendance although I'll admit to not being the hugest fan of the band.
But I'll watch just about any live show that comes through Regina because I appreciate the talent.
Maybe I'll see you there! The doors open at 6:00 ... the show starts at 7:30.
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If you can top this Show Your Rider Pride photo, then my hat's off to you.....
"Hi Rod.
Love your blog. Been reading it for quite a while and been seeing all the cool photos people have sent in of their Rider pride on vacation, so when my wife Dani and I went on safari in Africa last month we made sure to take a couple of photos showing our support for the green and white.
Here's the best picture we took. It's my wife Dani and I with a Masai elder near Arusha Tanzania. Hope you enjoy.
Cheers - Matthew Park"
THANKS FOR THE PIC MATHEW! And thanks for playing along.
Now who thinks they can top that?? sportsline@620ckrm.com
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It's not a "down" week, or an "up" week. It's a bye week for the Saskatchewan Roughriders following Friday's 34-25 loss in Montreal.
Sure the Debbie Downers are out there, trying to have us believe the team is about to implode and is lucky to be 4-4.
However the vast, vast majority of folks I've spoken to around here feel the Riders gave the Als a serious run for their money the other night and it was a great stepping stone. There was plenty stacked against the Riders going into the match but they came out with an admirable effort against the league's top team.
The Riders feel upbeat about themselves. They feel confident and they know their best football is ahead of them when it's going to matter most.
But for now, it's time to rest. Weston Dressler went to Minot to make wedding plans. Stevie Baggs went to Atlanta to do whatever he does. Jeremy O'Day's going to his couch. And Darian Durant is staying here to be a film rat and watch hours and hours of tape in order to get better.
The Riders will take a backseat until their next game which is the soldout Labour Day Classic September 6 against Mike Kelly's puzzling Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Maybe the Regina Pats will get a few headlines this week while the Riders rest.
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Speaking of...
I'm not saying the Pats scouting staff is old, but one of them said on Sunday at training camp that rookie forward Shaq Merasty of Minnedosa, Manitoba reminds him of Frank Mahovlich!
I suppose we could call Merasty "The Big M" too if he makes the team.
All in all the Pats look sharp from what I saw. They'll be in Edmonton this weekend for the Oil Kings preseason tournament for their first game action.
I'll have in-depth interviews with coach Curtis Hunt and GM Brent Parker tonight on Sportsline. Curtis will explain what he learned in less-than-a-season with the Ottawa Senators and what it feels like to be back while Brent will give some interesting insight as well.
I won't be accompanying the squad to Edmonton. It's the last weekend off for me before working 90 consecutive days (till after Grey Cup).
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Red Deer Rebels' announcer/reporter Andrew Walker wants you to know he has a ton of Rebels information and notes on Saskatchewan kids at Rebs camp on his blog. It's on my blog roll with a link at the top left of this page.
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The Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League is holding a news conference in Weyburn on Thursday to unveil its inaugural induction class into the SJHL Hall of Fame.
Just who do you think will be the first to be inducted?
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A note from the CFL:
Please be reminded that this week's Hamilton at Edmonton game has been changed to Saturday, August 29 @ 7:00 ET (5:00 local) from Thursday, August 27.
Please make your adjustments accordingly.
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As predicted by ESPN's Colin Cowherd, the blog fad is dying.
Three years ago there were 70,000 blogs starting up per day across North America. Now, of those, 80% have not been updated in 120 days (or four months).
What's the new fad? Twitter.
Again, for those who are new, Twittering is a way for someone to write a quick update online (no longer than 140 letters).
Here are a few interesting quotes from CFLer's on Twitter after this weekend's games:
@geroysimon: I can't explain the feeling in my gut right now. I feel the need to apologize for our performance last night.
@barrinsimpson: Great win 2nite 4 us vs BC, a much needed win. Very happy about the win n frustrated w/ toe injury.
@steviebaggs: Im back home in Ft. Lauderdale and now headed to ATL for the rest of the bye week thanks for the support ridernation and fans we will b back
Reading Twitter and following these guys is like reading a constantly updated newspaper online and you're getting the players' thoughts right from the horses' mouths.
I've been expanding my comments on Twitter too, and it's been fun.
But I also don't think this blog will go away any time soon. If anything, it'll turn into just another sports-type website. It won't be called a blog if that term becomes passe.
I'm just trying to figure out where we're going in this digital world and trying to stay on the curve, if not ahead of it.
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Interesting note:
The Melonhead phenomena for the Saskatchewan Roughriders was spawned by two young Rider fans at Winnipeg Stadium (yes, I believe before there was a Canad Inn Stadium).
The Phoenix Group's Darren Mitchell and Rider marketing director Trent Fraser were at a Rider game in Winnipeg and saw two 20-something Rider fans coming up the steps with Rider flags as capes and watermelons on their heads, high-fiving everyone in attendance.
Mitch and T.F. looked at each other, nodded, and the phenomena was born.
Do you think we could ever get ahold of those two kids and ask them their story?
CFL.ca will be at Mosaic Stadium Labour Day weekend to do a feature on Melonheads.
It truly has been a remarkably successful marketing initiative.
Now I'm told in B.C. the Lions are doing a pumpkin-head sort of promotion and I think that's a great idea...
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Something else that's interesting;
The Roughriders don't count turnovers on downs as turnovers. When they refer to "ball security", they mean fumbles and interceptions. Which makes sense, so why do we keep track of turnovers on downs at all in the CFL? It IS meaningless when teams are unsuccessful on 3rd-and-10s late in games.
Part of coach Miller's "Good To Great" philosophy is that games are broken down into three factors:
1 - Ball Security Ratio: which was just explained.
2 - Field Position: self-explanatory.
3 - Big Play Ratio: which team has more plays of 20+ yards than the other over the course of a game.
UNFAILINGLY whichever team wins two out of those three phases wins the game. If you consistently take all three, you're on course for a championship.
I find this very interesting.
How can we translate this to hockey?
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Rider guard Marc Parenteau was ALL over my radio partner Carm Carteri for picking Montreal to beat the Riders Friday night. He repeatedly said he was going to kidney punch Carm if they won, and he wasn't joking.
Carm said if the Riders win, Parenteau can punch him wherever he wants!
See? It's not comfortable picking your team to lose when you have to share airspace with them.
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In Montreal, they like the Alouettes but they really LOVE the Canadiens. It's just NOT a football town. There, it's all hockey and all Canadiens all the time. 24/7/365.
The Alouettes staff didn't hand out stats after the game, whereas most teams hand them to us before the ink is dry afterwards.
I couldn't find a down and distance clock anywhere in the stadium (which is somewhat essential when broadcasting or following a game). And none of the sellout crowd seemed to care.
So Saskatchewan remains football country, and the heartland of the Canadian gridiron. There's no threat of Quebec taking over the title.
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Roughrider defensive end John Chick blogs and checks in with fans at http://www.johnchick97.com/.
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The Riders' next road trip is the Banjo Bowl in Winnipeg on Sunday, September 13.
You can watch it live by purchasing your seat on my buddy Dominico Fiacco's Rider fan bus to Winnipeg. Here's the 411:
- Leaves Sunday Sept 13th At 4am And Return After Game.
- $129 Per Person Includes Bus And Ticket, Red Zone Seats Between 25yd Lines.
- Call Dom at 306-539-5224.
There will be a day whereby once the Rider season is done, I'll run and chaperone bus trips with Dom to NFL games from Regina sponsored by Molson and a few of our corporate friends.
Minnesota, Green Bay, Denver, etc. complete with tailgating, the WHOLE BIT.
Can't wait for those days!
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A U.S. study found the average video game user is:
1) aged 35,
2) often overweight,
3) introverted and....
4) may be depressed.
Don't look now, but my hand is in the air. I'm a video game user and have two of the above four qualities.
Maybe stats aren't for losers after all.
Nor are video games.
"In short, (gamers) literally take their minds off their worries while playing a video game," the researchers said in a statement.
I highly recommend it. My favourites are NCAA 09, NHL 07 and World Series of Poker.
When your mind gets too scrambled, a quick game of Texas Tech vs Ole Miss can straighten you out.
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It's hard not to get swept up in NFL training camps and the bountiful coverage on ESPN Radio, ESPN.com and NFL Radio on Sirius satellite these days.
Here are some fun notes from the past week:
In Minnesota they booed QB Tavaris Jackson when he came onto the field Friday night against Kansas City. The reason? No reason other than it meant Brett Favre was done for the night.
Yes, Favre got a raucous ovation from the fans who loathed him for years as a member of the Green Bay Packers.
That's like Rider fans cheering for Ricky Ray if he ever QB'd the Green & White, or Pats fans applauding Kelly McCrimmon if he ever coached Regina.
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Giants receiver Plaxico Burress gets two years in prison for shooting himself while Donte Stallworth gets less than a month in jail for drinking and driving and actually KILLING somebody????
In the words of former Global TV sportscaster Bob Krawchuk, "stop the world, I want to get off."
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On that Twitter thing, for the best NFL updates, sign up to follow ESPN's Chris Mortensen and/or Adam Shefter.
Although Shefter had to take a break on the weekend when he woke up his wife while Twittering in bed on his BlackBerry.
What kind of a LOSER would do THAT?
Oh yah. I did that not too long ago too. :)
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I met a girl in Crave on Saturday night who was a sales rep for Tylenol, Reactin and Cialis.
Talk about your dream girl! She's got everything you need.
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The SleepInn in Minot, ND welcomes all Canadians! So says the illuminated sign in their parking lot. AND it's the only place in Minot to watch CFL games on TSN. Weston Dressler's future father-in-law is a regular in their lounge for each week's Rider game.
And what a thrill it was for this broadcaster to make their Wall of Fame of hotel guests last week! That group of autographed photos includes luminaries such as Ann Margaret, George Jones, Fergie, the Oak Ridge Boys, the North Dakota Governor as well as the Riders', Gene Makowsky and Weston Dressler!
The SleepInn also has the largest indoor waterpark in the four-state area, and is attached to the Dakota Square Mall so you don't even have to go outside when the weather sucks.
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Also, thanks to my boy Garts for passing along the tip on the new Buffalo Wild Wings in Minot. Over the course of three days, we ate their twice and could've gone back again.
Nice spot. If Minot can have one, you'd think Regina could support one too!
But I've learned we won't be getting a Hooters though. Regina isn't a large enough centre.
You'll have to settle for the Press Box Sports Bar and let's be honest, it's better than all the rest anyways.
Speaking of, I resent those who say Canada's best-looking women are in the East.
As if!
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How about this? Perhaps you can answer it...
The World Track and Field Federation asked for a gender verification test on an athlete because she/he was winning too much and they couldn't tell if the athlete was a man or a woman.
They said the results of the test wouldn't be known for WEEKS! WTH????
Isn't it as simple as asking them to come around the corner and drop their drawers?
However administering that test isn't the job I would want in sports. Especially if she's so homely you can't tell whether she's a boy or a girl.
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Okay that's all I got for today so keep the bugs off your bumper and the bears off your tail and we'll talk to you tonight on Sportsline.
HAVE A GREAT WEEK!
RP
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Four scrimmages dominated the day, as both the rookies and vets participated in 2 games apiece.
The rookies dueled in a pair of high scoring affairs. Game one saw 2009 first round bantam pick Chandler Stephenson (Saskatoon, SK) score three times in a 6-2 Team White win:
Team White 6 – (Chandler Stephenson (3)/Cole Boychuk/Tyler Meuller/Michael Sagen)
Team Blue 2 – (Devon Allenby/Tayler Balog)
Game two saw a complete reversal, with Team Blue rolling to the 8-4 win. Devon Allenby (Chilliwack, BC) picked up the hat trick and 2009 2nd round bantam pick Tayler Balog (Weyburn, SK) scored twice:
Team Blue 8 – (Devon Allenby (3)/Tayler Balog (2)/Ryan Baskerville/Aiden Crowther/Bryn McNabb)
Team White 4 – (Joel Harnden (2)/Michael Benson/Chandler Stephenson)
The veterans played things a little tighter with Team Red and Team Grey splitting their games. Game one saw Devan McLean (Rosedale, BC) scoring twice for the 3-1 Team Grey win:
Team Grey 3 – (Devan McLean (2)/Lucas Froese)Team Red 1 – (Michal Poletin) Team Red bounced back in the late game, as Mitch Czibere (Ft.Sask. AB) scored twice for the 4-2 win.
Team Red 4 – (Mitch Czibere (2)/Brandon Davidson/Brett Leffler)
Team Grey 2 – (Koltyn Miller/Tomas Hricina)
There have been a pair of injuries at camp, both involve veterans:
D – Matt Delahey – Charley Horse (Day-to-Day)
C – Jason Gardiner – Knee (Indefinite)
It was a late night for the hockey staff as well, as the first cuts came down, with these players getting reassigned to their respective minor hockey clubs:
Devon McLean
Roger Tagoona
Jordan Daniels Brian Cochran
Tyler O'Connell
Dylan MacNab
Zach Wildman Justin Christian
Myles Dunne
Kelby Lang
Jeff Froese
Devon Audette
Bryn MacNab
Max Faulkner
Brennan Frykas Mackenzie Johnson
Tyler Bell
Michael Brown
Colton Laroque
Colton Pankiw
Tyler Boyer
Jack Rodewald
Michael Benson
Logan Sawarski
Cole Boychuk
Spencer Schoen
Darrin Robinson
Levi Schwab
Taran Kozun
Evan Zdunich
Monday will see the roster paired down into a couple of groups in preparation of the Prairie Mobile Communications Blue and White game:
10:45-11:45 Goalie Session 12:00-1:30PM BLUE PRACTICE 2:00-3-30pm WHITE PRACTICE
The Blue and White game will be Tuesday night with a 7pm puck drop at the Lumsden Arena.
The Roughriders' special teams have come under fire as of late and upon the team's arrival from Montreal this weekend, Rider special teams coach Kavis Reed discussed the situation with Rawlco's Jamie Nye:
