10 CHRISTMAS THINGS

1 – WHAT A DECADE!: With the year drawing to a close, people are starting to look ahead to a new decade in 2020. They are also looking back at the past with great fondness. We in the 306 definitely have a lot to be thankful for, especially from a football perspective. A Grey Cup championship, the finest stadium in the CFL, the best fans, yada yada yada. Suffice it to say, it’s great here. So before we get to the latest news with the Green & White, let’s look back at the RP Show 2010-2019 All Decade Riders Team.

2 – OFFENSE: QB Darian Durant, RB Kory Sheets, FB Neal Hughes, Receivers – Rob Bagg, Weston Dressler, Chris Getzlaf, Naaman Roosevelt & Taj Smith, Offensive Line – Xavier Fulton, Brendon Labatte, Dan Clark, Chris Best, Ben Heenan.

3 – DEFENSE: Defensive Line – John Chick, Charleston Hughes, Zack Evans & Keith Shologan, Linebackers – Jeff Knox Jr., Sam Hurl, Mike McCullough, Defensive Backs – Tyron Brackenridge, Macho Harris, Ed Gainey, Tristan Jackson, Terrell Maze.

4 – SPECIAL TEAMS & SIDELINES: Kicker Chris Milo, Punter Josh Bartel, Long-snapper Jorgen Hus, Returner Tristan Jackson. Head Coach Corey Chamblin, GM Brendan Taman, President Jim Hopson.

5 – 2020: The CFL head coaching carousel has stopped but there’s still an entertaining game of Musical Chairs going on with regards to coordinators and position coaches. We’re told the Riders are close to naming their staff under Craig Dickenson and among those reportedly returning are Travis Moore (Receivers), Kent Maugeri (Running Backs) and Stephen Sorrells (Offensive Line). I’m told QB Coach Steve Walsh won’t be back, but it’s not a slam dunk that he’ll be replaced by Ricky Ray. 

6 – DINNER BELL: The Toronto Argonauts are getting criticized for the perceived “unclassy” handling of the dismissal of Corey Chamblin and subsequent hiring of Ryan Dinwiddie. Critics say the news was callously delivered in a single news release. My question: How else would you have done it? Is there ever a good way to do a firing? Some naysayers have too much time on their hands.

7 – TWEET OF THE WEEK: It comes from reigning CFL Most Outstanding Defensive Player of the Year Willie Jefferson: “Okay so since the new schedule is out .. I see there is no new team out east!!! What happened??? Where is the new team???”

It’s a perceptive question by Willie, who’s just as smart as he is athletic. Fans and sponsors have been led to believe the awarding of a 10th franchise to the Maritimes is just a formality (i.e. the 10th team announcement at 2018 Grey Cup, and this year’s marketing rollouts). If the project falls flat and people discover they were misled, it will be ugly.

8 – FREE EARL GREY: Willie Jefferson further Tweeted that he’s not allowed to take the Grey Cup trophy to the Great State, his home state of Texas. Southern U.S. CFL fans are outraged, saying if Chris Jones can take the Grey Cup to Tennessee, then Willie should be able to take it Texas. Stay tuned!

9 – TWO IN ONE THOUGHTS: The Montreal Alouettes ownership/GM situation is being regarded as a “grease fire” by football people in Quebec. For a league starved for credibility, this isn’t helping. … Is there a more over-analyzed day in sports than the CFL/Roughriders schedule release? I never really understood the furor. 18 games, 9 home, 9 road and, for the most part, a balanced schedule. I’m content to show up for the kickoff time on the ticket, but then, I only live 5 minutes from the stadium. As for the 2020 schedule, the large number of Saturday games gets the thumbs-up.

10 – RANDOM THOUGHTS: Friends don’t let friends wear golf shirts in the winter. … Kudos to long-time WHL linesman Sean Dufour for being bestowed the WHL Milestone Award for his years of service. This on the heels of zebra Adam Byblow getting the same honour. Hey WHL! How about some broadcasters?? The award-winners, while absolutely deserving, should be expected since two former referees are running the league office. But Saskatoon’s Les Lazaruk, Kelowna’s Regan Bartel, Kamloops’ Jon Keen, Tri-City’s Craig West, etc. have all been in the loop for as long, or longer. … Like refs, play-by-play men are their own club. The media doesn’t consider them media and the teams don’t consider them team personnel. So you lay awake at night wondering what you are. … I’ve accepted an invitation from the Regina Police Service and Special Olympics Saskatchewan to take the Polar Bear Plunge. (I’ll do anything for Frank Kovacs). If you nice readers/viewers donate up to $2000 for Special Olympics, I’ll jump in Wascana Lake in the middle of February during Waskimo. Other plungers are the Riders’ Zack Evans, Police Chief Evan Bray, CTV’s Brit Dort, SGI Spokesman Tyler McMurchy & Mike “Hawkeye” Seel of RPS. Please donate here! https://secure.e2rm.com/registrant/FundraisingPage.aspx?registrationID=4635591&langPref=en-CA&Referrer=%26Referrer%3dhttps%253a%252f%252fsecure.e2rm.com%252fregistrant%252fCheckResults.aspx%253feventid%253d298796%2526langpref%253den-CA%2526RegistrationID%253d4635591

Merry Christmas,
RP
@rodpedersen