10 MIDWEEK THINGS FOR REALTY ONE

1 – GOD BLESS RIDER NATION: For Rider fans, the good news just keeps coming. On Monday the team announced franchise face Cody Fajardo has signed a 2-year contract extension worth roughly $450,000 per season. The ink on the contract was barely dry before the second-guessing started: Is it too soon? Is it too much? ‘He hasn’t played in the cold yet!’ some exclaimed .’He hasn’t won a playoff game yet!’ others pointed out. What it shows me is how much the Riders think of Cody. Now, it’s going to be interesting to see how he performs now that he’s “rich”.

2 – 34: We’ve been anxious to get Roughriders icon George Reed on the set of The Rod Pedersen Show for quite awhile and Wednesday’s 100th Episode celebration was a perfect fit. George answered questions from fans across the country and one asked why George always casually strolled back to the huddle after each play rather than hustled. “They didn’t pay me to run back to the huddle,” Reed smirked. “They paid me to go ahead!”

3 – JONES’ING: Over the last three years George and I always argued over the merits of Chris Jones running Canada’s Team. He didn’t care for the cut of Jones’ jib. When the Rushing King was leaving the bunker on Wednesday, I asked if he finally likes Chris Jones. “I like that he’s gone,” George said as he walked away.

4 – MILLER TIME: Beloved Rider coach Ken Miller was part of our 100th show, and joined us from North Carolina. I asked Kenny how it came to be that Jeremy O’Day transitioned from an all star centre to the Assistant GM role back in 2011 when Miller was in charge of the whole outfit. Miller explained that Jeremy had once expressed an interest into getting into management when his playing career was over. It was all timing.

5 – INTRIGUE: There’s actually quite a bit in the remaining two weeks of the regular season, across the league. Obviously the most is in Winnipeg where the unfathomable may happen if oft-concussed Zach Collaros starts for the Bombers against Calgary on Friday Night Football. Last we checked, Bomber coach Mike O’Shea hasn’t named a starting QB but it’s looking like Zach. **UPDATE – Collaros has been named the Bombers starter for the game. ** Nothing would please me more than Zach shoving it down us doubters’ throats and leading the Bombers into a playoff showdown with the Riders next month. However, I just can’t see it happening.

6 – RIDERS/ESKS: The home-and-home between Canada’s Team and the Evil Empire is interesting too. It’s a head-scratcher that it’s taken this long for the rivals to play their first game of the season but it is what it is. How sharp will Trevor Harris be after a nearly 2-month absence? Can the Riders achieve 13 wins? Will the Eskimos go into the playoffs with a roar or with a whimper? The same question goes for the Riders. Must-see TV indeed.

7 – EL PRESIDENTE: I’ve often said nothing will top the Riders winning the Grey Cup at home in 2013. Nothing. How could it? However Hall of Fame Rider President Jim Hopson feels there’s one thing that could top that feat: winning back-to-back Grey Cup titles for the first time in franchise history. But you’ve gotta start with one, and that’s what makes the next five weeks so nail-biting.

8 – WRITE THIS DOWN: I’ve vowed never to get into politics but that didn’t stop Minister Ken Cheveldayoff from inviting me to Wednesday’s Speech From The Throne from Saskatchewan Lieutenant Governor Russell Mirasty at the Legislative Assembly. It was a very cool experience, and a first for me. Sleezeballs in the past at the Federal and Provincial level turned me off the political game but I’ll admit these guys (and gals) from all Saskatchewan political parties right now are really good people. It’s nice to be invited to be around them.

9 – HERITAGE CLASSIC: The countdown is on! Winnipeg Jets personnel are arriving in Regina on Thursday and the Calgary Flames will arrive after Thursday night’s game against the Florida Panthers. A reminder: Friday’s events begin with a pancake breakfast with the Stanley Cup and Regina Pats at City Square Plaza (one of Pat Fiacco’s legacies) followed by a BBQ lunch. Fan events go all weekend long in Confederation Park by Mosaic Stadium. The opening ceremonies of Saturday’s NHL Heritage Classic will feature Jess Moskaluke, The Sheepdogs and The Hunter Brothers and appearances by RCMP cadets and officers from Saskatchewan’s “F” Division. 50 Canadian Forces members will be part of the anthem ceremony and Freddy Sasakamoose will drop the puck! Tingles.

10 – RANDOMS: A local hockey guy was on the fence over taking his kids to the game. I told him his kids will never forget it, just like my Dad taking his boys to the Blues & Oilers back in 1981 in the Regina Agridome. I became an Oiler fan that night. (Dad probably got his family of 5 in for less than $100 but welcome to the NHL in 2019). … At the very least, go to the outdoor WHL game between the Pats and Hitmen on Sunday. … This is a weekend Saskatchewan will never forget. I’m incredibly grateful to be able to attend all the events! … Sirius/XM NHL Radio’s Matthew Barnaby gets into town Friday, and will be on The Rod Pedersen Show on Thursday. On Saturday night in Arcola I asked him his thoughts on NHL super pest Brad Marchand, who’s the target of all the panelists on sports networks. “He’s everything I aspired to be,” Barney said. … The Montreal Expos are two wins away from the World Series title. Does anyone care but me and about two other people? I’m shocked there’s been no expansive video essays on the history of the Expos now that the Washington Nationals are in the World Series (the franchise shifted from Montreal to Washington in 2005). Absolutely shocked. But the sports media isn’t what it used to be. If I’ve missed any stories, I’ll apologize now. … If you don’t understand why a large group of Western Canadians are upset over Monday’s election results, do some research. This “Let’s all come together as a country” stuff is hard to swallow when farmers and oil workers are now going out of business due to the carbon tax and the handcuffs on the oil industry (the top two industries of Western Canada). However as Premier Scott Moe told me Wednesday, all is not lost. Yet.

Y’er welcome,
RP
@rodpedersen