10 MONDAY THINGS

1 – WHAT A WEEKEND!: Both CFL division semifinal games on Sunday would have to qualify as upsets, with the road team being the victor in each case. In the East, Edmonton defeated Montreal 37-29 while in the West, Winnipeg stunned Calgary 35-14. Both games featured scores of drama and intrigue, and obviously unexpected outcomes. This is a boon for the CFL!

2 – SUITE LIFE OF ZACH & CODY: Now the 2019 CFL West Final features the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Saskatchewan Roughriders next Sunday in a match-up that if you’d put it in a movie script, no one would believe it. Sask QB Cody Fajardo is the Story of the Year in the CFL because of his heroic exploits in his first season as a starter while Winnipeg QB Zach Collaros is the Comeback Player of the Year after being traded twice and left for dead. He has to have a Texas-sized chip on his shoulder coming back into Sask for the biggest game ever played in this stadium.

3 – ZACH ATTACK: To clarify, Collaros should have no ill-will towards the Roughriders. They paid him a lot of money in his little-over-a-year here and treated him first class. However the 31-year old Ohioan never meshed with the Rider Nation and there’s a chunk of Rider fans still sore at him for not playing in the 2018 playoffs despite *reportedly* being cleared to play. (It’s a notion I find preposterous and, even if true, is incredibly unselfish for Collaros to have put the team first in that instance). However, there’s no convincing some people. And now Zach has a glowing opportunity to shove it where the sun don’t shine — to everybody, including those who thought his career was over.

4 – FAJARDO-VILLE: It’s the most-asked question in Riderville right now – Will Cody play on Sunday? The team MVP missed the Riders’ last game with an oblique muscle injury but was seen on the sidelines at practice last week. My bet? He’ll play, but that doesn’t mean he’s 100%. However with big profile comes big pressure and expectations and this whole team’s fate rests on him. Therefore, he’ll play.

5 – FOR THE W: The Blue Bombers season has had more ups and downs than the Ferris Wheel at Buffalo Days but after posting that huge upset win at Calgary, they are back on the upswing after more than their share of downs all year long. Offensive coordinator Paul Lapolice (habitually pointed to as the CFL’s top coordinator in this column) painted a masterpiece in this one, utilizing his two QBs to perfection. Collaros threw for 193 yards and a TD (with zero INT) while Chris Streveler was their leading rusher (82 yards) followed by Andrew Harris (57 yards). Pointed to as the CFL’s best team all year long, the Bombers are now in position to prove it. However, I still predict a Saskatchewan victory.

6 – EVIL EMPIRE: The guy I’m happiest for coming out of the whole weekend is Jason Maas. The embattled Edmonton head coach took scores of heat for resting his top guys in Game 18 but it turned out to be a genius move. His job was on the line, he rolled the dice, and it came up “7”. All season the Esks were our “under the radar” team, never quite living up to the potential that their talented roster boasts. Now, they’e got people thinking they could be the first-ever crossover team to qualify for the Grey Cup.

7 – TICATS TIMBITS: The Rodney Dangerfields of the CFL, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, should make no apologies that their 15-3 record this year came in the same division that features the 3-15 Ottawa Redblacks and 4-14 Toronto Argonauts. That’s not their fault. However it could also mean that their record is a mirage. (i.e. They aren’t as good as they think they are). We’re going to find out in Sunday’s East Final at Tim Hortons Field as Hamilton hosts Edmonton.

8 – ARCHITECT: The man who built the 15-3 Ticats – the best team in franchise history – is Eric Tillman. If the CFL had a GM of the Year Award, you’d think E.T. would be in contention but he left Hamilton last winter with the intention of joining the Atlantic Schooners as their first-ever GM. What gives?

9 – LISTEN UP!: To all the Marketing & Branding experts who blame the economy for the lagging ticket sales in sports, the National Lacrosse League reported sales of almost 1-million tickets last season, up 28% from the year before. 68% of ticket sales were from people who never played lacrosse. And, most impressively, league sponsorship is projected to grow 29% this season. Quick – name 3 Saskatchewan Rush players! The NLL is marketing the pants off these other leagues and that’s without a TV contract, nor a presence on the network highlight shows. 

10 – RANDOM THOUGHTS: Condolences to the family and friends of Doug Alexander, who passed away on the weekend. He was a classy man and a broadcasting icon. … A case of perspective – the Stampeders season-ending loss is either the death knell of the 2019 Grey Cup at McMahon Stadium, or a bonus for the CFL. I can’t decide which yet. … People are chiding Calgary for poor attendance at Sunday’s playoff game. I say ‘bravo’ to the 24,278 who bought a ticket in frigid conditions. … Don Cherry would’ve been fine if he hadn’t taken a swipe at immigrants on Hockey Night In Canada on Saturday. Grapes is right; the amount of people NOT wearing poppies this time of year is a crime. As for Cherry, I tuned him out a long time ago. … 115,941 Canadians lost their lives in various world wars in the past 100+ years. Pause at 11:00 am Monday and thank them. … They are bragging that the CFL’s East Final is sold-out. At 24,000 capacity, I’d hope so! That would make the Calgary crowd a sellout and if 24,000 was the benchmark, the Riders would have a sellout streak approaching 200 consecutive games. As it is, their sellout streak is zero. … I’d long heard the AT&T Center in San Antonio is the NBA’s best atmosphere. After being there last week, I’d say Orlando is better. … The Spurs’ Gregg Popovich is the longest tenured coach in pro sports, dating back to 1996. In that time the Spurs have amassed 5 championships and the highest winning percentage in pro sports. You get tingles being amidst such greatness. … Charleston Hughes should ignore the snubs from year-end award voting, rather than going off on Twitter. He has a Hall of Fame career on the go. Just keep going. … The BC Lions “releasing” Duron Carter from his 1-year deal last week seemed unnecessary. He played in all 18 games and his contract was up anyway. Following Duron’s next move will be one of many stories in another very interesting CFL off-season.

Y’er welcome,
RP
@rodpedersen