10 SUNDAY THINGS FOR TITAN AUTO & REALTY ONE lol

1 – HAVING FUN YET?: The Roughriders won, basically, a must-win game on Saturday at Mosaic Stadium, knocking off the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 21-6 in a game that was closer than it should’ve been until the end. But whether it’s by 1 point or 100 points, they all count and the Green & White are within sniffing distance of finishing in 1st place for just the second time since 1976. But keep the champagne on ice. There’s still a month to go.

2 – WHAT A CFL SEASON: Commissioner Randy Ambrosie should be smiling like a butcher’s dog with the way things have unfolded in 2019. The Cody Fajardo feel-good story in Sask, the resurgence of the Montreal Alouettes under Khari Jones, and the upstart Hamilton Tiger-Cats have made for must-see TV across the land. More on that in a moment. However what’s happened with the 2-12 Toronto Argonauts is nothing to smile about. Also more on that later.

3 – IT’S ABOUT TIME….: ….we started talking about the Tiger-Cats. They’ve been talking about themselves for quite some time now, upset they haven’t gotten the respect in the power rankings nor Grey Cup simulation but perhaps they have a right to be. The talk of “Is this the best Ticats team ever?” seemed premature until I did a little digging. Never has a Tabbie squad won 13 games in a season and Orlondo Steinauer’s club reached 12 on the weekend with 3 games to go. Of course the question is moot if they don’t win a Grey Cup, and it says here the 1999 Ticats are the best that Steeltown has produced. When that club was honoured Friday at The Donut Box, you have to wonder if they scoffed at these “best team” comparisons?

4 – BRAGADOCIOUS: It’s a fun comparison between what’s going on in Hamilton and what’s going on in Saskatchewan. Nowhere have you heard Craig Dickenson or his players gripe about not getting enough respect, nor if this is the best Rider team ever. (Sidenote: I’d put the 2009 Riders up against anybody). In fact it’s quite the opposite under Dickenson. He’s repeatedly shrugged his shoulders and said they’re not the most talented team but they play for each other and work hard. THAT’s what championship teams are made of. At least, around here.

5 – FLIGHT DECK: At 8-6, the Montreal Alouettes clinched a playoff spot with Saturday’s 21-17 upset victory over Calgary at McGill. So many football types are grumbling that Kavis Reed should be getting more credit for assembling that unit. STOP IT! Exhibit A: Acquiring Johnny Manziel, Exhibit B: Hiring Mike Sherman, Exhibit C: Being fired for alleged accounting irregularities. No. The credit goes to Khari and Vernon Adams Jr. Also, this success should aid in the sale of the club. As famed sportswriter Dickie Dunn said in the movie Slapshot, “Who in their right mind would buy a last place team?“

6 – THE HORSEMEN: We didn’t catch much of Calgary’s loss in Montreal (the only trouble with CFL tripleheaders) but it can hardly be panic time in the Foothills. Don’t forget the Stamps have moved on up from 4th place to 1st with the return of Bo Levi Mitchell, and now slipped to 2nd with a month remaining. It’s good for them to have something to play for this late in the season, and it says here Friday’s Sask at Calgary game will determine who finishes 1st. Meanwhile as for Bo Levi’s comments that the Vikings didn’t sign him last winter because they didn’t want competition for starter Kirk Cousins, I believe him.

7 – TSN MUSINGS: Bravo for the new looks that TSN has brought to its CFL broadcasts this year, including the aerial/drone shots of our great stadiums. The only crappy part is the sea of empty seats in some facilities, but that’s being worked on. (Stay tuned). As for the panel, Mike Benevides is waaayyyyyyyy better than Jim Barker on there and the addition of Benny allowed them to send Henry Burris out on the road to do colour commentary. However we feel Hank is best suited for the panel, where he can show off that $1,000,000CDN smile.

8 – RANDOM WEEK 17 THOUGHTS: The Bombers just aren’t the same team without Matt Nichols. And it’s a shame that this is how we all had to find out. … A correction from Bomber PR guy Darren Cameron: GM Kyle Walters has 1-year left on his contract. Everybody else is up after this season. … Corey Chamblin must be wondering why he returned to the CFL. His 2-12 Argos were humiliated 55-8 in Vancouver and if body language tells you anything, a lot of them have quit. I refuse to believe Chamblin is anything less than an excellent coach but the record is the record. Something’s up in Toronto but we don’t hear about it because the team gets no coverage.

9 – THE RP SHOW: A successful local businessman asked at our Canadian Armed Forces tailgate party on Saturday, “Are you paying these CFL players and writers for promoting your show?” The answer is no, but maybe we should. Years ago a guy in the hockey media room in Swift Current asked, “Are you trying to be the next Bob Hughes with your blog?” (A legendary, outspoken Leader Post columnist). I said no, I’m trying to be the next ME. Now others in far-flung markets are saying I’m trying to be the next Stephen A. Smith, Don Cherry, Skip Bayless or Howard Stern with our new Facebook show. That also is incorrect, and those closest to me know that I’m just being myself on this new program. Finally. That’s where the fun is! And the reaction has been off-the-charts.

10 – RANDOM THOUGHTS: I could watch the movie Joker 20 times and still not get tired of it. Bravo Joaquin Phoenix. Chilling and dark, but fascinating. … Landmark Cinemas out of Calgary reached out and invited us to their grand opening and private screening last week. Said their Marketing/PR guy, “We saw on your blog that you’re a big movie fan. We thought we’d send an invite and ask for a review!” … It’s a real nice touch when Regina Pats President & CEO Stacey Cattell stops by our seats every game and thanks us for attending. First class. … Pats GM John Paddock told the RP Show last week that the struggles of his young team this year weren’t unexpected.  We know. And we’ll always come anyway. … I’m really learning what it means to be a “real fan”. It’s so much fun! … You don’t think GM Kyle Dubas is the one actually making the hockey decisions with the Toronto Maple Leafs do you? He’s just the one doing all the interviews. … Join Jim Hopson and me on October 26 at the University of Regina for our Experience Talks sports seminar. It’s only $50 and the 4-5 hour presentation will include Jim’s talk on Leadership & Managing Change and mine will be on Mental Health & Addiction Recovery. Message me for details!

Y’er welcome,
RP
@rodpedersen