10 WEEKEND THINGS

Taking shots …

1 – THE GAME: Folks in the Wheat Province are still busy dissecting Friday’s 45-27 Roughriders home loss to Winnipeg. Somewhere someone said this was the most positive they’ve ever seen the Rider Nation after an 18-point loss. That’s great! I got the sense this winter that Saskies were quite positive about the team so it’s nice to see they’ve stayed that way. Your enjoyment of life has a lot to do with perspective so it’s nice to see Rider fans are sitting on the positive side of the ledger. On the other hand, no one expected the Riders to beat Winnipeg in their home-opener (the betting line at Bet Regal was 6.5-points) and the Bombers ended up smashing that. So it’s clear, Winnipeg remains the class of this rivalry and have won the past eight games. Grey Cup favourites, which is their expectation in Winnipeg every year these days.

2 – HARRIS: It was an interesting, and curious, game of cat-and-mouse the Riders played with QB Trevor Harris all week. He was kept out of practice early in the week, listed as a game time decision, and a trusted source within the organization told me Harris wouldn’t play. Then, miraculously, the 37-year old comes out Friday night and has the finest game of his career, passing for 411 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions and a 127.5 efficiency rating. What? I don’t care what they’re saying in the media before or after the game. What I’m guessing is he originally wasn’t going to play but things change, and his ailments responded well to treatments. The game ball should probably go to therapist Greg Mayer for getting Harris ready to go! (Had the Riders won).

The dark cloud over this is the fact Harris shone, yet the Riders allowed 28 second half points and lost.

3 – PIZZA: Like many, I was turned off by the Blue Bombers social media trolling Regina and calling its pizza “trash” before and after the game. Perhaps I took most offence because I used to own a Regina pizza restaurant and several of my friends are still pizza restaurateurs (hello Bonis family, Western Pizza fame). Then I realized Winnipeg is doing the same thing the Riders did during the Decade of Decadence (2005-2014). Remember when the Riders would take out billboards in opposing cities trolling the opposition in Winnipeg, Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver? It infuriated those people just like the Bombers are doing now. Tit for tat and if you’re going to give it, you’d better be willing to take it.

4 – SOCIAL MEDIA: You should have to take an IQ test – or a psychiatric evaluation – before being allowed to own and operate a Twitter account. But then, it wouldn’t be nearly as entertaining!

5 – THE 30,000 CLUB: Don’t look now, but the CFL could actually be making a major comeback. The league has attracted crowds of 30,000+ in the first two weeks of the season in Winnipeg, Edmonton and Vancouver. And if the Rider Nation is as positive about their team as it seems, they could push next weekend’s game at Calgary over 30,000 as well which would be quite a feat for a league which has struggled to sell tickets the past several years. And as a matter of fact, we could actually see the B.C. Lions lead the CFL in attendance for the first time in league history. HOW BOUT THAT!?

6 – TAKE AN ALBERTA BREAK: You’re invited to join us in Calgary next weekend for a battle of 1-1 teams; the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Calgary Stampeders on Saturday, June 24 at McMahon Stadium. It’s for early season bragging rights, and a pretty good measuring stick for both clubs. Trevor Harris vs Jake Maier. We’ll be hosting a SASK fan reception Friday evening, June 23, at the Ace Sports Bar at Ace Airport Casino and if you’re looking for accommodations, you’ll get 15% off with the promo code “RP Show” at Hotel Clique Calgary Airport next weekend. It would be nice to see you!

7 – FOOTBALL’S FIRST FAMILY: Many of you noticed, I’m sure, football maven Larry Mueller on the Blue Bombers sidelines wearing a headset on Friday evening. This season the 1989 Grey Cup champ is working for the Canadian Football League as a spotter/tracker for the new designated import rule. And, as his son Marc Mueller has pointed out, is also “increasing ratings on TSN!”

8 – ELKS: It’s a tough call right now who’s worse; the Edmonton Elks or Ottawa RedBlacks, who are a combined 0-4 out of the gate. I was texting with American football folk during the games this weekend and they’ve pointed out neither team has any confidence which is very difficult to get, and are both struggling at the QB position. You can’t imagine first-year Ottawa coach Bob Dyce’s job is in jeopardy but there are starting to be some questions around Edmonton boss Chris Jones. How couldn’t there be? Being shutout 22-0 at BC Saturday night is as embarrassing as it gets and there seems to be very little reason for hope or optimism among the Elk fanbase. Interestingly, Jones has never been fired in his CFL career which is a feat in itself considering he’s been around for 20+ years. Sure Jones was let go in Cleveland with the NFL’s Browns but as legendary coach Jerry Glanville famously said, “The NFL stands for Not For Long!”

9 – HOCKEY NOTES: The hockey insiders are doing their thing by keeping the NHL in the news this week, including the fact Leafs GM Brad Treliving flew to Scottsdale to meet with star forward Auston Matthews about a contract extension. They’re expected to get it done. … Well-known broadcaster & author Bruce Dowbiggin wondered aloud on the RP Show this week how long the love affair will last with new Flames Special Advisor to the GM Jarome Iginla and the fans? Iggy’s beloved in Calgary but the fans want answers. Will he ever get tired of answering them? … Dowbiggin said “There’s no optimism” in Calgary regarding the Flames at the moment but I disagree. The people I talk with envision a fresh start with a new arena on the horizon. … Just disappointing news that the WHL’s Winnipeg ICE have been sold and will move to Wenatchee, WA to begin play this fall. The ICE were in Winnipeg for four years but a sale was forced due to their ownership’s reneging on a promise of building a new arena for the team in the Manitoba capital. I feel for the fans, but especially the staff because clearly the franchise needs to move IMMEDIATELY! Tough for those who have families and roots in The ‘Peg. … Extremely happy for Kelly McCrimmon to win a Stanley Cup with the Vegas Golden Knights. They will be in contention every year with him in charge. I feel sorry for the other teams in their division. … I had a dream about Matthew Tkachuk last night. I need to stop eating Oreos before bedtime.

10 – RANDOM THOUGHTS: If you’re triggered by something you see on social media – for instance, John Chick’s posts – there’s an easy remedy. STOP FOLLOWING HIM! This is very easy Mental Strength stuff. … The highlight of Saturday night’s CFL game was the LL Cool J pregame concert and the Davis Sanchez’s halftime tackle of Milt Stegall. … Very much looking forward to seeing all my rowdy friends at the Rocky Mountain Rotary Charity Golf Classic on Monday at Bears Paw Golf Club! I’ll be MC’ing the reception. Last year we were joined by the likes of Lanny McDonald, Theoren Fleury, Jordan Eberle, Bo Levi Mitchell, Catriona LeMay Doan and many more. …  So many young media people ask me what the key is to longevity in this business. I tell them, “Showing up everyday.” How is this a ground-breaking revelation? … I’ve never seen anyone outsmart addiction. Not once. Yet some people keep trying. … The busiest store in the mall is always LIDS. … In this day and age do we not have the technology to tell whether a ball is foul or not? … I miss Jim Popp. … We are booking speaking engagements on the prairies for yours truly for late-summer and early-fall before I head back Stateside! Topics vary from Mental Health to Motivation to Sports Stories to Communications & Social Media.  For info or to book, please call Joe at EMJ Marketing at 306-631-4123 … If you’re looking for something to do today, check out the Divinity Mind, Body & Soul Wellness Expo at the Genesis Centre (Northeast Calgary) from 10am-4pm. There’s Readings, Akashic Records, Jewelry, Clothing, Food, Reike Healing and much more! … HAPPY FATHERS DAY!

Y’er welcome,
RP
@rodpedersen