10 WEEKEND THINGS

Taking shots …

1 – BANJO BOWL BEATDOWN: The turning point was the national anthem. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers thoroughly annihilated the Saskatchewan Roughriders 51-6 in Banjo Bowl XIX on Saturday afternoon at IG Field. A 28-point second quarter emphasized the rout, as the Blue improved to 12-7 all-time in the Labour Day rematch and winners of seven of the last eight. In the process they improved to 10-3 and clinched a playoff berth. To me they’re still the best team in the CFL, but also the cockiest. However they’ve earned both distinctions.

2 – RIDERS: It’s not rare that Sask loses in Winnipeg, as the numbers above point out. So aside from their feelings being hurt, it’s best to forget about Week 14 and look ahead to this Friday’s home game against Edmonton. As Scruffy so aptly pointed out in his award-winning column this week on this website, the Saskatchewan Roughriders are exactly where they were a year ago at this time; 6-6. So they truly are at a fork in the road after the Winnipeg Whipping: do they pick themselves up and challenge for a home playoff game, or, do they whither away like they did last season? Only they can answer that question.

3 – ELSEWHERE IN THE CFL: CFL On TSN panelist Jim Barker surmised on Friday’s RP Show that if the Ottawa RedBlacks lost at home to Hamilton Friday night, they would be D-O-N-E. They lost 27-24, so I guess they can start planning for next season. How did things go so awry in the Nation’s Capital? … As for the Ticats, it’s fantastic to see the progression of 3rd string QB Taylor Powell as the team keeps the flickering hopes alive of playing in the Grey Cup at Tim Hortons Field this November. At 5-7, they’re a game back of the 2nd-place 6-6 Montreal Alouettes. … One of the great things about the CFL is that you’re NEVER out of it. … Same goes for the now 3-10 Edmonton Elks whom are just a win behind the 4-9 Calgary Stampeders, and a few back of Saskatchewan. This week’s date at Mosaic Stadium is MASSIVE, especially for the Green & White. … As for the Green & Gold, we knew they’d get it together eventually. They beat Calgary 25-23 on Saturday at Commonwealth Stadium to prove that. … And the Argos were favoured by 10-points going into their home game against Montreal to kickoff Saturday’s tripleheader. They won 39-10 to go to 10-1 and really should be getting respect as potentially the best Argos team ever. As for the Alouettes, I maintain that QB Cody Fajardo is a great player on an average team. No apologies here for being loyal to a fault, perhaps.

4 – UP IN SMOKE: As for the CFLPA’s grievance this week that they shouldn’t have been forced to play the Edmonton/Calgary Labour Day Classic game on Monday due to poor air quality, my last word on it is if they were that concerned about it, they shouldn’t have taken the field. You certainly can’t have it both ways (i.e. playing the game and then complaining about it afterwards), and since first covering this league in 1991, I’ve seen teams refuse to take the field for less.

5 – ROURKE 2.0: Ohio QB Kurtis Rourke of Oakville, ON is indeed The Next One. I had the good fortune of watching live Saturday night as Rourke led his Bobcats to come-from-behind 17-10 victory over Tom Herman’s Florida Atlantic Owls here in Boca Raton, FL. For starters, the 6’5″ veteran should be sponsored by John Deere because he runs like a deer. (26 yards on six carries). He finished the night 18/29 passing for 203 yards, 1 TD and 2 INT and an efficiency rating of 118.5. However beyond that, the lanky pivot had complete control of the huddle, his sideline and the game and after limping a tad in the early going – a lingering effect of missing the past 1 3/4 games – he quickly loosened up and showed why he will soon step out of his older brother Nathan’s shadow. Kurtis Rourke is the #1 prospect for this spring’s CFL Draft. I’d take him if I was making the pick.

6 – COLLEGE PRESS BOX: Check out the website collegepressbox.com — your #1 source for Division 1 college football information. You need to be approved as a legit media organization to get special access but a good chunk of it is open to fans as well. There are depth charts, stats, previews, quotes and much, much more. I love how they track how much each of us in the media are on the site each day, if at all. No worries here! I’m on there for a couple of hours each day, just perusing.

As for Week 2 in CFB, they can start pouring the statue of Steve Sarkisian in Austin, TX, it may be another year without a national championship for Nick Saban, the Miami Hurricanes are the best college team in Florida, and Coach Prime is already the best Coach/Recruiter in College Football.

7 – JOHNNY FOOTBALL: Boy Netflix has sure come out with some smashing sports documentaries in its Untold series, including the recently-released documentary on Johnny Manziel. People are raving about it but I saw a review that said the show leaves you hanging at the end. (aka you don’t know what’s next for the one-time biggest sensation in football). As a person who’s walked a few miles in similar shoes to Johnny’s, I have a different take on the series than most. It’s unfortunate that Manziel steadfastly refuses to get into Recovery because he’s got A LOT to offer the world. However my summation of the show is that it’s Johnny’s life and he just wants to be left alone. I felt a lot of that. He’s got enough money but if he starts to run out, he can do an autograph signing anytime he pleases and pocket a quick $50,000. Trust me; in America there’s no shame in being a college football icon for the rest of your life. Just ask Vince Young, Tim Tebow, and now Manziel. Other that that, Johnny just doesn’t love pro football that much. Case closed.

8 – ON THE ICE: It won’t be long now! Junior Hockey preseason is in full swing and some NHL teams hit the ice for training camp later this week. I’m happy to report we’ll be in Estero, FL next weekend for the Prospects Tournament featuring the Panthers, Lightning, Hurricanes and Predators. If any parents want photos and scouting reports on your kid, let me know! I was happy to do that at the Panthers development camp in July. … Did you know there’s a beautiful 8,300 seat rink there (Hertz Arena) that routinely plays to sellouts for the ECHL’s Florida Everblades? This weekend is going to be F-U-N!

9 – TRUTH & RUMOURS: After 23 years as Commissioner of the WHL, Ron Robison is stepping down, as we learned in June. One name I heard as a possible leading candidate to replace him is Jeff Chynoweth, the longtime WHL executive and son of former WHL President Ed Chynoweth. My guess is if Chinny wants it, he’ll get it. … As for the legacy of Ron Robison, I’m not sure what exactly his Mount Rushmore of achievements is, but it’s a great one. I’d suggest getting major market teams in Vancouver, Edmonton and Winnipeg would be near the top. … Meanwhile kudos to Peter Loubardias for being named Reserve List Scout for the NHL’s Calgary Flames this week! Lou knows the game real well, and will be a nice addition. However it’s the media world’s loss! … Really like the three new rule changes designed to increase scoring from the Champions Hockey League in Europe! They should be adopted in North American immediately.

10 – RANDOM THOUGHTS: I finally got it all together, and then forgot where I put it. … I’ve reached that age. … Has it been mentioned here that Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks visit the Florida Panthers on Nov. 12? CAN. NOT. WAIT. … The Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights come to town on Dec. 23. … The Dallas Cowboys are at the Miami Dolphins on Dec. 24. Yum! … Happiness is an inside job. … I find the term “Pirates” offensive! After reading a history book on Florida, I learned the pirates were responsible for migrating thousands upon thousands of slaves to America hundreds of years ago. How come nobody’s lost their spit about that? … It would be nice if baggage handlers were more gentle. … COLLECTORS: Check out the Sports Card & Collectable Show in Red Deer Sept. 29, 30 & Oct. 1. For info or to buy tickets, visit PremierSportsCardCon.ca …. AND HOW WAS YOUR WEEK?

Y’er welcome,
RP
@rodpedersen