10 WEEKEND THINGS

Rodservations …

1 – Really flip-flopped on posting a column this Sunday because there isn’t much positive to say. The spirits of NFL fans are buoyant because they’re pulling off Week 1 games but around here, almost all high levels of football and hockey are still stuck in PARK. Frankly, I don’t see that changing anytime soon. The provincial election is October 26 and Premier Scott Moe issued a string of Tweets this weekend saying the government’s happy with the low Covid numbers in Sask. He advised citizens to keep doing what they’re doing. Do you see change coming after that? Certainly not before the election.

2 – The hockey people are particularly restless and SJHL teams are already one week into what they’re calling “Extended Training Camps”. However there’s been no start date confirmed by league President Bill Chow. Can you imagine practicing for one or two months straight without games? I suppose it’s better than dying! WHL teams are sitting on their hands, praying for a December 4 start date but that seems optimistic too.

3 – I’ve been asked to be a big voice in the #LetThemPlay movement but I’ve already said my piece. I’ve been told many times Scott Moe wants his legacy to be the people of Saskatchewan – i.e. leaving them better off than before he took office – and that clearly remains his mission given the Province’s approach to the pandemic. Scott was a senior hockey player in Shellbrook! He knows the importance of sports to Saskatchewan. He’s been doing his best in an unbelievably trying time and the results have been very encouraging.

4 – SOME health officials have lambasted me for my pro-sports and pro-business stance. Others have privately applauded it. I don’t care whether you like me or not. Just watch and read me!

And if we can’t tolerate all opinions on this once-in-a-lifetime situation, then we really haven’t come very far as a society. Besides, I’d rather appeal to the sports and business people and have their backs. They’ve always had mine.

5 – Wish I could tell you more on what’s happening in the CFL. The pickle they’re in really gets underscored when you look at the plethora of NFL pregame shows on the tube Sunday morning. Plus the NHL, NBA & MLB games which were playing on Saturday. Not to mention horse racing, auto racing, MMA, golf, etc. Canadian sports fans view the CFL in the realm of the big leagues but it’s been proven this summer that they’re not.

6 – We’re hearing it a lot from people like Hall of Fame Rider President Jim Hopson and other pundits that the CFL needs to find out “who they are”. For whatever reason, that’s been lost. Famed sportswriter Stephen Brunt said it decades ago and I never, ever forgot it: “The CFL is a minor league that enjoys major exposure”. For those offended by that statement, then the truth hurts. When this league comes back it can be scaled down staff-wise, be promoted farrrrr better, perhaps televise games on multiple networks, feature betting and even a video game and Esports league. But first, it needs to realize what it is and I don’t see Step 1 in that process being done yet.

7 – CFL owners and operators act like they’re the only rich people in the country. The simple fact is they took their eye off the ball when it comes to all the key things I noted in Point 6. If they can’t figure out how to get this league back in 2021 and beyond, then they need to step aside and hand the keys over to someone who does. As Gary Lawless pointed out on the RP Show this week, “This league belongs to Canadians, not the owners”.

8 – On these Stanley Cup Playoffs, didn’t see it coming that the Dallas Stars would have the Vegas Golden Knights on the ropes in the Western Final. The Stars are up 3-1 and can close it out Monday. We don’t see Dallas much but it turns out THEY were the dark horse going into these playoffs whatwith Jamie Benn, Alex Radulov, Corey Perry, Tyler Seguin, those young stud defencemen and a pretty good goalie rotation of their own. It ain’t over yet but the Golden Knights have a large mountain to climb and if they don’t get to the top, owner Bill Foley isn’t going to be pleased.

9 – There have been no sweeps in these playoffs! If it continues that way, it’ll be only the fourth time it’s occurred since the elimination of the Best-of-5’s in 1987. The other sweep-free playoff years were 1991, 2002 and 2016. … This Islanders run is stirring up a lot of names from my youth. Josh Bailey has seven multi-point games for New York which ties him with Bryan Trottier (Val Marie, SK) for 2nd all-time on Long Island. The leader is Bob Bourne (Netherhill, SK) who has eight. Both Bournie and Trottz did it in 1983.

10 – RANDOMS TO END: To the sports media like Ken Campbell of The Hockey News who feels major junior hockey teams are “ripping off” teenagers: nobody has a gun to the players’ heads. Major junior players are not there against their will and this is not slavery! Doesn’t that mean anything to you? Please sit down and think about it, and consider dropping this ridiculous campaign. … Miraculously in this hurtful time of the pandemic, the MJHL actually welcomed its 12th team this week. The Winnipeg Freeze will be coached by former NHL’er/WHL’er Josh Green (Med Hat 1993-1997, 342 NHL games) and begin play next month. The Camrose product has previously coached with the Winnipeg ICE and Winnipeg Blues. How fantastic it is to see growth in junior hockey. … Saskies who could potentially bring the Stanley Cup home this summer – Dallas: Blake Comeau, Todd Nelson, Vegas: Chandler Stephenson, Brayden McNabb, Kelly McCrimmon, New York Islanders: Jordan Eberle, Lane Lambert, Tampa Bay: Luke Schenn, Braydon Coburn, Al Murray. …  You’re going to see a lot of SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Sunday. It has the same designer – HKS Design – as Mosaic Stadium and AT&T Stadium. … I love Kurt Warner and am not ashamed to admit it. … One of the things I miss the most during the pandemic –> buffets. … I also miss Florida. The first place I’m going when this lifts is the Florida Keys with my wife. … Netflix series we’re currently glued to: Bloodline (that’s where I fell in love with the Keys), and Dirty John. We’ve recently wrapped up The Ranch and Animal Kingdom. Any other suggestions? … If this pandemic keeps up, Tiger King’s going to get out of jail before it’s over. … A hearty THANK YOU to those who generously donated to our fundraiser for The Caring Place on Thursday evening. We raised $138,000+ for the centre which provides free Mental Health & Addictions counselling. Another thank you to The Garage Band for entertaining. The group features Mayor Michael Fougere (drums), AGT Foods President & CEO Murad El-Katib (lead singer) and John Hopkins (lead guitar, vocals). It felt really, really good to spend an evening among friends, in a safe environment, where everyone has each others’ best interests at heart. That’s Recovery!!!!

Y’er welcome,
RP
@rodpedersen

(The Rod Pedersen Show airs daily at 10:00 am MT on Game+ TV Network in over one million homes across Canada and the USA. It’s available in Manitoba on Bell/MTS Cable, in Saskatchewan on SaskTel Max, in Alberta & BC on Telus Optik TV, and in Washington and Oregon on TDS Cable. It also airs on Facebook Live and RodPedersen.com/ListenLive)