10 WEEKEND THINGS

QUICK HITS

1 – DRAMA IN RIDERVILLE: A week ahead of CFL free agency, things got spicy at Mosaic Stadium as the team released popular defensive lineman Charleston Hughes over a contract squabble. It was certainly interesting to dissect each side’s position but in the end, this isn’t the first time this situation has happened and it won’t be the last. The comparisons by the fans to John Chick and Bobby Jurasin were fascinating. What struck me the most was how much Hughes became a fan favourite here in just two seasons! On the flipside, the Riders are trying to adhere to the salary cap restrictions and couldn’t give Charleston what he felt he’s worth. Case closed. But it was nice to talk about the CFL for a change.

The Riders have been hinting/teasing at making a splash on Tuesday’s Day 1 of free agency. Could it be former Huskie lineman Evan Johnson who’s been with Ottawa? Top-rated linebacker Larry Dean? We’ll know in a few days.

2 – SPEAKING OF: Not sure what news sources you’re using but mine say current restrictions on large gatherings won’t change much for at least another year. We MAY get to start travelling freely sometime in 2021 but even that’s a long ways off. Therefore any CFL season will have to be conducted without fans and I’m told that’s exactly what the CFL is planning. It’s a “worse case scenario” situation, but the CFL will be prepared for it. They haven’t gone through this salary chaos for nothing, and they realize they need to play. It’s what we’ve been alluding to for months here. Much is being done behind-the-scenes, albeit with scaled-down staffs.

3 – ALONG CAME JONES: Chris Jones guaranteed he’d be coaching in 2021 but it’s anyone’s guess where. He can land an assistant’s role in the NFL or NCAA with ease but I’m told he’d really like to get back into the CFL. Edmonton was never a consideration given GM Brock Sunderland’s relationship with new coach Jaime Elizondo so for now, Jones has to wait. However this suggestion was made to me this week: “How about a role for Jones on the CFL On TSN panel?” It’s a tremendous idea. Canadian football fans would learn a ton about the game from Jones’ perspective, the panel could use a coach, and Canadians would see the side of Jones I’ve long talked about. Do the right thing TSN!

4 – SUPER SUNDAY: I’ll stick with my prediction of Tampa Bay over Kansas City 37-30 in Super Bowl LV but I’m becoming less confident. This is one of my favourite weekends of the year, watching round-the-clock coverage on NFL Network from Super Bowl although this year’s has been “coverage light” because of Covid restrictions. The one thing that’s starting to concern me is the Buccaneers’ lack of experience in the big game, compared to the Chiefs. As we get closer to kickoff, it seems all the money is swaying over to Kansas City but I’ll agree with the pundits who say, “I never bet against Tom Brady”. The greatest Super Bowl match-up ever is just hours away from kickoff.

Meanwhile I find it HIGHLY ironic that the Super Bowl halftime act is Canadian – The Weeknd – while so many Canadians feel the Grey Cup halftime act shouldn’t be mandated as Canadian because we need to appear “big time”! So Canadian.

5 – NHL: Pundits are claiming that the Scotia North division is shaming the other divisions because the quality of hockey and hype has been so good. Can we please just enjoy the hockey and stop making comparisons? Regardless, Calgary’s 6-4 win over Edmonton Saturday night in War #1 of the Battle of Alberta is just another example of how great the hockey has been. Toronto pasting Vancouver 5-1 wasn’t as thrilling, but that’s the Canucks fault. (Vancouver will fire head coach Travis Green before GM Jim Benning, no?) This season is going to be exhilarating to the finish because as it stands today, Vancouver, Calgary & Ottawa are out of the playoffs however the Flames have many games in hand. This is the earliest I can recall checking the standings in a season.

6 – HOCKEY NEEDS IT: By playing, the NHL has proven it belongs in the Big 4 with the NFL, NBA and MLB. Now the AHL and ECHL are playing too. That’s more of an American/Canadian thing than sport-by-sport. The WHL Return To Play plan is tenous, but doable. It’s really no different than the SJHL’s. Now it’s all in the hands of the health officials, and we sit with fingers crossed. However I’m hearing and reading more stories of kids who’ve checked out on the game and are doing something else while they wait. You can literally only practice so much. A lot of kids have given up the game altogether. At what point does the “At least they didn’t die!” argument become stale? Or are we already there. The doctors who’ve said publicly “We need to learn to live with the virus” have been muzzled or ignored.

7 – ROD BOLL: Friends and competitors of Rod Boll have written and asked for a remembrance of Canadian Olympian Rod Boll who passed away this week at the age of 68. Regarded as the “Wayne Gretzky of Shooting”, Rod competed in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics in trapshooting as well as representing our province around the world. The biggest reason he wasn’t in many Hall of Fames was because he was still competing, rather than retire! He was a farmer from Fillmore, SK, and that’s where he passed away due to a heart attack. He’s an absolute sports icon and having covered sports here for 30+ years, Rod’s and my paths crossed many times. He never quite got his due.

8 – BLACK HISTORY MONTH: Some NHLers from his era are wondering why Mike Marson hasn’t been recognized as the first black player ever DRAFTED into the National Hockey League? The Scarborough, ON product was taken 19th overall in the 1974 NHL Draft and had to endure several indignations in his role, not the least of which was skating for the worst team in the NHL. That is in no way making light of him being a minority, but the NHL alum tell me Marson was “run endlessly” in lopsided losses. To read more about Mike – because you can’t find it anywhere else – his bio is here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Marson

I’d suggest it’s discriminatory and non-inclusive to pick and choose which players you celebrate, while ignoring others.

9 – TSN CUTS: All I can say is my heart sank twice this week. The first was when the latest wave of Bell Media layoffs were announced and friends and colleagues such as Dan O’Toole, Natasha Staniszewski, Brent Wallace and Kristian Jack were among them. (Kristian and I worked together at The Score, where he was an assignment editor). It sank again on Saturday when O’Toole went off on Twitter, lambasting Bell for promoting mental health, then destroying his days later with the layoff. Does he have a point? That’s a matter of opinion.

All of them will get over it, bounce back, and likely will be better off for it like the rest of us who’ve been through similar situations. Will Toolsie’s rant hurt his chances at future employment? Time will tell but I doubt it.

This situation isn’t a lot different from the Roughriders and Charleston Hughes. The employer has a job to do or mandate to meet. You can like it or lump it. Frankly I greatly admire and respect Hughes for telling them to lump it. Not many people can do that. It’s an illustration where players are their own businesses.

10 – RANDOM THOUGHTS: “In my soul, I feel 16. In my heart, I’m ready to go.” – John Dutton … Dear God my parents would’ve loved the Paramount series Yellowstone. They lived it. … My American friends tell me how lucky I am to live where I do. On days like today (-34 before windchill) I wonder why, but I’m running with it. They are correct. … Is there an actual physician somewhere named Dr. Pepper? … The winning coach of the Reese’s Senior Bowl, Brian Flores, was doused with a shower of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups this week, rather than the traditional Gatorade. That would be my dream. … Thank you Cookies By George for making your Coconut/Chocolate Macarons EXACTLY like my Mom used to. One bite into those takes me back into the kitchen at the farmhouse. Amazing. … There’s a special place in hell reserved for those who sit in the food court and listen to their tunes without headphones. … It’s amazing how much better it makes you feel being able to watch live sports. Psychologists will tell you that it gives you a sense of normalcy and safety. Whatever it is, I love it and we need it! The same goes, I’m told, for viewers of The RP Show daily at 12 pm ET on Game+ TV and YouTube/Facebook Live. … I miss going places but I don’t miss travelling. … The NWHL broadcasts on Twitch (online TV) drew 30,000 viewers per game. This isn’t just the way of the future. It’s here. … TSN Sportscentre showed highlights last weekend of the virtual Pro Bowl featuring Keyshawn Johnson and Marshawn Lynch as gamers. Again, the future is here. Covid is just accelerating it. … USA Today’s Nancy Armour called out Tom Brady this week saying “He shouldn’t get a pass for his past support of Donald Trump”. Hey Nancy! It’s over. Move on. … I have no idea how people are losing weight during the pandemic. Actually I do, but at this point I’m not willing to do it. Bring on the pizza and wings. It’s Super Bowl Sunday!

Y’er welcome,
RP
@rodpedersen