10 WEEKEND THINGS

Taking Shots …

1 – OLE OLE OLE: The country is buzzing today with Montreal’s 3-2 OT win over Toronto Saturday night which forced a Game 7 in that first round Stanley Cup Playoff series. The buzz going into the game was the 2,500 fans being allowed into a Canadian sporting event for the first time in over a year, but the buzz coming out was Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe’s head-scratching goalie interference challenge in the third period. You watched the game right? Most times calls like this are 50/50 at best but Leafs goalie Jack Campbell wasn’t even in the crease to be interfered with. Nobody touched him! Keefe lost the challenge which put his club down 2-men, which lead to a 2-0 deficit, and was a key point in the game. As my good friend Matthew Barnaby Tweeted, “Coaches don’t WIN games but they can lose them … Keefe lost this game tonight.” Where’s Babs when you need him? Incidentally the Leafs have now lost seven consecutive series-clinching games.

2 – KNIGHT TIME: Just 24 hours after the Vegas Golden Knights spanked Minnesota 6-2 in Game 7, the Knights found themselves in Denver getting ready for Sunday night’s Game 1 against the Colorado Avalanche. I spoke with the Knights and they are tremendously excited for the match-up. “Should be a dandy!” was one text message I received. The Knights and Avs split the 8-game season series 4-4, and this will be a long one. The games will be gross too (ala 1-0, 2-1, etc.). It’s perhaps the stiffest challenge that Vegas will face in these playoffs. Hockey is unlike football in that each round gets harder. Sometimes on the gridiron when you win Round 1, you roll from there (Exhibit A: the 2013 CFL Playoffs). But 2021 is weird, just like 2020, and as many pundits have predicted, THIS series is very likely the Stanley Cup Final.

3 – #VEGASBORN: Almost daily I get asked by RP Show viewers across the continent why I cheer for the VGK. The answer is simple and hasn’t changed; after a string of failed relationships with NHL teams I was looking for a fresh start. The Golden Knights provided just that, and in an incredibly welcoming, warm market. Plus the team asked me to cheer for them and plied me with gifts. Can your team say that? Making someone feel valued has become a lost concept in this world.

4 – CFL: Despite the spats on social media, it was a fairly positive week for the Canadian Football League. The message is clear – “We’re going to play”, and it has everyone in and around the league fired up. Their Return To Play, if it happens, has been non-conventional whatwith different messages coming from different sources which has created plenty of confusion but they certainly seem to be on the right track! There’s plenty going on behind the scenes which clearly league officials aren’t obliged to share but if things stay on track, there’s no reason not to expect CFL football in 2021. BUT, the four hurdles remain: 1) The Covid variant, 2) Money, 3) Getting all nine teams to agree to play, and 4) Hitting minimum attendance numbers in order to make this financially viable. There are still some pitfalls. To say “I’ll believe it when I see it” isn’t meant to be a Debbie Downer.

How are you going to feel if it’s delayed again? I want them to play as badly as anyone (it would be huge for our show) but my walls are up.

5 – OLD FACES IN NEW PLACES: You’re going to have your mind bent whenever the CFL returns to the field. Consider these longtime CFL stalwarts with new teams – Rick Campbell/BC Lions, Charleston Hughes/Toronto Argonauts, Matt Nichols/Ottawa RedBlacks, Paul LaPolice/Ottawa RedBlacks, Derek Dennis/Edmonton FT, James Wilder Jr./Edmonton FT, Cam Judge/Toronto Argonauts and many, many more!

I’m also excited to rekindle the feud with Calgary QB Bo Levi Mitchell. Former CFL/CIS/PFC kicker Matt Kellett asked me just this weekend where the feud originated and I answered that I don’t really recall! Perhaps it’s simply because we’re both loudmouths.

6 – WAAAIT A MINUTE: Something else to watch in the weeks ahead, if the CFL is in fact on track to open training camps and kickoff on August 5, are these key questions: What’s Edmonton’s team name going to be? Have the players agreed to the amended CBA? WHAT’S THE SCHEDULE? Who’s going to be the broadcasters in Montreal, Hamilton and BC? Like I said, I’m hearing a lot of these details are being sewn up behind the scenes but I still can’t wait to hear the answers.

7 – THE COMMISH: Saw the article at 3DownNation where TSN’s Farhan Lalji expects Randy Ambrosie to remain CFL Commissioner after the smoke clears. I submit the question, why wouldn’t he? The guy’s taken a ton of bullets over the past year-and-a-half but still has a smile on his face. So many football people have tried to sway me against Randy but my response routinely is, “He’s been great to me. I have no reason to dislike him.” Is that not fair?

8 – THE WEEKEND EDITION: If you get a chance to tune into the RP Show Weekend Edition on AccessNow TV Sunday at noon, you’ll enjoy some great interviews with Golf Sask Executive Director Brian Lee, Regina Minor Football Executive Director Len Antonini and former NFL/CFL QB J.T. O’Sullivan. The chats with the Executive Directors are particularly informative. For instance, Brian Lee tells us the golf industry is a $500-million boost to the Saskatchewan economy yearly. It’s HUGE! Meanwhile Len Antonini explains the Return To Play for RMF, advancements in player safety, and much more.

9 – COVID: Is anyone else worn out? Part of the reason I’m a little checked out on the arguments over the CFL Return To Play and its various scenarios is because the arguing has long gotten exhausting and the information from leaders (politicians & health professionals) CONTINUES to change daily. I asked one leader this weekend a specific vaccination question and he responded, “I don’t even remember anymore”. It was a moment of flat-out exasperation, and naked honesty. However we finally seem to be moving in the right direction so that’s all we can ask for.

10 – RANDOM THOUGHTS: There’s a Yellowstone marathon this weekend on Paramount TV. Y’er welcome. … Talk about wishful thinking. The USHL’s Omaha Lancers took 15-year old phenom Connor Bedard with the 203rd pick in their draft this week. I suppose if everything goes sideways this fall and the WHL doesn’t play, this could be a wise pick. But I doubt it. … Another great thing I like about working for the Regina Pats: their gear is Under Armour. The best on the planet. … In my life I can’t recall a less-interesting World Hockey Championship than this. … Check out the CEBL documentary OUR GAME on CBC and CBC Gem if you get a chance. If you’re reading this, you’ll love it. It’s an inside look at the bubble the CEBL played in last year in St. Catherines, ON. The CEBL tips off next month! … People act like they’re just finding out the Stanley Cup Playoffs are the best thing all of sports has to offer. Especially Round 1. … The NBA Playoffs are exciting too but, for now, they’re taking a backseat to the fastest game on earth. … In Maritime Football League play on Saturday the Moncton Mustangs blasted the Southern N.B. Ducks 54-0 to improve to 4-0. Our boy, 57-year old DT Darin Burns, had two tackles. Next Saturday’s game will be streamed on Facebook. Now, are the Argos going to give this guy a tryout? … As we sit here today, the Toronto Blue Jays are 26-24 and 5.5 games back of the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East. There’s not much more we can ask for for late-May. … Mitch Marner = not a playoff performer. … Off to Deer Valley Golf & Estates! Have a great weekend.

Y’er welcome,
RP
@rodpedersen

(Photo: T-Mobile Arena)