10 WEEKEND THINGS

FROM THE HOME OFFICE IN FLORIDA …

1 – ROAD TO THE GREY CUP: Sunday’s CFL Western Semifinal should be sponsored by NY Fries. Or Lays. Because, apparently, most of what Saskatchewan quarterback Cody Fajardo wanted to talk about leading up to Sunday’s Round 1 playoff game against Calgary was the size of the chip on the shoulders of he and his teammates. From not getting enough All Star nods to not getting enough credit for their 9-5 overall record or 4-3 road record, my favourite CFL player is steaming mad. A lot of times this type of motivation can work (see: Brady, Tom) and for the Riders sake I hope it does. (I have them picked to cover the 2.5-point spread). However if it doesn’t, the game could be sponsored by Ricky’s All Day Breakfast due to the amount of egg that could end up on their face! This is the game of the year, and the ramifications are scintillating.

2 – HE *DIDN’T* SAY IT: The Eastern Semifinal which pits Montreal at Hamilton in the first game of the Sunday doubleheader has plenty of intrigue too. Our exclusive betting partner BetRegal.net has the Ticats favoured by 4.5-points but I’ll take the Alouettes to beat the spread. QB Trevor Harris leading the Alouettes into this battle provides enough intrigue for me. However another great side story is Montreal DB Patrick Levels guaranteeing a win earlier this week. As one former CFL coach said to me, “Who’s Patrick Levels?” I’m still laughing at that. Imagine if Ticats coach Orlondo Steinauer had come out with that quote at his news conference!!

3 – CHRISTMAS CARROLL: At a U.S. Thanksgiving dinner party I attended on Thursday in South Florida, a gentleman asked if I was familiar with a former CFL player named Carroll Williams. I admitted that no, I was not and asked for some details. Turns out Mr. Williams is a black QB from this area who couldn’t get a shot in the NFL so he tried his hand in Canada and played four seasons with Montreal and B.C. in the late 1960’s. (Well before my time, but that’s no excuse for my ignorance). I wonder where the CFL historians are on that one?? Former CFL Chairman Phil Kershaw pointed out on Friday’s RP Show that Bernie Custis broke the colour barrier but I contend that it’s not a contest! Mr. Williams should be celebrated just as much. Guys like this beat on the door until Warren Moon eventually busted it off its hinges.

4 – CFLAA: On the heels of this, bravo to the Canadian Football League Alumi Association for introducing the inaugural “CFLAA Indigenous Champion Award” at this year’s Grey Cup Legends Luncheon, on Friday, December 10th, at the End Zone Bar & Grill, in Hamilton, ON. The award is intended to honour former Indigenous CFL players and current advocates of Indigenous participants as players or coaches in the game of football.

Jim Styres will be recognized posthumously for his lifetime contributions. He will be represented by his daughter Eydie Styres. Jim Styres is from the Deer Clan of the Cayuga Nation born on the Six Nations Reserve October 23, 1929. He started his football career with the Brantford Bison Football league. He then played with the Hamilton Panthers, who were Dominion Intermediate Champions in 1951.

Justin Shackell is from the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory. He was drafted by the Ticats in 2004. He would go on to coach minor football at various levels around the GTA.

5 – EBS: Even over the loud hip hop music blaring over the speakers at FLA Live Arena Saturday night during Kraken-Panthers warmups, I could hear star Seattle forward Jordan Eberle yell “WOW!” The fellow Regina product skated up to me and banged on the glass as Kanye West’s and Jay-Z’s No Church In The Wild rained down from the speakers. I’m pretty sure the reason for his amazement was that the former Pat didn’t expect to see me banging on the glass with hundreds of other NHL fans during warmies. We shared a laugh and then Ebs went out and sniped twice in a huge upset win by the Kraken.

6 – UPSET: A legit 15,305 showed up in Sunrise to watch the Florida Panthers make history Saturday night. A win over Seattle would give the Panthers an NHL-record 12th straight home victory to open the season. But Seattle had other ideas. Goalie Chris Driedger kicked out 33 saves in his return to the Den and Eberle buried twice – giving him nine goals in 11 games – as Seattle denied Florida history and the Panthers will have to settle for sharing the record with the 1963-64 Chicago Blackhawks. Florida’s homestand continues this week with games against Washington, Buffalo and St. Louis! Covering the Panthers and talking about the games on the RP Show has literally been a dream come true. They have been so welcoming and first class.

7 – HUSKIE PRIDE: It was a snoozer for the first half, but the UofS Huskies provided some drama in the fourth quarter to eke out a 14-10 win over the Montreal Carabins in the Uteck Bowl and punch their ticket to the Vanier Cup in Quebec City. The Huskies trailed 4-1 at halftime and 9-1 after three quarters but Sask QB Mason Nyhus caught fire in the final period, putting up 13 points and rallying the win. They now face the vaunted Western Mustangs, whom I’ve been hearing of all year so they must be good! The Vanier Cup on December 4 pits two CFL icons head-to-head for university supremacy: Scott Flory vs Greg Marshall.

8 – GO PATS GO: The Regina Pats’ 3-game win streak under John Paddock came to an end courtesy of a 4-2 loss at Red Deer Saturday night, in a game where phenom Connor Bedard was held pointless. Dub and Pats fans were still gushing into the weekend about Bedard’s buzzer beating game-winner at Lethbridge on Wednesday night. Hey, he can’t be the hero EVERY night. Not even Jordan Eberle was, nor Sam Steel. But the Pats’ hot play under Paddock has them into a playoff spot as December nears. What an interesting situation. Even *curiouser* is the fact the Pats play at Calgary Sunday at 11 am MT. I thought there was a rule about playing two games in less than 24 hours in the WHL? Perhaps if the Pats waived it, then we’re good. Regardless, if you’re in the Calgary area, get to the Saddledome today!

9 – FINS UP: Week 12 in the NFL season continues with some marquee match-ups including Cam Newton’s Carolina Panthers here to face the Miami Dolphins. At 4-7 and three wins behind the Patriots and Bills in the AFC East, Miami has some work to do to make the playoffs but they’re trending up. … Meanwhile my Dallas Cowboys have now lost three of their past four games and owner Jerry Jones’ inclination to blame the officials for Thursday’s 36-33 OT loss to the Las Vegas Raiders was troubling. Thankfully QB Dak Prescott had a calm head after the game saying they need to cut down on penalties, play complimentary football, and not leave the game up to the refs. What a refreshing attitude!

10 – RANDOM THOUGHTS: Being late is rude and disrespectful, and totally preventable. … Team Dunstone missing the playoffs at the Tim Hortons Curling Trials in Saskatoon was a major bummer. We’re all still waiting for the reason third Braeden Moskowy had to miss the event. Whether it’s ever reported or not, it’s a shame since Braeden put that whole super team together. Regardless, thanks to CORR Grain, Great Western Original 16 and Delta Marriott Downtown Saskatoon for sponsoring our Olympics Trials coverage on the RP Show. … On the Panthers radio postgame show, analyst Bill Lindsay figured the NY Islanders must be regretting letting Jordan Eberle go in the expansion draft. I concur. …  An article at TheScore.com this weekend blared “WHERE ARE THE CROWDS?” To that I say, ‘Told ya’. … Very much looking forward to our Monday interview with Florida Panthers Chief Commercial Officer Shawn Thornton on the RP Show. The two-time Stanley Cup champion and I will be reviewing his book FIGHTING MY WAY TO THE TOP. … The history, the bloodlines and the illwill between Brady Tkachuk and Brendan Lemieux makes my heart warm. That is all.

Y’er welcome,
RP
@rodpedersen