10 WEEKEND THINGS

Taking shots …

1 – MARINO: It’s probably the most talked-about play so far in the 2022 CFL season. In the second half of Saskatchewan’s 28-13 home win over Ottawa Friday night, Riders defensive lineman Garrett Marino dove at the legs of RedBlacks QB Jeremiah Masoli and knocked him out of the game. Upon being disqualified from the game, Marino waved and gestured at the crowd like a WWE wrestler. As if that wasn’t enough, Ottawa receiver Nate Behar accused Marino of making racist comments during the game at Ottawa players, including Massoli. That’s just re-telling what happened. The fallout since is where the real story lies …

2 – MARINO PART II: Victorious Roughriders head coach Craig Dickenson danced around the situation as best he could after the game saying Marino’s hit put a damper on what should’ve been a joyous evening, but also defended Marino for the type of player and person he is. If I’m correct, Craig also alluded to this being retribution for an earlier hit on Rider D-lineman Pete Robertson which left him with a broken foot.

My assessment? People are acting like Marino’s the first guy ever to take a quarterback out at the knees! This was commonplace 20 years ago, and nobody batted an eye. HOWEVER if the CFL is serious about the safety of the game and protecting its quarterbacks, then they’ll suspend Marino for one game. Many have suggested Marino should be suspended for as long as Masoli is out, but that’s never been a thing in sports. It probably should be, but it’s not. Meanwhile anybody suggesting Marino should be released by the Roughriders over this hit is on acid.

3 – THE INVESTIGATION: The CFL is already investigating the situation and perhaps we’ll know Sunday or Monday what, if any, discipline Garrett Marino will serve. If he’s guilty of the racial slurs he’s being accused of by Nate Behar, then I’d suggest the Roughriders have much bigger problems. I’d hope CFL officials will speak to the onfield referees and players on both teams about what they heard during the incident. Here’s my question: If Marino was guilty of dirty tactics and racial comments all game long, why wasn’t that addressed before the hit on Masoli? If it’s discovered that Marino is indeed racist, then I’d expect the Roughriders to release him and his career will likely be over.

4 – WESTJET GROUNDED: The final game of Week 5 in the CFL was a huge letdown. The battle of unbeaten teams featuring Winnipeg (4-0) at BC (3-0) was over at BC Place after the first quarter when the Blue Bombers led 21-0. The Lions and their star sophomore QB Nathan Rourke (I’ve nickednamed him WestJet because I quite like Nathan, and the airline) had a few moments where it looked like they’d challenge, but then they’d let Winnipeg come right down and score. The final score was Winnipeg 43 BC 22. … So it’s clear who the best team in the CFL is; the 5-0 Winnipeg Blue Bombers. … I was very happy for Winnipeg to win this game so they could shut the people up who – including their own fans – said they hadn’t played anybody good yet, and had gotten lucky. The Bombers could win 15 games. … The crowd looked great at BC Place. … Winnipeg defensive coordinator Richie Hall is the best in the CFL. It’s a shame he’s had to defend his schemes over the years but he should be in the Canadian Football Hall of Fame as the owner of five Grey Cup rings. … Same goes for legendary Stampeders offensive coordinator George Cortez. … People are already salivating over the Week 6 showdown between the Stampeders and Blue Bombers in Winnipeg on Friday.

5 – JONES’ING: Imagine being Chris Jones. When he left Edmonton as head coach after the 2015 season, his Eskimos had just beaten Calgary 45-31 in the West Final and the crowd at Commonwealth Stadium that day was 34,414. Seven years later, Jones returns as Coach & GM and the team is now called the Elks, are the worst in the league, and the stadium is empty. For that I blame former Edmonton Presidents Len Rhodes and Chris Presson and the Edmonton Board of Directors for allowing it all to happen. 

The point is, Edmonton is a CFL pillar city and they’ve been enlivened by the return of Jones and the hiring of local hero Victor Cui as President but the fans are expecting immediate results. It’s just not going to happen so fast. Jones took over a league-worst 3-11 squad while Cui has to manage the rebranding scandal and try to win back fans who may never come back.

I say “scandal” because after being in Edmonton for Thursday’s game, I’ve learned that there are thousands of fans upset with the name change to Elks and have vowed never to return. I referred to “Elks alumni Rod Connop, Willie Pless & Randy Ambrosie” in my commentary this week and got torched by Edmonton readers who said those players are “ESKIMOS ALUMNI!” Guys, I’m just trying to play along. See – when you try not to offend anyone, you end up offending everyone. Lesson learned –> back to being me.

6 – ALOUETTES: History repeats itself unless you do a “hack” but it appears the Montreal Alouettes aren’t interested. New GM Danny Maciocia fired popular head coach Khari Jones and defensive coordinator Barron Miles this week and installed himself as head coach. Who didn’t see this coming? I really like Danny as a person but nice guys run the Kinsmen Club. Maciocia won a Grey Cup in Edmonton in 2005 but during his tenure as head coach in the City of Champions (2005-2007) the team’s win totals declined like this: 11, 7, 5. And get this, from Wikipedia: “Rumours abounded of Maciocia being on the hotseat after the 2006 campaign, but during the off-season he was surprisingly given a promotion. In addition to coach, Maciocia became director of football operations. As a result, he had a high degree control over decisions on player personnel. Despite Maciocia taking more control, the Eskimos finished with an even worse record in 2007 and once again missed the play-offs.”

Bon chance Montreal.

7 – CALGARY STAMPEDE: It’s been fun following the CFL and watching every game (I feel like my Mom in that way) but I’m also busy expanding my life playbook while our residency with The RP Show heads into its 15th week at Grey Eagle Resort & Casino on Monday. The popularity of this partnership has been rather headspinning but it’s nothing compared to the mind-boggling Calgary Stampede: The World’s Greatest Outdoor Show. My head is spinning.

It’s getting kind of old to have people say, “How have you NEVER been to the Calgary Stampede?” but when they’re reminded that I spent pretty much my entire adult life as Voice of the Saskatchewan Roughriders and therefore my summers were shot, they start to get it.

Anyway, I’ve been pretty overwhelmed by this whole show. Rather than dive in headfirst and quickly fizzle out like the old me, I’ve bitten off tiny chunks and enjoyed this show more and more by the day. I thought the Super Bowl in Los Angeles in February was immense but this is a thousand times bigger! You’ve probably all been here, and I feel like the last one into the party. Better late than never.

8 – DRAGONS DEN: I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention a wonderful meeting with Manjit Minhas, the liquor distribution and brewing magnate and star of CBC’s Dragons Den this week. It came at the Ferrari Unveiling event Wednesday night in Springbuck, AB and to be honest, I was a little intimidated to meet her because she seems like a major ballbuster on TV. However don’t judge people by their public or media persona! As it turns out, Manjit is down-to-earth, supremely cool and extremely funny! There were Roughriders and Stampeders Grey Cup rings floating around the party and a member of the sizeable Minhas family said they were only interested in seeing a BC Lions Grey Cup ring. I quipped, “I don’t think they make them!” They actually laughed.

Really great times.

9 – HOCKEY NEWS: We’re less than a week away from pending free agent left-winger Johnny Gaudreau signing with either the Philadelphia Flyers or New Jersey Devils. They say it’s a done deal and fans in Calgary are already saying their good-byes. We’ll examine it more once it happens. … The buzz out of Edmonton this week is that the players got head coach Dave Tippett fired by the Oilers. They forced the hand of GM Ken Holland, who didn’t want to do it. Hard to believe, but that’s the story. … The retirement of Oilers defenceman Duncan Keith this week seemed to catch everyone in Edmonton by surprise. Keith played in 80 games this year, including playoffs, for $5.5-million and had one year left. … Bum info out of Vegas that the Golden Knights were going to sign goalie Marc Andre-Fleury to a one-year deal in free agency. He signed for two years with Minnesota this week. Perhaps the Golden Knights were preparing a pitch but Fleury made it clear he wouldn’t return? It’s a sad, sad deal that that bridge between Flower and the Knights seems to be irreparably burnt but it happens. (As we all know). … With the AHL’s Stockton Heat relocating from California to Calgary beginning this season, there’s been plenty of speculation over where the team will play (which Calgary arena), and which division it’ll play in. I’ve heard it all and none of it aligns so I’ll wait for the official announcement from the Flames. Meanwhile there’s talk of a new proposed Canadian AHL division which would feature Abbotsford, Calgary, Manitoba, Belleville, Laval, etc., and the Heat would leave the greatest division in hockey, the AHL’s Pacific Division, which includes San Diego, Palm Springs, Henderson and Colorado. Road trips for the Heat just took a major downer.

10 – RANDOM THOUGHTS: Henry Burris and Roy Shivers should both be in the Riders Plaza of Honour and they should go in TOGETHER. … $150 for a straw cowboy hat? WTAF … The Rogers Reset this week DESTROYED some of my iPhone  apps. Please tell me it didn’t happen to you. … There are 168 hours in a week. You can take one for yourself. … New Saskatoon Blades assistant coach and former Boston Bruins prospect Wacey Rabbit was on the RP Show this week and told the tale that early in his sobriety/recovery journey two years ago, he listened to my Recovery podcast and it was a major source of strength in his healing. I had no idea he was listening! You never know who’s listening and whom you’re touching. If you could use a source of strength or guidance today, check out the podcast here. Some of the guests we’ve had on my “other” podcast include Cris Carter, Cody Fajardo, Brent Sopel, Scott Oake, Shea Emry, Xavier Fulton, Corey Hirsch, Chico Resch and many, many more. Selling and promoting that podcast has unfortunately been real tough but I keep going with it knowing it’ll make a difference for people like Wacey. … Long ago I realized and accepted what my purpose on this planet is, and it’s not calling football and hockey games. That was just a gateway. …  Watch and listen to The RP Show this week for your chance to win tickets to the 2022 World Junior Hockey Championship in Edmonton in August! We’re extremely proud and excited to partner with the World Juniors and will be broadcasting live from the event next month!! It was also exciting to welcome national brand Edo Japan to the show as a sponsor this week as well. … Back to the Stampede. YAHOO!

Y’er welcome,
RP
@rodpedersen

(Photo: Craig Cameron)