10+ WEEKEND THINGS

Taking Shots …

1 – It was the weekend of blown leads. The NHL’s Panthers were up 4-1 and lost 5-4 in OT to the Blues here in Sunrise. The Rangers were up 3-0 at home but lost 4-3 to the Oilers. In the Vanier Cup, the Saskatchewan Huskies were up 10-3 in the first half but succumbed 30-24 to Laval and in Friday’s Florida High School Football Metro Semifinal, the Cardinal Gibbons Chiefs were up 10-0 in the first half against American Heritage, but fell 32-10 to the Patriots. I’m sure there were more games like this over the weekend, but these were just the games I watched. Maybe it’s me!

2 – It was made clear to me Saturday night that I need to do A LOT more Florida Panthers coverage. And Flames. And the NHL overall. It’s a dirty job but somebody’s gotta do it.   😉

3 – Some NHL jottings: Why is Connor McDavid killing penalties? … Anaheim’s Dallas Eakins will likely be the first coach firing this season. … They told me in Calgary that Matthew Tkachuk can’t skate and now I can’t unsee it. Whatever! He gets there, and is an effective player. … Matthew’s father Keith Tkachuk was in attendance at the game last night. … Guess which uber celebrity I shared an elevator ride with after the first period at FLA Live Arena? Answer at the bottom of the column.

4 – Have the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders signed free agent quarterback Mason Nyhus yet? The Regina Riffel Royals product saw his star-studded university career come to an end on Saturday with that Vanier Cup loss. The scouts tell me Mason’s status is as a fifth-year undrafted free agent. The Riders have a dearth at the QB position and Nyhus checks every box, including what would be the best P.R. move the team’s made in years. So … what’s the hold-up?

5 – The USA Conference’s Florida Atlantic Owls fired head coach Willie Taggart following Saturday’s 32-31 home overtime loss to Western Kentucky. The loss dropped the Owls to 5-7 and out of contention to play in the Boca Raton Bowl on December 20, in the Owls’ own stadium. Howard Schnellenberger Stadium is just down the street from my place.

That’s big boy football folks.

You didn’t achieve the goal. You’re gone.

6 – We are a week into the CFL off-season and the rumour mill is buzzing. I’m going to pass along what I hear, but don’t hold me to it if certain things don’t come to fruition. Rumours are always fun unless they’re about you!

The Insiders figure Kelly Jeffery will be named Saskatchewan’s offensive coordinator. A) He’s on staff, B) Craig Dickenson trusts him, C) It’s not a coveted job due to the lame duck positions of the HC & GM, D) He’s got a nice pricetag. The buzz is – again, I’m just reporting what I’m hearing – that it’s only a 1-year contract and the salary is on the low-end. 

Others say it’s Khari Jones’ job to lose.

Calgary Stampeders QB Coach Marc Mueller can come home to the Roughriders whenever he chooses. Now is not the time. I don’t need The Insiders to figure that out.

7 – The Insiders also feel the Saskatchewan Roughriders stand as good of a chance of signing free agent QB Bo Levi Mitchell as anybody else. Why? Because they feel Bo will inevitably sign with the team which offers him the most money. Sask will have the funds. The Insiders tell me that Bo – or any other player of his stature – would be unconcerned over the roster and coaching and far more concerned with the paycheque (see: Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson, Kyler Murray, etc.). Now, before you go printing the green #19 MITCHELL jerseys, I’m also told that Mrs. Bo Levi Mitchell will have the ultimate say. So perhaps the suitors might want to woo her.

8 – Critics gleefully point out when I’ve been wrong so I’ll take this opportunity to point out where I was right — The hiring of 38-year old Ryan Dinwiddie in 2020 as head coach of the Toronto Argonauts had Grey Cup written all over it. On the first day as GM of the Argonauts in 2019, Pinball Clemons told team President Bill Manning that they’d be in the Grey Cup within three years. VOILA! In actuality, Pinball turned that franchise around in two seasons while other GMs are fumbling around in other markets still trying to get it right, and taking far longer.

9 – I can see why hardcore CFL fans have started the campaign of “Pinball For Commissioner”.

10 – Here’s an example of how things are going: Now that we’re on the radio in Metro Atlanta with the RP Show (daily at 12 pm ET on WQEE), we’re getting listener mail from places I’ve never heard of, like Ringold, GA, Marietta, GA and Tifton, GA. At our behest, these listeners tuned into CFL Commissioner Randy Ambrosie’s State of the League address at Grey Cup. The reaction? They weren’t impressed.

You want to grow the CFL in America? Tag along with us. But have your game face on and be at the top of your game.

11 – It ain’t that hard. Grey Eagle Resort & Casino puts acts like Tom Cochrane, The Congregation and Steve-o on The RP Show, and the shows sellout. I hear Larry “Our Boy Blue” Blustein on WQAM Miami every Friday morning talking high school football, so I buy tickets to the games. Six weeks later I’m standing in the Chiefs locker room addressing the team, and hanging out with Blue in Plantation, FL talking ball.

Work together rather than operate in silos. Where did this get lost?

Together
Everyone
Achieves
More

12 – While I’m at it, you don’t become the tallest building by burning down all the other buildings.

If some people put the same energies into themselves rather than trying to destroy their competition/enemies, they might actually enjoy some success. Think about it!

13 – First-year SJHL Commissioner Kyle McIntyre may be dealing with his first controversy. The La Ronge Ice Wolves were allowed to postpone games this week due to an Influenza outbreak. Coaches around the league are ticked off about it. Aside from Covid, this is a first. Back in the day, we had to play short or find replacements. Is this where we are now in society?

Please discuss.

14 – Tulsa King. Now streaming on Paramount, starring Sylvester Stallone. Get it. I put it right up there with Yellowstone. They’re from the same creator, Taylor Sheridan.

15 – Not into the World Cup. Sorry! Can’t be into everything.

16 – Which über celebrity did I share an elevator ride with Saturday night? Paulina Gretzky.

AND HOW WAS YOUR WEEK?

Y’er welcome,
RP
@rodpedersen