10 WEEKEND THINGS FOR TITAN AUTO & REALTY ONE

1 – “ONSLAUGHT IN MONTREAL”: That was the nickname given Saturday afternoon’s CFL game by TSN’s Rod Black. Of course, that was when the Winnipeg Blue Bombers were handing the hometown Montreal Alouettes their ass, to the tune of 34-10 shortly before the half. That was also when I was thinking to myself, “Winnipeg is the best team in the CFL, hands down, WHEN THEY FOCUS!” We all know the Bombers completely unraveled in the 2nd half, being outscored 21-3, and the Alouettes won 38-37 in their biggest comeback in franchise history. The Bombers took their eye off the ball.

2 – “STREVELER THE LEVELER”: Another Rod-ism! When The Blue was steamrolling the Alouettes on Saturday, Winnipeg writers were supposing on Twitter that Bomber QB Chris Streveler should remain at the helm, even after Matt Nichols returns from the Injured List. Perhaps the Bombers themselves were wondering the same thing? Either way, their attention drifted away from Vernon Adams and the Montrealers, who’ve officially turned La Belle Province back onto their football team. As for Winnipeg, Bomber fans are seething and not sparing anyone from their vitriol. Nor should they. That loss was inexcusable and senseless. Or as Coach Mike O’Shea labeled it, “Sickening”.

3. BIG PLAY V.A.: If it wasn’t for the sterling play of overnight sensation Cody Fajardo, Rider fans would be burning Mosaic Stadium down because because the Green & White allowed Vernon Adams Jr. to slip through their grasp. The pint-sized Oregon star was here for a blink-of-an-eye, but was unremarkable. He was deemed expendable. Now, he’s in the running for CFL Comeback Player of the Year in Montreal, if there was such an award.

4 – COACH OF THE YEAR: Media folks and fans alike are screaming over top of each other about who should win the fabled Annis Stukus Trophy for 2019. The early candidates are Montreal’s Khari Jones, Saskatchewan’s Craig Dickenson and Hamilton’s Orlondo Steinauer. However it says here everyone one of them has done a job worthy of Coach of the Year and in Calgary, Stamps fans are touting “How can you forget Dave Dickenson?” You forget about him because his team runs like a Mercedes and his omission from the ballot is simply a nod to Dave’s excellence. Until Saturday, Bomber fans were saying the same thing about O’Shea.

5 – LIONS: Things are turning in the CFL’s second half. Laugh at the BC Lions all you want – and I’ve done plenty – but they’re now just 3 wins back of the Edmonton Eskimos with five games to go. Their 2-game sweep of Ottawa was very impressive. Meanwhile those Eskimos are riding a 4-game losing streak and the walls are closing in on Head Coach Jason Maas. Can BC catch the Evil Empire for 4th-place and a likely crossover playoff berth? That may be the most-worthwhile storyline while the leaves are falling. And if they do, perhaps coach Devone Claybrooks weasels his way into the C.O.T.Y. discussion, crooked hat and all.

6 – RIDERS: Saturday’s implosion by the Blue Bombers went a long way in helping Saskatchewan nail down a home playoff game. It’s true, that October 5 home game against Winnipeg looms large. However each one of the Riders’ six remaining games will be monumental, which we thought when the schedule came out. Here’s the Riders’ remaining sked: At Toronto, Vs Winnipeg, At Calgary, At BC, At Edmonton, Vs Edmonton. That’s Murderer’s Row if there ever was one. It ain’t over yet.

7 – REGINA PADDOCKS: A wise-cracking hockey guy in town always has an interesting slant on the Regina Pats, and this week he took to using the term “Regina Paddocks” when referring to the Queen City Kids. This guy keeps me in stitches with his thoughts on the local sports scene. He’s referring, of course, to Pats GM John Paddock and starting goaltender Max Paddock. The hockey guy and I agree that the Pats shipped the wrong goalie out of town in Dean McNabb (to Winnipeg this week), but blood’s thicker than water. In Friday’s season-opening 3-2 home win over the Moose Jaw Warriors, the younger Paddock was nary called upon and the Blueshirts turned back the clock to 2 years ago when the opposition couldn’t skate with them. It’s a pity that it was one of the lowest-attended home-openers in memory.

8 – POWER RANKINGS: We posted them on The RP Show and I’ll post them here now. Don’t “@” me: Saskatoon-PA-Winnipeg-Regina-Moose Jaw-Brandon. You could light me on fire but I’d still never pick the Regina Pats for last place. And since they hate me in Brandon anyway, I’ve slotted them in for 6th. As it is, they didn’t have a perfect opening weekend.

9 – BIG BUFF: Somebody turned the tables on us with a funny joke. A month ago we wondered if Oakland Raiders star Antonio Brown was holding out because he didn’t want to go to Winnipeg for the preseason game against Green Bay. It got a lot of laughs! Now Winnipegger’s are saying the same thing, wondering if Patrik Laine and Dustin Byfuglien or holding out because they don’t want to come to Regina for the Heritage Classic between the Winnipeg Jets and Calgary Flames. Touche! My advice to Buff: if you’re not dying to play, don’t.

10 – S-J: There are three unbeaten teams in the SJHL after the opening week: Nipawin, Battlefords and Notre Dame. Meanwhile Kevin Kaminski’s La Ronge Ice Wolves are the loan winless team at 0-5. That was expected however, as “Killer” inherited a massive rebuild. Meanwhile the biggest reason for the Hounds’ stardom is goalie Riley Kohonick of White City, SK who has a save percentage close to .1000. Oh how he’d look in a Pats uniform! You can catch them all at the Showcase this week in Warman, SK.

Y’er welcome,
RP