FRIDAY COMMENTARY – A THREE-FER

(Listen daily for the Rod Pedersen Commentary on Cat Country 98 FM & Rock 98.5 FM)

WE’VE GOT AT LEAST TWO THOUGHTS TO GET TO TODAY … MAYBE THREE.

WE ARE CREEPING CLOSER TO THAT AUGUST 6 KICKOFF FOR THE ROUGHRIDERS AGAINST THE BC LIONS AT MOSAIC STADIUM. THE ANNUAL GREEN & WHITE SCRIMMAGE GOES SATURDAY AT 3 PM AND THAT’S AS CLOSE TO A PRESEASON GAME AS THIS YEAR’S RIDERS WILL GET.

IT’LL BE FASCINATING TO WATCH, AND SOME WILL TAKE A GREAT STEP TO MAKING THE TEAM WHILE OTHERS WILL BLOW THEIR OPPORTUNITY AND THAT’LL BE IT FOR THEM. THAT’S JUST THE WAY IT IS.

IT’S ALSO A HIGHLY-STRESSFUL TIME FOR THE ROUGHRIDERS AS THEY SCRAMBLE TO FIND REPLACEMENTS FOR THE INJURIES AND RETIREMENTS, AND TRY TO PUT TOGETHER AN OFFENSIVE LINE TO PROTECT THEIR FRANCHISE FACE, CODY FAJARDO. DON’T THINK THE COACHES AREN’T ULTRA SENSITIVE TO THE TYPES OF DRILLS THEY’RE RUNNING SO AS TO AVOID MORE SERIOUS INJURIES.

AGAIN, FASCINATING TO WATCH.

MEANTIME THE HOCKEY MACHINE KEEPS CHURNING AND TONIGHT IS ROUND ONE OF THE NHL ENTRY DRAFT WHICH YOU CAN WATCH ON SPORTSNET.

THIS IS THE ROUND YOU WANT TO WATCH AND YOU DON’T JUST HAVE TO BE A HOCKEY NERD TO ENJOY IT. TOP OF MIND FOR ME IS WATCHING TO SEE WHERE REGINA’S COLE SILLINGER GETS SELECTED. THE SON OF PATS GREAT MIKE SILLINGER IS PROJECTED TO GO IN THE TOP 10 AND TONIGHT HIS NHL JOURNEY WILL BE BORN.

IT’S ALSO FUN TO WATCH THE DRAFT TABLES AND WHO’S AROUND, LIKE THE GM’S, SCOUTS AND THE LIKE.

AND IT WASN’T A GREAT WEEK AT ALL FOR THE BLUE JAYS, FAILING TO WIN ONE OFF THE RED SOX IN BUFFALO, AND DROPPING THEM 8.5 OFF THE DIVISION LEAD. SWEEPING BOSTON WOULD’VE GIVEN ME SOME FAITH THEY COULD WIN THE PENNANT, BUT IT’S GOING TO BE AN UPHILL CLIMB.

VLADY’S STILL DOING VLADY THINGS AND NOW GEORGE SPRINGER HAS COME TO LIFE, BUT IT’S GOING TO TAKE EVERYBODY FOR THIS TEAM TO REACH ITS POTENTIAL.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

THAT’S TODAY’S ROD PEDERSEN COMMENTARY

(Photo: M. Lee)