10 WEEKEND THINGS

Taking Shots …

1 – 9-4: The Saskatchewan Roughriders handled the Edmonton Elks 29-24 on a cold day at Mosaic Stadium on Saturday to clinch second-place and homefield in the Western Semifinal. Those whom were there told me they froze their toes! With this accomplishment, the Riders should take a bow and so too should their fans. Head coach Craig Dickenson and QB Cody Fajardo have both racked up more wins in two seasons than anyone else in those roles in franchise history. How happy I am to report that they are both excellent, upstanding people! GM Jeremy O’Day doesn’t get enough credit for putting those two guys in those critical roles.

2 – LINE 1: In fact, to my astonishment, O’Day was getting flamed on the postgame show Saturday for not adequately addressing the Riders’ offensive line this season. I heard it driving home from the Pats game and couldn’t believe my ears. Don Hewitt was hosting the show and the caller was bemoaning why we couldn’t have more linemen like Bob Poley and Roger Aldag. For a second, I had to check what decade we’re in. (Don Hewitt, by the way, should be enshrined in the Canadian Football Hall of Fame media wing or at the very least the Plaza of Honour for his contributions to covering his club but sadly neither will ever happen). Anyway, Hewey was forced to defend the Riders like we always have to and he made a great case. But this time, he shouldn’t have had to. The Riders have won four straight, clinched homefield in the playoffs and the callers are bitching.

Got it.

3 – F THEM: It’ll be interesting to see what happens, if anything, to CFL referee Tom Vallesi who, I guess, forgot to turn his mic off during Saturday’s game and dropped an F-bomb towards the Riders which will assuredly send the franchise into a tizzy. Vallesi said, “Saskatchewan has called a timeout. F%$K them.” Frankly, I think it’s infinitely hilarious. However I’m certain the Riders will not, and they’ll be spending today getting to the bottom of why Vallesi said that about them. Does he survive?

4 – THE APOLOGY: After the game CFL Communications sent out the following statement on Twitter: “Earlier this evening, one of our officials used an expletive during the Riders-Elks game and it was picked up by an open microphone. We wish to apologize to any and all who were offended. The referee responsible has asked us to personally express his deep regrets, as well.” Does it end here? I doubt it. The Riders won’t let it.

5 – YARDSTICKS: Here are your Rider leaders in the game: QB Cody Fajardo (23/32, 249 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT), REC Duke Williams (8 catches, 146 yards, 1 TD), RB William Powell (14 carries, 59 yards). K Brett Lauther was 2/2 on field goals and P Kaare VedVik had a 45.9 yard average on seven punts. Returner Jamal Morrow had 167 yards on kick returns – including an 82-yarder – and 65 yards on punt returns. Sask lost the turnover battle 2-1, took 7 penalties for 70 yards, and won the sack battle 3-2. All in all, it was a pretty darn good day.

6 – AROUND THE LEAGUE: In other Week 15 CFL action, Toronto clinched 1st-place in the East with a 31-12 home win over Hamilton (the Argos are 6-0 at BMO this year), Calgary eliminated BC from playoff contention with a 33-23 win at BC Place, and Montreal stayed in contention to host the Eastern Semifinal with a 28-14 home win over Winnipeg. Bomber backup QB Sean McGuire heaved three interceptions as Winnipeg gave Zach Collaros a rest. This won’t slow down the Bombers at all.

7 – THIS WEEK: The 2021 CFL regular season closes this week with some intrigue. Montreal and Hamilton are tied for 2nd-place with 7 wins each. The Alouettes host Ottawa Friday while the Ticats host Saskatchewan on Saturday. Both will be gunning for a win, while Saskatchewan will likely rest some guys. Also, the Edmonton Elks play in Toronto Tuesday and in BC on Friday. Do you think those Elks players will be glad when the season is over???

8 – DR. YOUSSEF AL-BEGAMY: You heard about the death of the 48-year old, Saudi Arabian-born doctor in Regina this week due to Covid? I’ve been suitably rocked all week because HE WAS MY DOCTOR. And I absolutely loved him. If you’ve read the news coverage, you’ll know Youssef was against vaccination and vaccine mandates. He and I discussed the virus at length over the past 20 months and a lot of my conclusions came from him. HE’S A DOCTOR ffs. Having said that, I’m fully vaccinated but I took into great account Youssef’s thoughts on the issue. I can make up my own mind on things. I’d been trying to see him over the past few months but kept getting told “Dr. Al-Begamy’s not available” or “Dr. Al-Begamy’s out of town”. (All of which were true). The clinic told me the news this week and I’ve been pretty much reeling ever since. He was a really cool guy, we’re the same age, and he was as healthy as anyone. If he can die of Covid, anyone can.

9 – GO PATS GO: The Regina Pats welcomed crowds of over 5,000 and 4,000 this week but unfortunately their guns fell silent and they concluded a six-game homestand on a 3-game losing streak. Connor Bedard was held pointless in Regina’s 6-1 home loss to Lethbridge on Saturday in a game where lots of Pats fans were clad in Green & White. (What a wonderful Saturday Regina sports doubleheader!) Now the Pats go on the road till Dec. 4 but their next game is just a 40-mile jaunt west as they visit the Moose Jaw Warriors on Saturday, Nov. 20. That’ll be another great doubleheader day with the Riders at Hamilton in the afternoon.

Regina’s always been a great hockey town but the glare on the Queen City is especially intense with Exceptional Status player Connor Bedard in his 16-year old season. However the North Vancouver product’s sophomore campaign hasn’t lived up to expectations as he’s tallied just 12 points in 16 games and is a minus-8. GM John Paddock and I put our heads together on the Rod Pedersen Show this week and added up that last year’s WHL bubble season – Bedard’s 15-year old campaign where he averaged 1.87-points per game – featured more 15-year olds per team, less 20-year olds, no Europeans, no travel, no in-school time and frankly, no competition (there were no playoffs to play for). Plus, he’s still only 16. And let’s not forget this year’s Pats aren’t exactly the ’85 Edmonton Oilers. 

For what it’s worth, chatting with a hockey guy last night, if the Pats are to trade Bedard at all it likely won’t be until the trade deadline NEXT year. Things may or may not change a lot by then but if the Pats aren’t in contention, then the return for Bedard would set Regina up for years. So this is an interesting thing to pay attention to.

10 – RANDOM THOUGHTS: An observation from a longtime friend in the broadcast industry over coffee this week: “It’s weird when ‘good’ feels weird”. … Is it ever. But it beats the alternative. … Rider receiver Duke Williams would get a penalty for taunting every play in the NFL. However I find his antics infinitely entertaining. …  For those asking if I’ll be applying for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers play-by-play job once Bob Irving retires next month, the answer is no. I love what I’m doing. Please get it through your head. I’ve only said it six thousand times. … The Manitoba Bisons will meet the Saskatchewan Huskies next Saturday for the Hardy Cup at Griffiths Stadium in Saskatoon. Right now the forecast calls for cloudy and minus-8. … The Saskatoon Hilltops visit the Regina Thunder today (Sunday) at 1:00 pm in the PFC championship game. It will be broadcast on AccessNow-TV. … Former CFL kicker Lirim Hajrullahuh will make his NFL debut with the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons. Meanwhile it’s a crime that Brett Lauther can’t get a job in the NFL. … Haven’t watched any of the new season of Yellowstone yet. I’m saving it. … The CHL is running a contest where you could win free Tim Horton’s coffee for a year. For me, that’s two XL double creams per day. You? … Which Regina restaurant is it that used to run the Free Pizza For A Year contest? Are they still in business? … Your direction is more important than your speed.

Y’er welcome,
RP
@rodpedersen