THROWIN’ ELBOWS WITH BRENDAN MCGUIRE

1. FAJARDO HAS BONE TO PICK WITH CHRIS JONES: It is clear the Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback has a burr under his saddle from the slight against him lobbed by Edmonton Elks GM/Coach Chris Jones. It’s an intriguing feud by two of the main subjects involved in making the Roughrider team we will see in 2022. But Jones’ fingerprints are gradually rubbing off the roster and this season is likely to be the first where you could legitimately argue his predecessors, Jeremy O’Day and Craig Dickenson, have had more to do with the construction of the nucleus of the roster and coaching staff than Jones did. And with the Riders wagon hitched to Fajardo, the quarterback Jones had/has no faith in, any Saskatchewan success will be credited to the people atop the organization today and not its kingpin from the past.     

2. WPG STILL A GOOD BET TO THREEPEAT: It could actually be argued the missed season helped the Blue Bombers repeat. They had very little turnover from 2019 to 2021 and the year off probably helped keep that group hungry. No such break this time around but they do have something else going for them in the way of meaningful player change. Losing Andrew Harris, Kenny Lawler and Drew Desjarlais won’t help their cause talent-wise, but will help keep the fire in their bellies. The Edmonton rosters that last won three Grey Cups in a row as part of their dynasty of five straight from 1978-1982 deliberately kept their squad churning to avoid complacency and ensure some-one important on that squad was competing for their very first ring. The same is true about the 2022 Winnipeg Blue Bombers who are a definite threat to threepeat Grey Cups for the first time in 40 years. One can only imagine the one-sided support Mosaic Stadium will surely give an EASTERN team at Grey Cup 2022, should the Blue Bombers get through the west to play in that game.

3. PHIL KERSHAW INTERVIEW: My good buddy Santino Filoso recently did a wonderful piece for 3DownNation with ex-Rider team president Phil Kershaw. Very few pro football people have made the rounds in this country like Phil has, having grown up in Toronto when the city still cared about the Argos, lived in Regina while running the Roughriders in the early 1990s and then later the Ottawa Rough Riders and Ottawa Renegades in the nation’s capital. Phil has lots of ideas to make the CFL better but what stood out to me was his quote of “But above all, the CFL needs to keep its uniqueness”. Even someone who had a front-row seat to the horrors of the early 90’s flirtation with CFL bankruptcy knows and appreciates that becoming a cheap, crappier version of the NFL is not the answer.  

4. GREATEST REGINA PAT OF ALL-TIME: I agree with Rod that Doug Wickenheiser gets the trophy but maybe for different reasons. The last name is synonymous with our city but I don’t care about that. I do care about the fact that Wick not only put up the big numbers but did so while leading the Pats to their most recent league championship in 1980 and if it hadn’t been for Mike Keenan’s Peterborough Petes throwing the final round-robin game of the tournament, the Pats just might’ve won the national crown that year, too. Connor Bedard still has time to pass him as his script in Regina hasn’t fully played out yet but barring some incredibly unbelievable eye-popping year next season, Doug Wickenheiser will remain the greatest Regina Pat of all-time.  

5. GREATEST REGINA RED SOCK OF ALL-TIME: Mitch MacDonald and it’s not even close. Though this only covers the modern era since 2005. Have been learning more and more about the 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s versions of the Sox but enough to unseat Mitch from the throne.

6. BOTTCHER CURLING SUPER TEAM: With the breakup of Kevin Koe’s juggernaut, it sounds like Brendan Bottcher is trying to be the next Alberta super team in Canadian men’s curling. Monday’s announcement of sniping third Marc Kennedy from Brad Jacobs Northern Ontario team, second Brett Gallant from Brad Gushue’s Newfoundland team and lead Ben Hebert from Koe’s all-star team is getting attention even from Sportsnet. I’m not a fan of these super teams but then I remember how glorious it was for the Roughriders to beat Calgary when they had Doug Flutie at the helm. It’s a thrill to win but an even bigger thrill to compete against and beat the very best. It looks like Saskatchewan will have the chance to do both in the years ahead.  

7. USFL OPENING WEEK: Good football. I enjoyed every minute of the New Jersey General-Birmingham Stallion game and then the Michigan Panther-Houston Gamblers match. I expect this spring league version of the United States Football League to be badly under-appreciated much like the CFL is but I’m grateful that we have more football to watch on TV. As evidenced by the fact Shea Patterson and Paxton Lynch saw the field a lot after flaming out of the CFL completely, it is clear the caliber is not as good as it is here in Canada. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t good football or can’t be used as a place for the Canadian Football League to recruit players from. And besides, I think we want these young men to have somewhere to play. I think the operators have a smart business model with this thing and I hope it sticks around. You’ll hear a lot of pissing and moaning from CFL fans about how awful the new USFL is but you won’t hear it from me. 

8. ELON MUSK TWITTER TAKEOVER: I’ve heard enough about Elon Musk over the years and I’m kind of over him to be honest. He sucked on Saturday Night Live and his desperate bid to take over twitter is sad and kind of pathetic. Poor guy is struggling to find happiness or purpose.   

9. KAYRODCAST: I loved every second of the Michael Kay-Alex Rodriguez broadcast of Sunday Night Baseball. I like the Manningcast too but this was must-see TV. I must admit A-Rod is growing on me. Jaylo made a mistake and was wrong to dump him. 

10. THE RAPTORS: Doesn’t look good for the Raps down 2-0 in that series against the Sixers. However, that doesn’t bother me the most. It’s that stupid hat Nick Nurse wears after each game with his initials on it. It’s tacky and not funny when you’re losing. He is a good coach though and if I’ve learned anything from watching the Raptors this season, it’s that they will amaze us when we least expect it. That trend would come in real handy right about now.