Scruffy’s This ‘N That

1 – PLAY LA BAMBA BABY: Not only did the Edmonton Oilers drag the Florida Panthers back to Alberta for Game 6, but they are going to drag them back to Sunrise on Monday night for one last hockey game this season. Prior to Game 4, I went to X saying the four-game win streak starts tonight right? So far, so good!

I am not sure what the turning point has been, but that smothering Florida defence that kept Edmonton quiet in the first three games disappeared and it has been more than the play of Connor McDavid who should get the Conn Smythe Trophy at the end of Game 7.  Of course, he and many Oilers fans are hoping that isn’t the consolation prize.

Edmonton failed in a Game 7 at Carolina years ago, but that series was much different. Florida didn’t have three chances to win the Cup and blow them all. One has to wonder where their mind is at as they make that long trip back.  Is it Monday yet?

By the way, can we talk about that Florida goal that was called back due to offside? Replays showed it was by mere inches. That call took some major onions from Imperial, Saskatchewan’s Kris Knoblauch to ask for a review. Momentum could have taken a huge turn had the call not been overturned meaning Florida would have had a power-play and a chance to tie the game.

Again, is it Monday yet?

2 – CAN OF WORMS OPENED: Last weekend, I saw a thing on Facebook where four Texas high school stadiums were pictured. The most expensive one was $60 million US. I openly stated on “X” ( do we still call it Twitter?)  that this is what the CFL needs in markets the league is investigating like the Maritimes, Quebec City and Victoria. They aren’t splashy facilities like Princess Auto Field and Mosaic Stadium, but they would certainly do the trick.

The comments came fast and furious with some saying this is what the Stampeders need since MacMahon Stadium has become archaic.  Some were in favour and others weren’t in what mainly was a good debate, which is something you don’t often see on the old X these days.

I fully understand you need a good solid business plan to build something like that, but in all cases I think municipalities could benefit from investing into a facility because of what it will bring back. If the CFL is serious about expanding, which I sometimes wonder if they are despite the bluster they give, they need to find out more about these intimate little stadiums and act if the need is there when it comes to investors.

3 – LOOK AT ME NOW: Remember how Jason Maas and Cody Fajardo were vilified by a portion of the Riders fan base and both had to go? How is that working out? Much to the delight of some and the angst of others, Fajardo quarterbacked his team to a Grey Cup and three weeks in, the Alouettes are arguably the best team in the CFL right now after blasting Ottawa out of the water Thursday night. One can only wonder where this team might be had the decision not been made to rid themselves of two men who have found a lot of success elsewhere.

4 – WHAT DO WE SEE SUNDAY? The Riders are 2-0 and you can’t take those wins away from them. Do they deserve to be 2-0? Let the debate begin. The Riders are the best 4^th quarter team in the CFL, but this is a team that has shown some warts. There is still a discipline issue.  The run game that we thought would improve hasn’t been there, the defensive pressure hasn’t been strong and there have been some atrocious breakdowns in the secondary. Hamilton won’t be happy after what happened last week. They will want to ruin the Riders home opener much the way the green (or is it obnoxious — I mean obsidian green this week) and white ruined theirs. I would think we are in for another close one. By the way, have I mentioned how much I hate back-to-backs unless it’s the Labour Day matchups. It just baffles me as to how and why the CFL does this.

5 – CAN’T TURN THE CHANNEL: 10 games into the CFL season and eight of them have been decided in the final three minutes including Friday’s nailbiter in Winnipeg as the Lions beat the Bombers. Winnipeg is 0-3! Is anyone writing them off? I’m not.  =The close games means fan interest remains high. That being said, it will be interesting to see the TV numbers as I’m guessing not many eyes were on this one considering it went up against the hockey game.

6 – GROW UP RORY: Bryson DeChambeau didn’t win the US Open last Sunday. Rory McIlroy lost it.  Actually, he puked it up! Bryson has had that douchebag aura around him, but he has really done a lot over the last year to try and clean up his image and that was evident at golf’s last major as he interacted with fans, was extremely emotional and hung around after it was over to sign as many autographs as he could as well as surprising a Golf Channel analyst who tried to duplicate his bunker shot on 18 that virtually gave him the title in their post-tournament wrap-up.

When DeChambeau made his putt to win the Open, TV cameras showed McIlroy get up from a chair in the scorers tent and leave. Stories surfaced after that McIlroy, who refused to do any post-round interviews (would he have done that with CBS??), was said to be out of the parking lot and on his way home before Bryson was given the trophy.

Rory needs to grow up a little. He might not like DeChambeau because he jumped to the rival LIV tour but shake the man’s head and congratulate him like a man. You can skip interviews and I am sure many would understand but show some humility and don’t take your clubs and run home.

7 – MARKSTROM TRADE:  The New Jersey Devils have found their goaltender.  Let’s be honest here, Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald has fleeced his Calgary counterpart Craig Conroy. The Devils get a top-tier goalie, and they didn’t give much back. You would have thought the Devils first round pick this year might have been in play, but Calgary gets next year’s first rounder. That doesn’t make a lot of sense to me. With some dollars going out, you could have got some coming back but that didn’t happen. You certainly could have gotten for more for Markstrom at the trade deadline, but Calgary backed off.

Meanwhile, the Kings somehow found a team to take Pierre Luc-Dubois off their hands. Dubois is a team-killer. I am not sure why Washington did this, but perhaps this is a sign that they are starting their rebuild.  Ovechkin is nearing the end; the end may be close for TJ Oshie. Guys like Backstrom and Carlson aren’t getting any younger and their AHL affiliate in Hershey is playing for the Calder Cup so guys are obviously ready to take the next step. Darcy Kuemper was a guy who was likely looking for a new home having lost his job to Charlie Lindgren.  He can still play, but he needed to hit the restart button.

8 – THE FIRST SIX: On Friday, we will find out who the first six players on Canada for the Four Nations Cup will be. Connor McDavid, Nathan McKinnon and Cale Makar are shoo-ins. Who are the other three and is a goaltender one of them?  I would think guys like Sidney Crosby and Brad Marchand are on the team, but are they one of the first six?

9 – WHERE’S THE OFFENCE? If you are a Jays fan, you know the offence has been non-existent most nights. That seems to be a trend. I was surprised to read a story this week showing if baseball keeps up on the pace it is, there will be

• 39,404 hits — more than 1,400 fewer than last year.
• 21,078 runs — more than 1,300 fewer than last year.
• 5,079 home runs — almost 800 fewer than last year.

That last number is the one that surprises me the most. Are pitchers becoming unhittable? There are a lot of great arms in the game both starters and relievers, but are they unhittable? There has to be something more to this than that. Is the defence better? If there aren’t a lot of hits, does that mean outfielders are stealing more hits by running down flyballs to left and right center. Imagine if baseball didn’t get rid of the shift.

10 – THE SAY HEY KID: Baseball royalty left us this week with the death of Willie Mays at the age of 93.  Some will tell you Mays is the best baseball player ever when you combine everything. The best baseball player I have ever seen when you combine everything is Ken Griffey Junior. If he was better than Junior, I’m sold.

That’s all I got.  Have a great weekend!