10 Weekend Things
Truth & Rumours …
1 – 10 THINGS: Thank you for your patience over the past few weeks as we’ve gone through a pretty major transition of how we do things around here! This weekly column will be moving to our RP Show Newsletter in October which will include exclusive content like this, our best interviews (i.e. Chad Owens and Ron Maclean this week), VLOGs, a betting segment and much more. We’ve also moved into a permanent Florida studio to go along with our Canadian shop (for summer use), and there are several new projects in the U.S. underway as well. Thanks for staying with us!
2 – CONTENT: The NHL, CFL & NFL will continue to be the pillars of our content – the main dishes if you will – while the side dishes will continue to be WHL, College Football, MLB, WCBL, Curling, CEBL, NLL, etc. I’ve added some extra writers to this website and their contributions have been spectacular! There’s a strong case to be made that this is the most exciting time of the year and we’ve been able to keep a strong eye on them all.
3 – X-SASKATCHEWAN: It’s been quite a remarkable turnaround for the Green & White, whatwith three straight wins to clinch a playoff spot after being written off a month ago, on the heels of a seven-game winless skid. Those wins have come against Calgary, Ottawa and Edmonton (a combined record of 17-27-2) but it’s done the trick. Rookie coach Corey Mace should now be in the Coach of the Year conversation while QB Trevor Harris should be in the Most Outstanding Player race considering his league-leading 106.4 Efficiency Rating.
4 – HOMESTRETCH: We’ve long established that I’m terrible at math but it seems that with Winnipeg, Saskatchewan and BC clinching in the West Division, all that remains is positioning in the top three spots. Out East, Hamilton is no longer in the conversation to crossover however they can still catch Toronto for third in that division? They’re six points back with three games remaining but hold the season series over the Argos. I’ve seen pundits poopoo’ing the Bo Levi Mitchell-for-MOP chatter since he’s on a potentially non-playoff team. However I say, so what? It would be an oddity but this entire season has been an oddity! Plus BLM has a thousand yard lead for the passing crown. (My vote would still be for Trevor Harris).
5 – BARKING: CFL On TSN and RP Show football analyst Jim Barker feels, with a league-worst record and missing the playoffs for the first time in 19 years, that Calgary Stampeders boss Dave Dickenson will, or should, be presented with the ultimatum of relinquishing either the head coaching or GM role this off-season. Barker faced the same decision in Calgary 20 years ago. … My football insiders feel the Stamps simply don’t have enough talent but either way, Dickenson will have to answer for all of this. … Meanwhile Barker feels interim Edmonton head coach Jarious Jackson is starting QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson over Tre Ford simply because McBeth gives the Elks the best chance to win. Ergo, Jarious is coaching for his own future rather than the Elks’ future which is understandable. Meanwhile the finger-pointing and blame game has resumed within the Edmonton media over whether or not Ford has the maturity to lead a team in the first place? Oy vey.
6 – #TIMETOHUNT: After concluding an unusually gruelling preseason with a 5-3 record, the NHL’s Florida Panthers will receive their Stanley Cup rings at a splashy ceremony Monday evening at Amerant Bank Arena. Fans are invited to attend at $20 per ticket, with all proceeds going to charity. Then on Tuesday evening the Cats open defence of their title in their 2024 home-opener against the Boston Bruins. I’m excited to be in attendance for the banner-raising ceremony! This week in my South Florida Tribune column I’ll list the Top 10 NHL Storylines however here’s a spoiler: The #1 story will be — Can the Florida Panthers reach the Stanley Cup Final for a third consecutive season?
7 – SWAYMAN: Just under the wire, the Boston Bruins agreed to an 8-year, $66-million deal which will get their star goaltender back in the crease in time for Tuesday’s season-opener. The game will be a rematch of last year’s second round series, which the Panthers took in six games. Many fans have asked my thoughts on the Swayman deal and here they are: If Jeremy’s feelings were truly hurt during negotiations, he’d better toughen up. And was Bruins management wrong? But more importantly, speaking of Bruins management, strong teams don’t wait until the 11th hour to lock up their core pieces (the Dallas Cowboys and Dak Prescott going down to the morning of their Week 1 game comes to mind).
8 – NFL NOTES: Can’t put my finger on why, but I found myself cheering against Aaron Rodgers Sunday morning. It didn’t feel good. … The worst team in the NFL? If you said the Cincinnati Bengals, you might be right. … You’re going to be hearing a lot about my new neighbour “Fish”. His job is travelling around and checking the water purity levels on cruise ships! This week he put his head on my shoulder and cried regarding the plight of his beloved Miami Dolphins, and blamed head coach Mike McDaniel. That was a new one. However I haven’t check on Fish since Miami’s stirring 15-10 at New England on Sunday. … As I write this, Dallas is about to kickoff at Pittsburgh. My confidence level is 1/10 that the Cowboys can pull it off, however they’re the last remaining team that I truly “cheer for” so I’m eager to watch.
9 – COLLEGE: On Saturday I was surrounded by a bunch of blue collar meat industry execs from around the Southeast. They hailed from Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida, and were absolutely rabid over the day’s college football games, particularly Vanderbilt’s upset win over Alabama. They *hate* the Crimson Tide however their over-the-top enthusiasm was infectious. My pick for the National Championship Game? Texas versus Miami.
10 – RANDOM THOUGHTS: Two heads are better than one. … Three’s a crowd. … I only seriously get into MLB during playoff time but what a time to get into it! This has been fantastic. … Did you know the human eye is the same size as a U.S. quarter? … Do Girl Guides accept debit/credit? … A couple weeks back we discussed female betting influencers Jo Madden and Taylor Mathis, both whom have appeared on the RP Show recently. Well Jo has been featured in a recent Playboy magazine while Taylor was quickly whisked off from Aruba by DraftKings to attend the Jets & Vikings in London. You go girls! … WNBA playoff viewership dropped by 66% after Caitlin Clark’s Indiana Fever were eliminated. Not sure what that says but whatever it is, it’s a lot. … Police and firefighters in New Hampshire responded to an unusual call Thursday — a moose was trapped in a backyard swimming pool. A video shot by police shows rescuers removing a pool covering after arriving at the home to reveal the adult moose standing in the water. After the cover was removed, the moose strolled out of the shallow end of the pool and headed to a wooded area next to the home. Bedford Police said no people or animals were harmed. … AND HOW WAS YOUR WEEK?!
Y’er welcome,
RP
@rodpedersen
