DuPont’s 10 Things
A lot of curling and Canadian football in this weeks column. It’s good to be back, let’s go!
1. Back In Action – I returned to the RP show Tuesday after what was an 11-day break while in Kindersley to call championship curling. It definitely wasn’t a break, or time off. To say I’m recharging this week after a string of 12+ hour days would be somewhat accurate. I’ve rejoined the show and I have two hockey games to call this weekend so I’ll be doing anything but sitting around.
2. Kindersley – I’ll admit it felt real good to walk back into the W. Central event Centre in Kindersley, Saskatchewan last week. Kindersley/Rosetown is where I got my start in radio as the voice of the Kindersley Klippers. Back then we had a full newsroom and radio shows broadcast on two AM stations out of Rosetown. Combine that with a brand new FM station in Kindersley and another host of shows and its own newsroom. Fast-forward 18 1/2 years and there is no longer anyone working in Rosetown and literally one on air person and maybe one other person for the whole station. More than anything it’s just a sign of how things have changed. Now, shows are shared between multiple communities and work can be done remotely. But, It sure is different than I remember. Still, great to be back.
3. Curling – One thing that never changed was the small town hospitality. The folks in Kindersley rolled out the red carpet and, while I was only there two years, they made me feel like I grew up there. The highlight for me was probably the home-cooked meals and the homemade pie. Probably ate a little too much! On the ice, the curling was fantastic. It was the first time ever that both the men’s and women’s championships were held at the same time in the same place. This was a huge undertaking with 18 teams and four draws a day happening in one arena but you wouldn’t know it. Curl Sask and the host organizing committee pulled it off flawlessly. Well done and they all deserve a hearty congratulations.
4. Champions – I wasn’t sure if I wanted to get emotionally invested in a potential Nancy Martin run to the final again. It’s hard not to like her. But, for Martin, she had been to two straight championship finals and lost and had been the runner-up four different times never winning a provincial title despite always being in contention. Well, on Sunday she was back in the final for a third straight year, facing Jolene Campbell of Regina. Nancy was up 4-0 early and 7-4 late but still the game went tied 7-7 into the 10th end. Both teams time clocks were running out and the play was feverishly going back-and-forth in a frantic 10th end. Martin had the hammer but Campbell‘s last shot was came up just short and Nancy didn’t even have to throw her last rock. Tears as she clinched her championship. It was something.
6. Kleiter – On the men’s side, there was no Mike McEwan since the defending champions already had a spot in the Brier as a wild card team, and were unable to enter provincials. That opened the door for a new champion. Steve Laycock, who we all know, was the number one team through the round Robin and booked a ticket into the final to face Saskatoon’s Rylan Kleiter. Kleiter lost the final year ago to McEwen and was trying to get to their first Brier. It was a nearly flawless effort from the young 20 something from Saskatoon as they defeated Laycock and punched their ticket to the Brier in Kelowna. In the end, it was a fantastic week and I already can’t wait for next year in Melville.
7. Bombers Cuts – While away I learned of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers releasing veterans Adam Bighill and Drew Wolitarsky. I’m a brand guy more than anything and believe players like that are a big part of the Bombers brand. That said, Winnipeg seems to know what they’re doing so who am I to question these decisions? When you look around, it’s some of the best executives in sports; they always seem to know when the expiry date is and make the moves accordingly. Sure, sometimes they’re a year or two early when making these moves, but that doesn’t make it wrong. Doesn’t make it right necessarily either. I feel for those two, but the Bombers are approaching maybe their most critical season ever. They’re hosting the Gray cup and a win brings that dynasty word back into the conversation. Talk about pressure.
8. Canadian QB – Canadian quarterback Taylor Elgersma is creating a lot of buzz this week as he prepares for the Reese’s Senior Bowl. Taylor has been doing media appearances throughout the United States, including NFL Network this week as he’s one of seven quarterbacks that will play in the showcase. He’s playing alongside guys like Oregon’s Dylan Gabriel, Alabama’s Jalen Milroe, and Notre Dame‘s Riley Leonard. That’s elite company. All the buzz is pointing in the direction of Elgersma getting a real opportunity in the NFL. We talked about him in this space back in the early fall after I called his first game of the season. This kid is the real deal and I think he has a legit chance. I’m pulling for him. The Senior Bowl is February 1 on the NFL Network.
9. Cowboys – I saw this late last week. The Cowboys hired Brian Schottenheimer as their next head coach to replace Mike McCarthy. It’s a bit of a headscratcher obviously and it appears at the Cowboys job, just like Troy Aikman alluded to, is just not a desirable one right now. Now Brian’s dad is a legend in the game. But, Brian has never been a head coach and really was not anybody’s radar to be a head coach anywhere. He was an assistant with the Cowboys. I don’t know what’s going on in Dallas and I don’t have any relationship with the parties involved, but here’s what I think: I think they wanted Deion Sanders, and I think they still do. I think deep down Deion wants to be the next coach of the Cowboys and I think he will. I just feel that Deion is going to stick around Colorado and continue to build that program before jumping into the NFL. So for me, it really feels like Brian Schottenheimer is just a gap filler until Dion is ready.
10 Randoms – Congrats to my friend Drew Kocur on his first win as head coach of the Estevan Bruins…. Peanut Butter pie, first time having it and it’s jumped up as one of my favourites ever… I do NOT have Chiefs fatigue and am looking forward to the Super Bowl… I have a feeling we will see a few more roster moves ahead of the four nations face…
Have a great rest of the week!
DD
Great stuff What I appreciate about your contribution. You’re not riding a fence; it’s opinion based and laid out in a good manner. This relates to your points. 2) Once upon a time business was booming in teresterial radio/media land. Then just like that it disappeared. This was not due to satellite radio. What people didn’t realize is that “media”. It’s bought and paid for through subsidies. It’s akin to becoming a second and information peddler to push a narrative. With that it ends up becoming and out and out lie. 2025 exposed it. Was that a close election in… Read more »