Scruffy’s This N That

1 – RATTLING SOME CAGES: Luke Willson isn’t taking prisoners when it comes to the CFL, and I am all for it. Willson isn’t afraid to let his feelings be known about the Canadian game since TSN brought him on board. He went after some things in the Riders-Toronto game and for the most part I can’t really disagree with him.  One of the things Willson openly questioned was the amount of QB sneaks that happened during the game. While QB sneaks are going to happen on short yardage plays, it just brings me to one of my pet peeves about the CFL and that is why you need a 3^rd string QB to do this. 

The only job for QB3 is to run short yardage. I certainly understand why in both the CFL and NFL why you don’t want QB1 doing that for fear of injury, but why can’t QB2 do it? I would be all for the CFL saying there is no QB3 with a Canadian taking that roster spot or you make QB3 a Canadian because the more Canadian content the better as far as I am concerned. I think those that know me also know how bad the CFL coaching cap is and what I think about the rouge.  They both have to go, especially the latter if you want to attract the younger demographic.  The older CFL fan will say the rouge is a big part of the game, but I will never adopt that being rewarded for failure is the way to go and that the younger demographic who is more interested in both the NCAA and NFL thinks the rouge takes away from the league’s credibility. 

As expected, Willson is getting hammered for his views by many who just can’t adopt the notion that the CFL has to change the way it does things. One can not argue the fact that the CFL today is not what it was 20 years ago.  The fan interest is not as high and while the talent level is still great, it isn’t where it was when we could enjoy the likes of Flutie, Austin, Dewalt, Dunigan, Pringle, Fernandez, Pitts and others putting up huge numbers each week. The game hasn’t changed that much has it? It is a game that is still designed to be offensive in nature because the defence is so restricted when it comes to things like marginal pass interference and roughing the passer calls.  It is a game where 90 percent of them should see at least 60 points put up on the board. I only what types of numbers the quarterbacks I just listed would have week-to-week in today’s game. 

Part of me wonders if new Commish and former TSN president Stewart Johnston knows what type of asset Willson is for the league as he ruffles feathers and gets the dialogue going.  Dialogue as to how to make the CFL better is what is needed.  He also knows that more people will tune into games to see what Luke is going to say whether they like it or not.  Take a look at Willson’s tweet this week and see how many views and reactions it generated. IT MADE PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THE CFL! 

I love the work he does for TSN when it comes to the NFL and I am LOVING what he is doing for the CFL.  You can hate it if you want, and yes there are some things that I do disagree with him on, but you need to take a serious look at what he is saying and not just discard and react.  That has been happening for way too long!

2 – WHERE IS EVERYONE?:  The biggest story to emerge from the CFL in the first three weeks of the season is the attendance or lack of it unless you are in Winnipeg where the Bombers fanbase continues to establish itself as the best in the CFL right now after another sellout. The Riders home opener was not well attended with the argument being it was a Thursday night game which traditionally doesn’t work well here even though it is working in Winnipeg. The crowd in Toronto for the Argos-Riders game was not good, the same could be said for Edmonton’s home opener and the Ottawa-Calgary game looked more like a crowd you would see at a Dinos game than a Stamps one but the weather played a huge role in that.

This has to be a concern though in league offices.  Where is everyone? I have talked to many that believe tonight’s game at Mosaic should be sold out or at least 95 percent sold.  I don’t argue with that, but I don’t think it will happen because there are too many out there that continue to have one reason or another as to why they aren’t going.  I had a few tell me this week that they aren’t going because it is right in the middle of what will be a long weekend.  I am guessing that will mean that some Rider fans that don’t come to Regina normally might make the trek to Mosaic as well.  I guess we will see what type of crowd comes out, but the question has to be asked across the league, except Winnipeg, as to where everyone is.

3 – UMMMMM!!! The CFL announced on Thursday morning that all players will be wearing a Canada flag on their jerseys for the rest of the season.  Just a couple of questions.  Why is this happening now when it is something that should have been done years ago? Why just this season? Shouldn’t this be something that is mandatory moving forward? Don’t get me wrong, it is a great initiative but I just question why this wasn’t happening before.  Back when I had my daily blog, I asked this question and I remember when Randy Ambrosie was serving as Commish I asked him about doing something like this as to which he responded it was a good idea. Apparently that idea was either ignored or left on the desk of the new commish. 

4 – INTO THE FIRE: I said at the start of the season that the Riders have a chance at winning the Grey Cup, but it depends on the health of the oh-so-fragile Trevor Harris. I have stated many a time I have very little confidence in Jake Maier. That is a sentiment that is shared by many with others disagreeing for varying reasons.  We will find out Saturday just what Maier can do as he gets the start for tonight’s game against B.C.

Seeing Maier start is not a surprise. Some suggested Harris would play after having limited reps at practice this week because of an illness and a concussion suffered against Toronto which might be connected. It is the right move for Corey Mace to sit his marquee player if he isn’t 100 percent.  The team goes on a bye after this game and while a loss to the Lions might come back to bite them at the end of the season the reality is this is just Week 4 and the green guys can afford to have number 7 miss one game.  I am guessing if this was a game later in the season or a playoff game that he would be in there unless this is more serious than what the team is letting on.

Maier has a chance to silence his critics on Saturday or the voice of discontent that those critics have will grow louder.  With the Lions going with either a Nathan Rourke who doesn’t sound like he is 100 percent or Jeremiah Masoli who did not look good last week, the Riders may dodge a bullet in this one. The defence may have to be what wins them this one. We will see.  

5 – FRONT OFFICE CHANGES: I was admittedly caught off guard when the Pats announced GM Al Millar was leaving to rejoin Hockey Canada with arguably the greatest ever Pat to wear the uniform, Dale Derkatch, taking over. It is up to “The Rat” to take the torch that Millar has given him and start running with it.  I love what Millar did with this team as he tries to bring them back to a squad that can compete for a championship and it is tough to see him go, but I am sure Derkatch has seen the plan and will help make that plan reality.  Millar has left the team in good shape. 

6 – POSITION PLAYERS ON THE MOUND:  It is time for major league baseball to have a hard discussion about position players going to the mound in a one-sided game. On Friday night, Tampa infielder Jose Caballero allowed 5 runs on 6 hits in the 8^th inning of a 22-8 beatdown at the hands of the Baltimore Orioles.  There are many things I love about baseball and there are many things I hate about baseball.  Having position players take the mound in a blowout is one of them.  If you put a position player out there, you have given up.  If you have given up, do everyone a favour and call it a night. There is nothing appealing about seeing an outfielder or a backup infielder throwing 60 kilometer heaters.  It’s a joke!

7 – NHL DRAFT: The NHL draft continues Saturday with both Kolten Bridgeman and Reese Hamilton of the Pats hoping to get the call. I remember a few years ago when there was some moaning about the lack of WHL players in the first round. This year, nine of the 32 first round picks or over 25 percent came from the WHL. Two of them were Roger McQueen from Saskatoon and Cole Reschny from Macklin.  This just in, there is nothing wrong with the WHL.  I’m biased, but there Is no better developmental league than the WHL. 

8 – SABRES KEEP SABRING: Is it just me or did the Utah Mammoth steal JJ Peterka from the Buffalo Sabres? Then again, the Buffalo Sabres just don’t do a very good job of keeping players that move on to do great things. It’s been 14 years since the team made the playoffs and that number likely hits 15 this season. Is there a hockey version of Josh Allen that the Sabres can draft? One can only wonder where Buffalo would be had they kept the likes of Jack Eichel, Sam Reinhart, Ryan O’Reilly and others. It’s only been 5100 plus days since they made the playoffs and moves like the Peterka trade may explain that despite the fact they have had several managerial changes. If you know a Sabres fan, give them a hug!

9 – MORE GAMES?:  The good news for NHL fans is there will be labour peace for another four years since the league has agreed to a four-year contract extension with its current collective bargaining agreement.  The bad news is that the league will move from 82 games to 84 starting in 2026.  Do we really need more games? I would be fine with 78, but now we have 84.  Does this mean the season could end in late June or early July.  The NHL has to find a way to get the Stanley Cup handed out on or near the May long weekend and no later than June 1. 

10 – SGA! I think it is now safe to say that Shea Gilgeous-Alexander is the best Canadian basketball player that has graced an NBA court. Sorry Steve Nash! SGA cemented that on Sunday night when his Oklahoma City Thunder won the NBA title in seven hard-fought games over the Indiana Pacers. Canada is becoming bigger and bigger with its presence in the NBA each year. Many grew up not only wanting to be in the NBA after the addition of the Toronto Raptors, but there are many others who are now playing the game after the Raptors championship run a few years ago.  From what I am told, there are more and more kids playing basketball in Saskatchewan and across Canada.  That’s a good thing!

RANDOM THOUGHTS: 

• There is talk that the NCAA is looking at expanding the men’s basketball championship to 76 teams. Can we not leave something that is working for everyone alone?
• How does Carey Price not get voted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on the first ballot? That’s a big-time snub IMO
• Jim Nill was once again named the best GM in the NHL. Did everyone forget about Bill Zito? Nill got a swing and a miss with the Mikko Rantanen trade while Zito hit a homer with the additions of Seth Jones and Brad Marchand
• Who had the Detroit Tigers becoming the first team to record 50 wins in MLB this year?  
• Can the Riders replace Worksafe Bob with Dancin Bob? If you are reading this outside of Regina, I realize you may have no idea what I am talking about so find out!

That’s all I got.  Have a great long weekend if you are one of many taking Monday off. If in Regina on Tuesday, hope to see ya at Currie Field for the Regina Red Sox Canada Day game against Saskatoon starting at 2.