10 Monday Things For Suds Car Wash

Truth & Rumours …

1 – JERRY WORLD: Was it just me or did Sunday Night Football add up to a big Nothing Burger? In Micah Parsons’ much-hyped returned to Dallas – one month to the day after the star pass rusher was shipped out of Dallas to Green Bay – the Cowboys and Packers sawed off a 40-40 tie in a game where Cowboys Owner/GM Jerry Jones got more camera time than anybody else. As usual! Parsons ended up with one sack and one tackle in a game which really did nothing for the NFC standings or Power Rankings. That’s not to say the game wasn’t entertaining, it definitely was, but neither of Jones nor Parsons got the upper hand in a feud that’ll go on for years. In fact, Week 4 of the NFL wasn’t particularly eventful in any of the games, IMHO.

2 – PANTHER PANIC: There’s been a pall over the Baptist Health Iceplex – the training facility home of the Florida Panthers – ever since captain Aleksander “Sasha” Barkov went down in his first practice of the season on Thursday with two torn knee ligaments which will sideline him for 7-9 months. Couple that with injuries to Matthew Tkachuk which will keep the Face of the Franchise out till “December-ish” (GM Bill Zito’s term), and there’s considerable concern both inside, and outside, the organization whether the club will be able to accomplish a 3-Peat as Stanley Cup champions.

I spent all day with the Panthers on Saturday and to their credit, they’re doing their best to be positive and say they’ll attempt to fill Barkov’s spot by committee. But Sasha means far more to the team than simply being the first line centre.

When I first got here five seasons ago, there was a debate over who’s number should be raised to the rafters next (joining Roberto Luongo and Bill Torre). Johnathan Huberdeau? Aaron Ekblad? Barkov? In the years since, Barkov has become the career leader in games played, points, and led the club to back-to-back Stanley Cups. It’s not a debate anymore.

He’s also ingrained in the community, living in an upscale yet modest area of Boca Raton (right behind my mechanic’s garage!), is a regular at FAU Owls home games, and does so many hospital visits that the staff knows him by name.

Quite a hole.

3 – RENWICK HISTORY: Another key hockey note — Milestone, Saskatchewan’s Nolan Renwick suited up for the Pittsburgh Penguins in their 3-2 preseason home win over Detroit on Friday. Nolan’s believed to be the first Milestone product to appear in an NHL game (second, if you don’t say Logan Pyett is from Balgonie, SK) and he notched two shots on goal and four hits. It’s an incredibly proud moment for a family who’s been through a lot this year. Way to Nolan, and Renwicks!

4 – CFL WEEK 17: Quite a cliffhanger to end the week! The Saskatchewan-Edmonton game went right down to the final second, with the Elks prevailing 27-25 and Cody Fajardo earning his first victory against his former team. (That’s gotta sting the Riders a bit, I’d think). I raced home from the Memphis-FAU football game to catch the second half and I’m glad I did. The Riders, now 10-4, didn’t look like a well-oiled machine and there’s reason for concern. As the highest-paid Roughrider ever, QB Trevor Harris has gotta cap off that comeback … or at least complete that 2-point conversion and get it to overtime. Are the Riders still the best team in the CFL? Yes. Are they going to waltz uncontested to a Grey Cup title in November? No.

Montreal 38-Calgary 20. Jim Barker says Davis Alexander’s 9-0 career start is tainted but neither Davis nor I care. “He’s a winner all the way!” (To quote John Frenzy) and all of sudden the Alouettes have life again. Meanwhile the once mighty Stampeders have lost three in a row. … BC 27-Toronto 22. Lions QB Nathan Rourke proved that he’s the best QB in the league but I’m STUNNED he didn’t get fined for ripping the Owners/Governors/Commissioner over the rule & field changes this week. Quietly, I was hoping he’d be the first player in CFL history to be named Player of the Week, and also get fined. … Winnipeg 40-Hamilton 3. Reports of the Blue Bombers’ demise were greatly premature and Zach Collaros would like a word with TSN’s Milt Stegall, who advised him to retire after his most recent injury. … Don’t look now, but there are three teams (Calgary, BC & Winnipeg) tied for 2nd-place in the CFL West with four weeks to go in the regular season.

5 – CHANGES PART 1: As was noted in my radio commentary earlier in the week, I was impressed with the roll-out of the announcement of “significant changes” to the CFL game. The League said last Sunday there would be a news conference on Monday regarding changes, and that’s exactly what they did. However the fallout has been epic and I could tell by the demeanor of Commissioner Stewart Johnston on Thursday’s RP Show that the blowback was wayyyyy more than he bargained for. However I don’t think they’ll walk any of these changes back, despite not consulting with the coaches and players (I never expected they would) nor amateur football leagues and facilities (I double never expected they would). Those who applaud the changes are clearly in the minority, but I’m one of them. Read on …

6 – CHANGES PART 2: A few years ago Hockey Night In Canada czar John Shannon was on the RP Show and I asked him what’s the chief reason for record revenues by NHL owners? “Expansion,” Shannon said flatly. Stewart Johnston was hired and given one clear mandate by CFL owners, specifically MLSE: Make us money. … Earlier this week a viewer asked me why the 1990s U.S. expansion failed in the CFL and I answered, “Field size and the ratio”. Monday’s announcement takes care of the first one and I won’t be surprised if they do away with the ratio before long too (however that’s purely my guess. I haven’t heard anything like that). And before your head pops off, here’s my take on the ratio: If we feel Canadian players are every bit as good as American players – which I do – then prove it. Quit hiding behind the ratio. As a former country music DJ, I hated the CanCon rule (having to play a certain percentage of Canadian artists on radio). I felt Canadian music was just as good as the stuff coming out of the States. Furthermore, as a broadcaster, I’ll put my talents up against any American. In fact, I do it everyday, and am winning. … So why are Canadian football people and fans so afraid of doing away with the ratio? Hmmmm?

7 – CHANGES PART 3: When you think about it, there’s no reason to do away with anymore Canadian rules. The three downs, rouge, 12 men, etc. are indeed what makes the CFL unique and intrigues U.S. viewers. Trust me, they don’t see the CFL as Mickey Mouse at all. In fact, it sets the league apart from the other leagues and in any industry, we’re all looking for that one thing that sets us apart. This could all work, with U.S. expansion, and not have to change much more about the Canadian game. This would be a significant infusion of cash into owners’ pockets.

Yet I’m not so hardhearted that I can’t accept or consider those who are vastly upset by these changes. It hit home the most in a phone conversation this week with iconic NFL/CFL head coach Marc Trestman – who’s chilling in Naples, FL these days – as we discussed getting him on the RP Show. I can’t repeat hardly any of the conversation here, which is killing me because the quotes were explosive, but Marc was too disturbed by the changes and couldn’t guarantee what he’d say on the air so he politely declined for now. (We go to air on Las Vegas TV daily beginning Monday and since Marc spent three seasons as O.C. with the Raiders, I thought that would be a nice tie-in). Trestman is a football guy’s football guy, let’s leave it at that. 

However I cry every time I turn on the TV or radio with the current state of broadcasting. An old newspaper guy called me literally in tears last week at the state of Junior Hockey coverage these days. I shrugged and said “That’s the way it is. I felt that way 4-5 years ago”. I guess it’s just not that easy for people to accept change …

8 – FAN NUMPTIES: If you haven’t got it through your head by now here’s a reminder — we’re in a new era of the media. Stewart Johnston came on the RP Show on Thursday and I was blasted by *some* CFL fans for not grilling Stew on behalf of the Old Guard or grassroots football. We had to toss out and block viewers left and right. NEWSFLASH: I’m not the voice of either of those entities. Furthermore, I criticized CFL Commissioner Jeffrey P. Orridge in 2016 and was fired by CFL.ca, despite being the website’s original writer. My relationship with subsequent CFL Commissioner Randy Ambrosie was tenuous because I was critical of him at times too. Now with another new Commissioner, and a new league broadcast deal on the horizon, why would I jump on Johnston’s back? ARE THESE PEOPLE FOR REAL? Especially when they hide behind anonymous accounts then question my “integrity”.

On Saturday it was reported the Vegas Golden Knights pulled a reporter’s credentials for asking prying questions about the Hockey Canada sexual assault scandal (I saw the report but am not sure if it’s true or not). Either way, we’re not in an age where you can play around with this stuff.

Look around. There isn’t one crusty, cranky old newspaper columnist like the ones we used to love.

Get used to it. I have.

9 – FEEL THE THUNDER: For the second week in a row, the Regina Thunder earned a hard-fought road victory. This week they came away with a 24-21 win over the Saskatoon Hilltops. Heading into the bye week, the Thunder now hold sole possession of first place in the PFC with a 6-1 record. The Thunder offense was led by running back Peter Boersch who rambled for 129 yards on 24 carries. The ground game also got a boost from Jackson Harnett who had a 72-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. The Thunder return to game action on Sunday, October 12 when they host the Edmonton Wildcats at Leibel Field. (Outlaw Communications)  

10 – RANDOM THOUGHTS: Felicity Huffman’s out of jail? … Once a mall rat, always a mall rat. … The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders have their own TV channel. … Imagine having a job where you study sea turtles for 30 years. I met a lady who does just that. … Why do people feel the need to announce that they’re taking a social media break? Just go. … “Consistency and performance define success.” — Nick Saban. … People are asking me how the locals are dealing with the 0-3 Miami Dolphins. The answer? People have turned their attention to the #2-ranked Miami Hurricanes. These are the most fickle fans on the continent. The second the Florida Panthers start to lose consistently, that rink will be empty. … Residents of a San Francisco Bay Area city are on the lookout for an aggressive squirrel that has sent at least two people to the emergency room for medical treatment. Joan Heblack told KGO-TV that she was walking in the Lucas Valley neighborhood when a squirrel seemingly came out of nowhere and attacked her leg, clawing and biting. “It clamped onto my leg. The tail was flying up here. I was like, ‘Get it off me, get off me!’,” Heblack said. Flyers have now been posted, warning residents that the squirrel is no joke and that more than five people have been attacked by a ”very mean squirrel” that “comes out of nowhere.” What instigated it? Humane Society officials say it began by people feeding the wildlife. … AND HOW WAS YOUR WEEK?

Y’er welcome,
RP