10 Monday Things For SUDS Car Wash
TRUTH & RUMOURS FOR SUDS CAR WASH
1 – LANIGAN: I’d never been to an event in Lanigan, SK – they’d never held one till Saturday night – but they wanted to go with a Roughriders theme for their first-ever Tinsel For Tots fundraising sports dinner benefitting the expansion to their town’s daycare facilities as population in the community has swelled to over 1,500. Naturally, they brought in Roughriders alum/broadcaster Luc Mullinder, Riders offensive coordinator Marc Mueller, and me and the event was a SMASHING success. We talked about the 2025 Grey Cup champions, championships past, and fans asked plenty of behind-the-scenes questions in the hot stove portion. And a hot stove is appropriate as the thermometer has dipped into frigid territory! Organizers discussed a hockey theme next year, whatwith NHL vets Bobby Baun, Brian Propp, Todd Strueby, Sheldon & Wade Brookbank all calling Lanigan their hometown. Thanks for having us! Wonderful people.
2 – NOTES: Many of the patrons wanted to know what the Riders will do with their long list of free agents but Mueller said the plan is to keep them all, if possible. He feels coming off a Grey Cup title, every player deserves the chance to return, if it works. … Regarding his grandfather Ron Lancaster, Mueller said he thinks of him everyday. (It doesn’t hurt that there’s a statue of the Roughriders icon out front of Mosaic Stadium). … As for Mullinder, he feels Corey Mace’s decision to kick a field goal with 2:00 to go, trailing the West Final against BC, and then giving the ball to the Lions twice after that – and still coming back to win – will go down as one of the ballsiest head coaching calls in Roughriders history. We had so much fun in the Q&A!
3 – AROUND THE CFL: John Hufnagel joined the Toronto Argonauts as senior advisor this week and on Friday, Jim Barker announced on the RP Show that he’s also joining the Argos, in the personnel department. Clearly there’s plenty to clean up with the Boatmen after missing the playoffs in 2025. … Assistant GM John Murphy is out in Toronto, and I’m told it has something to do with his role in the Argos not asking Saskatchewan for permission to talk to head coach Corey Mace about their vacancy. The league reportedly got involved and threatened a fine and/or a loss of draft picks for this breach. Instead, Murph walked the plank. … Watch for receivers coach Pete Costanza to join new Head Coach/GM Ryan Dinwiddie in Ottawa. … The coaching carousel has begun spinning.
4 – CFP: The College Football Playoff bracket was announced Sunday and here are the first round match-ups: Oklahoma vs Alabama, Oregon vs James Madison, Miami vs Texas A&M, Ole Miss vs Tulane. Receiving first round byes were Indiana, Georgia, Ohio State University and Texas Tech. The most notable snub is Notre Dame, whose Athletic Director blasted the selection committee, and has since pulled out of Bowl game participation in order to make plans for next year. The debate will rage until the first round of games is played!
5 – KIFFIN FALLOUT: Jim Barker noted on Friday’s RP Show that “something is drastically wrong” with college football, that a coach could jump teams in the middle of a season, like Lane Kiffin did from Ole Miss to LSU on the cusp of the playoffs. Whether the Rebels make the 12-team field or not is a big question for me. Ole Miss won’t be the same team without Kiffin. … Could Kent Austin be headed back to Oxford? The CFL great is out at Auburn, despite a year remaining on his contract. He wasn’t in the mix for the Argonauts job, but he played and coached at Ole Miss in the past so perhaps he’s a fit. … Is somethingreally wrong with college football? All signs say yes, but ratings are up, attendance is always up, revenue is wayyyyyyy up. So a few hearts get broken in a locker room because the coach left? Them’s the brakes kids. … Yet if sports mimmicks life, we’re in big trouble.
6 – NHL: The hottest current teams in the NHL: Colorado, Washington, Minnesota & Philadelphia. The coldest: Winnipeg, Seattle, Florida, Chicago & New Jersey. … The Panthers are just trying to hang on till they get Matthew Tkachuk back and the Jets are just trying to hang on till they get Connor Hellebuyck back. “Helle” covered up a lot of deficiencies. Fortunately for those teams, the standings remain real tight. They can make a jump in a hurry. … As of Sunday, the Edmonton Oilers were the only Canadian team in a playoff spot in the Western Conference. Montreal is the only Canadian team in the East. As of Thursday, NO Canadian teams were in the picture in the West. This, after five Canadian teams made the Stanley Cup Playoffs last spring. The NHL is likely concerned. … In 1986, seven Canadian teams made the playoffs, if you can imagine.
7 – OLYMPICS: I’m wondering if the fiasco at the Italy Olympics with the hockey venue is as bad as it seems, or if this is just the media stirring things up to get clicks. As of today, NHL’ers are still planning to play and organizers have assured that there will be hockey. But the fact remains the main venue is still not ready for game action, with two months to go. However reports suggest a secondary venue is an option, so I’m not spending any extra energy on worrying about it. But guaranteed lots of folks ARE suffering some sleepless nights because of this, and the fact only half of event tickets have been sold (850,000 remain). Oddly, organizers say sales outside Italy have been strong yet it’s been slow among the locals. …. Again, this is if you believe the media. I remain wary.
8 – JR. HOCKEY: It’s been nice to be back in the 306 this week; the heartland of Junior Hockey. Reports of the WHL and SJHL’s demise due to the NCAA stealing top players seems to be greatly exaggerated. Sure, it would’ve been nice to see Gavin McKenna play with the Medicine Hat Tigers on Friday night in the Remple Temple, but there was still a good crowd and the game was great. The end-to-end rush and goal by Warriors D-man Brady Ness was Bobby Orr-esque. Hey, I was entertained. Isn’t that what it’s all about? … I had to choose between the Pats and Warriors, who were both home on Friday after lengthy road trips. I chose The Tribe! (I still wish they’d play Patty Smythe’s “The Warrior” after goals, and have launched an official complaint.) … The Pats won 4-0 at Saskatoon on Sunday; their first win at SaskTel Centre in 2 1/2 years! Pats fans are very excited about the years ahead with young stars Maddox Schultz and Liam Pue. … SJHL fans are happy with the quality of play too, and it’s nice to see Weyburn & Estevan battling at the top of the division. … Ahhhhhh, all feels right in the hockey world around here.
9 – NFL: Following Week 14, the Miami Dolphins have as many wins as the Kansas City Chiefs. How bout that! … Sunday was full of fantastic games, like Green Bay’s last-minute 28-21 home win over Chicago, Aaron Rodgers leading Pittsburgh to a 27-22 upset victory at Baltimore, and Joe Burrow & the Bengals putting a scare into Buffalo, only to lose 39-34 to the Bills. … Thank God for United Airlines and their live TV allowing me to watch these games while traveling home on Sunday! … The Dallas Cowboys were exposed on Thursday Night Football, losing 44-30 at Detroit. THAT should finish the season. We’re used to it! It’s a culture problem, not a talent problem.
10 – RANDOM THOUGHTS: America needs Pizza Pops. … Do you wear pyjamas in public or do you have pride? … Youth is wasted on the young. … The RP Show Facebook page enjoyed 1.7-million views in the past month, with 52% of those coming from Regina. Winnipeg & Saskatoon are tied for #2. … Soo Line boys have a special connection. I love it. … Isn’t flatbread basically pizza? Asking for a friend. … When I moved to South Florida five years ago, Inter-Miami was in last place in MLS and drew 7,000 fans per game to what was called “Drive Pink Stadium” in Fort Lauderdale at the time. Five years later, Lionel Messi led them to the MLS championship on Saturday with a home win over Vancouver, and the team is moving into a new stadium in Miami. Funny what happens when you sign great players! … New Zealand Police said Friday they have recovered a James Bond-inspired Fabergé pendant after six days of closely watching the man accused of swallowing the jewelry in an Auckland store. They said the pendant was recovered Thursday night after the accused “passed” the precious jewel. The limited-edition, Fabergé egg pendant was inspired by the 1983 James Bond film “Octopussy,” in which a jewel-smuggling operation involved a fake Fabergé egg. The man was arrested inside Partridge Jewelers in Auckland on Nov. 28 shortly after the alleged theft. He made a court appearance Nov. 29 then was kept in custody under 24-hour surveillance until the gem “emerged”. … AND HOW WAS YOUR WEEK?
Y’er welcome,
RP
Cory Mace and the Toronto Argonauts, a excellent fit for Head Coach/Assistant General Manager. Cory Mace deserves more organizational recognition, he’s earned it.
Liam Pue/Maddox Shultz hockey, we’ll see how they develop, talk in two years. They are both apparently on the path to hockey superstardom or bust. Too many people putting on high expectations, in the end it will be these yoing individuals to make it or break it, Sincere good luck young Liam Pue/Maddox Shultz.
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