Scruffy’s This N That

1 – THE REMATCH:  After giving us the game of the year last weekend at Mosaic, the Riders and Edmonton will do it again at Commonwealth Saturday afternoon. It might be a little much to expect the same type of heavyweight battle that we saw, but I think we can get another game that could go right down to the final play. 

Edmonton is a team on the rise. They knocked the big boys off on the road and now they come home to what should be a good crowd as the fine people from Edmonton and surrounding area look like they may be ready to support the team again.  It will have a playoff-like atmosphere to it and it may very well be a Western Final preview.  This will be a test for Edmonton. The Riders know what they are all about and after a week where one couldn’t blame the /=S=/ for not having their mind completely on the game after losing a teammate, they will be ready for this one.  The experience that Saskatchewan brings to the table may be the deciding factor. Despite the fact they don’t have AJ Ouellette or Rolan Milligan, I’m going to take them to win this one because of their championship pedigree, but it will probably be one as I said like last week that isn’t decided until the final gun. Remember also that a Rider win could set up a first-place showdown at Mosaic on the last weekend of the season. Wouldn’t that be fun!

2 – DIEGO PAVIA: There are some rumblings out there that Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia, who was a Heisman Trophy finalist, should try his luck in the CFL after not getting drafted and then released by the Baltimore Ravens before training camp.  Pavia is on the neg list of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.  This just in: the CFL doesn’t need Diego Pavia because they had Diego Pavia a few years ago.  His name was Johnny Manziel.  Do your homework on this guy and you will see that, in a way, he is Manziel-lite.  Add to that that if he were come to the CFL, Winnipeg would likely trade his rights as they have Zach Collaros, Dru Brown, Taylor Elgersma and Bryce Perkins. If Collaros isn’t back next year as many suggest, one of those three will be the starter and the other two are likely on the roster too. I also think that unlike Manziel, Pavia thinks he is too “big” for the CFL.  Have fun selling real estate or something Diego.  You’ll always have the 2025 season to remember. 

3 – V-A:  Vernon Adams Junior is having a great season, but the Stampeders are not in the class of the Riders, Edmonton and Montreal. That is why guys like Justin Rankin, Trevor Harris and Davis Alexander are front and center in the MOP talk.  Take nothing away from the numbers Adams is putting up and, in a pass-first league, it is impressive that he has not thrown an interception so far this year. Wins = attention kids. If Calgary can get up there with Edmonton and the Riders then the discussion changes a little, but right now I can’t put him as a serious contender. Just a reminder also that we are not at the halfway mark. It’s great to talk about but the conversations for league awards shouldn’t heat up until Thanksgiving.

4 – PATS TICKETS: I don’t have to tell you that since Brandt Sports and Entertainment (Shawn Semple) became the owners of the Regina Pats that there has been a lot of grumbling about ticket prices especially when the team hasn’t been great. I understood a majority of the complaints that came through. Who’s kidding who – I was one of them as watching a Pats game over the last couple of years no matter the opponent was like being at a poorly-attended funeral. I also said to people that REAL, like the Riders, doesn’t do the Pats any favours in attempts to make money and that is the object of the overall game isn’t it?

With Semple now owning the Brandt Centre, he can start to do things his way and he started doing that by being more fan-friendly with tickets with single-game prices being reduced by 15 percent as opportunities are being created for Pats fans to experience Maddox Schultz and company this season. 

Predictably, some had to search for a negative to bitch about on social media because some just can’t be happy, but whatever. 

On the surface, this looks very good for the Regina hockey fan who has complained and who is angry. I hope this will bring a lot of them back.   Bottom line is I think big crowds will be returning to the Brandt Centre.  I hope a plan is in place to make the nightmare of leaving a game in quick fashion is set into motion because that is my biggest beef with not just Pats games, but all events at the Brandt Centre.  If you are in Regina, you know exactly what I am talking about and it has been that way for years. 

5 – NHL ON PRIME:  If you didn’t know before that we are in a new era of watching sports on television, you do now.  Predictably, the announcement from the NHL and Amazon Prime that Monday night hockey is moving to Wednesday and that Prime will have three playoff series exclusively on their service was met with negativism. I’ve got Amazon Prime, but I must admit I rarely watched Monday games even with the Oilers on because I was watching Monday Night Football. Will I watch Edmonton games on Wednesday if there isn’t a real reason to even though I have the service?  I guess I’ll find out.  In the meantime, if you are a hardcore hockey fan, you will want Prime. If you are a hardcore football fan you will want DAZN and if you are a hardcore baseball fan, you will want Apple. There will still be a lot of opportunities to watch games, but not as many if you don’t want to pay.  Once again, we are in a new era of watching sports on television or the device of choice.  If you don’t have a helmet already, you better get one!

6 – SPORTS ON RADIO:  For years, I have wondered just how many people are listening to sports games on the radio? When you can get every CFL game and every NHL game on TV, why would you listen when you can watch? It makes no sense.  I have often thought the pre/post game shows have become more important than the actual play-by-play broadcast because fans can get the info they need before and after the game on radio and then watch the game whether it be on TV or by having a seat in the arena or stadium.  Could that needle start to swing back a little because of all the streaming deals out there? I obviously want to watch an Oilers or a Jets game on TV, but if that game is unavailable due to streaming and I really want to know what is going on, the option is the local radio broadcast. I think the streaming will impact a few but not a lot as those who are fans will find a way to watch the game somehow, but I do think radio may be a beneficiary of this.  A positive for radio in 2026? I guess there is one! 

7 – BEDARD/CELEBRINI: The NHL’s faces of the future are signed, sealed and delivered. Macklin Celebrini did the same thing Connor Bedard did by signing a five-year extension with Celebrini getting a little more money.  I admit to being surprised when I saw Bedard didn’t sign the maximum extension in Chicago, but after seeing Celebrini also sign for five, I now see how smart both guys are. Both will be in their mid 20’s so both will cash in with another huge contract, but more importantly they have sent a sign to both Chicago and San Jose.  Like Connor McDavid did in Edmonton with his two-year, team friendly deal, both Bedard and Celebrini are inking five year contracts to say “build me a championship team in that time frame” or see ya when you know just about every team will be willing to shell out the dollars if they hit unrestricted free agency. 

It makes you wonder if the economic landscape stays the same as to what Matthew Schaefer will ask for and what will McDavid’s next contract be. Could McDavid be the first 20 million per year player in the NHL? It wouldn’t surprise me.  As someone approaching 60, it is hard to fathom that an NHL’er will make 20 million per season.  Good for them!

8 – OOPS: If it wasn’t clear before, Gianni Infantino must be shown a red card and told his services as head of FIFA are over.  His plan to sell stakes in the World Cup and other events in a scheme involving the brother of Donald Trump’s brother in law has gone over with a dull thud. This would destroy the sport and would maybe start a path for other sports to do something similar.  UEFA (Europe), CONCACAF (North America) and other soccer federations have basically said get stuffed with UEFA saying they will boycott further international competitions including World Cups until this matter is put in the trash can. 

Infantino and Trump have probably been cooking this up for quite a while. Infantino denies claims he is selling “football”.  Infantino damaged the reputation of the sport when he called for hydration breaks which meant additional $$$$ going into FIFA’s pockets, the creation of a halftime show that wasn’t really needed  and he allowed an American player who had been suspended to continue playing after getting a phone call from fat Donny. Add this to the steaming pile he has created. He needs to go and FIFA needs to use this as an opportunity to try and clean up the corruption we have seen with this body for years while never ever being in this position again.

9 – RANDOM THOUGHTS:

• The new Buffalo Bills jerseys are alright, but that helmet is horrid. 
• Aaron Donald and Myles Garrett on the same defensive line just isn’t fair. 
• CJME Green Zone Correspondent Belton Johnson was talking barbecue with Evan Bray this week and I believe said you have to give a steak “15 minutes of rest time” before digging into it. I dunno about you but my steak may be consumed within 15 minutes of it being taken off the grill.  I CAN’T WAIT THAT LONG!!
• Congrats to Swift Current’s Jake Hiromoto for becoming the WCBL’s single-season home run king and Moose Jaw’s Thomas Soto for being the new single-season stolen base leader.  Its getting down to crunch time with playoffs beginning soon so get out to the park if you can

That’s all I got.  Have a great long weekend and an outstanding week!