Commentary: An Inspiration

(Listen daily for the RP Commentary on the All New Hits 98 CKHD & LTD Radio)

A coupla thoughts heading into the weekend:

#1 – It’s been a treat to read and listen to the tributes pouring in this week for former Roughriders President Jim Hopson, who passed away at age 73.

They’re fitting for the king that he was.

I got a million Hoppy stories too, and I’ll tell a lot of them at a string of sports banquets this summer in Sask which you’ll be hearing about soon. (For bookings call EMJ Marketing at 306-631-4123)

Like the night in Weyburn when they snatched the Rider tie right off my neck and auctioned it off for $10-grand at the height of the oil boom.

I called Jim the next day and he said to come into the Rider Store Monday morning and grab 10 more!

They say Jim’s Celebration of Life will be on May 3 but I’m not sure if I’ll be back in time or not. We already had our end-of-life conversation and he gave me guidance one last time.

And that conversation’s always going to stay between us.

#2 – Another Hopson line I’ll never forget is, “Life has a way of taking you where you need to go.”

I think of that often, with this great new life in Florida and following the sports teams here. Here’s a little secret: they don’t care where you’re from in the Sunshine State. 25% of Floridians weren’t even born in the U.S. and over 50% are from some other State.

It’s just a shared fun of the sun, sports, or whatever you’re into. Florida’s the Capital of Fishing, Fitness, Golf, Ballroom Dancing, Anti-Aging, Addiction, but also Recovery, and a whole lotta things I haven’t even discovered yet.

And for now, it’s home to two of the NHL’s best hockey teams whose fans can’t get enough coverage like what a guy like me can provide.

Jim Hopson didn’t takeover the Riders until age 54. That’s quite a second half kickoff of life isn’t it?

What an inspiration.

That’s today’s Rod Pedersen Commentary

(The Rod Pedersen Show airs daily at 12 pm & 5 pm on Game+TV, WQEE Radio, Podcast & YouTube Live)