Commentary: The Rest Of The Story
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For the Rider Priders, days like Monday are one of the highlights of the year.
In this case, the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders announced the 2026 induction class for the Plaza of Honour; the franchise’s Hall of Fame.
Going into the Plaza this year are receiver Rob Bagg (2008-2018), centre Dan Clark (2009-2022) and kicker Paul McCallum (1994-2005).
Clearly 90 seconds in this Commentary aren’t nearly enough to tell all the stories I have of these fellas after calling the majority of their games for a couple decades on CKRM Radio.
What jumps out about Rob Bagg is that he actually made the team in 2007 but elected to go back to Queen’s to finish his degree. That absolutely stunned the coach & GM tandem of Kent Austin and Eric Tillman at the time, and the club went on to win the Grey Cup that year without Bagg, but when the Kingston product lifted the trophy in 2013 at Taylor Field on the greatest day in Saskatchewan history, that was one of the greatest, underlying stories.
Dan Clark was just a Regina northend kid living his dream every single day playing for the Roughriders, and he was never shy to tell people. He wasn’t the most talented guy to come through those doors – which he also wasn’t shy to tell people – but he carved a 12-year career out of sheer hard work.
And then there’s Paul McCallum. Second all-time in career points, set a record for the CFL’s longest field goal – I can list off his accomplishments without having to look any of it up – but his miss in overtime of the 2004 West Final changed the course of his Rider career forever. And his legacy.
I saw he told reporters this week that the only reason he left Saskatchewan was because of GM Roy Shivers which we all knew at the time. Maybe only some of us knew. Same as Henry Burris. But it’s nice to see some longstanding wrongs finally being righted, even if it took 20 years.
If you ever wanna know why Shivers never won a Grey Cup in Sask, just ask me.
That’s today’s Rod Pedersen Commentary.
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They put Roy Shivers in the Plaza …
Yet a devoted Catholic family man who had and raised his kids here and kept his nose clean in the community doesn’t get near it.
2 time Grey Cup Champion
6 time All Star
CFL Defensive player of the year
The most dominant defensive lineman in Rider history and top 5 all time in CFL…..
That guy doesn’t get in.
For shame..
I’ll bite…why didn’t Shivers win here?
Running off future Hall of Famers would be a good place to start.
I’ll tell you why Give Tom Sheperd the credit he deserves. He summed up Roy Shivers succinctly on an episode of SportsCage. Give Jim Hopson credit. He wrote a book and for all of Roy’s blustery Oakland/B Panthers/from da street’s yada yada yada yada yada – At an annual general meeting the CEO a former North Central Regina alumni invited him outside so he could allow Roy one free shot. He’d give Roy one; before he pumped his eyes shut. He left how many pending free agents for Eric Tillman to clean up? Did the story get out how Darian… Read more »
Choosing the inadequate inefficient incompetent Nealon Greene as our starting quarterback
Getting into a pissing contest with Henry Burris and making Calgary a better team and us worse.
There’s two sides to every story. I am on Henry’s side 100% and history has born that out.
At the end of the day though Hank’s old lady should keep her big mouth shut when the men folk are conducting business.
In Roy’s defense and it’s a light defense. He comes from an era where they are to be seen and not heard.
WOW! I’ve waited years for this column. Thanks Rod.
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