DAYTONA HOMES FRIDAY RODSERVATIONS

CANADA’S TWO MOST FAMOUS MOUSTACHES:  Two Canadian sports icons – Lanny McDonald and Bob Poley – got together at Wednesday evening’s Regina Cougar Hockey Alumni fundraising dinner at the Travelodge.  The quotes were flying faster than I could write down!  The evening was a huge success because unlike last year’s inaugural dinner – when Tiger Williams spoke – no one went home injured.

STANDING “O”: It was a quick turnaround to get up to Saskatoon for Thursday’s U of S Huskies annual Dog’s Breakfast featuring keynote speakers Geroy Simon and Darian Durant.  The MC was TSN’s Glen Suitor and he knocked it out of the park.  In this photo, the Rider stars watch in amazement as they were celebrated by the soldout crowd.

PRAIRIE MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS: The sponsor of the guest speakers was Prairie Mobile and we all posed for a photo after the event.  Thanks to Prairie Mobile and Saskatoon for having me.  That was a fun speech to give.

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A DOZEN THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

1 – THE DOG DAYS ARE OVER:  I think we made it through the worst of it.  It’s less than a month until the Roughriders’ 2014 training camp opens in Saskatoon and with the CFL Draft coming up May 13, there’s plenty to talk about in the CFL right now.  Usually May is the quietest month on the CFL calender but with the Draft being moved back a couple of weeks, we’ve got action now.  However it will be tough to say good-bye to the 2013 season.  In many ways it was the greatest Roughrider season ever.

2 – ALL IN:  That historic 2013 Roughrider season has been captured in a special DVD produced by Rider Media entitled “All In“.  The show runs an hour and 10 minutes and provides a behind-the-scenes look at the season.  It features interviews with coaches, broadcasters and players plus exclusive footage from the season, the Grey Cup game and Grey Cup Festival.  The DVD goes on sale May 23 at a cost of only $14.99.  It will be available for purchase at all Federated Coop locations across the province (gas/convenience and food stores) plus the four Rider Store locations.  You can’t take your eyes off the show but my favourite scene is when John Chick unpacks his bags from an SUV and joins the Riders just in time for the start of training camp in Saskatoon.  It’s awesome!

3 – RIDER PRIDE’S AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH:  I say this a lot but this time I really think it’s true.  The Dog’s Breakfast was a great example of that when the 1800 patrons jumped to their feet to applaud Geroy and Darian.  Many of them told me they were more excited to hear from these two than past speakers Jeff Garcia, Reuben Mayes and Warren Moon!  Last week’s Estevan Bruins Sportsmans Dinner was another example where people seemed more excited to hear from the Riders’ Corey Chamblin and Chris Getzlaf than Hockey Hall of Famer Ray Bourque.  In fact an article in the Estevan Lifestyles publication this week extensively quoted the Roughriders but made no mention of Ray Bourque at all!  Perhaps, maybe, we take the Roughriders for granted in Regina sometimes but across the province the love for this franchise is unbridled.

4 – DURANT OPENS UP:  The Dog’s Breakfast was the first chance I’d had to chat with Darian Durant since the Grey Cup.  I asked the Roughrider quarterback how he feels about the departure of Kory Sheets and Weston Dressler to the NFL this off-season.

“I’d be lying if I said it didn’t concern me,” Durant admitted.  “You know the thing is our scouting staff does such a good job of bringing guys in and making sure they’re talented.  Two years ago nobody knew who Kory Sheets was and now he’s an Oakland Raider.  I think they’ll bring guys in who are ready to play.  It’s my job, along with the coaches and vets, to make these guys’ transition to the game as easy as possible.  It’s going to be a little bit of a challenge but at the end of the day I take pride in those types of things and I think we’ll be fine.”

5 – WHO LET THE DOGS OUT?:  There are a few hot button topics in this province that always get people wound-up.  They are politics, religion, race, and 50/50 money from the Rider games.  On Thursday the Roughriders presented the U of S Huskies with a cheque for $52,000 from proceeds of their 50/50 sales at home games.  That immediately had U of R Rams defenders crying foul because they’re the ones who do all the work selling tickets.  What’s the answer?  All I know is the Roughriders get none of it and it all goes to amateur football.

6 – INTERESTING QUOTE:  CFL VP of Officiating Glen Johnson gave a presentation to the media at Mosaic Stadium on Thursday regarding rule changes and guidelines for the 2014 season.  There’s a story posted below on what they all are but Johnson made an interesting point that there’s no chance for CFL referees to practice during the season.  At least, not at game speed.  “When you stop and think about it, there really isn’t,” Johnson said during his thorough address.  It’s certainly something most of us have never thought about but he says they’re working to change that this season.

7 – BUCHKO BACK IN THE RADIO BIZ:  Garth Buchko was dumped as President of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in August along with GM Joe Mack.  However we’ve learned Buchko has landed on his feet by taking an executive position with a Kamloops radio station.  Garth ran Winnipeg’s 680 CJOB for many years, making it one of the top radio stations in the country.  I know many who’ve worked for the man in radio and not one can say a bad thing about him.  Hopefully this is a successful venture for him.

8 – STADIUM UPDATES:  Anybody who regularly visits Evraz Place in Regina will certainly notice tangible evidence of preparations for the new stadium.  Elphinstone Street is blocked off seemingly forever while crews get in and out.  For photos of the construction and updates, follow the new account @YQRstadium on Twitter.  I even got a call on Thursday for input on the broadcast booths for the new facility.  That was rewarding.

9 – RAPID FIRE QUOTES OF THE WEEK:  Hockey Hall of Famer Lanny McDonald (Class of 1992) had the crowd in stitches at the Cougar Mens Hockey Alumni Dinner Wednesday night.  The Hanna, AB product clearly isn’t a Rider fan but he had a gem.  “I’m wearing green and drinking Pilsner beer!” McDonald smiled.  “Congratulations to the Roughriders for winning the Grey Cup.  You finally learned how to count.”  Lanny also poked fun at long time friend Bob Poley by saying he sports a “starter moustache”.

10 – SPEAKING OF HALL OF FAMES:  The 2015 induction class for the Canadian Football Hall of Fame will be announced during Grey Cup Week in Vancouver in November.  I’m told there will be a distinct Roughrider flavour this time around.  It’s going to be very exciting!

11 – KUDOS FROM THE COMMISH: The sale of the Regina Pats to Queen City Sports & Entertainment Group was unanimously approved by the WHL’s Board of Governors on Wednesday.  WHL Commissioner Ron Robison (the pride of Indian Head, SK) spoke about the new Pats owners on Thursday’s SportsCage.

“First of all we’re very appreciative of what the Parker family did for running the team for almost 20 years.  It was not in the best condition when they took over but they did an exceptional job,” Robison said.  “But we’re delighted with the new ownership group.  We couldn’t be more pleased to have the type of stature and influence in the community from a group of very successful local businessmen to step up and take on ownership of the Regina Pats led by Anthony Marquart and Todd Lumbard.  We’re really excited to get going and see what this group can do because we think it’s an ideal ownership group.

“Both Anthony and Todd did an excellent presentation to the Board of Governors and really represented the group exceptionally well.  They also took part in Thursday’s draft, sitting right at the table and were very hands-on.  We’re delighted that a group of this calibre is taking over ownership in Regina and I think there’s great days ahead for Pats fans.”

12 – WHO LET THE DOGS OUT II?:  It’s one of the biggest games in Yorkton Terriers history.  The Terriers face host Dauphin Saturday night in the championship of the Western Canada Cup.  A trip to the Royal Bank Cup is on the line.

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IT’S BEEN AN UP WEEK! SEE YOU IN THE CAGE ON FRIDAY
RP
@sportscage