Dupont’s 10 Things
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By: Darren Dupont
Can you believe it’s only Wednesday? Let’s get at it, we have a lot to discuss.
1. Congrats: To Saskatoon Blades head coach Brennan Sonne who accepted a new job as assistant coach in the AHL with the Coachella Valley Firebirds. Sonne’s time with the Blades was exceptional. In three seasons he took the team to a pair of Eastern Conference Finals, won the league’s coach of-the-year, was nominated another time, led the team to back-to-back 100+ pt seasons (first time in franchise history) and won the Scotty Munroe Trophy as regular-season leaders this past year.
He’s blown away expectations and is a quality human being. I wish him the best and it will be very convenient to follow his journey considering how much time I’ve been spending in Palm Springs!
2. DaSilva: After the Sonne news was announced the Blades quickly appointed Associate Coach Dan DaSilva as their next bench boss. DaSilva spent three seasons as AC after a lengthy playing career. He’s just 39-years-old and becomes the first Blades coach actually from Saskatoon in a long time. Jamie Reeve coached the better part of the season in 2003 taking over from Kevin Dickie on an interim basis before Lorne Molleken became HC the next season.
Other than that, I can’t find a head coach for the Blades from Saskatoon. Maybe back in the very early days?
3. THE DERBY: We’re talking the MLB home run variety here. I watched. I loved the home run derby as a kid just like I loved every all star game and skills competition growing up. I watched the NBA skills, the HR derby, the NFL showcase, and especially the NHL skills competition. I watched most all star games too. These days it doesn’t quite do as much for me as it did, and that’s ok. I hear so much complaining about all star games and pro bowls but I think there is a massive lack of perspective. Have they really changed that much since we were kids? It’s meant to be fun, engaging, and to bring fans to the sport. As a kid, or a casual viewer, all star games can be fun. For serious sports fans they are boring, lack intensity, and are largely a waste of time. Watch Netflix then and leave the all star games to the target audience.
4. Complaining: While we’re at it, keep the complaining, trolling, and other negativity OUT of my DM’s. Thank you. I don’t need you to try to turn someone else’s win into a loss, or troll after a team loses. I have no time for post-game trash talk. Pre-game trash talk? I’m here for that.
5. Chris Jones: The Edmonton Elks are just a handful of plays away from being 4-1, or even 5-0. Instead, they’re 0-5 after a late-game collapse against Ottawa on Sunday night. The Elks clawed back to tie the game late but a miscue on the ensuing kickoff let the Ottawa Redblacks kick a game-winning field goal and hand Edmonton their fourth-straight loss by just three-points. On Tuesday they fired Head Coach and GM Chris Jones and appointed Jarius Jackson as HC and Geroy Simon as GM.
Jones didn’t deliver wins. Period. End of story. What’s crazy is this team is right there. There is talent on this roster and they are playing close to a level where they can be a real threat in the CFL’s West Division. But, they didn’t win and enough is enough. I think they’ll respond with a week this week.
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6. MUSIC: Random note as I write this. I’m listening to country music as I write and Alan Jackson’s ‘Chasin’ That Neon Rainbow’ is playing in the background of my home office.” Perfect.
7. ESPY’s: The ESPY’s were handed out and RP and I were discussing if Canada handed out its own version of the ESPY’s. I didn’t share mine on the show so I will here. *Disclaimer*: I make up the rules as I go. An American on a Canadian team in a Canadian league is eligible. Otherwise, it’s all Canadians.
(Also, Alabama’s ‘If You’re Gonna Play In Texas’ just came on next.)
Team of the Year: Montreal Alouettes. Their run at the end of the regular season and through the playoffs just BARELY trumps the Oilers run to the Stanley Cup Final. What does RP say? We count rings.
Male Athlete: Nathan MacKinnon. He won the Hart Trophy as league MVP. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was a consideration. He was a runner-up for MVP, is seen as a front-runner for MVP next season and will lead Canada in Paris.
Female Athlete: Summer McIntosh came to mind immediately. The 17-year-old won four world titles and set two world records. She’ll be Canada’s best athlete in Paris and will likely hold this spot next year.
Instead… the female athlete of the year is Rachel Homan. She went 11-0 and ran the table at the Scotties (only the 3rd time that’s EVER happened) and won Gold at the World Women’s Curling Championships. Following the record-breaking year, they’ve added Brendan Bottcher as coach.
(You just missed Randy Travis. Nitty Gritty Dirt Band is playing now.)
Breakthrough athlete: Tyson Philpot. The Grey Cup was his coming out party and he’s become one of the most exciting players in the game.
Championship Performance & Comeback Athlete: Cody Fajardo in the Grey Cup.
Curious what yours are?
8. Countdown to Paris: We are just 10-days away from the summer Olympics in Paris. How excited are you on a scale of 1-10? I’m a “6” today but in week I’ll be at least an 8.5. It’s Canada. It’s the Olympics. The TV will be on round-the-clock.
9. OHL: Back to hockey and an overdue congratulations to new OHL Commissioner Bryan Crawford. I met Bryan through his time at Golf Canada and am excited to see him take on this new challenge. The news broke in early June and he officially took the reins here in July. After spending all my life in Western Canada and spending so much time covering and working in the Western Hockey League it’s exciting (and daunting) to learn a new league. Nothing to officially report here, but I’m excited to get back on the air in a new league.
10. Randoms: I was going to write about the Winnipeg Jets this week but it’s summer and I’m trying to take a hockey break … I think leagues taking breaks is a good thing…. speaking of breaks, the NFL is officially back as training camps open this week. They did take a break even if it feels like it was short… Congrats to Carlos Alcaraz on winning Wimbledon in impressive fashion. He was the best start-to-finish and has cemented himself as the “next one” in men’s tennis… I really want to watch Twisters in Landmark Cinemas this week. It looks awesome and I’m becoming a fan of Glen Powell… early rivalry week in the CFL this week. Consider me a big fan of a Friday Night Football double-header… I’ll be at the Jays game Friday with a couple of my best friends in town this week and maybe seeing Matt Rife in Niagara Falls.
Have a good week & weekend!
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Great stuff It’s been a great week. Donald Trump survived an Assanination attempt and didn’t skip a beat. His VP J.D Vance has a great book Hillbilly Elegy which was recommended by NFL Peter King when he used to give his summer reading list recommendations. 39 years old and rose out of poverty – joined the marines, got an education and now look at him. ……in Regina nah…we need to work on people’s “complex needs.” The worm is turning. 6) When a Millenial is listening to old school country – there’s even more hope for the future. Go listen to… Read more »