FRIDAY RODSERVATIONS
A DOG’S BREAKFAST OF THOUGHTS:
1 – A PREDICTION: The USA will beat Canada 5-2 today in the semifinal of mens hockey at the Sochi Olympics. If Canada’s struggling to score (just think about that for a second), and it comes down to a goaltenders’ duel between Carey Price and Johnathan Quick, you’ve got to go with the Americans. I hope I’m wrong.
Where will you be watching the game? We’re having a pizza party at CKRM to watch the game at 11:00 am on CBC. It’s wonderful watching the country come together like this in the name of hockey. Today is an iconic moment you’ll remember for the rest of your life. Seize it!
2 – QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Every game for Canada is like a cocktail party; ‘Hi, my name is _______, what’s your name?'”
– Sportsnet’s Gord Stellick on Team Canada’s lack of chemistry and continuity in Sochi.
3 – TWEET OF THE WEEK: Joffrey Lupul of the Toronto Maple Leafs offered this Tweet to American teammates Phil Kessel and James Van Riemsdyk:
“From: @RealJLupul
I might not make it on Twitter Friday, so ill Tweet this out now… No shame in Bronze guys, @PKessel81 @JVReemer21. Good try! #GoCanadaGo”
4 – YOU’RE DYING FOR RIDER NEWS: Of course you are. We’re not going to belabor the mass exodus from Riderville here today. Frankly it’s a tad depressing. But, the fact remains, these players could stay if they were willing to take less money and continue to be part of something special (a la Tom Brady). However a lot of football people say the NFL is an unfair comparison. Tom Brady has more money than he can spend so it’s not a huge deal for him to take a few less million to stay in New England. In the CFL, we’re taking about five digits. Which is fine. Just don’t blame the Riders. They did it all to win in 2013. That should be enough to tide the Rider Nation over for awhile.
5 – OH YAH. THE NEWS: The Riders would gladly like to re-sign free agent returner/running back Jock Sanders but I’m told he’s got offers on the table from four teams. Saskatchewan is just waiting for him to make a decision. However Jock could fall into the “It’s All About The Money” category as well.
6 – HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Happy 37th Birthday to former Saskatchewan Roughriders safety Scott Gordon! “Gordo” was the safety on the Riders’ 2007 Grey Cup champion team. He now owns his own plumbing company in Ottawa and has tons of kids.
7 – SPEAKING OF MASS EXODUSES!: The SportsCage took it hard this week with the loss of football analysts Marc Mueller (to the Calgary Stampeders) and Gary Etcheverry (to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers). We’ve long had the best analysts around. Now we just have to find more.
8 – LOVE THE WHL PROMOTIONS: In honour of their play-by-play man Les Lazurak who called his 1500th game on the weekend, the Saskatoon Blades allowed free admission to anyone with red hair to Wednesday’s 4-2 home loss to the Regina Pats.
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| Brandi Brodsky |
Meanwhile in Prince George, the Cougars announced plans for their second annual “Raise the Woof” Dog Night on Saturday March 1st 2014, when the team plays host to the visiting Victoria Royals.
Fans who bring their dog to the game will sit in Section P of the CN Centre and all dogs will receive free admission for their own seats – and free dog treats as well!
“For our inaugural event last year, we had over 50 dogs attend the game and their presence made that game so much fun for everyone that we could hardly wait to plan this year’s event”, said Brandi Brodsky, Cougars Vice-President. “The dogs last year were really well behaved, and it is a great chance for people to bring their furry family member to a public event.”
9 – I’M “LAICH”‘ING IT: Wawota, Saskatchewan’s Brooks Laich of the Washington Capitals got tongues wagging over the Olympic break when the world discovered his romance with movie star Julianne Hough. She has also appeared on Dancing With The Stars.
“To be honest, I had never seen an episode of Dancing With The Stars,” Laich told a Washington radio station. “But in my defense, she had never seen a Caps game either until she met (mutual friend) Teddy. But other than that, I don’t want to get into a whole lot of it; I’m kind of shy on my personal life.
10 – END THE DROUGHT: The Tim Horton’s Brier begins a week from Saturday in Kamloops and Saskatchewan will be represented by Steven Laycock of the Saskatoon Nutana Club. It’s his fourth appearance at the Brier and he’s hoping to snap our province’s dryspell which dates back to Rick Folk’s national title in 1980. Steven works in Human Resources at the University of Saskatchewan and is a real great guy! We’ll be watching as many of his games as possible.
11 – BATTLE OF THE ROYAL FAMILY: It’s a fun engagement in the Brandt Centre tonight as the Regina Pats play host to the Victoria Royals. Both cities got their names from the Royal Family. It’s a great chance to watch the first-place Regina Pats this weekend as they welcome the Calgary Hitmen Saturday night. We’ll be broadcasting today’s SportsCage from the Dome as well at 4:00 pm on 620 CKRM.
12 – MORE FROM VICTORIA: The University of Victoria Vics visit the University of Regina Cougars Friday and Saturday (and possibly Sunday in a Canada West women’s basketball playoff series. Tip-off is 7:00 each night at the CKHS. It’ll take some juggling, but we’ll be there at some point this weekend to cheer on REGINA!
13 – OR GO TO A MOVIE: If you haven’t seen American Hustle yet, do it this weekend. The show stars Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence and I don’t hesitate for a second to urge you to spend your money on it. The acting is out-of-this-world! Trust me you’ll like it.
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| George Yannitsos from the Four Seasons Sports Palace sent in this shot from the beach in Hawaii |
THAT’S ALL! GO CANADA!
RP
@sportscage
your a true moron pedersen
It's "you're a true moron pedersen"
Y'er welcome,
RP
Sign Sanders…!!! PLEASE…!
The Rock
Lol
Well now, that's a great start to the day! I agree that Rod needs some heat for cheering for Latvia last game but he is definitely not a moron. Not even close. Today is a day where we all need to put aside our dumb grievances with each other and cheer on our country to glory. I fully expect us to win and then beat Sweeden for Gold. Cause that's how we roll! And I agree, we need to bring back Jockey. He's a great player and showed in the playoffs that he can really give defences fits when he… Read more »
Good come back, lol.
It is difficult to compare CFl and NFL. That is like saying the guy tried the NHL when he could have had a long career in the AHL.
Been part of something special? Not even sure I know what that means.
"They did it all to win in 2013. That should be enough to tide the rider nation over for a while". That's the lamest statement ive read all week. Teams in all sports loose players every offseason and a good GM will find replacements. I hope taman doesn't get a 3 year pass because he won one cup. Good teams are competitive every year. The NFL combine is on now, do we have scouts there? Compare this years new England patriots roster to last seasons. Now compare records. I hope we don't sit around and wait for Dressler and sheets… Read more »
Why would you come on here and write a stupid comment like "your a true moron Pedersen" – Why the hell are you on his blog then? Don't come back. I've wasted 10 seconds of my life that i'll never get back reading your useless comment.
Please don't make this Olympics all about the men's hockey, there are so many sports and so many athletes who got on the podium and so many who are so very close. We will end up having a very good Olympics DESPITE the hockey. Keep up the great work over the next four years and look out for us!
1. Way to go Brooks Laich! That girl is a super-hottie
2. Rod you've lost two of your best analysts to "free agency". OMG!! Sky is falling!! How will you ever replace them? I mean, they must be the only two football analysts left in the ENTIRE world! Might as well just fold the show now. #typicalRiderFan #sarcasm
"They did it all to win in 2013. That should be enough to tide the rider nation over for a while". That's the lamest statement ive read all week. I have to agree with sentiment from the poster who pasted it. It does seem disrespectful to the fans and intimates that a free pass should be given to the team if they don't win in seasons to come. Are we supposed to go back to the old Rider ways of winning a Grey Cup every 20 years or so? When Montreal beat us the first time I wonder if they… Read more »
#worldsbestfans
Hahaha
Punctuation:
The difference between knowing your sh!t, and knowing you're sh!t.
The Americans sure have looked like world betters in the Olympics… not. They struggled to beat the Russians and likely should have lost if not for a disallowed goal. And the Russians didn't even look like a team.
Canada is heads and shoulders above the Americans everywhere, except in net. Canada always struggles against inferior teams, only when it matters most do they came out and play their best.
Always remember Rod Pedersen is a Rider employee. He's a rah! rah! homer kind of guy, entertaining ,worth reading, but you're never going to get any thoughtful analysis about the Riders here. If you're looking for Rider insight stick with the Leader-Post.
If you were in my position, you'd do the exact same thing.
I have to agree with these guys Rod. This idea of that the fans will accept losing for a few years after we won it all last year is completely ridiculous. 2011 was one of the worst Rider seasons in history and while I'm not saying that will happen again, I do not want this team to get complacent. Is it reasonable to expect the Riders to win the Grey Cup every year? No. Is it reasonable to expect the Riders to do everything they can and try their absolute damndest to win the Cup every year? Absolutely. Like the… Read more »
Ummmmm … they haven't lost a game yet in 2014.
When you win the championship, every player's value increases by 20%, so there is NO way the Riders can expect to field the same team (not that they can do this any year). Instead of bemoaning all the players that have left, take a look at who is still here. The Best coaching staff, the best Offensive line, the best QBs, and a stellar defence. The Riders will be a top team in 2014. In my opinion, the only BIG hole to fill is Dressler's. All the other guys who have left will be easily replaced or have already been… Read more »
A few things: 1) Not sure if the Brooks Laich story is as big a deal as it's made out to be. In context it's an accomplishment for anybody from Wawota to land her, but he's following Ryan Seacrest. It's similar to Dion Phaneuf and Elisha Cuthbert. Had Laich had her in season 3 of Dancing with the Stars or even during the Footloos remake it would be like beating Tito Ortiz in the UFC…back when that meant something. Phaneuf is the same thing as had he accomplished that feat during season five of 24 or during the filming of… Read more »