LAS VEGAS RODSERVATIONS

Home of the Golden Knights. Photo credit: Shae Paisley

11 ONE-TIMERS

1 – HOCKEYTOWN SOUTH: Greetings from the newest hockey city in North America, Las Vegas, Nevada!

We’ve been coming down here on these CKRM/Harvard Broadcasting trips for quite a few years now but it’s never been a hockey town. Until now.

And the NHL’s Golden Knights will make a splash on Thursday when they announce their first ever Head Coach at a noon news conference. Unfortunately the cat’s already out of the bag, as the news was leaked on Wednesday that former Columbus and Florida bench boss Gerard Gallant will be this franchise’s first-ever Head Coach. He’s got a really big – but exciting – job ahead of him.

2 – WELCOME TO REALITY: Just one other Vegas note, because that’s not what you came here for today. The locals, the Las Vegans, can’t believe the cost of NHL tickets! My friends who make their home in Nevada are astounded at having to shell out $200 for good seats to Golden Knights games, or up to $10,000 for a pair of season tickets.

You see, they’re used to getting tickets for free or getting minor league baseball or NCAA basketball tickets for peanuts.

But they wanted to be big time, and now they are. So far however, the associated cost has been tough for them to swallow.

3 – SORRY, ONE MORE: Shortly after a supper news story on local TV aired regarding the hiring of Gerard Gallant, the NBC affiliate blurted a commercial that said, “NBC Las Vegas welcomes the Raiders!”

They are referring, of course, to the NFL’s Oakland Raiders who will be moving here in a few years’ time.

Ummmm, the football team is already overshadowing the local NHL team, and they haven’t even set up shop yet.

As you know, I’m an “eavesdropper” and the conversations I’ve overheard from hotel and casino staff, store clerks and cab drivers this week is all about the Raiders. That’s understandable because in America, football is king.

All it means is the Golden Knights need to bare down and dig deeper. They need more do’ers, and less thinkers.

But it can be done with hard work.

4 – THE OTHER J.O.: I have to admit that when the news broke on Wednesday morning that Jeffrey Orridge was stepping down as CFL Commissioner, my heart sank a little. It’s no secret that we had our battles but I’d truly come around on the guy. The Roster-Gate scandal from last summer is ancient history as far as most everyone is concerned, and I defended Orridge’s stance at Grey Cup on the concussion issue as it relates to the CFL.

Furthermore, we spent a great deal of time together at Marks CFL Week last month, and I grew to respect him even more.

And then, Wednesday’s bombshell came down.

So, I was a little disappointed and I think most would admit it came totally out of the blue.

I sincerely wish Jeffrey well in his future endeavours. He was put in a tough spot.

5 – SO WHO’S NEXT?: Literally moments after the CFL confirmed that Orridge was stepping down, names starting flying regarding a replacement. Pinball Clemons, Glen Suitor and Jim Hopson were the three names I heard the most.

Is there a modicum of creedence to any of them? Hopson seems to be enjoying retirement. Pinball is in the shadows of the Argonauts organization but would have to be considered a front-runner, if he wants it. He’s a football guy and a P.R. dream.

Another name you’ll hear in this CFL Commissioner search: Scott Schultz.

UPDATE: Some other big-time, highly-qualified people are stepping up on Thursday and throwing their hat into the ring for this job.

My question: where were they two years ago? Did no one want to follow Mark Cohon?

Puzzling.

6 – THE EVIL EMPIRE: 3DownNation.com’s Justin Dunk reported on Wednesday that long-time Roughriders front office man Jeremy O’Day is preparing to interview for the Edmonton Eskimos’ vacant General Manager’s position.

He knows Esks President Len Rhodes well, after interviewing in Edmonton four years ago. In his short time as interim GM of the Riders, O’Day made some nifty manoeuvres such as acquiring a sturdy kicker (Tyler Crapigna) and dealing Kevin Glenn to Montreal for draft picks. A little over a year later, Glenn is right back in Green & White.

However I got a tip Wednesday night that the Eskimos Alumni is pushing hard for Blue Bombers Assistant GM Danny McManus to replace Ed Hervey. Remember, “Once an Eskimo, always an Eskimo”.

Several former Eskimos vented their frustration on Facebook over the firing of Hervey for “non-football” reasons. They seemed to really like and respect Ed.

That situation is proving to be very interesting.

7 – VINCE YOUNG: Rider fans are giddy this morning about a video Vince Young posted to YouTube of his workouts in Austin, TX. It looks very impressive.

Maybe, must maybe, is there a chance Chris Jones might know what he’s doing?

8 – HOW ABOUT THOSE PATS?: Count me among the many who are astounded that the Regina Pats are facing elimination from the WHL Playoffs, trailing Swift Current 3-1 in their second round series.

The Pats have held the lead for much of the series and have outshot the Broncos by a whopping 197-155 margin. They’ve outscored them 12-11 through four games.

On average, the Pats are outshooting the Broncos 49-38 per game and outscoring them 3-to-2.75.

So what in the hell gives? Obviously they could just as easily be up at least 3-1 since three games have gone to overtime. A fortunate bounce here or there, and they could’ve already won in a sweep.

BUT, that’s not the case.

And, clearly, Swift Current is winning the goaltending battle while the absence of Adam Brooks, Filip Ahl and Jake Lescyshyn is crippling Regina.

Can the Pats turn it around and win this series? Of course they can but it’s going to be an incredibly tough road. Remember, they lost Game 1 by a 2-1 OT score when they were playing with a mostly full deck.

Right now, you’ve got to take your hat off to Emmanuel Viveiros’s Broncos. They’ve come in with a plan and not wavered.

9 – THE TV GAME: This series has been watched far and wide. The NHL Network picked up Sportsnet’s broadcast of Game 3 and it was seen in sports bars and sports books all over Las Vegas. It was cool to see the Pats on the screens down here.

Although the epic triple overtime in Game 4 was limited to Western Canada on Access and Shaw, several CKRM customers on this trip watched the game on Facebook Live from a fan who was livestreaming from the arena in Swift Current.

Today’s broadcast and social media technology knows no bounds.

I’m happy to report I’ll be back in Regina to call Game 5 on Access and Shaw, and hopefully a Game 6 and 7.

10 – A RUFF EXIT: On the March 24 edition of the SportsCage on 620 CKRM, I told the listeners that Ken Hitchcock would be the Head Coach of the Dallas Stars next season. On Wednesday the Stars made it official, just days after announcing Lindy Ruff would not be back.

That’s the good news. The bad news is I’ve been wrong on 1,376 things in between.

11 – THE RATINGS GAME: On Monday TSN announced that 1.3-million people watched the final round of the Masters while 1-million viewers tuned into the World Mens Curling Championship final.

Canada’s Brad Gushue went undefeated through the event – going 11-0 in the round robin plus a pair of playoff wins – and never broke a sweat. There was no drama in the tournament at all! Yet millions of people tuned in to witness the carnage.

I’m starting to think that Canadian curling fans are just like the nation’s hockey fans; they want to see blowout wins and total domination. To hell with close games.

I suppose they are the same people cheering for both sports.

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THAT’S IT! SEE YOU FRIDAY ..
RP
@rodpedersen