MOSAIC PLACE MONDAY MORNING GOALIE
WHAT A WEEKEND! LET’S DISCUSS…
1 – POUR SOME SUGAR ON ME: Sunday evening Regina was treated to a fantastic show by rock legends Def Leppard at the Brandt Centre. It certainly was a trip back in time. Tight jeans, leather jackets, teased hair. And that was just the guys! Proving once again that the Queen City certainly is an 80’s rock town, Def Leppard played a soldout show which included 17 songs over 90 minutes and they left with a standing ovation. It definitely brought back memories of house parties, high school dances and the like. We were treated to club seats by Fraser Strategy and had a great time. Thanks Trent Fraser and Tony Playter for an enjoyable evening! And thanks to Ian Jewsbury for the photo.
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| Devon White poses with fans at the Red Sox Dinner |
2- SHUT-UP!: On Saturday night I was pleased to be the MC for the 11th annual Regina Red Sox Sports Dinner & Auction at the Turvey Centre featuring three-time World Series champion Devon White of Toronto Blue Jays fame. Sadly – and many in attendance will attest – the evening had somewhat of an awkward vibe since many in the soldout crowd paid no attention to what was going on on stage. Initially it didn’t bother me a great deal – I was getting paid regardless – but the incessant buzz from the crowd seemed to annoy Devon White. Twice during his Q & A session with local reporters Lee Jones and Murray McCormick, “Devo” had to shush the crowd but it fell on deaf ears. It was unfortunate that White had come such a long way from Florida to tell his baseball stories but was distracted for much of the night. I ran into Devon at the Ramada Hotel Sunday morning and asked him about the event, but he just rolled his eyes. Hey, I suppose if you pay your money you can do what you like but it didn’t seem like the baseball-crazy crowds we’ve enjoyed over the years with such speakers as Tommy John, Rick Cerrone, Duane Ward, Jesse Barfield and Jose Canseco. Regardless, the 2015 Red Sox season is right around the corner and season ticket info is available on their website at www.reginaredsox.com.
3 – ON ROUGHRIDERS: The calendar is about to flip to May and we’re headed into the most agonizingly long month of the off-season. 2015 Roughrider training camp will begin on Sunday, May 31 in Saskatoon but that seems like a million miles away. The Rider coaches are enjoying their last few days off before reporting to Mosaic Stadium later this week to continue preparations for the upcoming season.
What’s new with the Riders? Not much, it appears from the outside, although the football operations staff continues to evaluate the individual performances from the April minicamp in Florida and settling on their training camp roster.
The hot question continues to be: how will the Riders fare this year? The club is certainly optimistic, and eager to put the bitter 2014 season behind them. CFL observers have whispered that the Riders have questions at the quarterback position but I don’t agree. Darian Durant says he’s 100% and that’s the biggest relief however if he goes down with injury again, the club moved swiftly to get a competent back-up in place with Kevin Glenn.
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| tickets.mosaicplace.ca |
4 – MORE ON THE QUARTERBACKS: Friday’s release of pivot Seth Doege was disappointing but not entirely surprising. The window to shine in pro football is small and unfortunately Doege faltered with his three interceptions in his only start on October 3 at home against Calgary. Could he perform better under new offensive coordinator Jacques Chapdelaine? We’ll never know, and clearly Chapdelaine wasn’t satisfied with what he saw out of Seth on film and in Florida.
The release of Doege leaves the Riders with four quarterbacks: Durant, Glenn, Sunseri and newcomer Brett Smith. Many fans have asked the whereabouts of youngster Keith Price, who joined the club’s practice roster late in the 2014 season. The Riders have told me that since Price ended the season on the PR, it means he technically isn’t under contract but remains on their negotiation list. The release of Doege opened up the option of signing another quarterback before training camp and Price is a candidate for that spot.
The most-fascinating question I have is, if the quarterback trio coming out of training camp is Durant, Glenn and Sunseri, then who comes off the bench to replace Durant if and when the situation arises? Right now there is no answer for that, so it makes training camp and the preseason all the more interesting.
CFL on TSN analyst Paul Lapolice will join us on CKRM’s Rider Monday in the SportsCage to breakdown the CFL’s West Division going into 2015.
5 – UP IN FORT MAC: There’s lots brewing in the Northern Alberta community of Fort McMurray these days. They are hosting the Junior A Western Canadian Challenge Cup to decide who moves onto the Royal Bank Cup in Portage, Manitoba. Our old buddy Curtis Hunt is the Coach & GM of the host Fort McMurray Oil Barons who are 1-1 so far after a 3-1 victory over Portage on Saturday and a 6-0 loss to the Penticton Vees on Sunday. There are generally two berths available in the RBC out of the WCCC but this year there are three since the Portage Terriers will host the RBC.
Meanwhile the community of 61,000 is buzzing over the CFL preseason game between the Saskatchewan Roughriders and host Edmonton Eskimos on Saturday, June 13 (8:00 pm kickoff). How many Rider fans will be making the trip up to SMS Equipment Stadium for the clash? Tickets are going for around $100. We can’t wait to get there, and call all the action on 620 CKRM.
6 – SEASON TICKET CRUNCH: The Roughriders sent out a lengthy questionnaire to season ticket holders recently hoping to get a handle on fans’ thoughts as they pertain to moving into Mosaic Stadium 2 in 2017. It’s a highly-delicate matter because the club wants as little displacement as possible. I’m a season ticket holder but left Mrs. SportsCage to fill out the survey because she’s the one who uses the tickets. Two of the most-important factors are: how important are sightlines to you versus staying amongst your section mates? Perhaps you can still have both. Honestly I wouldn’t be as concerned about keeping the community around me together — I watch Pats games from a different location each night — but I know it’s incredibly important to others. The social aspect of Rider games is huge.
Roughriders VP of Business Development Gregg Sauter will be on the SportsCage on Monday to answer your questions.
7 – AROUND THE CFL: The Calgary Stampeders held their annual minicamp at Bradenton, FL’s IMG Academy over the weekend with little fanfare. Calgary is engulfed with Flames Fever right now and the city’s football team was able to get their work in without any distractions … One CFL type scoffed that the Riders were intent to pump information back to Regina about their camp but that actually wasn’t the case. With the Roughriders being the biggest game in this province, they had no choice but to let the media in. Most other CFL teams don’t draw the type of attention the Green & White does … The Hamilton Tiger-Cats open their 2015 minicamp on Monday but aren’t headed to any sunny locales. Coach & GM Kent Austin will put his troops through their paces at Hamilton’s McMaster University this week and they’re looking for a back-up quarterback for Zach Collaros after Dan Lefevour bolted to Montreal this winter … The B.C. Lions will be holding an “offensive minicamp” at their facility in Surrey this week under new head coach Jeff Tedford. Did you forget the Lions hired Tedford? The West Division is shaping up to be tougher than normal in 2015 … In Winnipeg, Investors Group Field continues to be a horror story. The CEO of the construction company which built the home of the Bombers – David LeMay of Stuart Olson Dominion – held a news conference on Friday at which he maintained his company stands behind its work and delivered the product which was ordered. Stuart Olson said in its statement of defence that stadium owner Triple B and the Manitoba government approved the design without regard for potential problems.
8 – VERY WINNIPEGISH: Over to hockey, and Anaheim Ducks forward Ryan Kesler told the L.A. Times that the incessant booing and catcalling directed towards him by Jets fans in their opening round series only served to spur him on. “It energizes me. Obviously you hear it,” Kesler told Helene Elliot of the Times. “Obviously I’m doing something right. I fed off it and it helped my game.” If you’re a Jets fan, that’s an “ouch”. They helped the other team!
9 – HAIL THE PENS: Which American NHL team draws the highest television ratings in its own market? That’s right, the Pittsburgh Penguins for the sixth consecutive season. The Sports Business Journal published the study over the weekend and it appears the City of Pittsburgh has the biggest love affair with its team out of the 23 U.S. markets. Who has the worst TV ratings in its own town? The Florida Panthers, who finished 30th. The least-watched American team in the NHL’s Western Conference are the Arizona Coyotes. Plenty of work to be done there. Ratings of Canadian NHL teams in their own markets weren’t available.
10 – WHAT’S GOING ON IN EDMONTON?: It seems the teams that missed the NHL playoffs are the ones most in the news this spring. The Edmonton Oilers replaced Kevin Lowe and Craig MacTavish on Friday with Peter Chiarelli as GM and President of Hockey Operations however as one Oilers fan put it: they must have a huge office at Rexall Place because no one ever actually gets fired there!
Meanwhile the father of projected #1 pick Connor McDavid – Brian McDavid – came out in his son’s defense in a column by Terry Jones of the Edmonton Sun last week. (Why are they interviewing players’ parents anyways? If it’s not Walter Gretzky, I don’t care to hear from them). Regardless, the elder McDavid explained why his son seemed so stunned at Edmonton winning the NHL’s Draft Lottery last weekend. Brian McDavid said his son hadn’t considered the thought of Edmonton going to to the Oilers because the odds were so stacked against them. However he said his son would be honoured and humbled at the opportunity to play in Oil Country.
Don’t think for a second that the Oilers won’t draft McDavid either by the way. Wayne Gretzky placed a call to Connor as did Jordan Eberle and a few other Oilers stars after the lottery. He can start getting used to blue and orange.
You also know it’s absolutely eating Edmonton alive that the Calgary Flames have lapped them in terms of rebuilding, whatwith the Flames off to Round 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs and the Oilers still spinning their wheels.
Meanwhile not everyone in Calgary has Flames Fever. My Facebook friend Tammy Bessette from the Stampede City wrote on Twitter over the weekend: “I dont think I’ve ever HATED the Calgary Flames as much as I do right now: Hoping for a nice Anaheim sweep in Round 2. Funniest part is the Dome has been 1/2 empty the past 4 seasons, now-suddenly- EVVVVERYBODY is a Flames fan…..Typical f’ing Calgary”
– And one last NHL note — it was disturbing to read former NHL’er Mike Peluso’s open letter in the Globe & Mail on Saturday in which he laid blame at the feet of trainers, coaches and management for the post-career physical issues he’s battling. The Hibbing, Minnesota product played parts of 10 NHL seasons and won a Stanley Cup with New Jersey in 1995 however these days he’s dealing with a variety of problems associated with his many concussions. The simple question I have for Peluso – as I have for all ex-athletes dealing with these problems – is: would you have done anything differently in your career? They invariably say “no”. Peluso stated he was eager to play and would do anything it took to stay in the NHL. For him, that meant fighting.
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THAT’S ALL FOR TODAY! THANKS FOR READING
RP
@sportscage
Instagram: ridervoice
Hey Rod exactly what Peluso is saying is that he would do things different now. What seems like a good idea at 23 often seems silly later in life. He has regrets. My guess is he would trade the ring in a second for a clean bill of health. Some may judge him for that but until you are actually really sick it is hard to say what your priorities would be
I'll be disappointed if Kevin Glenn gets more reps than Tino. Glenn should be viewed as an insurance policy, Sunseri as the future.
TR
Hey Tammy, there were plenty of Oilers games this year where the stands looked rather scarce of fans. But suddenly a first overall pick happens and everyone thinks Stanley Cup instantly. Plus, what kind of loyal fans throw their teams sweater on the ice? Typical Edmonton. Never happened in Calgary once, even in the lean years.
Flames in seven!
Hilary
Durant is 32. Myself and he has even said he would hope to play 8 more years (with the riders).
So my dream would be for him to finish with say 4 grey cups and me not even remembering who Tino was.
Pretty embarrassing scene at the Turvey Centre on Saturday night. People in Regina always wonder why they don't get big event there… you want a reason…look no further then the way the fools in attendance behaved that night. Also, this Tammy Bessette sounds like a bitter Canucks fan who simply can't accept her team's fate… sorry Tammy, the better team won. Your nucks are old!!!!
Could have done without seeing the girl puke in front of me as I was leaving Brandt Centre, but that concert was one of the best I have been to.
There was energy in the building and those old guys still know how to work a crowd.
Sorry but sometimes people party too hard at rock concerts and puke. Tough luck.
Wasn't at the Red Sox dinner but wondering was the crowd rude towards Devo or were the disinterested in what he had to say. Either way very disrespectful
I don't know what has happened lately in terms of just paying attention to the speaker or main stage. It seems that every where you go, there are people in the crowd that seem to think they are the focus of the event! Instead, maybe shut up and listen to what is going on. Prime example, Jon Ryan Golf Fundraiser last year. You couldn't even hear the guy with the microphone, Ballsy had to grab the mic twice and say "hey, there is some bidding going on here and if you're not interested, maybe grab another drink and zip it"… Read more »
Flames don't stand a chance next round. Sorry
Was at the Red Sox Dinner…we were at a table by the entrance and acoustics & sound system very bad…could not here a lot of what Devon was saying while Murray & Lee came through crystal clear, as they know where to hold the mike. The crowd seemed to be quieter prior to intermission but was very noisy after. Too bad as Devon had a sense of humour and laid it on the line when it came to the problems in the Jays organization. Not sure why people just can't LISTEN during these events. The past years I have attended… Read more »
Thank you Mr.Devon Whyte via ROD PEDERSEN.COM
ElA
Excellent column as usual Roddy. there are definitely a lot of bandwagon jumpers in Calgary, as there are in ANY city, in any sport. But although the Flames have been out of the playoffs for several years, the building is never half empty like your friend Tammy believes. Since the 2005/06 season they average 19289 in a stadium with capacity of the same. Paid attendance is certainly different than bodies in seats… But really?… Half full? Lots of room on board the bandwagon folks, even for you Oiler fans
Maybe the problem is there is a dinner every weekend!! Zero offence to you Rod because you are just doing your job, but almost weekly on this blog you are MC'ing a dinner event. They aren't special anymore – and a lot of the messages are the same. So people just go to support and socialize. I only care about one thing when it comes to the Riders – Winning! Whoever gives us the best chance right now to win behind DD, that's who plays. If you play for the future you will always play for the future. There is… Read more »
If you're going to be loud and rude and not pay attention then stay home please.
Paying attention to anything seems to have gone the way of the Dodo bird. Has it got anything to do with electronics? – people looking at or texting on the phone in the middle of a conversation is normal now and is totally rude. The same thing happened at the Festival of Trees in MJ last December. The auctioneer (Sharkey) was almost drowned out by the attendees that did not intend to bid on trees. It is rude, boorish, childish and any other word you can think of. Some of the problem there may have been that many in attendance… Read more »
You nailed Regina ! A city at least 25 years behind the time with many disrespectful people whose parents never told them to shut up. Nothing changes
I think Tammy is very much in the know in Calgary… AND quite knowledgeable. Her observation is more than accurate. No need to dis what is true.
ArcticPrider
Not saying its right but really Devon White doesn't carry much weight around here. The Riders quarterback on the practice roster would be more popular.
The riders are too stupid to have a quarter-back of any significance on a practice roster that could carry any weight for on field play action, see 2014 season.
We too attend the Red Sox fund raiser we were most impressed when grace was said as this is often left out at functions I have attend as of late. We were less than impressed with the crowd that was busy chatting, we were sitting at the back and found it to be very noisy. We could hardly hear Scott and what he was talking about has a personal interest in our lives. Devon was hard to hear as well and was totally disappointed as far as respect to the speakers! We all chose to support the dinner and in… Read more »
Plain and simple, people are just ignorant.
It doesn't matter if they are out in public or posting on blogs, we are just getting more and more rude in daily interactions.
Rob
Who cares who the back-up is my friend. Durant will be healthy all year and have one of his best seasons ever. May even beat your Stamps in the play-offs.
Who cares who the back-up is my Rider friend? Durant roll up the eyes in blame, he's old and brittle and suspect to further ongoing injuries that he should have been traded imediately 2013. Young Bo will be healthy all year 2015 and have one of best seasons ever recorded in CFL history. Stampeders will be unstoppable in play-offs while defending their GC title.
Hahahaha calgary has nothing this year only got worse in the offseason