25 WEEKEND THOUGHTS FOR UNIVERSAL COLLISION CENTRE

Here. We. Go. …

1 – A nice lady out for a walk Saturday morning flagged me down and gushed, “You’re still writing, right? Keep going! It’s the only thing keeping me sane! I miss sports so much!” And with that, you see why Sports, Health & Wellness are strongly being considered as Essential Services at the moment.

2 – Longest. Winter. Ever. When are we going to be able to trade in our Stormtech gear for shorts and golf shirts?? We’re in our seventh month of sub-zero temperatures. I’m ready, and my Jeep wants outta the barn.

3 – Beware the opinions of “experts”. Dr. Phil said in an interview this week that prolonged cases of self-isolation and “staying at home” could lead to heart disease, strokes and dementia. I was watching and thought to myself, “In extreme cases yes, but he’s just going to multiply the panic needlessly.” That’s exactly what happened, and on the weekend the psychologist-turned-TV star apologized for citing such extreme examples. Here’s what you do — count your blessings, get some fresh air and reach out for support. You’ll be fine!

4 – Beware the opinions of experts #2. We are being absolutely flooded with hype for this week’s NFL Draft; even moreso with TSN carrying live ESPN programming almost round-the-clock during the pandemic. Remember this: no one, absolutely NO ONE predicted the Cleveland Browns would take Oklahoma QB Baker Mayfield with the #1 overall pick in 2018. Not Adam Schefter, not Mel Kiper, not ANYBODY. In this business we get paid to give opinions and be entertaining, not to be right. Hot takes are where it’s at.

5 – Unfortunately it’s a lot of the same on the news networks, yet people want to buy into everything they hear and hang onto every single word. Don’t! The majority of it is gobbledygook.

Just like the draft order, no one really knows when Coronavirus will disappear. Frankly I’m praying for a miracle, but that’s not much of a plan. (However I see miracles happen all the time).

6 – This pandemic, from a sports perspective, is a lot like a prolonged episode of Ballers. If you notice, the HBO series starring The Rock – who plays a former NFL player-turned-agent – is all about the drama around the game, but never actually features any games! This feels like the same thing, minus the palm trees, sports cars and cocktail dresses.

7 – People are getting wiggy. The whole situation around the porn company offering Fox sportscaster Joe Buck $1-million to commentate a scene – and his comments about considering it – was tasteless. Meanwhile sports gambling outfit Sports Betting Dime is offering odds on which sports venue will be the first to experience a mass Coronavirus outbreak. (It’s Dallas’s American Airlines Center, depending on the date). How appalling!

8 – Onto happier things. A CFL coach and I were discussing this week where our minds have wandered now that there’s been a prolonged “pause” in our lives. For me, over the past year, I’ve looked back at all the extremely cool things I’ve been fortunate to do in a 30-year career in broadcasting. (I went 100 miles per hour for 3 decades and never stopped to look back once). So here’s the #1 thing …. (drumroll please) …

9 – Interviewing Argonauts owner John Candy for Toronto’s 1050 NEWS on the sidelines right after an Argos-Roughriders game in 1991 at Taylor Field. I was 19 at the time, and was helping out the Argos radio crew. Imagine; it was at the PEAK of Candy’s popularity, just coming off box office smashes like Planes, Trains & Automobiles, Uncle Buck and Great Outdoors. What was memorable about it? Candy is about the largest man I’ve ever encountered, to this day. Imagine a Coke machine, in a navy silk suit. And he was incredibly nice. It never dawned on me how special that was until recently. These days I’d be snapping selfies like my life depended on it.

10 – I have approximately 1-million stories from my time in this business. As George Strait sang, My Life’s Been Grand. However these days I get far more of a charge out of the Recovery industry. Getting a trauma victim or suicidal person to break out into a laugh – and saving a life – is a feeling better than anything I ever experienced behind a microphone. Hopefully you understand. And I certainly didn’t choose this new career. It chose me. 

11 – There are three men whose names are on both the Stanley Cup and the Grey Cup: Lionel Conacher, Harold Ballard and Wayne Gretzky. Gerry James’ name is NOT on both. Kid Dynamite (the last player to play in the NHL and CFL concurrently) did not win a Stanley Cup with the Maple Leafs, even though he won a Grey Cup with the Blue Bombers.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Reader Chris H. informs me the names of Norm Kwong and Carl Voss are each on both trophies. You can’t even trust Google anymore!

12 – Speaking of Winnipeg, don’t blame 2020 for the divorce between Dustin Byfuglien and the Winnipeg Jets, even though it became final this week. Trouble was brewing way back into 2019, and maybe even before that. The Score has listed these 3 potential destinations for Big Buff: Montreal, Toronto and St. Louis. However I think he’s simply going to hang ’em up. The Roseau, MN product has played 869 NHL games and won his Stanley Cup. From what I hear, he’s lost the fire. It happens.

13 – People are stopping and posing for photos in Langenburg, SK beside the gorgeous new road sign which trumpets HOME OF JESS MOSKALUKE, JUNO & CCMA AWARD WINNER. That’s simply fantastic! However where’s the sign that reads, HOME OF DARREN DREGER, TSN HOCKEY INSIDER? I have to ask – which of the two is more popular? I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing both, and they’re both rockstars.

14 – I need a fax machine.

15 – Mine is the only stationary bike in the world that has a coffee table beside it. This is fantastic! I get up, rub my eyes, pour a coffee, turn on the sports networks, and I’ve ridden 8 miles by the time I’ve actually woken up. It’s amazing! Thanks Flaman Fitness for changing my life. However I’ll be back in Evolution Fitness the second it opens.

16 – CFL receiver Natey Adjei was marvelling on Twitter Friday night about the 2012 Argos coaching staff after watching the 100th Grey Cup replay on TSN. Head coach Scott Milanovich boasted on his staff Chris Jones, Mike O’Shea, Marcus Brady, Jason Maas, Orlondo Steinauer and Stephen McAdoo. Pundits are saying we’ll never see a staff like that again, due to the CFL’s football operations cap. Agree or disagree?

17 – Try slipping Natey Adjei past your iPhone’s autocorrect. You get “Marrying Adjectives”.

18 – It was sad to see the Estevan Bruins relieving Head Coach & GM Chris Lewgood of his duties this week. At the Bruins sports dinner six years ago I proclaimed that Chris would turn that franchise into a perennial contender and he did exactly that. If he’s not responsible for landing the 2022 Centennial Cup for Estevan, who is?

19 – The hockey world is buzzing with the Estevan news. One juicy rumour is that Regina Pats Assistant Coach Brad Herauf will take over in Estevan – a franchise where he was once the captain – and he’ll be afforded the opportunity to run his own show. That would open the door for Lewgood to join the Pats, which is his hometown team, and get him into the Dub which is the next natural step in his coaching progression. Easy peezy.

20 – I’ve eaten more pizza in the past month than I ever have in my life. Vern’s Pizza from The Tap, The Tower Special (Estevan), Four Seasons Sports Palace, Western Pizza, you name it. However I wouldn’t rank them even if you put a gun to my head (they’re all my buddies). But there’s nothing stopping you …

21 – From sportsbook Bovada, here are some NFL Draft prop bets for the event which will run this week Thurs-Saturday: How Many Times Will The Broadcast Experience Technical Difficulties? Over/under 4.5. Will The NFL Draft Get Hacked? +1600. Will Roger Goodell Be Wearing Sweatpants Or Pajama Pants At Any Point? Yes +1000. Will Roger Goodell Be Wearing A Suit At The Beginning Of The Draft? Yes -1400.

Meanwhile if you are missing sports that bad and need to gamble on things like that – or on weather forecasts in some U.S. locales like another sports gambling site offers – you may want to visit www.gamblingtherapy.org.

22 – Bravo to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for boldly proclaiming on NFL Network this week that they plan to reveal their schedule on May 9 and that they’re “planning to stay on schedule”. Goodell told Rich Eisen that obviously player and fan safety come first – THAT’S OBVIOUS – but it’s important to show confidence and get back to business. I love it.

23 – For those who say Chris Jones couldn’t find a Grey Cup-calibre quarterback during his three seasons with Saskatchewan; he did. Zach Collaros. The trouble is, the football gods weren’t having it. Yet Zach went on to lead Winnipeg to a Grey Cup championship in 2019, and then the world ended.

24 – Congratulations to Zach and Nicole Collaros on the birth of Sierra Callia Collaros this week! The notoriously private Zach wasn’t shy about posting photos of his new bundle of joy, and answering questions from fans on a Bomber Instagram Live session. Bravo Zach and Nicole!

25 – The NLL’s Saskatchewan Rush had their players randomly calling season ticket holders on Saturday and thanking them for their support, and offering well-wishes. CLASSY! When this all lifts, NLL Commissioner Nick Sakiewicz told the RP Show this week they’re considering a year-ending Winner Take All playoff tournament. WHAT COULD BE MORE EXCITING THAN THAT?

Y’er welcome,
RP
@rodpedersen