Scruffy’s This N That

1 – THE CHAMP IS HERE:  It’s taken longer than it should have but we get our first look at the 2026 Saskatchewan Roughriders tonight as they meet the B.C Lions in a rematch of last year’s Western Final and what could be a preview of the Western Final this year.  No team is the same and 16 of the 45 players on the Grey Cup roster are no longer with the squad. That’s a large number.  With guys like Micah Johnson, CJ Reavis and Malik Carney no longer on that defence, I would say the Lions have a slight advantage. That being said, I see this one being like last year’s Western Final where it could come right down to the end with the Riders perhaps needing a late TD to get the “W”. It should be a fun night.

2 – START A NEW TRADITION:  Those in attendance at Mosaic Stadium will give the Riders one last championship salute and they will rise as one when the cry of “Bring Em Out” hits, but I think the Riders could do so much better by stealing a page from what other pro teams do. 

I have called for this several times including when the stadium opened because it would have been the best time to do so, but if the Seahawks can raise the 12^th man flag and the Hurricanes and Knights can get their fans going by having a celebrity wind up the siren, why can’t the Green and White do that?  The Riders did drop the 13^th man flag a couple of times with very little fanfare when the stadium opened at the closed end of the stadium, but they stopped doing it. I don’t know why.

Tell me Mosaic wouldn’t go crazy if tonight if they raised the 13^th man flag or the championship banner with Mitch Picton doing the honour above Pil Country as he represents that 2025 team that will go down in history.  There are Saskatchewan celebrities and former players that you could get to do it every game.  It wouldn’t be to the level that the Canadiens do their thing, but it’s a tradition that would be pretty easy to establish to get the fans ramped up yet another level prior to kickoff.  Maybe it’s just me that thinks it would be a good idea.

3 – SAY WHAT?: On a Winnipeg show this week, CFL Commissioner Stewart Johnston, who we know is really popular with the 50+ crowd in Saskatchewan, said Winnipeg has become the standard for the rest of the league thanks to its winning culture, organizational stability and record sellout streak. I hate to break this to those who look through the world with green-tinted lenses, but he is right.

The Riders had that title when Jim Hopson was in charge, but it’s not that way anymore even though the /=S=/ are the defending champs. Is tonight’s game sold out? We all know that some of those who claim to be huge supporters of the football team and live within 2 hours of Mosaic will make excuse after excuse after excuse as to why they aren’t going and that’s fine. Those that are going are upset when attendance gets brought up for whatever reason.  If you’re going, then you are doing your part and there’s no reason to get all excited.  As a former Rider told me this week, it is amazing to see you trigger people on Twitter as they shoot back at you when they are going. Why do they care what you have to say when it comes to attendance? He also added that the game should have been sold out by Friday noon at the latest considering the team is the defending champ.

The question I have now is are the Riders #2 or does that honour go to B.C because Amar Doman is working his tail off to get people in Vancouver interested in the Lions and we are seeing that with some of what they do to get people inside the venue.

4 – CFL CHANGES WORKING?: The older crowd hates the CFL changes that we are seeing this year and next.  Advertisers seem to think the league is a good place to invest though and that is great news.  The CFL put out a release Thursday stating that while advertisers like OK Tire and Bud Light are back, they are also welcoming Manmade, theSCORE bet (which needs to come to the 306), Twizzlers and others.  I should mention Manmade has a digital campaign involving Zach Collaros and Marc Lleghio so yes, finally some players are getting involved in ad campaigns. Could it be these advertisers see the league is starting to grow and they want to be a part of it? Yup!  The haters can kick and stomp all you want, but Stewart Johnston is getting revenue that we haven’t seen into the CFL. 

5 – DB DEBATE: I suggested last week that a GC win by Trevor Harris this year would make him the top quarterback in the storied history of the Riders as he would have two to his credit. That made some a little hot under the collar as they are going to their grave saying Ron Lancaster will be the greatest QB to ever wear a Rider uniform which is fine.  I had one gentleman who reads this column approach me in Victoria Square this week to ask me about defensive backs and who would I say is the best DB in the history of the Riders. I can’t go back to the old days but if I had to rank them, I would say Eddie Davis, Ken McEachern, Glen Suitor, Lorne Richardson and Tyron Brackenridge. I did not see guys like Bruce Bennett, Ted Dushinski and Dale West play for those wondering. FWIW: The gentleman who did not agree with me on Harris did agree on Davis. 

6 – SAY WHAT PART 2:  I talked last week about the CFL TSN Top 50 list and the debate it brings every year because your top 50 would differ from mine and many others. This week, “The Sporting News” put out an all-time NHL team.  This list didn’t have the likes of Sidney Crosby, Mark Messier, Nik Lidstrom or Gordie Howe on it.  There are some lists that provide good debate and there are others that can just be trashed immediately. The people at “The Sporting News” should have said thanks but no thanks and go back to the drawing board. 

7 – THE WORLD CUP:  If you are a soccer fan, and there are many of them than the next month is one you will enjoy. If you don’t like the sport, don’t bother watching TSN for the next month unless it’s a CFL game.  The World Cup of Soccer is underway and I am pumped.  You won’t watch this guy watching the Premier League, Bundesliga etc, etc. but if there is an international game involving Canada, the European Championships or the World Cup, I am in and I was certainly invested as Cyle Larin scored late to give the Canadians a 1-all tie with Bosnia-Herzegovina to register their first ever World Cup point in seven games.

I don’t know how much buzz there is in the 306 about the event and it would be nice if there were some viewing parties in Regina and Saskatoon. If there are any, I haven’t heard a thing about it and once again Saskatchewan was passed over with some FIFA-related activities which was a shame.  Despite that, it will be a month that many of us will enjoy. 10 years ago, Canada was an afterthought in men’s soccer.  That is not the case anymore as the Canadians look to take another step after what was a disappointing 2022 event.  There is a passion for the game because of the many different nationalities that make up our country.  If Italy had made the World Cup, that game against Canada yesterday would have been something Toronto has never experienced. Last weekend, the Italians played Greece in a friendly.  I don’t know why that game wasn’t in Toronto considering the Italian and Greek population in the GTA as it would have been special.  In the end, GO CANADA, GO SCOTLAND, GO SWITZERLAND! —except when playing Canada.

8 – THE OILERS MESS:  There is a big mess at Rogers Place and there aren’t enough mops in the building. I am not sure what is going on in Edmonton, but it is a soap opera.  Mike Babcock? Again, Mike Babcock?  Who brought his name to the table and who endorsed it?  I can’t see him ever behind an NHL bench again and he obviously has some stuff in the closet that may or may not come out as this investigation into him and his short tenure in Columbus begins.  From what I’ve heard, Babcock may just want to phone the Oilers up and say thanks but no thanks so that the book on that investigation can be closed for good. 

Regardless as to whether or not he coaches, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl now have to explain why they are endorsing a guy that other players have said is someone they have no time for.   Then there is the report about McDavid signing a lengthy extension.  That wouldn’t surprise me because I know he and his wife love the Alberta capital but at some point he needs to win and when he realizes that won’t happen in Edmonton he will leave. 

At least Darnell Nurse is accepting to be traded. I am sure Stan Bowman will screw that deal up too because what has Stan Bowman done to gain any confidence amongst Oilers fans. 

9 – STANLEY CUP:  If the Vegas Golden Knights send the Stanley Cup back to Raleigh for a Game 7, will we have seen the best Stanley Cup since the Rangers beat Vancouver way back in 1994.  There have been a lot of great finals matchups over the years, but this one has been fantastic. Lots of goals, lots of drama and everything a hockey fan wants to see in a final. Dare I say that some who looked at the calendar and said tell me who wins have come back to watch the last couple of games. Does Vegas go to Adin Hill for Game 6 hoping to get the same spark Carolina has been given with Brandon Bussi? John Tortorella scoffed at that notion, but I wouldn’t be surprised. 

10 – RANDOM THOUGHTS:

• Elks RB Justin Rankin is going to give defensive co-ordinators across the CFL headaches this season.  If healthy, he just might lead the league in rushing and all-purpose yards.
• Is Alex Ovechkin coming back? If he does, is it because he might have one more shot at international hockey? 
• I have seen a few NHL mock drafts where Prince Albert Raiders defenceman Daxon Rudolph does not go in the top 10.  He should go somewhere between 5-9 and if he doesn’t then some team drafting 10 or later is going to find a Josh Morrissey type player. PS: Winnipeg drafts 8^th.
• It’s a shame Taylor Swift can’t go to a basketball game and not be ridiculed. I’m not a Swiftie, but the woman is allowed to go out and enjoy her life and not be a recluse. She went to a game, she had a good time. Good for her.  If you can’t accept that, that’s your problem. 

That’s all I got.  Have a great week!