SCRUFFY’S THIS ‘N THAT

1 – REMEMBERING HOPPY:  Where do you start when it comes to talking about Jim Hopson and the impact he left on this province and Rider Nation?  The man who started his football career protecting Ronnie and George and ended it protecting the brand that he embraced left us this week and make no doubt about it, his loss leaves a giant hole with many.

Jim wanted the Riders to be the elite franchise in the CFL when he assumed the title and it didn’t take him long to start down that path. I don’t have to tell you all the things he did because you already know. Everyone is reminiscing these days about Jim and their favourite stories about him. I have a couple!

When games were ending at Taylor Field, the media used to go down to the area by the Riders dressing room so we could talk to players. Jim always used to be on the sideline. As his team finished off a victory over Calgary in the 2007 Western semi, I approached him not realizing what I was about to see. The tears were streaming down Jim’s face as the crowd went crazy. He looked at me, put a big burly arm around me and said “we did it”. The emotions he emitted in that few moments were not forgotten a couple of weeks later in a room at Skydome moments after the Riders had won the Grey Cup over Winnipeg. I was going around getting interviews for CJME when a door opened and there stood Jim with a can of beer in hand. I was looking for him to get some words but after ushering me into that room where others were and the interview started, he gave me a beer and a hug as I said “you did it”, and his response was “We did it…. Saskatchewan did it!:” I was so happy for him and in a way I thought he was happy for me because I was enjoying what was a magical night in Riders history.

Fast forward to a few years later. I had just been released by CJME when I got a phone call from then PR guy Ryan Whippler, who had been a co-worker of mine at CJME at one time before leaving to take the job with the club. He said that he and Jim would like to speak to me and could I come down to the office.  Jim expressed the fact that he was sorry I had lost my gig and said he had told Whippler that “we have to find something for Mitch to do with us”.  It was then that I became a writer for Riderville for a couple of seasons. That was an opportunity I embraced as it kept my foot in the door.

When I started at CKRM, I had just done what was either my first or second Sportscage as host because RP was unavailable when I got a call from Jim.  He had been listening and said “you sound great and you are where you belong”. That really meant a lot! We had so many conversations over the years, both on-air and off-air and they revolved around much more than football. If you knew Jim, you knew what type of individual he was. Every accolade he gets is more than deserved. As I stated in this column a few weeks ago, the decision to name the auditorium where players meet at Mosaic Stadium — a facility that he spearheaded — after him was a tremendous move by the organization and it certainly came at the right time.

I obviously don’t know what the Riders have planned when it comes time to honor his memory at what I’m sure will be the season opener. As great as it is to have a facility named after him that the players are in every day, something at the stadium needs to recognize him so that fans and users of the facility can be made aware of his contributions for years. Someone said this week that the celebration of his life on May 3 should be held on the field at Mosaic. I didn’t disagree but I said there is no guarantee the weather would co-operate. That person responded with “Are you kidding me, if Jim has anything to do with it, it will be the nicest day of the year. I laughed as I nodded my head in agreement.

Where would the organization be if they had not hired Hopson? That’s a question you can answer for yourself.  In my mind, it wouldn’t be as close to being to the point where it is today.

Rest in Peace Hoppy and Thank you!

2 – DON’T CHASE AFTER CHASE:  The Riders may be interested in Canadian receiver Chase Claypool who has worn out his welcome in the NFL. So much so, they have reportedly placed him on their negotiation list.   After two good years in Pittsburgh, Claypool went to Chicago and Miami, but the unrestricted free agent has had no offers prompting this talk of him returning to Canada. There is a reason teams don’t want this guy around. Do some Google searches and you will see why he isn’t the most popular kid in the classroom. The Riders have Brayden Lenius. They don’t need Chase Claypool.  

3 – WHL ATTENDANCE: It wasn’t great in Regina this year for a variety of reasons, but the WHL told us last week that people are flocking to the rink to watch their team play.  The WHL announced that over three million people took in games during the regular season which is the first time that has happened since the 2018-19 season.

The league likely would have hit mark in 2019-20 as they were close before the season was halted abruptly due to COVID-19 and they were very close to doing so last year which surprises me when you consider the Connor Bedard factor in the second half of the season.

It is onwards and upwards for the league that I consider, and yes I am biased, to be the best developmental league in the world.

4 – COREY PERRY: When the ludicrous rumours that resulted in Corey Perry being released by the Chicago Blackhawks were cleared up, I wondered if the Edmonton Oilers would be interested in bringing him on board because of the leadership he could provide. They did and it’s safe to say that move was a good one by GM Ken Holland as Perry has been a contributor. He is also an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year. Perry has indicated that he would like his NHL career to continue. It wouldn’t be an expensive contract so would the Oilers give him that year at an agreeable price. That is probably a question you can ask after the playoffs when you start to evaluate everything. If you could get him for somewhere between $1 and $1.5 million, I’d consider it.

5 – REPLAY TIME LIMIT: I like instant replay to determine calls. I know I may be in the minority when I make that comment, but I believe you have to get the call right (and yes I know that replay still doesn’t do that at times). What needs to be done though in all sports is for a time limit to be set for referees or umpires. In the final two minutes of a basketball game, it can take 5 minutes to determine who touched the ball last before it went out of bounds. During an Edmonton-St. Louis game this week, there were two lengthy delays because of what was thought to be goaltender interference. Leagues need to give officials whether they be in a command centre or not a certain amount of time to make the final decision. If you can’t find a reason to overturn it in 60 seconds then the play stands. It is as simple as that. Breaking it down frame by frame to see if a player has gone outside or if a ball has bounced off a finger is not what replay was meant for. You have 60 seconds or play on.

6 – GOOD OR BAD? Is Rangers tough guy Matt Rempe good or bad for the NHL? That is a big debate right now and that debate got ramped up Wednesday night after the Devils and Rangers got into a line brawl two seconds in. Those at Madison Square Garden loved it and they love Rempe as well.

Don Cherry would love this guy! At a time when the enforcers are being weeded out of the game, Rempe is doing his best to keep the enforcer relevant. Can the Blueshirts afford to have this guy on their roster come playoff time as they are Stanley Cup favourites? That is for Peter Laviolette to determine, but I think you need to have players that can do it all and not just one thing on your playoff lineup. The same goes for Toronto with Ryan Reaves and Tampa with Tanner Jeannot. We know that if he wants though, Jeannot can play.

7 – THE TOUGH TEXANS: The Houston Texans are maybe the big off-season winners in the NFL. The addition of CJ Stroud in last year’s draft has turned this organization around. The trade this week to acquire Stefon Diggs told the NFL that this team means business in 2024. Add Diggs to a solid receiving group, Joe Mixon and a defence that I believe was in the top half of the league last year and they are putting all other teams in the AFC on notice saying they are ready to compete with teams like Cincinnati, Miami and Baltimore to try and knock Kansas City off their perch. I would add Buffalo to that list but I need to see who Josh Allen will be throwing the ball to now that Diggs is gone. I may be making “an investment” in the Texans to make some noise when the NFL season gets underway.

8 – CHANGING THE PLAYBOOK: Tiger Woods will be teeing it up at his favorite tournament next week when he competes at the Masters. His many fans will be hoping for a weekend of magic. The New York Post reported this week that Tiger is abstaining from sex as he gets ready for the tournament. Tiger won five green jackets and he was having a lot of sex as we found out in later years.. Why stop what has been working for you?  Never mind!  😊

9 – THE UFL: It started on the weekend. Were you watching? I checked in to watch Birmingham take on Arlington in the first game and what stood out to me was the fact that once again spring football is someone that very few are interested in.

The game was played at the Texas Rangers old ballpark, and I am guessing it was about a third full. Was Leibel Field not available? It was worse than watching the Argos at BMO Field. Perhaps the UFL should have looked at some smaller venues.

Much like other spring leagues, this won’t last.

That’s all I got.  Have a great weekend!