SCRUFFY’S THIS ‘N THAT

Welcome everyone to the weekly Friday offering and this week it is a game day Friday offering as the Riders will once again look for that elusive first “W”of the season, and they will try and do it as the Rider Nation starts to tear apart at the seams after an 0-3 start.

The tension is high in Saskatchewan after just three games, higher than it has been in a long time and it is the first time Corey Chamblin has felt the heat this early. Chamblin had a message for the haters on Tuesday and I loved it because he basically told those haters to grease up their thoughts and shove it you know where.

In fact, Chamblin took a page out of Darian Durant’s book when the hate was on full time for him by saying the only people he answers to are the people inside the organization and if they want to make a change, they will.

This just in …. they didn’t with Durant and they aren’t going to be with Chamblin and if you don’t like that, turn in your Rider pledge pin and go somewhere else or sit down, shut up and be a part of the ride through the good and the bad.

As I said in the Monday column, I don’t agree with what Chamblin did Friday night in BC and his rationalization of what happened didn’t change my mind, but coaches make mistakes a la Pete Carroll in last year’s Super Bowl and many other head coaches who have stayed with their team.  Chamblin didn’t forget how to coach overnight. He led this team to one Grey Cup and we will never know how far the team would have gotten with a healthy Darian Durant in 2014.

Bottom line, if you don’t like Corey Chamblin as Riders head coach, get ready to be grumpy for a while because he isn’t going anywhere!

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The Riders can appease some of the grumpiness with a win over the Lions at home tonight. They showed they can beat B.C, but they also showed again they need to play 60 minutes. I wasn’t overly impressed with the Lions through 3 1/2 quarters last week so I think the Riders can win this one. Lets hope!!

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There has been some consternation about the fact there has been no pressure on the quarterback in these parts. There has been no pressure on the QB period around the CFL as the league continues to neuter defences. There has been an average of four sacks per game which is the lowest we have seen it since 2002. Teams are dropping back and allowing QB’s to set up and throw. It makes his job a lot easier.

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I heard a great golf question on Thursday. If you could only golf one course in the world, would it be St. Andrews–the birthplace of the game and the site of this year’s British Open or Augusta National which is arguably the most famous golf course in the world?  I would have to choose Augusta, but if the truth be known, I would love to play TPC Sawgrass more than any other just to have a shot at the 17th green.

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It would seem after the first round of the Open that Tiger Woods has shown again he will never ever be the same and that his best is over.  This game is now in the hands of Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy, Jason Day and others.

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OK Saskatoon, you’ve wanted a pro team and now you’ve got it as the Edmonton Rush will make it official on Tuesday and say they are moving the franchise to the Bridge City. If you don’t support this venture, don’t talk about the NHL anymore. Here is a chance to show people if you have what it takes. Are you going to seize the opportunity or let it crash and burn—-Saskatoon sports fans, the decision is up to you.

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The ESPY’s went on Wednesday night and while Caitlyn Jenner got the courage award, this night was all about Leah Still as far as this blogger is concerned. Leah is the five year old daughter of Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Devon Still. If you don’t know the story, just do a Google search on it and you’ll get brought up to speed very quickly.  You can admire Jenner all you want for doing what he/she did and all the power to him/her, but this night should have been Leah Still’s for her courageous battle against a disease that she knows nothing about. She didn’t get to choose whether or not she was going to have the fight that so many others young and old have had.  To hear her dad say what her battle has done for him was absolutely incredible and will be the memory I take away from this year’s event.

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Houston Texans defensive end JJ Watt presented an award at the ESPY’s with Britney Spears and had his picture taken earlier in the week with Jennifer Aniston. Its good to be JJ Watt!

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The girl who became infamous at this year’s Calgary Stampede for umm—-ummm—–getting busy with some friends and having the act go viral is going to try and capitalize on her newfound celebrity status. The lady who has been named “Trampede’ is going to go around Alberta and do her thing at some strip clubs.  620 CKRM mid-day personality Brandon Basler is already reportedly trying to meet up with this woman and make wedding plans. You go Boz!!

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Baseball may have caught a break at Monday’s homerun derby. The original plan was for players to go for five minutes, but with the threat of rain, they decided to change things and cut the time for batters to four minutes. It worked like a charm as everyone talked about how much better it was with players being timed instead of taking pitch after pitch after pitch. There is no need for baseball to screw around with this formula for future derbys.

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Congrats to former Pat Jordan Weal for signing a new one year contract with the L-A Kings organization. I am guessing the AHL playoff MVP won’t be starting the year in the NHL unless the Kings trade him elsewhere, but if you’ve followed Weal’s career, should we expect anything different?

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I just started reading Al Michaels’ book called “You Can’t Make This Stuff Up”. The first two chapters have been outstanding as he has reeled off some great stories.  The book is less than 300 pages though….that will pale in comparison to the Pedersen Chronicles if that book ever comes out some day and if it does, some might have to go into the Witness Protection program.

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Is anyone around here talking about the Pan-Am Games? It is the lead-up to the Olympics, but no one seemingly cares. Are we to blame for that or are organizers?

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That’s all I got.  Have a great weekend, stay safe and GO RIDERS!!