SCRUFFY’S THIS ‘N THAT
Welcome to Friday! Here are the usual weekly thoughts running through my muddled mind, and as always they come in no particular order:
– Jaws started flapping Tuesday morning when word came down that the Riders traded for Vernon Adams Junior from Montreal. Make no doubt about it, this trade is for next year because he won’t see much playing time ahead of Kevin Glenn.
There is also talk this could either be A) the Riders send Adams to Edmonton in a deal for James Franklin or B) the dream Chris Jones has had in getting Franklin has gone up in smoke. I’m not convinced it’s “B”, but if he is traded before the season is over, I will feel that way. No team is getting a young quarterback for a couple of months and then losing him before free agency. Any deal will be a sign and trade. That would be the smart way to go. As for “A”, I don’t see that happening.
– The new Commissioner of the CFL has made quite the impact in his first month on the job, and he isn’t stopping in his quest to get the league back on solid footing. Randy Ambrosie hit the ground running with his immediate tweak to the challenges, to the solid decision to release the “Diversity is Strength” t-shirts early. And now he is considering making a change to the playoff format.
Sorry, but East vs West doesn’t do it for me. Yes, an Eastern team won the Grey Cup last year, but it was a team that was under .500 who got hot at the right time and capitalized. For years, I have favoured having the top two seeds get a first round bye with 3 playing 6 and 4 playing 5 in the first round of the playoffs. You then have your CFL semi-finals the week after that followed by the Grey Cup. At the end of the day, I want to see the two best teams competing.
– When do we start to stand up and say Winnipeg is for real? We’ve seen this act before, and we’ve seen how it ends. #swaggerville. Have fun while it lasts.
– When news came out Tuesday that Regina and Mosaic Stadium had been put on a list for potential venues for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, I raised my eyebrows. Many questions went racing through my mind. Is the stadium big enough? Is there enough room for the teams, fans, dignitaries, etc. etc that would be needed? Why would FIFA look at Regina when there are much bigger venues like BC Place, Commonwealth Stadium and yes, even the archaic Olympic Stadium in Montreal?
However, after processing all that, I though ‘why not?’ Yes, I will admit the chances of Regina having a small part to play in the world’s biggest sporting event would be remote, but there are a lot of good people in this city and this province that could make it happen.
– Two sure signs that hockey is right around the corner: 1) My Hockey News yearbook arrived in the mailbox and 2) The Pats held their annual Wickenheiser Golf Classic. Rookie camp starts right away and then main camp which will lead into what should be a tremendous winter at the Brandt Centre!
Some don’t like the new Pats 100 logo that was unveiled. It doesn’t do anything for me, but I’m not in it for the logo. I’m in it for the performance. If the iconic logo we have known for years was going to be front and center on the jersey, I might have been a little upset, but its not.
– The Oilers have now locked up Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, and there is talk of a second dynasty about to erupt in the Alberta capital. Let’s put the brakes on that talk a little. Connor and Leon are not Crosby and Malkin. They also are not Kane and Toews or even Yzerman and Fedorov. The blocks are there, but the onus is on Draisaitl. He is making an awful lot of money and has been rewarded for one good season, and one good playoffs.
– With Draisaitl signing for what he did, what does it mean for guys like Mitch Marner, Max Domi, Dylan Larkin and Matthew Tkachuk? What about Patrik Laine? I think its a given Auston Matthews will make McDavid money as he deservedly should.
– What are the best sports podcasts out there? (besides Sportscage!!) When I go for an evening walk, I usually listen to the Cubs game if they are playing or will find something to listen to for the 20-25 minutes that I am out and about. I can’t sit at a computer and listen to podcasts while doing things so what are the best ones out there?
– Congratulations to the Swift Current 57’s. They made it back-to-back WMBL championships Thursday night at home. The defending champs were close to seeing their run end a few times in the playoffs, but they found a way.
– The Regina Thunder are back on home soil after losing the season opener to Saskatoon last weekend. I am guessing Scott McAulay and company will be looking for a much better effort than the one given against the Hilltops when the Edmonton Wildcats come a callin. Game time is 7 o’clock. If you can’t make it, it will be on Access.
– That’s all I got. Have a great weekend!
