SCRUFFY’S THIS ‘N THAT
Welcome to Friday and the usual set of weekly thoughts running through my muddled mind. As always, they are in no particular order.
— CFL fans got what they wanted at high noon on Thursday. The schedule is here, and no sooner did it come and the bitching started. There is no happy medium in this marketplace for when Rider games are as everyone loves one time, but hates another. You can’t please everyone. I’m OK with it. I am a guy who likes Saturday home games and there are five of them, The Thursday night game comes the night before Canada Day so that is fine. The league still has a desire to go head to head with the NFL on Sundays, and that is OK too as football fans will make their decision as to what brand they want to watch. Some day the CFL will learn, but it won’t be in 2016.
— While I am OK with the schedule, I do have one question, That is why is it in a nine team league, we have back to back games? The Labour Day games are fine as those are tradition, but do we really need a back to back against the Stampeders and a back to back against the Lions to finish off the season?
— Some in Winnipeg were not happy when I asked on Twitter Wednesday how signing four members of the 2015 Saskatchewan Roughriders that were 3-15 is going to improve their football team. They seem to think that those four will fit nicely into their rebuild. While I do think Weston Dressler will help them immensely, I am not sold on the other three making a major impact with the club. Are they falling for false hope once again in Winnipeg? It would appear as if the answer is yes.
— Speaking of Dressler, I had the chance to see “Steve Largent–A Football Life” on the NFL Network. I don’t know why I never thought of it before being a Seahawks fan, but Dressler is a modern day Largent with the way both play the game.
— Who holds the balance of power in the West right now after a wild off-season? Winnipeg believes they are stronger, and certainly the additions of Andrew Harris and Dressler make them better. BC hasn’t really done a lot, but they do have Wally Buono as head coach again. Edmonton is substantially weaker than the team that held the Grey Cup high in November, Calgary is not the team it was by losing players like Jon Cornish, Jeff Fuller and Keon Raymond while the Riders have improved themselves which really is no shock when you consider a 4 win team in 2016 would be an improvement. While it pains me to write it, the power in the West once again resides in Calgary–at this time. They have the best quarterback in Bo Levi Mitchell, and from top to bottom have the best looking roster. After that, I would say Edmonton with the other three then fighting it out for 3rd.
— A member of the Regina football community said to me this week “I wish Craig Reynolds was in charge of the Rams!”. I didn’t get where this was going, so when I asked, the response was “It took Reynolds how long to hire Chris Jones after the CFL season was over and its taking how long for the Rams to get their new head coach? It has been a month since the search started for a new individual, and yes, they are getting close as they indicated Thursday it is between former Rams defensive back Sheldon Gray and former Rams linebacker Stephen Bryce. Many wanted it to be Scott McAulay, but the Thunder coach is turning down the chance to join Frank McCrystal as Rams coaches to have a CIS win under their belt by saying he is staying with the Thunder, and more importantly staying with his job with Pfizer. That was certainly a consideration I am sure he wrestled with, but he has two great gigs and he would have had to give up his job with Pfizer to join the Rams.
It is too bad for the University football team because he was the right guy in my mind (and was a year ago as well), and in the minds of many others, but it is great news for the Thunder who I expect will once again challenge the Hilltops for junior football supremacy in not only this province, but Canada. As for the Rams, they have got two guys who know what makes this football team tick, and I am hoping they don’t make the same mistake that was made last time around when they had the wool pulled over their eyes. I think they’ll be fine, but whether it be Gray or Bryce, there is some work to do. Both of those gentlemen know that. Here is one thing for certain—2016 won’t be the same as it was in 2015.
— Did Steve Yzerman really have to come out and say the team wasn’t trading Steve Stamkos at the deadline? Doing that would completely blow up any chance the Lightning have of returning to the Stanley Cup final and perhaps winning it. Yes, it may have put some people at ease, but I don’t think anyone really seriously considered trading for Stamkos unless he was signed to a new deal and I don’t think any of the contenders have the cap space to do that right now.
— I thought a Canadian team could make the Stanley Cup playoffs, but it appears that won’t be happening and that a Canadian team will likely have the number one draft pick meaning both Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews will be playing on Canadian teams. The hockey world would most certainly riot if the gold card had the Oilers logo on it again. I will be completely honest when I say this—I hope Matthews ends up as a Flame or a Jet. Having the game’s youngest marquee players in Western Canada would be outstanding and if he were to land in Calgary, it would guarantee a huge revival of the Battle of Alberta.
— All of the Canadian teams will be sellers at the deadline so perhaps this is a question to ask after the trade deadline, but what team has the best looking roster moving forward. When you have McDavid, you could say the Oilers, but Calgary is very balanced and would be better with a number one goalie, Montreal would be better if they had some scoring and will be better when Carey Price is back, and Winnipeg has a lot of good young talent in Ehlers, Trouba and Schiefele to go along with guys like Byfuglien, Ladd, Little and Wheeler. I’m not sure why the wheels fell off in Ottawa while Vancouver and Toronto are just messes with a lot of work to do. Bottom line is I see this Canadian failure this year being a blip on the radar.
— I wonder how US teams will react if Auston Matthews ends up in Canada just like McDavid did. It will be great for Sportsnet and TSN, but it will suck for that audience Gary Bettman wants so desperately to have. Buffalo and Columbus are really the only American hopes. After tanking last year and not getting McDavid, I really don’t want to see Buffalo get Matthews.
— It would be nice to see Dennis Wideman just accept his punishment like a man wouldn’t it? Talk about phony! By the way, how is it Bettman and the NHL get to see text messages? It’s a good job Tom Brady isn’t an NHL’er!!!
— It is starting to get ugly in Montreal and I can’t see Michel Therrien and PK Subban co-existing for much longer after the defenceman got called out by his coach and then benched. Both are taking a lot of heat for what is happening in Montreal, and some have seen Subban was bailed out wayyyyy too many times for bad plays by Carey Price. I have never been the biggest Subban fan, and it would seem Montreal fans are starting to wake up and smell the coffee. This just in–PK won’t go anywhere, but Therrien will be on the unemployment line shortly after the NHL season ends. There is no way he can stay now even if Montreal should find a way to get in the playoffs
— This winter has been very un-Saskatchewan like as we all know, Am I the only one thinking we will pay for what we have been given this year?
— I don’t care what anyone says. What Moose Jaw Warriors forward Dryden Hunt has done over the past two weeks has to be one of the all-time great feats in hockey. Four hat-tricks in five games? I am guessing many of the greats have not accomplished that.
— People ask me how far I think the Pats can go in the WHL playoffs. I don’t know! That team has been so hot and cold this year that they remain a mystery to me. If they are a mystery to me, I can’t imagine what they are to John Paddock. Whoever draws them in the first round should have a battle on their hands.
— Good luck to Jolene Campbell and her rink from the Regina Highland as they compete at the Scotties in Grande Prairie starting tomorrow, Methinks Jolene is going to surprise some people and land herself in a playoff spot, It will be hard to dethrone Jennifer Jones as champ, but she isn’t going to get a free pass.
— There are some big events on this weekend when it comes to the Cougars. Sarah Hodges’ womens hockey team has a big quarter-final matchup against Calgary at the Co-Operators Centre while at the CKHS, the womens basketball team has a first place showdown against the U of S with the mens team looking to end the regular season on a strong note against the Huskies as they get ready for playoffs. I’ll be at the CKHS tonight and I’ll be at the Co-Operators Centre for a Game 3 if its needed on Sunday. Brad Paisley takes priority on Saturday though, That should be a great show!
— That’s all I got. Have a great weekend!
I really hate it when an idiot says we are going to pay for having good weather and also that Edmonton should not get 1st pick overall
Your home boy Tom Brady, didn't simply "Shut Up and take his penalty."
Is Bo-Levi really the best QB in the West? I'd argue that Durant and Reilly are. Here's the thing: Durant has never lost to Reilly as a starter and he's never had the opportunity to go head-to-head as a starter with Bo-Levi because Durant has been hurt for all those games.
If Durant can stay healthy and if Durant has good tall receivers, we'll see who's the best in the West by season's end.
My 'something to mitch about'
It took Craig Reynolds over three months to hire a coach. Anyone that thinks Chris Jones was hired in a week your clueless.
Not sure why you wannabes think Sunday games are bad. TSN calls the shots for the schedule,I would think they are satisfied with the ratings for Sunday CFL games if they keep scheduling them. Last year was awful for the CFL between the Pan Am games and the Corporate wannabes (Rogers) doing everything they could to screw over the Argos and CFL. With the Argos getting favorable dates (no Fort Mac) ratings will improve overall.
Wideman, the NHLPA and the calgary flames organization are doing the right thing. This suspension needs to be rescinded as it is complete garbage. A precedent needs to be set that the officials are no more important to the game than the players. They get treated like gold… and for why? Because they consistently ruin games by not doing their jobs properly. That linesman got a taste of sweet karma. Maybe the other officials and linesman will take notice after this situation and will start taking their jobs seriously instead of acting like a bunch of grade school hallway monitors… Read more »
Let's piece the puzzle together. Chris Jones coaches the Eskimos to the Grey Cup in late November and is hired by the Riders in early December to take over. Reynolds could not do anything with Jones as he was employed by the Eskimos so he was needed permission to speak with him which he did after GC was over. Unless the calendar changed and no one told me about it, it would seem to me as if it took about a week or so to hire a new head coach. Clueless? The one who is asking that is the one… Read more »
GO JOLENE!! MAKE SASKY PROUD!! GET HER ON THE SHOW RP!!
Gray or Bryce are you kidding me. A couple local yokels who have never won anything. This useless hiring and Craig Reynolds have NOTHING in common. He went out and hired a proven winner. This will be an old boys club hiring. Safe but with absolutely zero chance of ever winning anything. Just the way they want it. Certainly not like hiring Blake Nill now is it. Guys with very thin resumes are expected to produce a championship here. It's disgusting but makes a lot of local losers happy.
I reiterate. If you think that happened in a week you are clueless.
It happened, get over yourself.
Hey Rod did the guy on your show yesterday from the riders come from edmonton with the other staff? I don't know who he was but sounds like he knows what he is talking about. With Jon Murphy and him on on regularly would be great additions to show.
If you think it didn't happen in a week, who is really clueless! He knew who he wanted and had to wait until the season was over. It is very obvious who the clueless one is
The anon complaining about the NHL officials is insane. Officials need to be protected from contact for two reasons: 1. Aside from helmets, officials are not wearing any equipment to protect themselves from contact, nor is it reasonable to expect them to protect themselves from contact at any point in the game. They are simply more vulnerable than the players on the ice, and should be protected. 2. Do you really want a league where players are able to intimidate refs? For many people, the "right" call is the one that favours their team, and that is not limited to… Read more »
The right call is the right call. But when you have an emotional fool with a chip on his shoulder calling the game you end up with a bunch of missed calls, wrong calls, and then makeup calls. If you disagree then you're either in denial or blind.
Players already intimate officials. Look at the way they give preferential treatment to goons like perry, getzlaf, or anyone else with a big salary. Give your head a shake!
"pay for having good weather"
Perhaps in taxes for fighting forest fires and wild fires, but that is the norm now anyways.
The one thing that does suck is the fact that the outdoor rinks have taken a shite kicking, but then again the lower heating costs help cover some increase in the food prices.
Always an up side and down side to most things.
Pollock? Is the media co-ordinator for the Riders the last 4? 5? Seasons.
He succeeded Sheri Trapp in that role.
To the gentleman that suggests Referees should be treated no different than players. Please get back on your meds asap. Then call 1-800-461-5483. The Canadian Mental Health Association. We'll be pulling for ya Pal!!
Clarkenstein
Suggesting that officials be punished for their actions is far from insane… you think police should be punished for their actions? Then what's the difference here? I bet you're one of those socialist pc fools who is on the Black Lives Matter sauce.
I was just telling me grandson the other day about the winters in Regina we enjoyed back in the day: – outdoor skating from October to April with a full-time shack man to keep wood in the hot stove so we could warm our feet in the evening when the temperature got in the – 20's and 30's. – Building huge underground forts in snow banks more than 8 feet deep. – Bumper shines down the streets in our smooth leather moccasins. – Hunting rabbits and muskrat through the snow with pellet guns and traps. – Broom ball on the… Read more »
I would have to say that Jennifer Jones (Team Canada) and Chelsea Carey (Alberta) would be the odds on favorites to win the 2016 Scotties. Jolene and Team Sask will be close at the end of the week and it will more than likely come down to her last one or two round robin games to determine if Team Sask makes the playoffs or not. If they do make the playoffs its a whole new animal and anything could happen. TSN with their multi channel feeds are showing two different games per draw, thanks TSN as curling has to be… Read more »
Succeeded is right!
Rams are a tire fire right now. Why McAuley or Mueller wasn't named HC last season is the question which should be asked. In the words of Lynch "HOW DUMB CAN YOU BE?"
The Rams are in a bad place right now and no one wants to touch them so let Gray or Bryce try and work some magic to get them back to a competitive level.
Isn't it funny how the Rams thought they would come in and dominate university football the way they did junior. How did that turn out? A lot of humble pie being eaten.
Brian