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.
– “Spy Games” goes Saturday night in Calgary, and I can’t wait. The Riders don’t like the Stampeders, the Stampeders don’t like the Riders. A green wave will once again descend on McMahon Stadium, and both coaches are treating this Week 5 game like a playoff contest by closing practices so things don’t get “leaked”. It’s a little far-fetched to think fans are divulging secrets, but hey, whatever sells tickets works for me.
The Riders are better than last year, and Calgary isn’t as good as last year. While it is early, the Stamps seem to be missing something from last year when they ran roughshod over the league until the Grey Cup game.
Will this translate into a Riders win? One would have to think the Stamps will win at home, but I will say the Riders will cover the 11 and a half point spread. Yes, Calgary could add a late TD to make it a double-digit win, but I think Bo Levi and crew are in for a tough game against an opponent that gives them nightmares no matter their record.
– Riders head coach Chris Jones has the quote of the year in the CFL so far this year for his “We had more fans in the stands today (for Tuesday’s practice) than Toronto has fans. Some have said that was an unnecessary shot against the Argos and are condeming him (surprise, surprise!) while others are taking it for what it was which was humour. It was a well-played dig, and he wasn’t really wrong was he? We all know fan support in Toronto is disgraceful.
– Can someone please tell me what Dave Dickenson was trying to accomplish when he told Calgary radio station QR77 on Monday night that he thought the Riders had a good team last year with the exception of their QB play? Why is Dickenson taking a shot at the now-departed Darian Durant. The same Darian Durant that beat his Stampeders one week ago! If he had said, they had bad o-line play or a bad secondary I could understand it, but taking a poke at a player who is no longer here. I don’t get it!
– Another thing I don’t get is fans (smokers) who are railing on the Riders for the fact they put out an edict this week reminding people Mosaic Stadium is now smoke-free. Why is that? It’s a City of Regina bylaw. A city of Regina bylaw and not a Riders one. It’s also a bylaw this non-smoker wholeheartedly endorses. If it’s a city bylaw, the Riders are simply adhering to it. Do you want them to not abide by this? The hate of the smoker is being directed at the wrong folk.
– There is also a furor over the fact once you leave, you can’t get back in. IT WASN”T LIKE THAT BEFORE!!! claim many. Guess what? Things change, deal with it! Many other stadiums have this policy in place. Every NFL, NHL and MLB game I have seen over the last few years whether it be at Rogers Place, Bell Centre, Target Field, Wrigley Field, CenturyLink Field, the now no-more Metrodome, you are not allowed to leave once you enter. Its a safety thing!! It’s the same reason you get your bag searched, and its the same reason many venues give you souvenirs in a clear plastic bag. How easy would it be for someone to say oh, I forgot something and come back into the stadium whether it be here or anywhere with a weapon he or she has hidden hoping security will go “Oh I remember him/her. you’re good and then chaos breaks out.
Yes, the chances of that ever happening in Regina are slim, but if it did, questions would be asked about why fans weren’t protected. Things change! Get used to it. It could be worse. Once again, the anger for this is a little unwarranted. Do you say the same thing when going through the airport? Yes I do, but I understand why it’s being done. Bottom line, settle down and don’t let the little things consume you as they seemingly are with some.
– Through 4 1/2 weeks of the CFL season, as a fan you can’t say you are not seeing good games. Wednesday’s game in Ottawa went right down to the wire and so did last night’s game between the Eskimos and Ti-Cats. What a letdown by the Tabbies. Despite another night of shoddy o-line play, Hamilton had a chance to win until late in the 4th quarter when Mike Reilly said enough was enough. A win by the Ti-Cats (or Spy-Cats as RP has joked) would have tightened things up in the East and he West. Perhaps Derek Meyers wasn’t wrong when he said the gap between top and bottom in the league has shrunk significantly in the last year. There seemingly isn’t a lot between the top team and the worst one in the CFL.
Of the 18 games in the league this year, 13 have been decided by 8 or less. You can’t ask for much better than that as a fan. A majority of the games including the two this week are coming right down to the end which I think is what you want in the end.
– Football of another kind comes to Mosaic Stadium on Saturday. I’m looking forward to seeing the New York Cosmos take on Valencia CF in the first ( and what won’t be the last) international friendly. Say what you will about the game, but its popularity is increasing in our country by the day with more and more kids playing. There is talk about a new league setting up a franchise in either Regina or Saskatoon. Former Rush prez Lee Genier is one of the people trying to make it happen. That guy knows what he’s doing, so don’t bet against him. Lee is scheduled to join me in the Cage at 605 Friday nightt to talk about it before a meeting at O’Hanlons at 7.
– It would only be fitting if Al Cowlings picked up OJ Simpson once he is paroled and drove him home would it not?
– People are talking about the home runs being hit in baseball and whether or not the ball is “juiced”. How about the fact there are many more young stars in the game than before who can make you pay for a mistake. Bryce Harper, Mike Trout, Kris Bryant, Cody Bellinger, Aaron Judge, Miguel Sano and Jose Altuve are just some of the names that will carry baseball for the next many years. There is a lot of talent on the field, and that is being shown by the increased numbers and interest in the game. You won’t see me complaining about it.
– That’s all I got. Have a great weekend! GO RIDERS!!
