SCRUFFY’S THIS N’ THAT
Welcome to Friday and the usual thoughts running through my muddled mind. As always, they come in no particular order.
–The LPGA Canadian Womens Open has been a huge success so far. Hopefully, Tiffany Lizee and JC Garden (or whoever is doing the 6 o’clock weather on CTV these days) can keep the rain away this weekend. Actually, if it wants to rain Saturday night around 7 and Sunday night around 7 that’s fine, but keep the rain away while the tournament is going on. It is going to be a great weekend at the Wascana. This is something that may never come to Regina again and if it does, it won’t be for a long time so come out and check things out.
–Before word got out that Regina was hosting the CP Canadian Womens Open, I knew who Brooke Henderson was and what she was doing. Having met her at the media day a couple of months ago, you could see how engaging, friendly and personable she was. There was no “aura” attached to her whatsoever. That hasn’t changed. The 20-year-old from Smiths Falls, Ontario has a smile that could light up a room and she could be that “girl next door”. She is arguably one of Canada’s top athletes, but because ladies golf doesn’t really move the needle, she doesn’t get a lot of attention outside the game. That probably suits her just fine. Regina would hold a special place in Brooke’s heart if she won Sunday with a few-thousand people cheering her on. The sight of people who had been watching her Thursday streaming down the cartpath on the 18th fairway towards our Sportscage location was a great sight to see. She even acknowledged that she didn’t think that many fans would be following her. Once again, Regina sets the bar!
–What is Henderson doing for golf in Canada? Well, Weyburn’s Graham DeLaet says she is doing for this generation what Mike Weir did back when DeLaet was growing up. He couldn’t be more accurate. Many saw Weir win a green jacket and they took up the sport. Many are seeing Henderson do what she does and they want to take it up. A win at the Wascana would do wonders for not only golf in Saskatchewan, but golf across the country.
–Have the waters calmed down in Rider Nation after their impressive win at home against Calgary? I guess we will find out Saturday night. The bottom line going into this contest is everything that went right and the good feelings that came out of the victory against Calgary mean nothing if the team can’t put distance between themselves and the Lions. A win isn’t imperative, but it would have the team feeling great heading into the Labour Day Classic and the Banjo Bowl.
–It is somewhat sad to have many people discussing whether or not Chris Jones should continue wearing green after donning a “Diversity is Strength” shirt against the Stamps meaning he wasn’t in his traditional black. It’s fun to discuss Jones’ wardrobe and its light-hearted, but there are some who actually believe he should now wear green with some conducting polls!!! Please! What a coach wears means nothing when it comes to whether said team wins or loses. For what its worth, Jones will be back in black when you see him Saturday night.
–Stamps coach Dave Dickenson can clearly be heard trying to rattle Riders kicker Brett Lauther on one of his field goal attempts thanks to the CFL live mic games they are doing. Like it or not, Dickenson is free to do what he chooses. His actions seemed to have slipped away with no one giving a you know what about it. I can only imagine the outrage if it had been Chris Jones doing that with Rene Paredes. We would still be hearing about it.
–Bomber fans are choked after their loss to Ottawa and the subsequent criticism they are getting for booing Matt Nichols (although we all know it was Mike O’Shea). I just have this to say to Bombers fans. Jets training camp starts soon.
–Good on the CFL for allowing players to celebrate touchdowns and putting some fun back into the game. Whether it is against your team or not, there is nothing wrong with celebrating a TD as long as it is done the right way and you don’t go overboard. I’m sure that will happen at some point. I love the creativity. Let’s hope the Rider receiving group has something planned for Saturday.
–Thanks to the Ti-Cats, a Rider win on Saturday means both they and the Eskimos would have four losses. The ball has definitely bounced the way of the green-and-white the last couple of weeks and one has to think Calgary beats the Bombers at MacMahon so getting a “W” at BC Place would certainly improve the overall picture of the team as we get ready for Labour Day.
–Did anyone truly think Jon Ryan had kicked his last ball in the NFL? Not this guy. He still has some good years left. It won’t surprise me if he is a Buffalo Bill for a couple of seasons. Some have said and hoped he will finish his football career as a Rider. I just don’t see that happening anymore.
–5 teams will make the playoffs in the National League. 8 teams could finish with identical records. That is just about impossible, but in the same sense it would be amazing. While everyone believes Boston is the front-runner to win considering what they have done this season, I get the feeling they get bounced and don’t even win the American League. What a final six weeks it will be.
–It’s not too early to think about NFL Fantasy Football, but it is a little too early to start thinking about Fantasy Hockey and pools isn’t it? Isn’t it?
–There is talk after one season of the god-awful orange jersey, the Edmonton Oilers are bringing back the royal blues. I approve of this. It may not get them back into the playoffs, but at least it won’t look as ugly as it did last year.
–Good on Regina police for ticketing someone for driving too slow on the Ring Road. I have said it once and I will say it a thousand times. If you can’t go 100 on the Ring Road, then don’t get on it. Of course, some like to go 130 on the Ring Road which is not advised either. Those who are too slow are as big as a pain as those going too fast. They’re a menace out there and we’re fortunate there aren’t more accidents I wonder if these slowpokes use their turn signal.
–Back to golf. Regina needs a mini-golf course or two again. If there is one in this town today, I don’t know where it is.
That’s all I got. Have a great weekend. Maybe we will see you at the Wascana!
