STACKHOUSE’S 10 THOUGHTS

1 – POLITICAL CORRECTNESS – I missed most of Saturday’s game as I was travelling all day, but I see the big story Monday is Gainer rough-housing a stuffed lion and, perhaps, he grabbed the stuffed animal by the crotch.  The nerve. The other thing I noticed on the weekend as far as big news stories are concerned is a woman who has male sex organs throwing a fit because the female owner of a waxing business refused to do a Brazilian on him/her.  Folks, it’s up to you as to whether or not you want this type of madness to continue. We can speak up and call it out for what it is – insanity and stupidity. Or, we can allow the weak of society to dictate what goes on and, eventually, we will just ban mascots altogether and people who perform body waxing will all just quit and close their shops because it’s not worth the hassle.  I see no evidence that we have the balls (the comparison fits here) to do anything about it. Me? I will continue to call it out and you can all label me with hateful names. I don’t care.

2 – FAJARDO – I read somewhere that Cody Fajardo has amassed more yards than any other quarterback in Roughrider history over his first four games.  Can we stop with the ‘take a look at Isaac Harker’ nonsense now? And, can we stop with the ‘you can’t lose your job because of injury’ nonsense too?  With all due respect, this is professional sports. Staying healthy is a skill and there is no evidence even a healthy Zach Collaros can do what Fajardo has done thus far.  It’s case closed. Fajardo is the starter.

3 – PENALTIES – What parts of the game I did catch came via the radio and with the Lions feed (nothing personal against our local announcer, but the perspective is always very different when you go with the other side) and it seemed to me that the Riders are taking too many penalties, including one for too many men as well as another on special teams where their eligible receiver lined up in an ineligible position.  These types of penalties are ones that should never be tolerated and shouldn’t happen during games come week five. Had they been playing a team better than the the Lions, it may have bit them. Side bar – When was the last time BC had a good coach that wasn’t named Wally Buono?

4 – ARBUCKLE/MITCHELL – I mused last week about the Calgary Stampeders doing something with Bo-Levi Mitchell and his exorbitant salary in light of the success enjoyed, so far, by Nick Arbuckle.  Apparently, that rumour has legs. A month ago, the Roughriders should be all over it, but it appears as though the Riders have their own Arbuckle, at the moment. 

5 – COMING OUT – Sportsnet baseball announcer Scott MacArthur announced on YouTube that he’s gay over the weekend.  He’s getting, across the board, applause for his courage. For what, I’m not sure. All the evidence I’ve seen in the sports and broadcast industries is that these are two of the most tolerant lines of work you will find anywhere.  The cynic in me feels MacArthur just bought himself a ton of job security in an industry that offers none of it. I know that’s not why he ‘came out’, but when two people are on the chopping block and only one of them has to go, it won’t be MacArthur because of the can of worms that, potentially, opens.

6 – FLAMES/OILERS TRADE – James Neal didn’t play well in Calgary, but some of that can be chalked up to ice time.  Milan Lucic hasn’t played well in Edmonton and there really is no explanation for it other than the game has gotten faster and Lucic can no longer keep up.  The early analysis on this deal last week is that the Oilers have a place to put Neal that gives him a chance to rebound. Lucic has no real direct path to significant minutes nor is there evidence he will find an extra gear in his stride.  There’s also a good chance neither player bounces back.

7 – SJHL OVERAGES – I am happy to see the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League hold the line on 20-year-olds.  I know it’s the direction of Canadian Junior ‘A’ hockey to go towards younger rosters and I accept the reason for doing so but, as a fan, I’d love to see Junior ‘A’ go the other direction and allow teams to carry one 21-year-old, as long as he’s from the team’s hometown and has played a set number of qualified games.  I’d love to see one more year of Owen Lamb or Braydon Buziak with the Battlefords North Stars.

8 – BUMGARNER – The San Francisco Giants have been rumoured to be peddling ace pitcher Madison Bumgarner because they have no chance to win, yet I see they are 2 games out of a playoff spot with ⅓ of the season remaining.  Maybe they should keep Bumgarner and get him some help?

9 – STROMAN – The Blue Jays are said to be on the verge of trading Marcus Stroman.  Apparently, the 28-year-old will be of no use to them when it’s time to contend.  That should tell you all you need to know about when they plan to be half decent again.  I guess hurlers with a 3.06-ERA grow on trees and he’s not needed. One writer speculated the Jays should get a similar package to what Tampa got for Chris Archer (Tyler Glasnow and Austin Meadows).  I’d argue Stroman is better than Archer and if someone wants to pony up that kind of talent, then I’m all for the trade. But, let’s just make sure the Glasnow calibre pitcher the Jays receive isn’t on the injured list all season.

10 – CORNWALL BACK – The Saskatchewan Rush have reacquired Jeff Cornwall, whom they lost in the NLL Expansion Draft.  The Rush got him from the New York Riptide. You have to love a league where players would rather be in Saskatchewan than New York. I know it’s not quite as simple as I’ve outlined it, but it’s good to see Cornwall won’t be lost.  Jeff Shattler is back too, signing a 2-year extension so the Rush should be in for another solid season.

(Mike Stackhouse is a freelance writer/broadcaster. Follow him on Twitter at @Stack1975)