Stackhouse’s 10 Weekend Thoughts

1 – GAUDREAU – Tributes are pouring in from everywhere in memory of Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matty, who were both mowed down by a drunk driver in New Jersey who was trying to pass vehicles on the right hand side of the road. Words can’t describe how much of a tragedy this is. If there is a saving grace it’s that the incident happened in the US and not Canada and, therefore, there is a decent chance the punishment will be severe and as fitting as fitting can be when something like this occurs. 

2 – DRUNK DRIVING – In 2010, Anaheim Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart, and two others, were killed by a drunk driver and the offender in that case was sentenced to 51 years in jail.  While the Gaudreaus and Adenhart were victims in DUI offenses, there has been no shortage of situations where professional athletes have been charged with DUI.  The time is now for pro leagues to bring the hammer down on such matters. Human lives depend on it. In the NFL, it’s fully expected that Minnesota Vikings receiver Jordan Addison will get 6-games for a DUI matter this summer but even that is not enough. I’d be in favor of players being suspended for a full season and I’d also suggest teams need to be the ones acting and not the leagues.  The teams are the employers, not the league. Furthermore, teams have their own investigative units and follow their players around all the time.  They know what their investments are doing during the offseason and off-hours. There is no need to wait for a legal proceeding to play out. As we know, people are found not guilty, legally, all the time but that doesn’t mean they didn’t do it.  

3 – CONDUCT – The big thing that rips me off when it comes to professional conduct is that just about every sports team in North America (maybe even the world) will sweep serious matters under the rug until the incident becomes public. If you have any integrity as an organization, you will demand it from the employees and the number of people who find out about transgressions need not matter. If it doesn’t reflect your values as an employer, get rid of him. That’s the quickest way to straightening some of these people out. It’s bizarre really. Trevor Bauer hasn’t been found guilty of anything and he’d be an asset to any Major League Baseball team looking to win, yet nobody will touch him, supposedly, because public image is more important. Yet, NHL teams allowed the players accused in the London WJC sexual assault case to play for years and steps were taken to even protect the identities of the players from being made public.  

4 – RASHEE RICE – This brings me to the Rashee Rice situation. Rice faces eight charges related to a hit and run this Summer. Both his team and his league are passing the buck and waiting ‘for the legal process to play out’. I’m sorry but the Chiefs and the NFL should already have a really good grasp on what happened and it shouldn’t come down to legal technicalities to determine his playing future. There was a tremendous amount of pressure from crazy left wing celebrities levied at the Chiefs to release Harrison Butker over a speech that didn’t hurt anyone and yet nobody gives a hoot about Rice and the human lives put in danger in his matter.  We are, truly, upside down as a society. No wonder God once sent a flood and told Noah to build an ark.

5 – LDC – The Labour Day Classic goes Sunday afternoon and while I’m not nearly at the same state of panic as other Rider followers, I would suggest this game is a must win for Saskatchewan as next week’s game in Winnipeg is almost always a loss no matter where both teams are in the standings. What’s, seemingly, forgotten amidst the Rider struggles is that they are in first place in the West Division. If they go 4-and-3 over the final seven games, I think that will be good enough to earn a home playoff game in the weak West Division.

6 – QB PLAY – You can argue all you want about Chad Kelly’s right to play in the CFL and Nathan Rourke’s potential as one of the top quarterbacks in the league but the reality on both of them is this – they draw eyeballs. Personally, I’m watching much more closely than I was a month ago and it’s solely because the level of play at quarterback is better with Kelly and Rourke on the field even though Rourke is yet to show us his true potential. While I’m not in the camp of Rourke being an NFL level starter, I do believe he will be right there with Kelly as one of the top two QBs in the league by the end of the year.

7 – WHAT CAP? – The BC Lions are well over a salary cap that, for this season anyways, doesn’t seem to exist.  I’ve written in previous weeks that the league can’t be taken seriously when they scrawl out rules that are selectively applied. Well here’s another one. For the most part, the media is ignoring the matter altogether but when it does get brought up, it’s very much downplayed as being a soft cap anyways so it’s just not a big deal.  Here’s the truth – BC is hosting the Grey Cup and for the financial health of the CFL, they need the Lions in that game.  

8 – RIGBY BAD WORDS – The WHL preseason hadn’t even started last Sunday yet we already have our first suspension. Prince George Assistant Coach Carter Rigby was handed three games for using insensitive language. No other details were provided other than that the WHL and the Cougars are both committed to holding players and staff to the highest standards of conduct on and off the ice. Uh huh. Three games for bad language so the precedent is set. I’ll bet a paycheque there will be lots more happen that is worse than this and there will be no sanctions, especially if the public doesn’t find out. Meanwhile, those of you happy to see a coach suspended for using slang or swearing should also be thrilled to hear Washington goalie Logan Thompson is under pressure to change his pads. Apparently, Thompson did a design that resembles the Caps colors and uses the stars that have appeared in the logo over the years but there are folks who feel harmed and threatened by the pads because they too closely resemble the Confederate flag. Originally, I wrote a bit more on this one but I’ve deleted it. What’s the point?

9 – PANTHER CITY FOLDS – The National Lacrosse League, officially, announced the folding of the Panther City Lacrosse Club earlier this week, which means a dispersal draft will be held on Monday morning. In my mind, the Rush are already on the right path back to being a contender but could use an improvement on faceoffs. Last week, I mentioned the name Ronin Pusch as a possibility in that regard so I’ll be watching with great interest to see who they end up with. Panther City has some talented offensive players in Will Malcom, Callum Crawford, and Jonathan Donville. Depending on who picks in front of the Rush, goaltender Nick Damude should also be a hot commodity (I’m guessing he goes to Calgary). Former Rush Matt Hossack led Panther City in loose balls and caused turnovers and he could be available when the Rush make their selection.  Could a reunion be possible?

10 – OTHER TRAGEDIES – Unfortunately, we have other sad news to pass along this week in addition to the Gaudreau tragedy. 27-year-old Juan Izquierdo a pro soccer player from Uruguay collapsed on a soccer pitch August 22nd and passed away late this week as a result. It’s sad and tragic, but pro soccer players collapsing and dying during games has long been a regular occurance. Closer to home, former Waywayseecappo Wolverines (MJHL) Trainer and Billet, Mike Twardoski, passed away this week at the age of 63. Twardoski had been a pillar in the Russell and area community for most of his life. And, former professional wrestler Sid Justice (Sid Vicious) died at the age of 63 as a result of cancer complications. We should also keep in our thoughts Winnipeg Offensive Lineman Stanley Bryant, who was stretchered off the field last week due to heat exhaustion. Bryant still isn’t well enough to play so he will miss the LDC against the Riders.

(Mike Stackhouse is a freelance writer/broadcaster)