THE SCENE OF THE CRIME

(Listen daily for the Rod Pedersen Commentary on Cat Country 98 FM & Rock 98.5 FM)

CALGARY – TODAY’S COMMENTARY COMES TO YOU FROM THE BEAUTIFUL CITY OF CALGARY, AND THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN FOOTHILLS.

I JUST GOT HERE TUESDAY NIGHT SO THERE HASN’T BEEN ENOUGH TIME TO ASSIMILATE WITH THE LOCALS BUT THAT’LL HAPPEN OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

THE PURPOSE OF THE TRIP IS TO GIVE A KEYNOTE ADDRESS TO THE FMC GROUP, AT A DOWNTOWN CALGARY RESTAURANT WEDNESDAY NIGHT. THE TOPICS? HOCKEY, FOOTBALL, AGRICULTURE AND MENTAL HEALTH. ALL ARE RIGHT IN MY WHEELHOUSE.

THROUGH THE WIZARDRY OF MY BOSS DARREN DUPONT AND OUR PRODUCTION PARTNER IKS MEDIA, WE’RE ABLE TO BROADCAST THE NATIONALLY-TELEVISED ROD PEDERSEN SHOW FROM ANYWHERE ON THE CONTINENT. AND WE WILL BE IN THE MONTHS AND YEARS AHEAD.

ANYWAY, I’M EXCITED TO SEE WHAT A HOME GAME WEEK IS LIKE FOR THE STAMPEDERS AND THEIR FANS. I FORGET, AS IT’S BEEN A FULL 31 YEARS SINCE I LIVED HERE. (ARE WE REALLY THAT OLD?)

IT’S A PERFECT WEEK TO FEEL THE BUZZ TOO SINCE THE ARCHRIVAL SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS COME TO TOWN SATURDAY NIGHT IN THE THIRD GAME OF A CFL TRIPLEHEADER, WITH A 7:45 PM KICKOFF.

FRANKLY I DON’T SENSE A HUGE BUZZ ON EITHER SIDE OF THE BORDER BUT MAYBE IT’S JUST ME; I’M PRETTY FAR REMOVED FROM THE SCENE COMPARED TO WHAT I ONCE WAS.

I DID HEAR SOME COMMERCIALS PROMOTING THE GAME ON COUNTRY 105.1 – THE GREATEST COUNTRY STATION ON THE PLANET, AND CALGARY’S #1 – SO PEOPLE CAN’T SAY THEY DON’T KNOW ABOUT THE GAME. 

AS FAR AS INTENSITY GOES, THIS GAME SHOULD SELL ITSELF. IT’S THE STAMPEDERS AND ROUGHRIDERS AFTER ALL, THE STAMPEDERS ARE THE CFL’S HOTTEST TEAM AS WINNERS OF THREE IN A ROW, AND THE RIDERS ARE COMING OFF A BYE WEEK HOPING TO EXORCISE THE DEMONS THAT’S SEEN THEM LOSE FOUR OF THEIR PAST SIX GAMES.

THEY APPEAR TO BE INJECTING STARS DUKE WILLIAMS AND SHAQ EVANS INTO THEIR RECEIVING CORPS WHICH, AS I’VE READ, IS GOING TO BE THE ANSWER TO ALL THEIR PROBLEMS.

IT’S A LATE-OCTOBER, RIVALRY GAME THAT COULD DECIDE WHO CLINCHES HOMEFIELD IN THE WESTERN SEMIFINAL.

I SEE NO REASON WHY THIS SHOULDN’T BE THE HIGHEST-ATTENDED CFL GAME OF THE SEASON! THAT HONOUR GOES TO THE RIDERS AND LIONS IN WEEK 1 AT MOSAIC STADIUM AT 33,350.

IT WASN’T CALGARY’S LABOUR DAY CLASSIC BUT THE STAMPS AND ELKS ARE CLOSE, HAVING DRAWN 31,039 THAT DAY.

THIS ONE ON SATURDAY SHOULD PUSH 35,000 AT MCMAHON STADIUM.

I’LL BE DISAPPOINTED IF IT DOESN’T.

THAT’S TODAY’S ROD PEDERSEN COMMENTARY