THURSDAY RODSERVATIONS

10 ONE-TIMERS

1 – WHAT TO DO IN MOOSE JAW?:   At long last, we’re heading into the final weekend of the CFL off-season.  Our clan will be spending it at the Moose Jaw Mineral Spa, and enjoying all the Band City has to offer.  Any suggestions on eateries and things to do?  Unfortunately Bonanza is out – the girls draw the line on buffets – but that wing place Deja Vu is certainly on the agenda.  What else?  Please advise.

2 – SO LONG HUGHESIE:  The curtain came down on Neal Hughes’ 11-year career with the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Wednesday.  As an unheralded fullback, the highlight reel of his career is relatively brief but it would include his unlikely touchdown in the 2007 Western Final at B.C. which helped propel the Riders into the Grey Cup.  On 620 CKRM’s SportsCage Wednesday evening, Neal said he was left uncovered by Lions linebacker Javier Glatt and dearly wanted to make good on the playcall.  He did.

And that’s what Neal will be remembered for best:  he always did what was asked of him and never let the team down.  Scruffy pointed out the little-known fact that Neal Hughes caught Darian Durant’s first-ever touchdown pass, in a game at Hamilton in 2008.  Neal related on air that he reluctantly gave the football to Durant after the play.  Knowing Darian, he still has the ball displayed prominently somewhere.

CBC’s Glenn Reid noted that Neal’s retirement news conference was the most highly-attended by current and past Roughrider personnel that he’s covered in his 30-year career which tells you what Neal has meant to this football club over the past 11 years.  Interestingly, Neal said his career highlight was being on the field for the final play of the 2013 Grey Cup admitted to being “as shocked as everyone in the stands” at the game’s conclusion.

Rider Assistant GM Jeremy O’Day said Neal Hughes was a Roughrider who never took a single day of his career for granted.  He looked forward to pulling into the stadium parking lot each day and loved to practice.  Neal said every time he strapped that helmet on with the /=S=/ on the side, he felt he was representing the whole province.  O’Day said the current Rider who displays the same type of gratitude is offensive lineman Dan Clark.

Hats off to you Neal.  You were a great Roughrider.

3 – ARRRRRRGGGOOOOOOS:  If you’re a regular reader of this blog, you’ll remember that I’ve written  several times over the past few years that Toronto football people weren’t too concerned about the state of their franchise despite all the squalor around it.  As it turns out, they were right.  In a seemingly tidy business deal, the Argos were sold to Bell and MLSE Chairman Larry Tanenbaum on Wednesday and the team will be moving to BMO Field for the 2016 season.  That seemed easy, didn’t it?  So why did it take so long?

The move has been applauded across the CFL.

“Hopefully it’s great news for the team and some security for the organization,” Jeremy O’Day, a former Argo, said on Wednesday.  “Obviously they’re a huge part of the success of the CFL, and its success going forward.  It’s always a good day.  It’s a positive day when you can see an ownership group take charge of the organization.  They had a very good owner (David Braley) who helped them through some tough times.  Looking forward to seeing some changes and the move that’s gonna happen there.  Hopefully it’ll only strengthen our league.”

This truly is excellent news.  The Argos have always been my second favourite team.  It’s likely because blue is my favourite colour.

4 – GREY CUP IN TORONTO:  It wasn’t officially announced on Wednesday but it’s expected the 2016 Grey Cup will be held in Toronto – preferably BMO Field – but Rogers Centre will be ready if needed.  That will make for an interesting scenario.  The temperature dipped to minus-20 in Toronto for the 2007 Grey Cup and I remember it well because I tore the knee out of my suitpants while slipping on some ice on Front Street during Grey Cup Week.  But, it will be fun to broadcast outdoors at Riders-Argos games and it’ll be equally as exciting to finally get into the home of Toronto FC.  Here’s hoping the Riders are in that championship game in 2016.

5 – STEROIDS?:  The comments of former CIS President Dick White in the MMG over the CFL’s flimsy steroid policy drew some national attention but it’s still a reluctant topic in pro football circles.  Perhaps it’s an uncomfortable topic too.  Here’s my take:  fans generally don’t give a rip if pro athletes use Performance Enhancing Drugs.  Did I care as a child watching my heros in the WWF knowing full well they stick a needle in their butt before every workout?  Not a chance.  It really is no different with pro football players, and the teams don’t seem to mind either.  In society, steroids are thought of as bad.  So the pro leagues have a “steroid policy” but it’s only about optics in order to calm the public and show there’s a concern about it.  Amateur leagues such as the CIS and CHL have a policy as well, and they should, because we’re dealing with amateur, young athletes.

However if you’re an aspiring slugger, football or hockey player, or even a pro wrestler (or your child is), make sure you read up on all the nasty side effects.  Two words: Lance Armstrong.  If you’re not concerned about losing a sexual organ because of PED’s, have ‘at er.

6 – FOLEY MOUTHS OFF:  God bless Argonauts defensive end Ricky Foley.  He’s getting lambasted for his Twitter comments on Wednesday regarding the timing of the Maple Leafs’ hiring of Mike Babcock, but thank God he’s willing to speak his colourful mind.  Life in sports would be awfully boring without guys like Ricky Foley.

“Dick move announcing Babcock news the day the Argos are finally sold,” Foley wrote on social media.  “Guess some people are still jealous we the only team who wins in this city.  So congrats on your new coach Maple Leafs.  Hopefully 50-mill and sky high ticket prices are enough to give your players heart and a compete level.”

Nothing more needs to be said here.  Although hopefully Foley has an endorsement deal coming from my new favourite breakfast restaurant, “Ricky’s“.

7 – BABCOCK ROCKS:  Sometimes you get a nagging feeling about something and for me, it was that Mike Babcock would be named the next head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs.  That’s why I had no hesitation in writing in the MMG that the Leafs would hire Babcock and it happened a day later.  (That’s no pat on my own back however, as I’ve been wrong at least as many times with predictions like this and I know it).

To me, the Toronto Maple Leafs were the only plausible destination for the Saskatoon product and that’s for two reasons: 1) They weren’t going to be outbid and Mike was going to go to the highest bidder and 2) Toronto presents the grandest stage and biggest challenge for Babcock and that suits his ego magnificently.

And that’s no shot at Babcock.  As I’ve learned over the past few months, the term “ego” doesn’t necessarily have to be a swear word although it generally is in the sports and entertainment worlds.  It speaks to one’s confidence in their abilities and Babcock is the best in the world at what he does.

I know Mike, although not well, but he was nice enough to open his home to me in Spokane in the 1990s.  I recall it because I remember thinking Mrs. Babcock bore a striking resemblance to Maura Tierney in the movie Liar, Liar.

Again, Toronto was the only logical landing spot for Babcock and it’s going to be incredibly entertaining to see how this all plays out in the seasons ahead.  Good hire.

And regarding these 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs, how could you ask for anything more?  Especially Tampa Bay’s 6-5 overtime win over the New York Rangers on Wednesday night.  These guys are playing their berries off.

8 – DAAAAAAVIDDD LETTERMANNNNN:  With all that’s been going on in sports this week, it’s been tough to keep an eye on the actual news but everybody’s worked up about the retirement and final show of late night talkshow king David Letterman.  Regina news outlets have aired some tremendous stories this week on the 1995 phenomena of Regina gas pump jockey Dick Assman, who was made popular by Letterman that year.  Dave was infatuated by Assman’s surname and flew him to New York to appear on his show.

The Roughriders got swept up in the craze as well, having Dick Assman perform a ceremonial kickoff before a game in 1995.  Those were the days!  I remember Globe & Mail football writer Marty York predicted the Riders to win the Grey Cup that year so the Riders flew him in for a ceremonial kickoff too.  Those days are lonnnnnng gone but God were they fantastic.  I’m just glad to have been around for it.

Regarding David Letterman, Saskatoon Star Phoenix writer Corey Wolfe once asked me in an article who were the top three people I’d like to meet or have dinner with.  They were: 1) George Strait 2) David Letterman and 3) my late Grandpa Marion Nicholas.  I’ve been fortunate enough to meet the first two, and the third will have to wait until I get to the big press box in the sky.