THURSDAY SHOW RECAP: LOADS OF FOOTBALL AND HOCKEY TALK

We had the sizzle on Episode #277 of The RP Show! Here are the highlights:

• Rod and Dupes opened with The Rollout for Flooring Superstore covering these Quick Six show topics: 1) Joe McKnight’s killer Ronald Gasser is getting a new trial, 2) Who’s the 2nd-best running back in Rider history behind George Reed?, 3) Is the Return To Play in sports all about money? (Rod said initially it was, but now it’s simply about returning to work), 4) Will the Canada/US border extension affect the CFL’s Return To Play? (Dupes doesn’t think it will), 5) An epic collapse by the Vancouver Whitecaps on Wednesday at the MLS Is Back tournament in Orlando, and 6) Dak Prescott is officially franchise tagged by the Dallas Cowboys as the two sides couldn’t agree on a longterm deal.
• Former Rider RB Kenton Keith expressed his dissatisfaction on Twitter with being in the poll for the 2nd-best Rider running back. He feels he should be in contention for the #1 spot after recording a franchise-best 6.2-yards per carry. Rod huffed that more goes into this honour than one stat, and that includes George Reed’s 13 seasons in Green & White and 16,116 career rushing yards.
• The daily Capital Auto Mall/Universal Collision Centre poll question was: Who’s the Riders’ 2nd-best all time running back behind George Reed – Wes Cates, Korey Sheets, Kenton Keith or Mike Saunders? At press time, Sheets was leading by a nose over Cates. (RP voted for Cates)
• Nashville Predators goalie Connor Ingram of Imperial, SK joined the show in Hour 1 on Game+ TV from his hotel room in Music City. He discussed his long drive from Sask to Tennessee, dealing with US border guards, and how he filled his time on the drive (he listened to podcasts of the RP Show and Pat McAfee). The former Kamloops Blazer discussed training camp sessions with the Preds since Monday, reported his teammates are excited to get the playoffs going, and that they are strictly shuttled between the hotel and rink and forced to wear masks. He pointed out that NHL players are NOT being paid during the playoffs.
• Hour 2 was broadcast on Facebook Live only and we were joined by Sportsnet’s Arash Madani. He discussed the 2020 Canadian Football Hall of Fame class – particularly the careers of Henry Burris and Larry Uteck – and also figures there’s no way the CFL will play games in 2020 because there’s simply too many barriers. He also went on a heated rant on how the CFL is doing nothing for the players financially at this time.
• Former Redskins, Eagles and Roughriders scout Joe Womack joined the show from Baton Rouge, LA where he’s personal training and coaching at the LSU “Lab”. Joe recounted his two stints with the Riders in the early 1980s and late 2000’s, winning a Grey Cup in 2007. Regarding the state of the CFL, Joe shrugged that no one has the answers at the moment and he feels badly for the players. Regarding the Redskins name change, Joe feels Washington fans are upset that it has to change and that no offence was intended when the franchise was started up many decades ago.
• Longtime WHL, SJHL and U-Sports goalie Daniel Wapple joined the bunker to discuss joining the Melville Millionaires as goalie coach, and how he works with young goalies on skills training (including Connor Ingram). “Wapps” laughed that he instructs young goalies NOT to play how he did. Regarding a Return To Play in junior hockey, the Saskatoon product feels the SJHL is best-positioned due to geography.
• You can vote now on our Twitter poll for the Rockstar of the Day for RoxDar Supply Chain Solutions. At press time, Arash Madani was leading. Wednesday’s vote was won by Justin Dunk.
• Thursday’s show is available for viewing now on our Facebook page, you can listen to the podcast by clicking on the PODCAST tab at the top of this page, or you can listen anytime to our 24-hour live audio stream at RodPedersen.com/ListenLive.
• See you at 10 am MT Friday for a Football Friday on Game+ TV, Facebook Live and RodPedersen.com/ListenLive!