* It was looking for a long while like Oilers star Jordan Eberle was going to be the last one picked in last night's Fantasy Draft. However he ended up going 33rd overall to Team Chara. The last overall honour went to Sharks forward Logan Couture.
* Actually the NHL is broken, but not hockey all together. The WHL is doing extraordinarily fine. But let's be honest, the NHL IS hockey and it's got some major problems.
* It's somebody new every night, making a dirty hit. The other night in St. Louis, Penguins' chief punk Matt Cooke ran the Blues' Barrett Jackman through the end boards and crashed his mouth off the dasher. Barrett won't miss any playing time but the former Regina Pats captain responded with this text message Wednesday morning when I asked if he's okay, "Little stiff but will live." It's got to stop.
* Regina Pats radio/TV analyst Jared Dumba figures the NHL and CHL should legalize "clutching and grabbing" again. This way oncoming forecheckers would be slowed down. If you combine that with softer equipment and less-rigid boards, you've got a winner. Actually, it's the way things were before everyone was getting hurt.
* Want a testimonial about how well major junior hockey is doing? 34 CHL graduates have been invited to participate in NHL All-Star Game events this weekend including 2011 first-round pick Ryan Nugent-Hopkin of the Edmonton Oilers.
* Of those, 12 WHL graduates have been chosen to play in the All-Star Game.
* Regarding Tim Thomas snubbing the Bruins' White House visit this week in an anti-government protest -- get in the net, shut your $#%*-ing mouth and stop the puck.
* Regarding Alex Ovechkin snubbing the All-Star Weekend -- perhaps Team 1200 Ottawa's A.J. Jakubec put it best on the Sports Cage this week: "I bet the people at Mr. Big are really pleased Ovechkin turned down this opportunity. How much are they paying him to be their spokesman and sell their chocolate bars?"
* Former NHL enforcer Stu Grimson called Ovechkin's decision "regrettable" on the Sports Cage on Tuesday. An online dictionary defines regrettable as "giving rise to regret; undesirable; unwelcome."
* Get this: The Grim Reaper's appearance on my radio show this week had only 30 digital downloads after the fact. However our in-studio interview with new Rider coach Corey Chamblin was downloaded over 500 times. And people wonder why that show - and this blog - are football-heavy. You know who you are.
* Gotta love Regina Pats coach Pat Conacher. On Monday night he laughed out loud at the "Pedersen Jinx" where I said every time I go to a Pats game, they lose. Conacher said on the Cage "You're not the problem. Come on out to our games!" So with that in mind, I'm going to tonight's Pats-Broncos game in the Brandt Centre on Rick Rypien Bobblehead Night.
* On Monday's radio show I asked Conacher if he'd ever consider coaching the Oilers, since the Edmonton Sun's Terry Jones says the job will be open soon. Conacher said if they approached him, he'd listen however he's focused on the Pats right now. Conacher won a Stanley Cup with the Oilers in 1984.
* I have no problem with the bobbleheads honouring Rick tonight. Initially I was squeamish about it but now I see it for what it is; a chance to honour one of the great all-time Pats captains and a guy who left us too early. What are you gonna do, retire his jersey? No. This is a good way to remember him.
* I love Jordan Weal, you know that. But I don't care for the jersey tuck.
* Going to tonight's game means I will have to foresake High Impact Wrestling tonight at the Victoria Club. I hate to miss it but the Pats come first. The bell rings at 8:00 pm.
* Also tonight, the U of R Cougar womens basketball team is home to Winnipeg at the Cookhouse. The Cougars are off to their best start in franchise history.
* Hayley Wickenheiser is scheduled to be in town tonight as the U of C Dinos take on the U of R Cougars in womens hockey at 7:30 at the Cooperators Centre.
* Speaking of the U of R, here's the Scoop du Jour: TSN's Jay Onrait will be the guest speaker at this year's Rams fundraising dinner. Onrait used to be a stand-up comic and as far as I'm concerned, this is can't-miss.
* The Regina Humane Society held its annual telethon on Sunday and several local celebrities took part. Remember in the 90s when Pats fan favourite Joey Bouvier lost his dog 'Buddy' for several days and the whole city was on Red Alert? As I recall, Joey got Buddy back and a week later he hosted the Humane Society telethon on TV and was a parade marshall too. Good times.
* CKRM radio engineer Ian Ratcliffe is off to the Pro Bowl in Hawaii today. He won the trip by going to Boston Pizza on Rochdale Blvd EVERY Monday night for Monday Night Football. Leave Hawaii the way you found it Ian.
* How I miss Harry Neale on Hockey Night In Canada. The other day Sportsnet was replaying all-time gaffes and they showed Martin Brodeur misplaying a long shot in the 2003 Stanley Cup Finals against Anaheim. "Even Betty Crocker burns the odd cake!" Harry told the nation on CBC. It's too bad what that show has become.
* Sportsnet's Brad May had a great line this week when discussing Montreal Canadiens super-pest P.K. Subban and whether or not the Habs should trade him. "I'd rather try to tame a tiger than paint stripes on a kitty cat," May said.
* The BC Lions will soon be announcing Kelly Bates will be promoted to running backs coach and will take on some additional duties. The Humboldt, SK product told me this week TSN's Farhan Lalji reported it first after a conversation with Mike Benevides however the team has yet to make it official. Kelly will be on the radio with us next week once it is.
* From the Lucky Buggers department: Lions stars Travis Lulay and Paul McCallum are kicking off a B.C.-wide tour with the Grey Cup this weekend all over the lower mainland and Vancouver Island. Next week the Cup hits the B.C. Interior with stops in Penticton, Vernon, Kamloops, Cariboo and Nelson. That leg of the journey will be hosted by Geroy Simon, Angus Reid and J.R. LaRose. Also from this same department, New England Patriots star Wes Welker got engaged this week to former Miss Hooters International, Anna Burns.
* While researching that photo, I came across another great one from a bar in Denver:
* CFL Hall of Famer Henry "Gizmo" Williams joins Scott Schultz and me on FOUR SEASONS FOOTBALL FRIDAY on the Sports Cage today at 5:00 on 620 CKRM.
* Don't look now but other CFL teams have approached Stu Foord about a contract. He's one of the 10 or so free agents the Riders have left. Watch it boys - don't want to be accused of tampering!
* Jason Clermont revealed on Twitter this morning he's been offered a 3-year contract. Check out his Twitter account.
* Friends came back from a late-season Vikings game and had a great marketing idea for the Riders: have alumni in a booth on the practice field before games signing autties. It's something the Vikings do each game as they recognize their greats and the fans get to meet their heroes. Make a small donation to a charity for a picture and/or autograph and you've got a winner.
* THE RINGS ARE HERE!
The NBA champion Dallas Mavericks got their rings at a splashy ceremony this week. They're worth $40,000 a pop. It's interesting because Mavs owner Mark Cuban said after they beat the Heat to win the championship that he was going to do something different than rings for his players. He must have been talked out of it.
* The stir of the week in the NBA: The Lakers beat the crosstown Clippers 96-91 in the Staples Center Wednesday night to reaffirm their market dominance. Afterwards Lakers' big man Pau Gasol patted Clippers point guard Chris Paul on the head. Gasol is a waste of a jersey.
* That weekend female deejay on XM Satellite Radio Prime Country channel sounds like she smokes two packs a day and drinks two pots of coffee before her shift. I love it. Old school.
* If I'm listening to FM radio (usually for country but sometimes not) and the deejay talks for more than 30 seconds, then it's CLICK! If I want talk, I'll listen to talk. Sometimes I want tunes and don't need some deejay talking for the sake of talking.
* Another Tim Hortons reference: did they hoop themselves by upsizing their cups, but sticking with the same prices? As CKRM's Phil "The Thrill" Andrews said this week, "I won't order an extra large again. It's too big!" If more people feel this way, Tim Hortons won't be making as much money. Good ideas gone bad.
* Saw a gentleman working out in business casual clothes and sock feet this week at Gold's Gym. Love it. At least he's there.
* There's a Ravens fan in the gym and he came over to discuss their loss in the conference title game to the Patriots. I expected him to rip the team but he didn't. "They had a good run," he said. Now that's a fan.
* What would YOU do if you saw a friend's spouse on a match-making website?
* THIS guy....:
* Today's Press Box Sports Bar Friday lunch buffet menu courtesy Chef Trent:
Roast Beef
Mashed Potatoes and gravy
Steamed vegetables
BBQ chicken wings
Sausage and Mushroom pasta
Garlic bread
Greek Chicken
Caesar Salad
Pizza
Various desserts
THANKS FOR READING - TALK TO YOU THIS AFTERNOON!
RP
41 comments:
What would I do if I saw a friend's spouse on a match-making website?
Depends how close of a friend the guy is. If it was my best buddy, I'd tell him. If it was a casual acquaintance I'd stay quiet, and if I just knew the guy a little and the wife was hot, I'd nail her!
Jackman took a dive on that one. Cook barely touched him.
Actually to fix the NHL, you need the refs to step up and call the game as it's supposed to be called. The two hand slash from behind, hooking, roughing. Start blowing the whistle more. Second is larger fines "you wanna punch someone in the face or hit them with your elbow, make them think first, is this worth $50,000?" quoted from a former NHL-er.
As for TT, well nobody is bigger than the TEAM, and the White house visit had NOTHING to do with politics, it had everything to do with tradition.
Speaking of jinxes, did you see Ferraro and Miller jinx the shutout for Carey Price? It was back to back weeks for them.
It's football heavy, the blog, due to the fact that if someone sees someone else wearing a Pats logo, the conversation normally goes like this "wow, those Pats are doing great hey" "yep" "How do you think Chambliss will do with the Riders?"
LOL
Have a good Friday RP, and congrats on the Blog award. Been away for a bit -lunch today!? Shoot me a text!
JC is clearly joking about a cell contract Rod...
Dirty hits = bad
Fighting = ?? ok? good?
Besides boxing and MMA, where fighting is what it's all about, isn't it time Hockey abandoned fighting all together. I know I'll get flamed for saying that but whatever. No other professional sport allows fighting, why should Hockey?
Thanks Tips
Great Post Rod. Interesting to hear about Foord and Clermont. There is a good market for Canadian players, and I would be happy to see both of those guys back.
Also totally agreed on Tim Thomas - I don't like it when sports and politics mix. A Prime Minister I could not stand showed up at my workplace once, and I shook his hand. It wasn't about me, it was about my job and my place as part of the organization. Classless move.
I also had to chose between HIW and the Pats game. I am a regular at both. Rypien night gave the Pats the edge, too bad we don't get to watch him on the Jets. I was a fan.
REP's post shows why it's not a great idea to post Clermont's remark without a little clarification. Perhaps that's what "Tips" was trying to tell you.
Thanks Tips2. Clearly I have no idea what I'm doing.
Sounds like Rod Thx-Tips Pedersen is crusty today. So RP what's your stance on fighting in hockey? Last time I checked you were all for it. Your attempt at a sarcastic blow-off isn't really valid if you still enjoy the fights and think it belongs in hockey.
OK, so you're fine with knowing that some people will believe your post might indicate there's CFL interest in Clermont?
People want to watch hockey, not goons
Americans consider ban on fighting in junior ranks, hope Canada follows suit
This article is brought to you by the Globe and Mail, sponsored by Rod's "Thanks Tips" comments. Rod sometimes you're a little too rude for your own good.
I'm okay with people going to Jason's Twitter to see what he's saying and bump up his followers.. He's the one who made the comment.
As for the last guy, if you like what's going on now n hockey over the 70s, 80s and 90s, then you really don't know what you're talking about.
And it gets real tiring arguing with the ill-informed.
Thanks for the fun. On to more important things today.
Dirty hits??? neither hit on Crosby was dirty, Rod. Both were accidental contact. Figure it out, bud.
I totally agree with you when you say, "Hockey is broken" but your lead in was about Crosby and Ovechkin so I surmise you're talking 'dirty hits' I think the "Hockey is broken" should also apply to the whole NHL game. I think the game's coaches have surpassed the rules to where it's boring. A few nights ago there was a 2-1 game with a grand total of 40 shots on goal. That's for two teams, 40 shots or roughly one for every minute and a half played. The rest of the time it was 'cycle the puck until you lose it' What good is speed if all you do is dump it in the corner and cycle it? The NBA changed their rules to turn basketball into a spectator event and it's time for the hockey establishment to do the same thing.
Veeseven
That Alex Ovechkin wasn't even that dirty if you ask me, contact was with the shoulder first and then carried on to the head.He hit him with speed. If anything that's a 2 minute minor for charging.
Michalek's hit on Hendricks was far more blatant in that game, and got nothing.
Shanahan is every bit as inconsistent as Campbell was.
Can't leave your feet.
Ovechkin left his feet, that's the only thing that got him suspended. How do people not see this stuff before arguing!
LOL so condescending. God forbid somebody clarify what looks like a mistake.
After all, you are the same person that didn't understand the difference between a 'short-list' & 'people-who-have-said-they're interested' during the Rider HC.
Besides, what % of people who read here use twitter? 10%? You just implied to the rest that he's looking at a CFL contract.
Thanks Tips3
Roddy, I agree with you that jersey tucks are a terrible fashion statement, but let's not forget Weal is a little guy. Those jersey's are huge! Little guys get their arms caught in the jersey when they try to stickhandle. That's why Gretz tucked his in on the left side, he was used to it from his childhood, he would always play with older teams with bigger jerseys so he had to tuck in the side of his bottom stick hand so that it wouldn't get caught up and he could stick handle. Just a thought. Plus NOBODY says anything bad about Weal (lol)!!! He is the right-handed Datsyk of the WHL! watch him now that I said that and compare them !
Hi Rod,
I agree with you about Regina DJ's. It feels like most of them talk between songs just so they could sound cool, but really, they have nothing to say. They don't care about the topics they bring up and it shows.
The best DJ (or 'host' as he calls himself) is Rich Terfry on CBC's Radio 2 Drive, 3:30 - 7pm weekdays. He's also known as Buck 65, an award winning hip hop artist who's most recent album '20 Odd Years' charted in the top 20 for a portion of last year. He's an artist playing the music of other artists (in all genres). When he speaks, it's like you're hanging out in his living room trading stories about the business and the artists behind the music.
Give the show a listen sometime. You can go online and pick up the East Coast feed and still have plenty of time to get to your own show.
Cheers!
Brady has Gisele, Gronk has the porn star and now Welker has a Hooters model. It'd be nice hanging out at a Patriots party!
Oh no, what would I do if the Riders ever lost Stu Foord!!! As far as I'm concerned, he is just taking up space that could be used by someone much better. If someone wants him, so be it!
Rod's M.O. is to stir the pot and irk people.
Wait .. I'll do it for you. "Thanks Tips4".
As a big Red Sox fan those rings look pretty impressive. A great souvenier for the organization to remember the championship season.
Stewart
@JasonClermont: My football contract will be up on the 15 of Feb. Pretty strong odds that its the last one of those for me.
Go Pats Go tonight vs the Broncos! Should be a good one!
Also, Jackman did dive!
I agree Jackman totally embelished that one, if not, Cooke would have been run for the year, the way sheriff Shanahan is turning the Nhl into Ringette...
Rod I can't beleive you had to make a choice between the Pats and high impact wrestling. Come on it should always be the Pats! A great WHL hockey game or watching bums play together. Easy choice!!!
Here in the US of A, Tim Thomas has the right to not visit the White House. And us regular guys have the right to tell him he's a dumbass.
Ovechkin got what he deserved.
Here in Clearwater, Florida, the original Hooters is undergoing a top to bottom remodel. Can't wait 'til it reopens. I'll get pictures.
Weather today in Tampa Bay: Overcast and +22. C'mon down!
Stu Foord is not only a back who can fill a number of roles on the team, he is also a Canadian. (to the previously anonymous quote). And for the record, you need Canadians in this league. So until you can find us a Canadian as versatile as Foord...keep your foolish comments to yourself.
From a retrospective standpoint hockey in the 1980s had the right about of skill and grit, and it also had a lot of colourful characters where entertainment was concerned.
I would put forward that since the lockout the NHL product has never been better. The Players of this generation are the best to ever play the game, and I tell you that with a complete straight face. Rather than use the argument of throwing the baby out with the bath water let's take a Liberal critical thinking approach to the issue of what is wrong with the game.
The issue is dirty hits, and putting player's safety at risk. You eliminate that by instituting no touch icing, and going back to the way the season was called after the lockout. There were 20-25Power Plays a game, and that got the message through you can't clutch and grab, and play like an idiot.
Call the rules that are in the book, and you have the problem fixed. It's that simple.
Obama
I agree with Obama and Rod on things that are wrong with hockey.
They have got to get rid of some of the hard equipment - getting elbowed in the 1970's by a leather padded elbow versus a rock hard elbow "pad" now is night and day and there is little doubt is causing part of the problem with concussions.
Something also needs to be done with the boards to allow a little give.
Fighting has to stay since it is the great equalizer...if someone is dirty then he is going to get punched out. Period.
Apart from the dirty hits, the other big problem is the ice surfaces - the biggest player thirty years ago would be an average player now and the guys are faster now, pumping weights more, etc. (the days of Guy Lafleur smoking two packs of cigarettes a day are gone). There is less room to roam and bigger guys are naturally getting in eachother's way more.
This is only going to get worse and worse over the coming generations since evolution is causing people to get bigger and bigger....the leagues need to look at bigger ice surfaces...unfortunately I believe the ice surfaces in all the new arenas over the last while are not expandable so this is going to take some time. But all new arenas built from now on should be flexible to allow for large ice surfaces.
This same problem is part of why there are so many concussions in the NFL - the NFL football field dimensions were built for players in the 1950's but like hockey the average football player is bigger, works out more and is faster. I remember the biggest offensive lineman in the 1970's were something like 250 pounds tops - now the kids are average 325 plus....The NFL has the same problem though since all the stadiums cannot accomodate larger fields.
Mr.Morin (aka president of Stu Foord fan club).
I'm guessing then you would advocate the signing of Chris Bauman over the re-signing of Cary Koch. If the Riders were to take Adrian Charles, I would say adios to Stu Foord in a heartbeat. As was said earlier, it wouldn't break my heart any if he wasn't back because I don't think he is as good as advertised.
Signed
Not the original anonymous.
OH-BAH-MAH!!! OH-BAH-MAH!!! OH-BAH-MAH!!!!
If you used to ask for X large Timmies coffee, just ask for a large now (same size as old Xlarge and same price).
If you ask for XL now, you get a much bigger coffee with a much bigger price.
I applaud Tim Thomas. NOT going to this White House shindig was obviously something he felt strongly about. Yet, presumably, it was not an easy decision. He probably knew that it was going to be controversial, and bring attention to himself, and that some people would say brain-dead things in response to it. Like "shut-up and play net", "it's a about the team! show some class!" Incredible.
You will not find a bigger heart than Stu Foord and given Charles' history...I take Foord ALL day.
If a Regina eatery had a sign that said 'Mitchell Blair Eats Here', I would go for sure! You would know that the vittles there were first rate.
Post a Comment