Mitchell Blair's Blog
The time has come. All the talking is over. Its time to play some football. After some late nights and early mornings wandering the streets of downtown Montreal I can finally say game time is here. The streets were alive downtown last night with hockey fans who went to the Bell Centre to see the electric Patrick Roy retirement ceremony and with football fans from across this country who revel in all the festivities surrouding the big game. Where did I set up camp. That's easy. The Riders and Ti-Cats shared the same building for their hospitality suites this year and as you can see it was alive...........
Yours truly had the pleasure of hanging out with Weston Dressler.......
Geno and J O'Day.........
and some lovely ladies representing both the Hamilton Tiger Cats.........
and the Riders........(Gary Nickle---eat your heart out big boy!!!!!)
Those wearing green were even nice to this guy. Who's kidding who, I give this guy credit because some wearing green could have given him a lot of abuse for what he is wearing.......
All in all as you can see Grey Cup Saturday was well-spent. Some are in better shape than me today, some are in worse shape -----much worse shape. Its my hope they can be back at 100 percent before kickoff this afternoon. Sadly, I think there are some that won't. Many have told me it will be quite the sight this afternoon to see Olympic Stadium with 65-thousand people in it and I am looking forward to it. There is a buzz about tonight's game and obviously most of the support is behind the hometown Alouettes. Wherever you are watching it have a great time and be listening tomorrow morning for reports on the game. I'll try and post a Game Day scrapbook for you but I'll be a little busy so I make no promises.
The 96th Grey Cup is in full swing from Montreal and I hope you are enjoying the coverage that we are providing on News Talk Radio. I will have a two hour show for you tomorrow afternoon from 1-3 in which you will hear from Rider president, CEO and all around good guy Jim Hopson. You will also hear from CFL commissioner Marc Cohon, TSN's Glen Suitor, CFL rookie of the year Weston Dressler and players from both the Calgary Stampeders and Montreal Alouettes including quarterbacks Henry Burris and Anthony Calvillo. Speaking of Suitor, here's a picture that I entitle----its the picture Wray Morrison wishes he was in....
Damn I look good with that TSN mike. Then again I look good without that TSN mike too. (Yeah, Yeah, Yeah!!)
Needless to say the two most popular men at this year's Grey Cup are Henry Burris
......and Anthony Calvillo..
I gotta admit that I am in awe when I'm standing around some of the greats in Canadian sports journalism.(BTW: Where is Rob Vanstone and its strange not seeing Darrell Davis here) The guy in the black shirt with his back to us is the legendary Allan Maki from the Globe and Mail. I was also in a scrum with Calvillo today with the Star's Damien Cox in it. I just stand and let these guys ask the questions because they are the smart, experienced ones and me---well I'm just the young buck from Regina. It is cool though being in the shadow of guys like Maki, Cox, Dave Naylor and others whom I read or see on TV on a daily basis.
A quick tip for you. I don't know when the CFL awards are coming on TV but unless you want to see the cheeziest host in the history of Canadian TV. I don't know who this guy was but I wouldn't schedule him to do my kids birthday party. He was about 8 levels beyond bad and even then I think that is complimentary. The awards were an emotional affair and I think the only ones in attendance who weren't happy to see Calvillo win MOP honours was Burris and Sandro De Angelis. I don't think there was a dry eye in the theatre when Calvillo gave his acceptance speech. I can't imagine what he has had to go through in dealing with his wife's battle with cancer and frankly I hope I never do.
Make no doubt about it there is a lot of green around here. I started seeing a lot of it today and after going to the Riders hospitality room tonight I'm sure I will see a lot more of it and see some familiar faces. That is the one thing I miss about this Grey Cup from last and that is the lack of familiar faces. It was great having guys like Rob, Lee Jones and Warren Woods at Grey Cup last year along with many of my other friends who had made the trek to Toronto. CTV Regina's JC Garden is here strictly as a fan so we hit the town the other night which was great (Yes, we both behaved ourselves and I wouldn't lie to you would I????!!!!)Of course once again this meant I had to hang around someone who is a much better dressed individual than me......it was like being with Remenda only JC has a full head of hair. By the way, I wish I had my camera when I ran into a Rider fan who is giving it to TSN's Jock Climie by wearing a shirt showing his dislike for one member of the TSN panel who "supposedly" doesn't like the Riders. On the back of the shirt is "Slimie Climie". Ahhhhhh the creativity. I wonder how Jock feels about that.
I wanted to get to the Grey Cup village and see Michael Landsberg doing "Off the Record". I would have had signs with me that said A) Wray Morrison Fan Club B) Who's Dave Arnold???? C) Cory Kolt rocks or D) Give Rod Pedersen another shot. Wait a minute, give me a shot. I'd go on OTR and duke it out with Landsberg. That would be fun!!!!!
That's about it. I'll try and get an update to you before its time to come home but hey it is Grey Cup weekend and hey it is Montreal so you never know. Remember the two hour special tomorrow afternoon. Au revoir!!!
--While many in the Rider Nation will spit nails if Calgary (Henry Burris) wins the Grey Cup, I for one won't care one bit. That being said, I believe this week and no disrespect to Burris but this week will belong to Anthony Calvillo.
--If the Als do win the 96th Grey Cup and Calvillo is named the 2008 MOP will he call it a career. I would.
--If Calvillo does retire, does that make the price of one Darian Durant go up substantially
--Who has had a better career--Gene Makowsky or Roger Aldag
--If the automakers get their bailout I'm OK with that but here's hoping the automakers supply cars that go to Saskatchewan with signal-lights. The person driving the car can't be ignoring his or her signal light so it must be the manufacturer forgetting to install it. YEESH!!!
--I believe I might win 2 of the fantasy football pools I'm in this year. Of course I'm not even close in 3 others.
--The performance of the Seahawks in 2008 has been absolutely sickening with or without Matt Hasselbeck.
--How much money will the Yankees spend in free agency this year. It would seem as if money is once again no object
--I deserve to win a four figure jackpot in Pro-Line. I really do.
--Some have been critical of TSN's CFL work this year. I'm not one of them. (Then again, that guy does the sidelines at Taylor Field has a goofy look to him!! :P)
--If a guy can't get into Riderville on Friday or Saturday night while at Grey Cup in Montreal, whatever oh whatever will I do and where will I go. HMMMMMMM!!!! (Note to wife if reading this. I will be in my hotel room all weekend reading and watching TV and wondering what to buy you while there!!! Love ya Hun!!!)
--Brock Lesnar is one mean SOB.
--Hey Dana White, why not hold UFC 101 at Credit Union Centre or the Brandt Centre. Hey if you have it in Regina, I'm guessing the condition of the arena would be better than it is for a Regina Pats game.
---If an NFL quarterback is going to be named MVP this year, it will be Kurt Warner winning the award and not Drew Brees. Sorry Cory Kolt!! (Those of you that know me know how tough it is to say that. Almost as tough as saying Pittsburgh is the best team in the AFC!!)
---American Thanksgiving is almost here and that means my holidays will have finally arrived. TICK, TICK, TICK!!!! Not like I'm counting down the days or anything.
--Don't put up your Christmas tree until Dec 1. Please!!!! That being said, I have the strange feeling the wife and kids will put up our tree while I'm in Montreal. SIGGGHHHHH!!!!!
---To those at Sasktel, if you have any dolls of Little Red Riding Hood can you send one my way. My 5 year old daughter would love you forever and ever and ever. The "Little Girl" is her favourite----if you don't count Funshine Bear!
--Montreal wins GC 96 34-29.
Well Rider fans the sun came up this morning didn’t it. The 2008 season is over and many people are starting to eulogize this football team. The harsh criticism of quarterback Michael Bishop is deserved and you can say what you want about the green and white but I truly wonder if we or the CFL really saw the true Saskatchewan Roughriders this year.
Go back to the start of the year, Marcus Crandell was supposed to be the starter ---he wasn’t expected to put up the MOP numbers Kerry Joseph had in 2007 but with the weapons he had and the scheme that was to be put together he should be successful. With the likes of Wes Cates, Matt Dominguez, DJ Flick and Andy Fantuz along with rookies Weston Dressler and Adarius Bowman, Crandell should be able to pick apart defences if he was smart with the football.
The opening game against Edmonton saw Crandell not having all of his weapons as Dominguez didn’t play---still recovering from that season-ending knee injury in 2007. The team then went to BC and lost Flick to his broken leg and Crandell with a hamstring problem. From there it all went downhill for that offence, rotating parts were needed as players like Durant, Jyles, Bishop, Foord, Hughes, Bagg, Getzlaf, Nicolson, Walker and Marshall were needed. The offence that Ken Miller and Paul Lapolice had envisioned would lead them in 2008 was in for maybe half a quarter because if I remember correctly Crandells hamstring injury happened late in the first quarter of the BC game.
Through all of this, this team somehow found a way to win and miraculously host a home playoff game by finishing 2nd in the West with a record of 12-6. The same record Kent Austin had last year with a team that had much better numbers. What the 2008 Riders accomplished on the football field is nothing short of amazing. Go to any football league and find a team that had to battle through what the Riders did and I don’t think you will find those teams to have the success Saskatchewan had.
Head coach Ken Miller is getting roasted today for his continuance to play Michael Bishop and he should be---but Miller should also be saluted for getting what he did out of the many players who were called upon to perform in the manner in which they did. This team could have folded up its tent but they didn’t because Miller and company refused to let it happen. I have said it before and I will say it again….for this team to go 12-6 in a year when no one thought going into the season that this team would be close to repeating what it did last year and then going through the injuries that they did that Miller should be coach of the year. Sadly, I believe either Marc Trestman or John Hufnagel will get that award. If Miller had his whole offence to work with the way Trestman and Hufnagel have all year I wonder how the story would change. We didn’t see the real Saskatchewan Roughriders this year….we can only wonder what that team would have been like had they been able to all be on the field together for a long time.
--Nothing against Henry Burris but how does Cam Wake not get the West nomination for Most Outstanding Player. Yes Burris had outstanding player like numbers but you can't ignore the numbers Wake put up(well obviously some people can!)
--Accuse me of wearing green coloured glasses if you want but Sandro De Angelis over Luca Congi for Western Special Teams player. Uh no!!
--Cory Kolt and Drew Remenda got new music for their shows but the sports intro Wray Morrison and I have remains the same. Why is that?? Then again after hearing the music Cory and Drew now have, I like the sports intro music just the way it is.
--How are the Tennessee Titans the lone unbeaten team in the NFL???
--This whining over the scalping that is going on is so Saskatchewan. Its happening everywhere people---its happening everywhere!! If you are mad about it, buy a season ticket and get that playoff ticket a-s-a-p.
--Welcome to the sophomore jinx Sam Gagner---you're not the first and you won't be the last
--Once this football season ends for the Riders, the first priority of business leading into 2009 is signing Riders president and CEO Jim Hopson to a contract extension. I don't know where this football team would be without his mighty contribution and anyone who criticizes the job he has done simply needs to find a clue store so they can buy one.
--Gotta hand it to Riders play by play man Rod Pedersen. His book "Green Magic" is an outstanding read and I highly recommend that each member of the Rider Nation put some dollars down to get a copy. The foreword by Kent Austin is absolutely amazing! (BTW: I hate to wreck it for everyone but in the end the Riders do win the Grey Cup!!)
--What does Ipsco Place management have against the Regina Pats and why do they keep the Brandt Centre in such poor condition for junior hockey. Its been this way with the Parkers, Billy Hicke and I'm told the Pinders before that.
--Not that I'm counting down the days but my holidays start on American Thanksgiving
--There is nothing like 80's rock!!!!
--I know its early in the NHL season but is Ryan Getzlaf an early candidate for the Hart Trophy.
--Why do I think when all is said and done that Manny Ramirez is wearing a Yankees jersey next season
Greg Harder’s story in Saturday’s "Regina Leader-Post" telling us the Parker family is looking at relocating the Regina Pats is no surprise to those in the Regina hockey community. Many people know the relationship between Ipsco Place muckety-mucks and the Parker family is strained---and that is being kind. Brent Parker has many critics and I can understand the reason for that but Brent Parker is very passionate at what he does and he doesn’t hide his feelings. He wants a winner. He wants a Regina Pats team that this city can be proud of. He also wants to stop fighting with a group that seemingly doesn’t want the Parkers or junior hockey or both. I think he has achieved two out of the three.
The Parkers are frustrated over many things....one of them being the inability to sign a long term lease. Ipsco Place president and CEO Mark Allan says it doesn’t make business sense to have the club sign a 10 year lease which is what the Parkers wanted to do. Yet Allan and the rest of Ipsco Place management had no problems in signing a 10 year deal with Brandt Industries to rename the Agridome the Brandt Centre just a few years ago. HMMMMM!!!
Allan also tells me that improvements have been made to the rink like new seats installed. I should hope after 30 years that new seats would be put into the building. That is a move that should have been done years ago…..and those seats are used for much more than hockey games.
Its no secret that the building is not kept in tip-top shape during hockey season but if an event like the Brier or Scott Tournament of Hearts comes to town, the rink sure looks better.
The Parker family wants a positive game day experience for their fans yet go to a game and find that all the concessions aren’t open….the ice is terrible, the washroom facilities aren’t in perfect working order and the new scoreboard that has been installed has gone over like a lead balloon. As taxpayers and hockey fans, Reginans deserve better.
As mentioned above, it would seem to me as if the muckety-mucks at Ipsco Place don’t want the Parkers to continue owning the Pats or they don’t want junior hockey in Regina altogether because if I remember correctly, Bill Hicke was getting nickeled and dimed by what was then known as the Regina Exhibition Association. If this is indeed true, Ipsco Place must have a grand plan in place for the Brandt Centre because I and many others would like to know what will fill the building 40-50 nights each winter. Its time for the muckety-mucks to swallow their pride and realistically work with the Parkers to make junior hockey in Regina a thriving business---one that will benefit both sides. Isn’t that what being good business partners is all about???
OK so I write this about 45 minutes after what was perhaps one of the most bizarre football games I have ever seen. If you heard me this morning chatting with Alex Docking and Tampa Bay Wray Morrison, I told you I just had this feeling that Toronto would not be the cakewalk that many thought and that it wouldn't surprise me if they lost. They just about did and really---they should have!!! When one quarterback throws 5 TD's and the other quarterback throws 4 INT's, I would lean towards the QB that threw the 5 TD's to win but NO!!!
Who on the Argos coaching staff is responsible for the brain cramp of all brain cramps. Running a fake punt at your own 40 on 3rd and 9 in a tie game with less than 2 minutes to play. That is either A)extreme stupidity or B)someone who thinks he has king size onions---I'll take A. That decision is simply inexplicable. Had Ken Miller done that, both he and Alex Smith would not be allowed back on Saskatchewan soil anytime soon. That being said, what the h-e double hockey sticks are the Riders doing throwing the ball in the final seconds when they are in Luca Congi field goal range. This from a quarterback who threw four interceptions on the night. WTF??? I can only imagine what Wally Buono and the BC Lions were thinking as they watched this game in Vancouver. Guess what Wally, I get the feeling you are coming to Regina for another game. (Remember those fans sitting behind you now drink their beer in plastic cups!!)
A win is a win and this is a character win for the Riders because as bad as they were they found a way to get the two points----yes that win was giftwrapped but it was a win and that is what matters. Why Michael Bishop was still in the football game after throwing four INT's is something Ken Miller needs to answer especially after giving the hook to Darian Durant and Steven Jyles the past two weeks and I'm sure he will like it or not when the team returns to Regina. He must be sitting back and while proud of his team for yet another 4th quarter comeback. he must also know that deep down that he was taken off the hook bigtime thanks to Don Matthews or whoever (BTW: Will we see Matthews back in 2009 or does he ride back into the sunset??). If this team hosts a playoff game or goes to the Grey Cup, many will talk about this one the way they talked about the Rain Bowl in 2007. It was one that won't be forgotten anytime soon.
What were your thoughts on this one and what's your feelings about this team as they either head to Vancouver or prepare to host the Lions. You know I want to know.
OK so the first round of balloting is over and we now know what players are eligible for CFL player awards. No real surprise when it comes to the Rider picks as Mo Lloyd, Luca Congi, Wes Cates, Weston Dressler and Gene Makowsky were selected by those who had ballots(including me). Now its time to pick what players go on to league awards to be determined Grey Cup week. Here's what I'm thinkin'
MOP-This is easy in the East. Its all Anthony Calvillo. In the West, there are four good candidates but in the end can you really argue with Cam Wake. Yes Henry Burris is a finalist and there are some who love the Calgary quarterback because of his charismatic personality but with all due respect to Burris, you can't argue with the numbers Wake has put up. He is likely to be the first defensive player to be named MOP and he can talk about that when playing in the NFL in 2009
Canadian--This one will be tough coming out of the West because you have two excellent receivers in Kamau Peterson and Paris Jackson. I would likely lean towards Jackson (especially after Kamau turned into Incompleterson again against the Riders last week) but that could change depending on what the two do in their final games. In the East, I like Ben Cahoon and he could very well win the award.
Top Offensive Lineman--Always tough because the linemen don't get the glory that other position players like. Could it be a battle of U of S grads with Scott Flory taking on Gene Makowsky in the final balloting. Both have resumes that are well decorated--one that would become even better with a top lineman award. This one's a toss-up as far as I'm concerned. (BTW: I wonder what the Rider o-line would look like if Flory had come here so many years ago!!)
Top Rookie-Weston Dressler, Weston Dressler and just in case you don't understand me, Weston Dressler. He will beat Hamilton's Prechae Rodriguez in the final balloting and it won't be close. I was told before he signed that Weston Dressler was a star in the making. The people that told me that were bang on. I also think he has just scratched the surface when it comes to how good he could be. I just throw this out there for 2009 Rider fans.....with Dressler as one of your inside receivers, could it pave the way for a trade involving DJ Flick. I'm just throwing it out there.
Top Defensive Player- If I'm taking Wake to win the MOP, you know I'm taking him to win top defensive player as well. I say he beats out Hamilton's Chris Thompson. He's had 8 picks this year and maybe has been the best Ti-Cat this season.
Top Special Teams Player--Even though he has been hurt, I like the former Rider Dominique Dorsey to take home this award. (Why didn't he return kicks in Saskatchewan the way he does in Toronto??!!). While I would like to see Luca Congi be the West nominee, I somehow think the award will go to my 2nd most despised kicker in football and that is Calgary's Sandro De Angelis. For those wondering who the first one is its the little elf in New Orleans known as Martin Gramatica.
Thats what I'm thinking. As always, your comments are more than welcome.