Thump

.....thump.....

     .....thump...thump.....

Did you feel that?

Thump.....THUMP.....

It starts with a little nugget of news.  It grabs your attention.  Then you feel it in your chest like when the Grinch realizes he doesn't hate Christmas after all.  Your little green Rider heart starts to beat.

Rider Nation is coming out of hibernation.

Today is the CFL Draft.  Many are debating who gets drafted and what team should make what pick.  Meh.  This is totally a guy thing.  Honestly, my eyes glaze over like a Timmies boston cream.  There's no point debating it.  What will be will be.  Someone will get picked.  Someone will get to play for who they want.  Someone else will have to play for someone they didn't want to.  Stuff will happen.  These players most likely will not be starters unless they have uber talent.  It's probable we won't know the impact of the draft for a year or more.  Yes, someones dream will come true but these Draftee's still have to prove themselves...they haven't made it yet.

So the verdict of Deflete-gate came down Monday.  I really think they got this right.  Cheating to change the outcome of a championship game cannot be tolerated.  I know what you're going to say...wife beaters blah blah blah.  Deflating balls and knowing about it and condoning it directly changes the game on the field.  It's the job of the NFL to deal with this and hand out punishment.  The other incidence cannot be compared because they don't happen on the field.  Sure they may impact the game but not in the same way and it's not an NFL issue...it's a law issue.  What is so dumb about this really is that they didn't need to cheat.  They did.  They got caught.  And now they've been punished.

Now to more important news...Wes Cates got married.  Anyone who knows me...really knows me...knows I love a running back.  Congratulations to him and the misses.  I wish them a world of happy tomorrows.

Last weekend Riders and ex-Riders invaded Saskatoon aka Riderville North.  Weston Dressler was at the new Olympian store.  I didn't see him but I did see Neal Hughes at Floral Acres.  It was part of a fundraising venture for Never Alone which provides support for those fighting Cancer.  There wasn't a line up to see Neal so once I paid for my fleurs I walked over to chat.  He had his two Grey Cup rings in a display case and WOWZERS! Those rings are impressive.  It's not the first time I've seen them but every time I am dazzled.  Diamonds and Emeralds oh my!  I told Neal he'd get another one this year.  He seemed skeptical but he doesn't know just how much Rider Nation truly believes.

I had plans to go to the Valkyries game at the newly named SMF Field.  Tickets are only $10 and I feel we need to get out and support these ladies.  For anyone who doesn't know, the Valkyries are totally undefeated.  They've won everything always.  Well life got in the way Sunday and I didn't go to the game.  If you did take in the Mother's Day home opener you would have also have seen Sam Hurl, Patrick Neufeld & Gregg Newman.

Women play football.  Women talk football.  Women love football.  Where are the female football reporters?  I mentioned this on Twitter last week.  Guess what?  There is ONE CFL female print reporter in all of Canada.  ONE.  She works for the Calgary Herald.  I don't know her name but kudos.  What can we do to get more ladies reporting on this great game?  If you have any ideas let me know.  Maybe this blog is one small step.

Lastly, my Rider game tickets arrived Monday.  Hurray!  Nothing gets the Rider green blood pumping that heart like the words "Home Opener" on a green ticket.

.....thump - thump.....