Puke, Confetti & Smith

What a beautiful day in Saskatoon. My window is open with the sounds of chirping birds outside and the Rouge White & Blue podcast piping through my wireless speaker. It's Monday, the first day of summer and ten days until the Roughriders season opener at Old Mosaic Stadium.

Let's recap. In the last seventeen days, Chris Jones has wanted to puke, we've endured the confetti canon power outage and we've released Brett Smith.

GASP!

Chris Jones is nauseous after every loss, he says, and admitted in every media scrum that there's lot's of work to be done. I believe him. I think we have the talent but remember the majority of the players are new to the Roughriders so have all new schemes and plays to learn. Is 17 days long enough to learn brand new material? To put this in perspective, it takes every beginner piano student 8 weeks to play Hot Cross Buns well. EIGHT weeks. As fans we want them to stun everyone out of the gate when I really think we have to be patient, however, Riders fans are not known for their patience. This team is going to win...eventually...and I suspect the fan base is going to lose a few to panic attacks of their own because of a slower start but I predict by Labour Day this Rider team will be rolling. Isn't it better to be a strong team at the end of the season? It's not how you start – it's how you finish.

TSN and the CFL were brought to a grinding halt over a confetti canon.

~ face-palm ~

A confetti canon is a little hand held tube which can be bought at discount stores like Giant Tiger. Seriously. This little devil was shot at various power lines, transformers and such around the Old Mosaic Stadium area sending the stadium into darkness at half time while longing eyes gazed over to New Mosaic Stadium lit up in all it's glory mocking with it's generators. We can't get over there soon enough and yet what a way to start the farewell season than with an epic blackout. It's hysterical and amazing at the same time.

To contrast, the Roughriders second preseason bout was in Edmonton against the Eskimo's. This game was not broadcast on TSN nor did the “schmoes” allow anyone to stream the game stating it would detract from ticket sales. So those of us in Saskie had to rely on good old fashioned radio like the game blackout days of the 1980's OR you could have watched the periscope of an Eskie fan via Twitter. C'mon TSN! This is the best you can do? No wonder the CFL has such a hard time being taken seriously. The story line was a huge one with Chris Jones returning to his spurned ex team for the first time, the Roughriders with the biggest fan base in the country and the Eskies being defending Grey Cup Champions. Apparently 5 TSN channels of golf is more important.

- eye-roll -

Nope. We didn't “see” a thing.

Hard to justify the player cuts which were submitted to the league office 10am Sunday morning and not made public until approx 12:15pm and 10,000 screen refreshes. Terrance Cobb, Qudarius Ford and Clarence Denmark were released but what has everyone churned up was the release of the 2015 backup QB Brett Smith. In the training camp situation I honestly couldn't tell him apart from any of the other quarterbacks with the exception of Darian Durant. I thought when I saw Smith in the Green White scrimmage that he still had the happy feet and was too eager to run and I still thought that when he was in the first preseason game. Sure, having escape-ability is one thing but after lot's of intense thought of the situation I've formed a few thoughts:

• When your QB is indecisive your offense doesn't know what you're doing and this often results in missed opportunities and holding penalties.
• The game was not slowing down. He was having issues seeing the field and going through his reads.
• Smith's instinct was to use his legs. Did our porous O line in 2015 wreck his development?
• Smith was spirited. He wasn't executing the play. He defied coaches and took selfish penalties. There is no “I” in team.

Don't get me wrong because I completely still think Smith has potential and maybe he'll have the opportunity with another team...it just won't be the Roughriders in 2016.

Now we wait for Chris Jones and crew to bring in a third Quarterback. They've got 10 days to make changes and get ready for the home opener against the Toronto Argonauts on June 30^th under the lights at Old Mosaic Stadium. In the meantime, the Riders have a week one bye which gives Rider Nation just enough time to invest in enough Pepto-Bismol to settle our stomachs. Buckle yourselves in to the bandwagon, folks, we are in for a heck of a roller coaster ride.

Throw Like a Girl

I've spent many summer vacations at Waskasiu Lake. There's lot's of fond memories of the beach, campfires and strolls to the Big Olaf for ice cream. One that stands out is a time at the beach with my sister in law and we were attempting to toss the football around. “You really can't throw.” She said. Sadly it's true. I have less than zero skills when it comes to me participating in the actual performance of sports.

I throw like a girl.

I like to think that what I lack in coordination I make for with enthusiasm.

Football and probably all sports have a dominant male fan base. Most marketing, talk shows, podcasts etc are aimed towards the male fan. Even though the Saskatchewan Roughriders were always in the background of my life, it wasn't really until my husband started watching and following them more that I decided that if I wanted to spend time with him I better watch too. Who'd have thunk it that I'd become the bigger fan? Truly not me.

It started with asking questions. I began to know players names. I formed opinions. I learned the rules. Next thing you know, I'm standing in lineups waiting to meet Rider players. I wear mostly green from July to November. I paint my nails green and wear watermelon earrings. I found a group of people who love the game as much as I do and are willing to talk about it 24/7. Rider Nation. My people. Hubby's ex coworker has said “you are the luckiest man on earth.” in response to finding out about my rabid fan status.

Capture of Riders Live! Doubles looking trimmed down.

It's not about the tight pants for me as it might be for some fans. I'll admit that when that photo circulated of the mostly nude Rider player in the locker room ( who was that again? ) that it garnered some fun comments. I am not the girl swooning at the biceps of Rob Bagg although Ricky Foley has been known to make me weak in the knees for a fleeting moment. I am the girl who pays attention to the play, jumps up and down celebrating touchdowns and knows what a flea flicker is and I'm also the one who spends the most dollars at the Rider Store.

TSN holds the rights to broadcast all the CFL games. Jennifer Hedger is a host and if you didn't hear what she said I'll tell you now.

“Toronto hasn't won a championship in pro sport since 1993.”

Now even as a purely only Riders fan I went....wait, huh? I mentally counted back. Riders won in 2013 at home....Argo's won in 2012 at home.... Okay. So the Toronto Argonauts aren't a professional sports team. Huh. Go figure.

But I digress, a long time ago I noticed the obvious missing gender from programs I watch and listen too. Women have had guest spots on some of the programs but rarely do women get the chance to announce games, interview players or provide commentary. Last year, Jeanine ( @OttawaJay ) was on a podcast and I applauded her. Now she's a regular contributor to @bleedredblacks podcast. This season Arielle Zerr ( @arielle_zerr ) is a reporter/producer for CJME/CKOM and @HomeoftheFans. She's been faithfully covering and reporting on Riders Training Camp in Saskatoon at Griffith Stadium. 

Hurray! 

So we've made a few advancements. Still here is TSN touting their female broadcasters as “not only beautiful but they know their stuff.”

Sigh.

Here is a link to the beautiful women of TSN who I'm sure have brains too ---> The Lovely Ladies of TSN

And you know what? That attitude sucks. It just sucks for women.

Tina Fey from the movie Whiskey Tango Foxtrot

I started writing this blog for a few reasons. Firstly, I needed a place to vent and tell my point of view in what couldn't be said in 140 characters. Secondly, I don't want to be just a “pretty” face. I wanted to be the woman who wrote about sports and knew her stuff and didn't embarrass all the other serious fans in the process. I strive to do the research and get the facts correct. No one pays me. I write when the spirit moves me. I haven't done it for 'likes' or highest number of views but I always appreciate those who engage me ( @smilingsandra ).

All I can do is draw attention to the situation. Knowing is one thing while working towards changing the culture is another. Do your part. We can do better. Don't make it about the tight ends. Don't be such a girl.

The annual Roughriders Green & White Fan day is tomorrow June 4th from 2 - 9pm at SMF Field which is BEAUTIFUL.  At 8pm at the same venue the Saskatoon Valkeryies are holding an event.  It'll be a great day to celebrate football for both men and women.