Ten Thought Tuesday

It's been a long time since I've done a blog like this and a bit of time since I've blogged period.  What can I say? Life gets busy.

1.  Did you hear that the Riders are bidding on the 2020 Grey Cup?!  I am thrilled!  Why wouldn't we want to bring the Grey Cup to the best facility in the league?  I can't think of one reason not to.  Sure, that means it would have been in western stadiums 3 years in a row but I don't have a problem with that at all.  If you look historically, the Grey Cup never came West in the first several years of the leagues inception.  We all know that Regina and the province of Saskatchewan throws a heck of a party.  A word from my witty husband - we better pray for global warming.  LOL 

2.  What is the deal with TSN and particularly Rod Black's love affair with Johnny Manziel?  TSN should be embarrassed for not only the telecast but the follow up highlight package.  Guess what?  The Alouettes lost!  The team that won was barely mentioned.  Don't go blaming Rider fans for the outrage either.  CFL fans from far and wide are sick of the bias.  If you say his name is good hype for the league, I'd say competitive games and successful teams garner more interest south of the border.  I do recall the Riders name being hyped and mentioned during NFL broadcasts...

3.  Stupid questions.  If you are going to do a sideline report with a player during a game or intermission then you better be asking him good questions.  Asking Tre Mason in one of his best performances of the season about his college alliances is disrespecting to the CFL game.  I loved his answer - all he cared about was the Roughriders and the Alouettes game.

4.  The Edmonton Eskimos fired their special teams coordinator.  Why?  Was he to blame for their recent losing skid?  That poor man was nothing more than a scapegoat.  There needed to be "consequences" and that fella was the one to pay the price.  Perhaps the Eskimos need to look at their offensive and defensive schemes before throwing someone else under the bus.  But don't do it this week...please wait until after Week 17 to do that.

5.  Monday is Thanksgiving and the Eskimos take on the Roughriders at beautiful Mosaic Stadium.  The temperature is forecasted to be zero.  Most of us are wondering what happened to autumn.  If you are heading to the game you might want to pull out your winter woollies and hot pockets.

6.  Another head coach who should be under the microscope is Blue Bombers Mike O'Shea.  He's been in the organization for 6 years now and only got 1 play off game.  They might be lucky enough to be the crossover team but as we know, no western team has ever made it to the Grey Cup through the east. 1990.

7.  The Riders have a bye in the last week of the season.  For this reason I've decided they are far better off to finish 2nd in the West.  There's no way we'd want our team to sit 2 weeks and then play in a play off game.  That being said, is it possible for the Riders to win out?  Is it possible for the Stamps to win out?  The ending of this season is pretty exciting.

8.  I am looking forward to New Era taking over the CFL merchandise.  I hope their have comfortable clothing made for real CFL fans and affordably priced.  I was in the Rider Store last weekend and spied a really great bunnyhug.  A quick look at the price tag? $70.  Why bother when a jersey is only $40 more?  

9.  Speaking of clothing, as long as I keep wearing my Rider shirt purchased at Giant Tiger the Riders keep winning.  I'm superstitious although my husband keeps informing me that my clothing/fashion choices have no impact on how the Riders play.  If that's the case, then why does Chris Jones stick with the green Diversity is Strength shirt?  Maybe, just maybe, there's something to it.

10.  We pvr a lot of sporting events just so we can fast forward through the commercials.  It usually puts me in a tough position because I also love to follow and post on ABC Rider Fans game threads.  If I don't watch it live how can I join in with the rest of the community?!  This reminds me of my favourite quote from the TV show Instinct - "If I don't watch it live I have no control over it."

Happy Turkey Day Rider Fans!

167 Days

167.

One.  Six.  Seven.

One hundred and sixty-seven.....days until the regular season of the CFL begins again.

Off season blues.  How do you beat them?  Here is a list of things to try to to pass the time away.

Is it July yet?

1.  Rewatch the 101st Grey Cup.  I've done this twice since the big day when my Saskatchewan Roughriders beat the Hamilton Tiger Cats Lancaster-McCoullaugh.....that's 23-45.  How epic was that day?  Winning on home turf in the legendary Mosaic Stadium at Taylor Field in front of nearly 45,000 rabid Rider fans.  It's the story fairy tales are created from.

2.  Become infatuated with the Roughrider Grey Cup tour and follow it around Saskatchewan on it's many stops.  If you are lucky you may actually get to meet some players and poise with the Grey Cup itself.  That is if you are willing to stand in line for what may be hours at an event you'd really rather not go to.  But it's the price we pay for being the best fans in the CFL.

3.  Read a really thick book.  I've started a 1000+ page book in hopes that by the time I'm finished I will have wasted at least 2 weeks.  If this isn't possible a more appropriate read might be the George Reed book or something wittily written by the Leader Posts Rob Vanstone.

4.  When the talk on Sportscage turns to hockey and curling.....pull up all the football movies on Netflix.  Watch We Are Marshall or The Longest Yard or dig up a really obscure movie.

5.  Make an attempt to watch NFL football.  I've tried.  I really  have.  The 12th Man disturbs me.  The extra down confuses me.  Never mind the terminology!  False start, Safe Catch....what the heck?!

6.  Investigate Twitter for the latest greatest news on all the football transactions.  Wait!  What?  Keith Shologan is a REDBLACK?  UGH!  No not Zack Evans too!  *stomps away*

7.  Do laundry.  Now I have to be really desperate to engage in housework or laundry!  Wash all your Roughrider gear.  The jerseys, the tee shirts, the tank tops....get is all ready for Canada Day kick off.

8.  Organize all your picture files on your computer.  Make one folder titled Roughriders and put the majority of your pictures there.  Reminisce about training camp and visits to practices.  Share your pictures on Twitter while you are at it!

9.  Take #selfies in all your newly washed Roughrider outfits.  Coin a new term for doing so.  Roughsie?  Ridesie?  Sasksie?  I'll leave that one up to yousie.

10.  Write a blog.  Because OHMYGAWD WHAT AM I GOING TO DO FOR 167 MORE DAYS!!!!

10 Thought Tuesday ~ 52 Days ~

It's only 52 days until the 2013 football season kicks off!  Hurray!

I've neglected my football blog something terrible.  I always have good intentions.  I was going to post high light video's and football movie reviews, but none of that happened while we all endured the longest winter ever.  So, I've decided to do a football 10 thoughts, which is something I do on my regular blog every week.

1.  Yesterday was the CFL draft.  I don't actually know how the Riders made out.  I know we picked up some O-lineman and D-lineman and the names look slightly familiar from the Huskies and Rams but that's about all I know. 

2.  Last week, Brandon West was released.  I always liked him.  I never got to meet him although I tried at last years Green & White day.  I don't think there was a place left for him when Kory Sheets had such an amazing year and let's face it....he wow'd us.

3.  It was announced that Saskatoon will be Riderville North.  This is pretty exciting and I can't wait to hear what it all involves.  I hope players...current and past come visit the Rider Store.  No one has been here in ages.

4.  June 3rd will mark the start of training camp in Saskatoon.  I'm hoping to attend a few days.  I'll be the one slathered in sunscreen and doped up on allergy meds.  Let me tell you, sun allergies suck.

5.  A month ago I washed my jersey in eager anticipation of the season to come.  I continue to wish that the Rider Store could find a vender who provided more realistic sizing for the voluptously sized. 

6.  If you are one of those Pinterest People you can find me there.  I have a whole board about the Saskatchewan Roughriders.  LINK

7.  This month on my Kidsport calendar Weston Dressler is featured.  The last two months were sad as they were Odell Willis and Shomari Williams who were both traded in this off season.

8.  We installed new windows over Easter and had to remove the 100 Year Rider flag from the window.  It won't be going back up because we got proper blinds.  I'm not sure what to do with it now.  It's a little faded from being in the window and turned a funky shade.

9.  Speaking of not knowing what to do with stuff....I have a bag containing empty boxes of Fantuz Flakes.  I also have a box of Dario's and a box of Getzlaf triple berry.  What do I do with these things?  I can't just have them sitting out in my home....it's not set up for that.  I wish I could have them displayed in a cool way but I don't know what it is yet.  Idea's are welcome.

10.  In the off season I have resorted to watching Nascar with my husband.  I'm not into hockey or baseball even though I own a Yankee's hat.  Nascar races last as long as a football game and I'm fearing that I'm actually getting into the sport.  Please send help.  *turns left*