First World Football Problems

Part-time fan.

Band wagon-er.

Terms used to describe a persons love or lack-there-of for a certain sports team. I used to say these things myself, but I've taken strides to refrain from doing so any longer. I want to be a Rider fan who not only supports her team but helps elevate the entire CFL. But what does being a fan look like?

In Saskatchewan, and particularly being a Roughriders fan, it looks green. You wear green and the team logo not only on game day but any other day of the week as well. You cheer for them through wins and losses (and God knows there are far more losses than wins.) It's trips to the Rider Store to see what's new and buying another “thing” that you really don't need because you have several other “things” already at home. It's standing in line in the pouring rain to greet players and get autographs. It's time spent in front of the TV enduring yet another commentary by Rod Black. It's game tickets, tanks of gas, hotel rooms, time off work and countless other things.

Some fans travel from far distances which involve plane tickets and finding accommodations. One fan, Devin Heroux, went to every single home and away game one year. Imagine the price tag that racks up! I'm relatively lucky because going to a game is only a day trip. Living in Saskatoon isn't ideal for football games and it means not being able to get to Thursday or Friday games. There's only so much time your boss will allow you to take off while using “football” as the reason. As much as I would love season tickets, it's just not feasible...money wise or for the fact that the waiting list is more than hundreds long.

Do you need or require season tickets to be a fan?

That sounds just plain wrong. Of course not. Can I appreciate the long career of Henry Burris while living in the United States? Can I love George Strait but never see him in concert? Can I adore paintings but never see a Vincent van Gogh? Can I cheer for Dale Jr and never see a Nascar race in person? Can I be a blogger and Rider fan while choosing to go to 5 games over 11?

Yes.

Hell yes.

Last week, the Saskatchewan Roughriders unveiled the new pricing structure for the new Mosaic Stadium. The stadium is 77% completed and is going to look amazing and I suspect there won't be a bad sight line in the entire place. Having just spent $800+ on a 5 game (10 ticket) Flex Pack, I can say it looked pretty good to me since that was close to the silver tier of pricing for 2017 season tickets.

So I got myself in a bit of a dust up. In the transition from Old Mosaic to New Mosaic Stadium season ticket seating will be moved around. Remember, this is the fan base who always wants change but never wants to see it to fruition. It's possible depending on where one is situated now that they might have to move to a less desirable local in the new stadium seated with people they don't have a report with from an angle they didn't bargain for. I've seen a few people say they'd even give up their season tickets than take end zone seats. And here's where I stuck my foot in my mouth...I said something like “that's not showing support for the team and the future.” What I really meant was...it's a new stadium and the beginning of an incredible future for this team we bleed for and you'd fold all your cards because of your seat? I never meant that support or loyalty isn't there. I never meant to question being a fan. I didn't mean that you spend your Rider Store money differently than anyone else. Yet, somehow, I am told that this is exactly what I did.

Then...

...THEN, I was told I can't have an opinion because I'm not a season ticket holder.

Huh.

SO typical, Rider Nation. You are loved as long as you think like me but as soon as your beliefs are challenged you are dead to me. This over reaction is what other CFL fans hate most about us and what they love to make fun of us for.

“ I cannot keep calm, I am a Roughriders fan.”

Le sigh.

If someone wants to give up their season tickets (and lose their opinion) because of the seating transition at New Mosaic Stadium then I'm sure an opinion-less fan on the waiting list would LOVE to be elevated to the status of season ticket holder. It all seems very silly though to be completely honest. I suspect the transition will end up being fine and the hard feelings will blow over in time.

I'm going to be gone for a while. Out. Of. The. Country. I'm visiting the Big Apple and Washington DC over the Easter holiday. Soon after it's music festival season, then training camp and before we know it...the first game of the CFL season will be here. Riders play the Toronto Argonauts on the evening of June 30^th. I'll be in section 25 Row 35 if you want to come say hi. I'll be the one in green.

Chick, Dress & Shoes

Before the Christmas holidays 19 players were released from the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Many fans including myself thought that was only the the tip of the iceberg. Yesterday when the news broke of the release of two of the hugest player personalities, Weston Dressler and John Chick, we felt the earth quake of the other Chris Jones shoe dropping.

Dad :)

This week has been busy for me. I saw the signing of Maurice Price and Shawn Lemon but my time has been spent dealing with some personal business. My Dad who is 80 (and a HUGE Rider fan), came to the city for an angiogram. My parents stayed at my house which was completely expected. I would do whatever I could to help my parents out. Dad's test came out wonderfully as he has zero blockages in his heart. As I told him during his recoup, I always knew he had a good heart. Yesterday morning before he headed for home we discussed football and the changes in Riderville. I said “fans will riot if Jones touches guys like Chick or Dressler.”

What did I know?

Nothing apparently because a mere 4 hours later I was climbing into my car to go to work and tuned in to CKOM to hear Jamie Nye break the news.

I was completely shocked. I sat in the car in disbelief. Then something cathartic happened. I drove to work.

By the time I walked in the doors of SAM I had shook it off.

Weird, huh?

Of course I love Dressler and Chick. I mean.....Chick makes me swoon. Seriously. Everyone knows offence wins hearts and we gave Weston all our hearts and sandwiches and blizzards. The bottom line is in order for them to stay with the Riders they had to be willing to take pay cuts. They weren't willing. Period.

Taman and Chamblin were run out of town for not only the losing season but the total mismanagement of the Roughrider team and coaches. They kept players around because the fans liked them. They did lot's of hiding players on injured lists and that's only one thing I know of. The list of 19 released players was a huge relief in terms of money. How bad is it? We don't really know. It must be pretty bad for Chris Jones to need existing players to take severe pay cuts.

The next thing I think of is loyalty. We've been fed the green kool-aid consisting of 'Saskatchewan is the place all players want to be'. Really? Maybe it's only the place to be if the money is right. If the team is paramount and you being on the team to win is what is of the greatest importance...the greater good if you will...wouldn't you be somewhat willing to work it out? Is being a Weston Dressler/John Chick more important than the good of the Roughrider team? No.

NO.

When a player starts thinking of themselves before the rest of their team mates, coaches or winning then it's perhaps time to say goodbye.

Another aspect is that the coach is not there to hold the hands of the players. I've said before – Chris Jones is not your life coach. If your feelings are hurt you suck it up and deal with it. THAT'S FOOTBALL. You don't air it on social media. I don't care who you are. It doesn't sit well with me how the dealing with the Weston Dressler release went down. Tell fans you're sad to go. Tell us you'll miss us. There's no use in saying no one would negotiate. It turns into a he said-he said game and you know what? I for one, am not into that anymore. We've been fed that long enough. In my opinion, the airing of dirty laundry in a goodbye statement is hardly classy no matter what pedestal Ridernation has put you on.

I don't recall but I've been told a similar situation happened in 1989 when Bobby Jurison and Eddie Lowe were released. More recently, 2008 Kerry Joseph was traded to the Toronto Argonauts. Last year, 2015 and Ricky Foley was traded. It happens to the Roughriders and it happens to other teams. This is how the CFL works and this is the progression from one year to another. It has to happen for teams to move forward. I don't want to be stuck in a Groundhog day of the 2015 season. I'm with Chris Jones and for the future. I know that other guys will emerge and our hearts will swell and it will be even better than before. As angry as fans are now, restrain yourself from the manure dumping because we all know you'll be in those seats at Mosaic Stadium to say Farewell.

Since the news came down I've heard lot's of discussion over Darian Durant. Will Coach Jones release Durant too? Maybe even Gainer isn't safe! Of course I hope not, but I hoped that before too. The difference is that I have the gut feeling that Doubles is the kind of guy who would take the pay cut. I have no reason to believe this and my guts have been wrong before but my spidey senses tell me this might be true. We don't know anything for sure. This is the reason we wanted a new Head Coach, remember? Ridernation wanted someone who could make hard and tough decisions. Now you don't like it. I said it then and I hate to say it now.....but be careful what you wish for.

What I do know is that there are probably more shoes to drop. How many pairs of shoes does Chris Jones own? Only time will tell. If he's anything like me there's a whole basket of them in the back of the closet and the house rule is one pair in = one pair out.

Paint the World PINK

It's an interesting time we're living in. In the last week, I was unfollowed on Twitter for being judgemental, bashed for not wanting to pay higher taxes for something the government has no right to be involved in, and told the Pink campaign for breast cancer awareness is a scam. This can only mean one thing...the Riders are not only losing but have finally “officially” been “mathematically” eliminated from the 2015 Grey Cup play offs.

I'm a strong prairie woman. Your opinion on any social media platform means little to me. Elections bring out the worst in people and even though I try to maintain my belief of don't discuss politics and religion, sometimes things slip out. Hey, if I have to see your silly Anyone But Conservative slogan time after time, my little share with our Prime Minister in a guitar factory should be okay. But what really got me angry was when I saw a photo criticizing football players and cheerleaders for wearing pink for breast cancer awareness month.

Apparently, “pink washing” is a thing.

Who knew?

Prior to 2010 CFL players were not allowed under CFL regulations to wear anything during practice or games that were not considered regulation football uniforms. In 2007 Roughriders Marcus Chunky Adams made the news by wearing pink shoelaces to show support for his mother who had been diagnosed with breast cancer. I cite him because I recall his story more easily but there were other CFL players who were ambassadors for breast cancer awareness as well. These men fought for the ability for CFL players to wear pink during games as a sign of support for female fans and family members. This is why every CFL team takes turns during the month of October to wear pink.

Back in 2011 the Roughriders sold Touchdown for Dreams bandanas at their Rider Stores. They came in a set of two; one to be worn and the other to be signed and returned to Taylor Field at Mosaic Stadium as a massive show of support for those battling cancer. I bought one and had my piano students sign it and then it was sent to the football game.

Touchdown for Dreams is a partnership between Cameco, the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency and the Saskatchewan Roughriders. The program holds different events to promote early detection programs. They also sell pink items and merchandise through the month of October to grant wishes and dreams to women who have life threatening diagnosis of cancer.

In January of this year I received a courageous phone call from my older Sister. She informed me that she had been diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer. It was found through an ultrasound as a follow up to a routine mammogram. To date, she's had seven rounds of chemo, surgery to remove the cancer, and radiation treatments. She's been the most amazing woman I've ever known. In the face of a potentially life threatening situation she continually shared her story through facebook posts and often professing how grateful she was for each day. Her prognosis is very good. My sister has always been a fighter and I knew from day one cancer picked a fight with the wrong lady.

Because of my Sister's story and even though I'm younger than she is, I've taken action and talked to my doctor about screening. Not everyone has an older sister as amazing as mine who urges you to start the conversation. Not everyone has a son like Marcus Adams to help change a whole sports league to one who paints the field pink. If you happen to see a cheerleader wearing pink it may just encourage you to get screened. Early detection can save your life. I think that's complete reality and not a scam at all.

As I sit here writing this blog in my cancer awareness tee shirt purchased at Penningtons, there are other campaigns which the CFL supports. Check out Roughriders John Chick's support of Sun Life Kick Diabetes where there are different challenges with other CFLers as well as screening to find out if you are at risk for diabetes. Injured Rider Shea Emry is also an ambassador for mental health awareness and last week as a show of support Investors Group Field was lit up in purple.

Aren't Canadian Football League players amazing?!

Before Lambeau Leaping to conclusions, consider yourself or your family in these situations. Don't paint with the same brush. You may find yourself needing this tremendous show of support some day and regretting you didn't listen.

CFL – this normally green clad rabid Rider fan salutes your efforts.

In October, let's paint the world pink and for the love of Gainer start the conversation with your doctor.

Rider Nation needs you.

Once in a Super Blood Moon

 You may have noticed I didn't post a blog last week.

~ crickets ~

I was sick. I had that cold/flu that is going around which ends with a hacking cough so bad you wonder if you've given yourself a concussion. My birthday was the 22^nd so that sucked because even though I know it happened the cold meds had me in a blurry state of mind.

But finally here I am with a clear mind and a year older and holy smokes the Riders won a game!

Did I dream that?

Things in Rider Nation had been pretty quiet. My Twitter feed was full of Blue Jays and people wishing for hockey season. It's creepy when no one is talking about anything regarding the Roughriders. Either they were all sick like I was or they stopped caring. Neither one of those things is something we want going on.

September 25^th was the Plaza of Honor dinner which we saw the ol' 96er Scott Schultz and Tim McCray get inducted. It was really great to hear McCray's account of the lead up to the 1989 Grey Cup and how the Riders beat the Eskimo's in the west final when everyone had counted out the Riders. There's nothing like being the under dog and showing everyone what you're made of.

September 18^th Kory Sheets was in Saskatoon signing autographs. I wanted to go see him so badly but the last thing I wanted to do was spread my plague to my favorite running back. He was at the game as well. It surprised me that none of the Rider media seemed to pick up on it. I was expecting an interview or some speculation on what he was doing back in Saskatchewan. I am completely hopeful and maybe it's the goggles or that I just loved that man in 2013, but could you imagine the tandem of Jerome Messam and Kory Sheets in 2016? That would be amazing and my green Rider heart would really appreciate that after what seemed like the running back merry-go-round in 2014. I pray that Sheets second Achilles surgery rehab goes well and he can return to the player he was. If he can do it once or twice, why can't he do it a third time?

Responded on my birthday by the way :)

Speaking of Achilles, some Rider fans are obsessed with seeing Darian Durant on the sidelines. I'm sure now that he's walking it's not as dangerous for him to be there as he's getting more mobile. But what's all this talk of doubt that he'll be the same player he was before the injury? I know we barely saw him recover from his arm injury but I know how hard of a worker Doubles is and in my greenest of hearts don't doubt that he'll not only recover fully from this leg injury but be the same or better as before. Via Twitter I asked Kory Sheets how he responded after the first time he injured his Achilles. He responded that he was the same. Durant is a tremendous leader and completely elevates the team. I only remembered how much when I heard his voice when rewatching the 2013 Grey Cup.  I think we've all forgotten that in his absence from the field.

How wonderfully consistent is Kevin Glenn?! I was concerned after seeing both KG and Doubles in training camp and fretted over a quarterback controversy. Who knew this season would turn out like it has? As Darian was seen on the sidelines recovering from his Achilles injury, the questions of who should start, Glenn or Smith, seems to have quietened down. In my opinion, Glenn was always the starter in this scenario. Glenn can just see down field, anticipate defences and get the ball to the guys who can make plays. But I hope Smith is watching and learning. He will get his time again. It's just not now.

With the TigerCats starting quarterback Zach Colaros being injured it has been suggested that Kevin Glenn be traded to Hamilton. I honestly believe Kent Austin will want to develop the back up quarterbacks he already has. Wouldn't it be Corey Chamblin mentality to trade for a vet? Besides, if.....IF.....there is still mathematical chance of the Roughriders still making the playoffs then the Riders need Kevin Glenn to do it.

Do I really think the Saskatchewan Roughriders have a chance at making the 2015 Grey Cup play offs? Heck no. I'm not delirious still from the cold medication. I know that there's little to no chance at all of it happening. I'm realistic and logical and know they'd have to win out the rest of the season. That's a lot to ask and hope for and it's highly unlikely.

But could you imagine? Could you imagine if it did happen? It would be epic. Legendary. Magical. And that minute shred of hope is what makes Rider Nation what it is. That belief in last minute wins and heart pounding drama that makes us rabid fans yearn for miracles at Mosaic.  It's pure Rider Pride.

Does the house on Piffles that Ron and George helped build have enough left in her for one more go in 2015?

I wanna find out.

Stay the Course

How many of you were around in 1979? I was. I was seven. At age seven I don't even recall the word Roughrider muttered in our household. No one ever mentioned them until I was what I refer to as “stupid teenager” in 1989 when my Dad professed that 'the Riders are good this year'.

That's a small snapshot of what life was like when the Riders sucked.

Pierre Trudeau was Prime Minister. People played Atari. We listened to music on a Sony Walkman if you were lucky enough to have $200. We watched M*A*S*H* and wondered who shot J.R.

Social media was chatting with the cashier at the grocery store.

2 – 14

That was the how the season went and that's why no one talked about them.

There were only four recognizable names on the 1979 team roster. Ron Lancaster had forfeited his role as quarterback and became the coach. Tom Clements was the quarterback and he had huge shoes to fill on a team that had to find a new identity. It was doomed from the start.

We live in a different world now. Rider fans came out of the woodwork during the 2007 season. Something magical happened and we had to put lifters on the bandwagon to support the additional weight. Now we wear our Rider green every single day and we aren't ashamed. We put it on our cars and houses and tattoo it on bodies. It's Rider Pride and it's been easy to back our team through recent winning times.

Roughrider fans are now are young and impatient. They weren't here in 1979.....weren't even a sparkle in someone's eyes..... and don't care to learn about the past. They point fingers, ridicule and want people to lose their jobs. The worst part is they are the loudest voice on social media. Instead, of doing their homework they follow the ill words of others like sheep.

Let's face it.....weeks before Gary Lawless wrote his article talking about Coach Chamblin being fired it was being discussed everywhere. All the radio programs were talking about how changes needed to be made and even though they weren't calling for heads to roll it doesn't take much to plant that seed of doubt in a smart phone obsessed mind. Who was Lawless's source? Heck, it could have been all of Rider Nation.

I for one have greatly adjusted my attitude. So what? We (the team) may not have glorious wins this year. Every game will be a struggle that will make you want to rip of your jersey and throw items at the TV. That's okay. That's passion. That proves you care. But when it comes down to it.....isn't it wonderful that we have this team in our province, which helps define our province and community? Isn't it great that we can come together to cheer for these guys who have left family and loved ones and come from across the United States and Canada to become the 2015 Roughriders!

We are so blessed.

The 13th Man.  Other CFL teams WISH they had a fan base like ours.

So I dare you – this week, week seven, look for the good things. Look for small improvements. Look for someone doing their job well. Look for better instead of the best. Trust me, we will all be happier and more content for it. This team has faced a HUGE amount of adversity this year that not many other CFL teams could easily recover from and now is the time to stick with this Roughrider team. The payoff will be down the road but I know in my greenest of hearts it will be sweeter than you could ever imagine.

And if not, well, I'm sorry you feel that way. Just know that one bad decision could turn the time back to 1979 and as much as I enjoyed Atari, I love the 2015 version of the Roughriders far more.

Stay the course. Persevere. And Always Bleed Green.

Travelling Rider Fans

One of the things that makes Ridernation so unique is how fans travel from all over the country to take in games. It's not uncommon for someone to drive not only a couple hours but all day or night or even hop on a plane just to get to Mosaic Stadium. I am also one of these fans. I live three hours away in Saskatoon. I'd love nothing more than to be at every single game, but it's not always possible due to driving hours versus work hours. It's not only the time but the money involved in getting to games. It's an all day adventure.

Game Day Eve we start to get ready. I make sure I have bottled water and snacks for the trip. I make sure our tickets are packed. I actually make sure the tickets are there repeatedly. How bad would it be to drive three hours to only realize the tickets were forgotten?! Ack! We also have a special Rider satchel to carry our seat cushions in which handily has enough room for all the other stuff too. Because I have a condition called Solar Urticaria, there is also an ample supply of sunblock. You have to look after the skin!

As I said, going to a game is an all day affair when travelling from Saskatoon. Hubby is an accountant and has crunched all the numbers and for this reason we don't buy food at the stadium. Oh, we'd love to! It smells awesome! We also do not indulge in wobbly pops. We are there to enjoy the game and driving home can be treacherous enough as it is. We do, however, make sure to have a substantial breakfast or lunch before jumping in the car.

Hmm...is it Steve?  Is it really?

Last week, since the game was an early game, I found a recipe for “Egg Muffins”. I'd seen them posted on Pinterest but never really knew how they actually tasted. They are FREAKING AMAZING! You cook them in the oven in a muffin pan and they pop out and are totally portable and freezable for another time!

My Egg Muffin Recipe

Prepared Egg Muffins...YUM!

6 eggs

1 cup diced omelet/pizza mix from the Co-Op deli

1/2 cup grated tex mex cheese

dash salt & pepper.

Whisk or mix the whole thing up. Portion out by soup ladle into a muffin pan sprayed with cooking spray. Cook in 350 F degree oven for 15 minutes or until the centers are solid. Makes 9 egg muffins @ 56 calories each.

Anyone ever go to the A&W on Albert Street? It seems to be our stopping off place once we've arrived in Regina. It really helps that a few weeks back we were delivered a whole page of coupons in the mail. This is our pregame meal. Usually we'd have a Teen Burger combo or something similar, but last game we managed to get to Regina earlier than expected and they were still serving breakfast...probably because there wasn't a check stop in Chamberlain. Anyone who knows me knows I love pancakes or waffles. I was so happy to be able to have pancakes on game day. The syrup it's served with is pretty great too. 3 pancakes for $2...sign me up! My only complaint about that A&W is the size of the restrooms. I've been in bigger broom closets.

I get parking lot rage. I admit it. I cannot stand driving around looking for a place to park and I detest having to walk miles from the car to the stadium. So because of this The Hubs and I catch the Fan Express from the Northgate Mall. It's pretty handy. The first bus comes 90 minutes before game time and for $3 drops you right outside the south gates. The price went up over last year though. Now it's a $12 bus ride for us. Still it's a great option. We just hop on after the game and get delivered back to the mall and before you know it we're back out on the highway heading for home.

On the car ride home we eat sandwiches (honey ham for that trip with a smattering of mustard) which we packed picnic style and listen to the post game show on ckrm with Michael Ball and guests. It helps to keep the mind occupied while driving and winds us down and helps us rationalize all facets of the game. The callers make us angry and make us laugh but most importantly, it's broadcast long enough to get us to our doorstep and for that we are thankful.

The game? Well the Roughriders/Argonauts game was highly entertaining. I've never seen our offence so dialled in. It was amazing. Kevin Glenn performed awesome and I'd argue Durant couldn't have done better. Argo's Trevor Harris played calm and cool and collected. Many have complained about the officiating and phantom penalties, but I'm not going to go there. What I do see is a very strong Rider team and I think if they clean up the penalties this team will be the team to watch. The defence and coaching of Corey Chamblin was under question but I really didn't see a failure there at all. Remember there is no fan base as finicky as Rider fans.

After all, it's not the start of the season that matters...it's how you finish!

What's your game day regime? Have any tips for those of us travelling? Let me know! Maybe I'll include them in future editions of this blog.

Until then, I remain faithful. I believe. And I predict a win in BC Friday night.

Go Riders Go!

Fun-da-footballs

As a piano teacher in "real life", I've always stressed that if you know the fundamentals you can play pretty much anything.  You need to be able to read the notes, you need to count & you have to be able to observe the signs.  It takes time to learn the fundamentals and the most successful students are the people who take the time to learn them well and learn them in stages instead of rushing in to something beyond their knowledge.

The team gathers as practice concludes.

I believe the same can be said for football.  If players come into camp and spend the first days learning the new rules, learning how the CFL works & learning the playbook before actually gearing up in pads I think they will be more successful when game time comes.  This is something coach Corey Chamblin has seemed to install this training camp.  I had visited camp the first day and then I visited again last friday.  The difference I saw was huge.  On friday I saw confidence coming out and players knowing their places and just more motivation in general.

Another reason I liked this approach to camp is that it has seemed to cut down injuries.  I've heard rumblings from other teams and especially the Edmonton RB injury but there's been very little said about Rider injuries.  Players have taken days off to rest but besides the Steinhauer injury from last season I haven't seen anyone limping or damaged which means going into the beginning of the season everyone should be healthy.

Piano players don't often have piano playing related injuries.  

Piano mac daddy down!

Doesn't happen.

Last Thursday for the first time in the history of the Roughriders, they loaded up 3 buses of players and coaches and took a field trip two hours (1.25 if you drive like me) north to Prince Albert.  They held a walk through and autograph session at the Alfred Jenkins Field House.  Because I have family and grew up in PA, I know that the soccer centre has been under some scrutiny.  It cost a lot of money, tax payers were not pleased and the result was a smaller field than was in the plans but it sure seems to have shined once the Riders pulled up into the parking lot.

Handy Hank & Doubles

 My Dad turns 80 in July.  He only makes it to one game a year and it's usually a trip he takes with his brothers.  He was uncertain as to whether he'd go to the field house even though it's not even a 5 minute drive from his house.  Then he finally decided he better go because as he told me "you'd kick my butt if I didn't go."

*grin*

So he geared up and went to see the Riders.  He was thrilled and extremely glad that I persuaded him to go.  He tells me that Darian Durant is a really stand up guy and personable and really laughed when my dad told him "so you finally got that monkey off your back."

Dad's eh?

Saturday was Green and White Fan day in Saskatoon.  I've always looked forward to this day and was rather disappointed when the Roughriders didn't schedule autographs.  I don't understand the difference between this and any other training camp day if they don't offer autographs for the fans.  Apparently the sessions during the week after practices are popular.  So what was scheduled was a mock game or scrimmage.
 

Storm clouds moving off to the south-east.

It rained for 15 minutes before Hubby and myself left for Griffiths Stadium.  I grabbed my Sex and the City umbrella and we headed to the home of the Huskies.  Well, of course it rained.  I couldn't help but be reminded of 2013 when we stood in line in pouring rain for an hour to meet Dwight Anderson, Weston Dressler, Chris Getzlaf, Darian Durant, John Chick, Ricky Foley and Geroy Simon.  It felt like karma for it to rain again.

I'll be heading out to training camp again Wednesday morning but that will be it for me since I have a four day music festival to attend this weekend.  I will be in my game day green for the preseason game in Fort McMurray saturday evening. 

I'm taking Riders because that's what I do.

If you have any questions about what I've seen at Riders training camp find me on Twitter @smilingsandra 

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.....

Football & Social Media

Social media is a powerful thing isn't it? I don't think I really understood until I got going on Twitter. You can tweet your happyness or despair and people respond. It can be wonderful and it can be terrible all wrapped up in one big bow. 

This week activity on Twitter exploded with the excitement surrounding Quinn Magnuson's "unofficial" CFL Twitter Awards. If you haven't voted...and why the heck not? Get over there and do it now....or stay and read *wink*  The fun started when everyone tried to get all the football clubs to follow them. I found myself reaching out to all the CFL teams and appealing for follows.  Some did.  Some didn't.  I think everyone made new friends in the process and had a few chuckles. 

I followed Henry Burris.  Proof I can get over pretty much anything.

I even tweeted "I had a better chance of being followed by Jon Cornish than by the Sskroughriders" after being followed by many of the other teams.  You see...I am blocked by Jon Cornish. I have and never will harass the guy.  There is no denying he is a great running back.  I'm sure he does take a lot of crap from fans and no he shouldn't have to deal with it.  It's his right to block or mute if he wants to.

In my defense, I was merely mentioned in a tweet in which people were blocked.

All Rider Nation really wanted was an apology for the Moon Over Mosaic incident.

It's just a little suspicious at the amount of Rider fans who seem to be blocked. But I won't dwell on it.

Meh.

Take Darian Durant...last season he was fined by the CFL for his tweets regarding defending himself to someone not only harassing him but his family as well. What was he to do? Blocking may have been easier. But no matter because all Rider fans quickly came to his defense and the hashtag Dariansfault was born.

We are out there on the loose. We can tweet anything and anyone we want. I was overjoyed the few times I interacted with Kory Sheets and then when he recognized me in person...well...<faints>.  I've also been the victim of harassing too.  I've had to block people.  I've had to block fellow Rider fans and other CFL fans too. Why do we think we can say anything we want to on social media? Why when there is such a media presence saying don't bully does it continue to happen everywhere?  Why can't we just be kind to each other?

*shrugs*

As I said, this week has been a ton of fun but we are on the eve of the semi final games and tempers will probably flair.  The BC Lions became the crossover team and play the Montreal Allouettes in the eastern semi final. The Saskatchewan Roughriders were able to stay in the west and play the Edmonton Eskimo's in the western semi final.  I've predicted that it will be the Als and Riders to advance.  This time tomorrow night we will know.

All season there has been a quarterbacking issue. Montreal had to go out and find a quarterback. Lulay was back for about 10 minutes before being injured again. Darian Durant was injured in the Banjo Bowl. The Eskies seemingly had a good guy in Mike Reilly until he was plagued by an unknown ankle injury.  The mind games have been played in the west. The rosters are set. If our own Riders veteran QB Kerry Joseph can win this game it will go down as a legend.  I think he can.

This may be the end of the season for two teams. I hope fans stay calm.  I hope no manure is dumped.  I hope everyone can look for the silver linings.

And.....
.....Go Riders Go!