Off Season Blues....er, I mean, Greens.

One time my Dad said to me, "Every night I take my socks off and throw them in the laundry basket." PAUSE.  "Last night I took them off and threw them in the toilet."

I know that has nothing to do with football or sports at all, but this morning it made me laugh.  It's been tough so far in 2014.  My dog, who was a huge Rider fan, passed away after a fight with lymphoma....there was that dreaded REDBLACK draft and then Free Agency.  So when something tickles my funny bone like a memory of dear Dad wringing out his socks.....I'll take it.

It still really bothers me that we lost Keith Shologan and Zack Evans to Ottawa.  I saw an Instagram picture of Sholo with his son in a REDBLACKS toque and my heart broke.  His son is the cutest little guy I've ever seen, by the way.....just wish he was wearing green.

The NFL came calling.  First it was Weston Dressler to the Kansas City Cheifs.  I know it's the dream of every American boy to play in the NFL but honestly I never thought Dressler fit that bill.  He is a total beast on the field and I really hope he has a chance to prove himself.  The last thing I want is for him to come back dejected and rather "messed up" like Fantuz did after his stint as a Bear.  Good luck Weston!  We want you to do well, but man, we will miss those rolling sliding grabs by the goal posts.

Hot on Dressler's tails, Kory Sheets was signed by the Oakland Raiders, which I am pleased to say, even though different colours, won't be all that hard to cheer for considering the name is so similar.....Raiders...Riders....it works.  I LOVED Kory Sheets.  I have a soft spot for running backs.  I once threatened Hubby by saying I was running away with Wes Cates....he said to go.  HA!  Kory was just plain fantastic.  I am going to miss shouting HOLY SHEETS!  I'm going to miss his celebration after a touchdown.  Most of all I won't get a chance to give him the cookies I promised last year at training camp and then didn't give them to him.

Sigh.

It seems our free agents have fled the country.  I understand most wanted and expected more money with the name champion under their belt.  Shocking what happens.  I'm tired of seeing how, football is a business.  Whatever happened to loyalty?

After perusing the 2014 Free Agency Tracker - which doesn't look very up to date, it might be easier to mention who hasn't left us.  Macho Harris, Taj Smith, Terrel Maze & Paul Waldu were extended.  Chris Milo re-signed.  We picked up Jade Ettienne and Josh Bartel....the Aussie kicker.  It seems it is only Jock Sanders who is still in limbo.  Will he be able to take over for Kory Sheets?

So many questions.  But isn't there always?  I remember when mass panic set in when Kerry Joseph left after the 2007 Grey Cup win.  I've remembered every off season since when it seemed like players we couldn't live without got traded or retired or went south.  We survived then and we will survive now and as I've always maintained....if we lived through Grey Cup 2009 then we can live through anything.

It won't really be all that long and the roster will be set.  Training camp will start, which I hope will be in Saskatoon again because that really does make a huge difference.  The season will start and all this stuff will be a memory.

But in the meantime....I hope my little blog put a smile on your face.  Chin up!  Bask in the Olympic glory.  And never fear for when those spring tulips finally break through the newly thawed tundra of Rider Nation, we will be ready.  I believe.

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!!!!