Amid the Riders, Thunder and Bottcher stories there’s also some embarrassing stuff with Kelly, Trump and Palmer
Article content
Weekend wonders in the world of scoreboards:
Good days for Riders, Lions, Argos: After a week of seeing Saskatchewan Roughriders players at junior hockey games, community events and giving weather forecasts on CTV, the CFL team resumes practising Tuesday to prepare for its final regular-season game Saturday at 5 p.m. against the visiting Calgary Stampeders. It was a weird weekend without the red-hot Riders playing, seeing only three televised CFL games and watching the B.C. Lions and Toronto Argonauts become Grey Cup threats.
Advertisement 2
Article content
Top of the mountain: Avenging losses in each of the last two championship games and two regular-season defeats this season, the Regina Thunder upset the reigning Canadian-champion Saskatoon Hilltops 24-19 in this year’s Prairie Football Conference final. Relying on two quarterbacks, two running backs and a tremendous group of linebackers, the Thunder next plays the B.C.-champion Okanagan Sun with a berth in the Canadian Bowl on the line. That western final is slated for Sunday, 1 p.m., at Regina’s Leibel Field.
Best throwback jerseys ever: University of Illinois football team, complete with hand-painted helmets that look like old leather versions from the 1920s.
No showdown: At least New York Rangers tough guy Matt Rempe and Toronto Maple Leafs pugilist Ryan Reaves were dressed for their teams’ NHL game. No drama ensued because they didn’t fight. Their lone confrontation last season was a draw.
Getting what you pay for: The last three teams in the World Series playoffs — New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees — have the highest, luxury-tax payrolls this season, starting at $315 million, according to The Sporting News. The Cleveland Guardians, who lost the ALCS to the Yankees in heart-wrenching fashion, were 21st at $140 million. The Dodgers and Yankees are about to meet in a World Series for the 12th time.
Article content
Advertisement 3
Article content
Here’s Howe: Still missing their best player because of injury, the Tanner Howe-less Regina Pats beat the visiting Seattle Thunderbirds 8-0 in a WHL game.
Good quarterback stories at the Grey Cup: Saskatchewan’s Trevor Harris, B.C. Vernon Adams Jr., Winnipeg’s Zach Collaros and Montreal’s Cody Fajardo.
Embarrassing story if Toronto advances to Grey Cup: Quarterback Chad Kelly, after being suspended half a season for harassing an assistant coach.
Ark of the Conservatives: British Columbians voted on Saturday, despite rainy conditions that would have inspired Noah. Who votes on weekends? Early results show Conservative leader John Rustad has staged a comeback with a nearly dead party that, after recounts, has either unseated incumbent premier David Eby’s NDP or hopes to soon force another election.
On the undercard: Saskatchewan votes Oct. 28. Vying to earn the premier’s belt, NDP leader Carla Beck is still trying to land a figurative haymaker on Saskatchewan Party leader Scott Moe, whose jaw looks vulnerable.
One more chance: Despite quarterback Noah Pelletier catching a touchdown pass, the University of Regina Rams lost 22-20 to the University of Saskatchewan Huskies. Regina can still make the CanWest football playoffs by beating the visiting University of Alberta Golden Bears in their regular-season finale on Friday at 7 p.m. at Regina’s Leibel Field.
Advertisement 4
Article content
Waiting for Bottcher: Reigning Canadian curling champion Brad Gushue, winner of last year’s Brier in Regina, is reassembling his roster after dumping E.J. Harnden. Playing its last event before replacement Brendan Bottcher arrives, Gushue’s crew didn’t make the semifinals at a bonspiel in Sault Ste. Marie.
WoW: Like the inaugural PWHL finals, the 28th WNBA championship was captivating as the New York Liberty won its first crown by defeating the Minnesota Lynx 67-62 in a deciding fifth game. The league plans to make next year’s final series a best-of-seven.
The legend of golfer Arnold Palmer: Doddering Donald Trump, before proving himself incapable of handling basic tasks at a closed McDonald’s, was more impressed with Arnie’s manhood than with the man.
After Hours: It’s always worthwhile watching Scott Oake’s Hockey Night in Canada interviews, particularly with Regina’s Jordan Eberle, whose pro career started on the 2010-11 Edmonton Oilers. Oake pointed out only two members of that team are still in the NHL, Eberle and Taylor Hall.
Not the GOAT: Seven-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady was a better quarterback than TV analyst. He talks a lot. And like too many buddy-buddy commentators, “Tom” calls the stars “Patrick” and “Travis” rather than “Mahomes” or “Kelce.”
Advertisement 5
Article content
Poor guys: It’s OK to feel badly for NFL quarterbacks Deshaun Watson and Aaron Rodgers, but you will be in the minority.
Roster juggling: How might Winnipeg, Montreal and Saskatchewan deploy their rosters while trying to stay sharp and healthy heading into the CFL playoffs? That’s for next weekend.
Recommended from Editorial
The Regina Leader-Post has created an Afternoon Headlines newsletter that can be delivered daily to your inbox so you are up to date with the most vital news of the day. Click here to subscribe.
With some online platforms blocking access to the journalism upon which you depend, our website is your destination for up-to-the-minute news, so make sure to bookmark leaderpost.com and sign up for our newsletters so we can keep you informed. Click here to subscribe.
Article content