Friday thoughts

An assortment of Hallowe'en goodies:

• It's rare to see a team self-destruct as badly as the Toronto Argos did last night, in their 45-38 loss to the Riders.
• Neal Hughes and Stu Foord should be the poster boys for Regina Minor Football. Actually, you can add Jason Clermont to that list too.
• It's a rare end of October weekend without minor hockey around the Paczko homestead. Bring on the yardwork!
• This week's episode of SportZone was a definite improvement on last week's.
• We still don't have a winner for this week's SportZone trivia question. The question is on the post below. The only requirement for eligibility is that you can't have won in the past two months. Sorry Devin!
• This is odd. All my old Hallowe'en costumes seem to have shrunk in storage. Weird.
• I think I need to get a personal chef. I'm okay with the working out, but the nutrition - not so much.
  

SportZone lineup for Oct 29

Here's the lineup for this week's show, airing Wednesday at 6 p.m. and Thursday at 3 p.m. on Access channel 7 in Regina:

SportZone Guests for Oct 27/08
Community Co-Host: Brandon Brooks

1. (Athlete/team profile) A profile of the city champion Miller Marauders high school girls’ soccer team. Guests: Kassy Ulrich, Erin Payette & Adrianna Morrison (Players).

2. (Event segment) A preview of the 2007/08 Hockey Regina season. Guest: Blair Watson (Hockey Regina Executive Director).

3. (Regina Sport Spotlight) A Regina triathlete captures his third straight World Championship Guest: Milos Kostic (World Champion Triathlete).

4. (Fitness/Lifestyle segment) An update on the transformation of the Regina Court & Fitness Club into Gold’s Gym Regina South. Guest: Brittany Warren (Director of Personal Training).

5. (U of R segment) A profile of the University of Regina men’s hockey team. Guest: Blaine Sautner (Head Coach).

SportZone trivia question: What year did the first Gold's Gym open in Venice, California? Email your answers to sportzone@accesscomm.ca. First correct response receives fame and recognition beyond your wildest dreams!

Monday musings

A quick clearing of the cranial cupboard:

• We still don't have a winner for last week's SportZone trivia question. The question: For which U.S. college did former Rider Ventson Donelson star before launching his CFL career? Email your answer (along with your contact info) to: sportzone@accesscomm.ca.
• I don't know how the Riders managed to steamroll Edmonton so completely Saturday night, but I'm not complaining.
• Andy Fantuz looked like he hasn't missed a game, much less 11 weeks.
• The defense is starting to resemble the early season version that was so impressive.
• I purchased my playoff tickets this morning. Here's hoping.
  
• The Pats outscored the opposition 13-6 this weekend. That's also impressive.
• Young Jacob's hockey team has a former NHLer as an assistant coach. Nothing wrong with that!
  
• My fantasy football team sucks.
• I went to my first Krav Maga class in four months on Saturday and lived to tell about it.
  

Friday thoughts

Gotta clear out the cranial cavity for the weekend:

• I'm not saying this week's edition of SportZone on Access 7 was a complete disaster from a production standpoint, but...well, actually that is what I'm saying. Wow.
• Things can only get better.
• You want to know about karma? Co-host Corey Matthews was talking off-air about an embarrassing coughing fit he had on-air a year or so ago. A few minutes later, Corey had a coughing fit on this week's show. Eerie, actually.
• Steven Jyles may never get a better opportunity to become a starting quarterback in the CFL than the one he's been given tomorrow against Edmonton.
• Beating the Eskimos never gets old around here, does it?
• I'll make a decision on purchasing playoff tickets after tomorrow's game.
• So I email the Director of the Atom Division in Hockey Regina, asking for the contact info for young Jacob's coach this season. So she sends me the info for the coach of another team. I politely point this out, and I get no response. A well-oiled machine, that HRI!
• Listen up you illiterate goober's! Every word that end's in "s" doe's not automatically have an apostrophe before the "s". Okay? Sound's good? Dumb as's. (Apostrophes added for sake of sarcasm)
• I heartily recommend Tim and Joe at Radio Centre for all of your electronic needs. Great prices, amazing service and they're a couple of hardcore Rider fans. What's not to love?
  
• Tim and Joe are setting up my home theatre as I write this. I'm just a little excited about that!
  

SportZone lineup for Oct 22

A brand new season of SportZone on Access 7 launches tonight. We've been tinkering with the format - let me know what you think. In the meantime, here's our guest list for the first episode:

SportZone Guests for Oct 20/08
Community Co-Host: Corey Matthews

1. (Athlete/team profile) A preview of the Regina Kids of Steel youth triathlon club. Guests: Patrick Ash (Triathlon Coach), Christina Gee, Aidan Katz and Sean Hooper (Youth triathletes).

2. (Fitness/Lifestyle segment) A profile of Regina’s First Tee indoor golf centre. Guest: Jim Johnson (Managing Partner).

3. (Regina Sport Spotlight) A former Saskatchewan Roughrider leads his team to a 2nd straight city championship in the atom division of Regina Minor Football. Guests: Ventson Donelson (Canadians Head Coach) & Shermar Donelson (Player).

4. (Event segment) A recap of the Regina Wheelchair Rugby Club’s annual Crash Test Tournament. Guests: Jason Hubbs & Cory Harrower (Regina Wheelchair Rugby Club.

5. (U of R segment) A preview of the regular season finale for the University of Regina women’s soccer team. Guests: Sarah Novak & Randi Schmeichel (Players).

Monday musings

This is shaping up to be one darn busy week:

• Thank you Hockey Regina for scheduling young Jacob's next hockey practice at the same time as the Riders' final regular season home game. That's terrific.
• Were the Riders lucky to knock off Hamilton 30-29 yesterday? Yes they were. Did they still play better than the Tabbies? Yes they did.
• I jokingly told the folks sitting next to us that Steven Jyles will start at quarterback next week. Now I'm not so sure it was a joke.
• Personally, I'm hoping Darian Durant gets another shot.
• The Regina Pats are still searching for their identity. But now they get five straight home games to figure it out.
• Damien Ketlo will be a starting goaltender in the WHL by the end of this year.
• It's fun to write a 25 page keynote address that nobody wants to provide me background information for! Fun!
• Regina Minor Football has openings on the board of directors. Contact Kelly Hamilton or Len Antonini at the RMF office if you're interested.
  

Friday thoughts

A little venting, and a little musing:

• When did CFL football become English soccer?
• Here's a tip for all "fans", not just numb-nutters in Rider jerseys. Don't grab at a cop while he's trying to arrest someone. Or ever.
• The actions of a few morons this season have sullied the reputation of Rider fans everywhere.
• Darian Durant has a golden opportunity on Sunday to entrench himself as the starting quarterback for the Riders.
  
• I have to admit, Michael Bishop has handled his demotion with class. That, or he doesn't understand what "demotion" means.
• Jacob's hockey team (this year we're Sharks fans) has a practice next Saturday at 4:45 pm. The Riders host Edmonton at 5 pm. I hope the Sharks aren't expecting a big turnout at practice.
• Damn you M & M Meatshop for selling fettucine alfredo in a 2 lb serving! Damn (burp) you!
• It's back to active duty with Krav Maga and tennis next week. Pray for me.
• SportZone returns to the airwaves next week also.
  

Monday musings

Since I have no interest in watching the final minutes of the Riders' blowout loss in Calgary:

• Snow on Thanksgiving. Lovely. Just friggin' lovely.
• Michael Bishop couldn't look off a defensive back if his life depended on it.
• Weston Dressler is a phenomenal talent.
• The Riders' special teams were embarrassingly inept. No blocking on kick returns, boneheaded returners, and feeble kick coverage. Yuck.
• It's pretty sad when your fullback has the hit of the game for your team.
• First place in the west will have to wait for another year. I'm still not certain the Riders won't be the crossover team this year.
• Having said all that, it's not like they're the Hamilton Tiger Cats or anything. At least Saskatchewan will be in the playoffs.
• I see the Pats blew another lead the other night. That's becoming a habit.
• A four day weekend with the munchkin ends in the morning. Forget the Riders and Pats, that's some really bad news!
• When I spoke to my mom earlier today it was sunny and 26 degrees in London. It's not fair, I tell ya!
  

Back in the saddle

Just because I know you're breathless with anticipation . . .

SportZone on Access 7 returns for a new season the week of October 20th. We've played around with the format a bit, sharpening our focus on amateur sports and recreational activities. I can safely say it'll be unlike anything else on the air in Regina. Check it out for yourself.

Monday musings

Is it the long weekend yet?

• Michael Bishop. Chris Getzlaf. Who knew?
• Is it just me, or did Getzlaf look a lot like Andy Fantuz in the way he played in the win over Calgary Friday night?
• Don't look now, but the Regina Pats have won three in a row. And rookie sensation Jordan Weal continues to shine.
• Damien Ketlo got the start last night. Are the Pats showcasing him for a trade, or determining whether he's ready to be the full-time backup? I'm going with option number two.
• The New York Giants look scary good right now. I suspect all three front-runners in that division (Giants, Dallas and Washington) will make the playoffs.
• I'm not so sure the Packers will get back to the postseason, despite playing in a weak division.
  
• I suppose I should pick my NHL playoff team now, since the Leafs........well.......you know.
• I saw former police chief Cal Johnston out door-knocking this morning. He's the Liberal candidate in Regina Palliser. He'd probably win that riding if he was running for the Tories, or even the NDP.
• 54 days until AC/DC in Vancouver.
  

Friday thoughts

Gotta keep the old synapses firing somehow:

• Forget Ken Miller, how long a leash are the Mosaic Stadium boo birds going to give Michael Bishop tonight?
• Do you think Coach Miller might be getting some pressure from the general manager to play Bishop (who he traded for) ahead of Darian Durant (who he inherited from the Roy Shivers regime)? Just a thought.
• Jacob can't come to the game tonight, so my buddy Kelly is making the drive in from Moose Jaw. Please don't hit him with beer cans.
• Congrats to Brady Chuley from our atom Cougars, who is the U of R Rams 13th player tomorrow afternoon.
  
• The Pats are in Brandon tomorrow night. That should give us a pretty good idea of where Dale Derkatch's crew rates in the WHL eastern conference pecking order.
• Is that seven goal outburst against Moose Jaw this week a sign of things to come?
• Or, are the Warriors just that weak this year?
  
• Maybe I'll see you at the Brandt Centre Sunday night. Don't forget to say hi.
• I hate trade shows. I'm just saying.
• Bill Belichek sure could use a quarterback. Think any NFL general manager would trade with the (video taping) Patriots? Yeah, me neither.
  
• Memo to all former Moose Jaw mayors and Regina police chiefs (ie: the candidates in Regina-Wascana). Quit phoning. Right now.