Thursday Cheers and Jeers

Maybe it's because my summer holidays are a few short hours away. Or, maybe it's just been a good week. But I really don't have much to complain about!

Cheers

• Regina Minor Football. I don't know if our team (Unicorns) will be successful on the field this season, but we're gonna look good! Sweet new uniforms guys, thanks! And thanks for allowing us to adjust our pick-up schedule to get everything done in advance of our (the J-man and I) trip to Ontario.
  
• Air Canada. We don't actually fly out until Monday, but a little premature praise (or is it wishful thinking?) never hurt anyone, did it?
• Ljiljana's Reflexology. She has my neck feeling better than it has in years. For this, I am grateful!

Jeers

• WestJet. Their flight offerings into and out of Regina have really dropped off in recent years. I'd love to give them some business, but they're not making it easy!
• Driving past my mom's house next week, and knowing she no longer lives there, is really going to suck. That's life, I suppose. Still sucks though.
• The doom and gloom crowd who have already written off the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2011. Two games into an 18 game season. I guess some folks just aren't happy unless they're miserable.
  

Locker Talk lineup for July 12

Here's the lineup for this week's show, marking the end of the 2010/11 broadcast season for Locker Talk. We plan to be back on the air with more local sports fun and frivolity in September. Until then, this week's show airs tonight at 9 p.m. and Thursday at 6 p.m. on Access channel 7.

Locker Talk Guests for July 12/11
Co-host: Mitchell Blair

1. A preview of the world junior racquetball championships later this month. Guest: Ross Richardson (Junior racquetball coach).

2. (ENG segment) An update on the exploits of the Regina Red Sox baseball club. Guest: Rob Cherepuschak (Manager).

3. Our Man Carlo. Locker Talk’s resident movie guru Carlo Palazzo reviews another sports cinema classic from days gone by. This week: Invincible.

4. Regina gets set to host the 2011 Tri-Province Challenge in lawn bowling. Guests: Keith & Jean Roney (Regina Lawn Bowling Club).

5. (ENG segment) A Regina athlete looks ahead to the 2011/12 NHL season. Guest: Tyler Bozak (Toronto Maple Leaf forward).

6. The North Central Lakers bantam team is gearing up for another Regina Minor Football season. Guest: Brandon Brooks (Coach).

7. The Blair Necessities. Mitch’s weekly sports commentary.

Monday musings

I've got to get these thoughts out of my head to make room for a fresh batch. Consider this the blogging equivalent of an "everything must go" sale!

• Yes, the Riders are 0-2 and have looked terrible (particularly on defense) in losing back-to-back games on home turf.
• Yes, they now hit the road for two straight, and face the prospect of sporting an 0-4 record when they host Calgary on July 30th.
• Yes, every member of the staff is facing tough scrutiny and (in some cases) public criticism from a disgruntled fan base.
• Yes, the defensive secondary looks lost, as do a couple of members of the receiving corps.
• But you know what? The reaction of some zealots just feeds the generally-held impression that there really is nothing else going on in this province.
• Fire the GM? Fire the head coach? Fire the defensive coordinator? Fire the team president? After two games?
  
• For better or worse, this is the 2011 edition of the team. If they don't get it done, then feel free to call for heads to roll. But after two games? Ain't gonna happen, sorry.
• I wonder if the Regina Pats will announce who their new head coach is soon? I'm assuming that process is into the home stretch.
• High Impact Wrestling did not disappoint on Friday night. A good time was had in the company of local sports media luminaries Mitch Blair, Rob Vanstone, Tony Playter and Carlo (Our Man Carlo!) Palazzo.
• This week's edition of Locker Talk on Access 7 is the last one of the 2010/11 season. Set your PVRs.
• We'll be back on the air with more local sports fun and frivolity in September.
  
• I'll be on holidays as of 5 p.m. on Thursday, and I've already started mentally checking out. That's not good!
• The J-man and I definitely hit the ground running when we return from Ontario. First it's the U of R Rams football camp on the long weekend, followed immediately by the RMF season.
• Needless to say, I'm looking forward to two weeks off before getting back on the merry-go-round.
  

Friday thoughts

This is what I think. Feel free to agree, disagree, or disregard. That's the beauty of the interwebs!

• Judging by the reaction of some "fans", the Saskatchewan Roughriders must be the worst 0-1 team in the history of professional football.
• Seriously, they didn't look good in losing the season opener last weekend. But let's give it another week or two before calling for wholesale changes!
• Everyone is looking for (hoping for?) an improved performance from the defensive line against Montreal this week. That likely won't translate into sacks, though.
  
• The Als routinely give up the fewest sacks in the league, thanks to a combination of stellar offensive line play and Anthony Calvillo's quick release.
• So, if the Riders can bat down, hurry or force AC to redirect passes, that would have to be considered a big accomplishment.
• High Impact Wrestling is on the entertainment menu tonight at the Victoria Club. Looking forward to it!
• Not only is the action in the ring fun to watch, so are the members of Regina's social elite who frequent these shows.
• Really Brian Burke? You really think Tim Connolly should be the Toronto Maple Leafs' first-line centre? Good luck with that.
• Which team should be considered the early contenders for the Stanley Cup next season? Don't rule out Pittsburgh, if Crosby and Malkin are back.
• Will the loss in the Stanley Cup final inspire the Vancouver Canucks to dig even deeper next season? Or was that the beginning of the end for that team?
• Note to self: Make sure the side gate is firmly locked before letting Dexter the hound out in the morning!
• Many, many thanks to the unnamed lady who returned our wandering pooch home this morning. Talk about a scary start to the day!
  
• Hey! Want people to take what you write seriously? Here's a free lesson: question marks (?) and exclamation points (!) are not interchangeable. Maybe write that down for future reference.
  

Thursday Cheers and Jeers

It's time for our weekly self-help guide and venting therapy. No charge!

Cheers

• The (majority of?) Rider fans who realize last weekend's sheet-soiling display in the season opener against Edmonton does not necessarily mean the green guys are destined for a horrible season.
• Walmart (south Regina). I received some excellent service from assistant manager Joel (didn't get his last name) last weekend. And he gave me a sweet deal on some patio furniture. Consider me impressed!
• Everyone who worked so hard on the renovation project for Leibel Field in Regina. That is one sweet looking facility. Can't wait to coach there this RMF season!

Jeers

• The parents who can't be bothered to return a phone call from their child's football coach. I can pretty well guarantee you that (in most cases) their children will be the ones who show up late for practice (if at all), put in minimal effort, and then whine when they get passed over for the so-called "prime" positions.
• The less emotionally stable denizens of Rider Nation who have spent the past week issuing doom and gloom forecasts after the season-opening loss to the Eskimos. Get over it, ya drama queens!
• The absolute wastes of skin who broke into homes in the flooded-out parts of southern Saskatchewan this year. They should be put on the front lines of future sandbagging efforts, for starters.
  

The Brace era begins in Riderville

No, it's not news on a new stud defensive end brought in to shore up the d-line, sorry.

But, I would like to offer congratulations to former radio colleague Darryl Brace on his selection as the new public address announcer for the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Darryl and I worked at the old Harvard Broadcasting plant on Halifax Street "back in the day". Good luck, DB!

Actually, another former "Heck on Halifax" co-worker was the other finalist for the public address position. Congratulations to Darren Szabo on a fine performance behind the mike as well. By all accounts it was not easy decision for the Rider brass.

Locker Talk lineup for July 5

Here's the lineup for this week's show, airing tonight at 9 p.m. and Thursday at 6 p.m. on Access channel 7. Is this the week the feud between co-host Mitch Blair and HIW wrestler Rex Roberts erupts into violence? Only one way to find out!

Locker Talk Guests for July 5/11
Co-host: Mitchell Blair

1. A preview of the 2011 Regina Thunder football club’s training camp. Guest: Erwin Klempner (Head Coach).

2. Regina will play host to the 2014 national ringette championships. Guest: Denise Treslan (Host Committee Chair).

3. The University of Regina women’s basketball team lands one of the top recruits in the province. Guest: Madeline Docherty (Cougars guard).

4. (ENG segment) Registrations are being accepted for the 2011 Regina Touch Football season. Guest: Mike Thomas (TRY Commissioner).

5. A preview of the Pile ‘O Bones Rumble 2011, as presented by the folks at High Impact Wrestling. Guests: King Kash (HIW champ) & Rex Roberts (Mitch’s favourite wrestler).

6. The Blair Necessities. Mitch’s weekly sports commentary.