Locker Talk lineup for January 31

Here's the lineup for this week's show, airing tonight at 9 p.m., Thursday at 6 p.m. and Saturday at noon on Access channel 7. Also available On Demand, so there are no excuses!

Locker Talk Guests for January 31/12
Co-Host: Mitchell Blair

1. A preview of the Regina Riot female football club’s rookie camp for aspiring players on February 12th. Guests: Adrienne Zuck (Riot Safety) & Darren Fisher (Defensive Coordinator).

2. Access 7 Sports Highlights of the Month.

3. A discussion about head injuries and concussions - the hot topic in the hockey and football worlds in 2011/12. Guest: Lisa Swallow (Regina Thunder athletic therapist).

4. January is almost over, but it’s still not too late to follow through on your New Year’s fitness resolutions. Guest: Michael Lindenbach (Managing Partner, Gold’s Gym Regina).

5. ENG Segment. Members of the Australian junior national curling team practice in Regina before heading off to the Pacific championships. Reporter: Pete Paczko

6. The Traveland RV (Pilot Butte) Storm is gearing up for another long playoff run in the Prairie Junior Hockey League. Guests: Brett Kealy & Brady Anderson (Storm forwards).

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

Thursday Cheers and Jeers

A weekly collection of highlights and lesser lights, gleaned from the travels of your humble agent...

Cheers

• Boston Pizza (Moose Jaw). We stopped in on our way home from the J-man's wrestling tournament in Swift Current. The food was very good and the service was outstanding.
• Regina Minor Football. A person doesn't mind spending a couple of hours scrubbing football helmets when the company is good, the pizza is hot and the beverages are chilled! There goes the diet - again.
• New England Patriots and New York Giants. I'm still choked about the Packers not getting there, but at least the Pats and G-men saved us from the horror of an all-Harbaugh Super Bowl!
  

Jeers

• Athabasca University. Their credit transfer process is ridiculous. Thanks, but I'll be needing a little more than three credit hours for the time I spent at the University of Regina! Absurd.
• Giselle Albert Photography. Really? Three months to process an order for some extra football pics from the Unicorns season? Not cool. The service had been excellent up until now, so let's hope it's a blip.
• The news release from the Regina Pats announcing Rick Rypien bobblehead night. I'm not criticizing the idea, just the incredibly poor choice of words in the release.
  
• The winter cold or flu bug that is hanging around and making me generally miserable. Even more so than usual!
  

Locker Talk lineup for January 24

It's a busy, busy show this week! Here's the lineup, and - as per usual - the show airs on Access channel 7 tonight at 9 p.m., Thursday at 6 p.m. and Saturday at noon. It's also available on demand.

Locker Talk Guests for January 24/12
Co-Host: Mitchell Blair

1. The curling playdowns are in full swing. Will Regina’s Amber Holland repeat as national champ? Guest: Amber Holland (Team Canada skip).

2. A preview of the 2012 (25th anniversary) Rick Hansen Relay. Guest: Jennifer Gabrysh (Regina host committee chair).

3. Elite Boxing News. Locker Talk boxing correspondent Moses Alli returns with another look at local boxing news and events.

4. A Regina contingent takes part in an annual minor football showdown with a U.S all-star team. Guests: Len Antonini (Team Canada coach) & Payton Hall (Team Canada defensive back).

5. ENG segment. A preview of Hostile Games, the January card put on by High Impact Wrestling in Regina. Guest: King Kash (HIW Heavyweight Champ).

6. A preview of the February 4th Queen City Massacre roller derby event in Regina. Guests: Jodi “D’Ablo” Barber & Keely “Stabitha” Tyler (Queen City Roller Sports).

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

Friday thoughts

Heading into a weekend of fun and frivolity, it's best to empty the cranial reservoir:

• We'll be enjoying the hospitality of the good citizens of Swift Current this weekend, as the J-man takes part in his first-ever wrestling tournament. Should be interesting!
• Isn't it sad that -17 feels like a brisk spring day compared to the weather we've had this week? Still, we're still waaaay ahead of the game this winter.
• Does Cole Bergquist go into training camp as the #2 quarterback on the Riders' depth chart? Or will Corey Chamblin pursue a veteran back-up for Darian Durant?
• Based on some of the comments I've read on the interwebs, you'd think we lived in the deep southern U.S. Yes, most of the members of the 2012 Roughrider coaching staff are not Caucasian. Get the hell over it!
• It might be worth your while to head over to the Brandt Centre tonight to watch the Pats take on Medicine Hat. Both squads play an up-tempo game, which should make for some good viewing.
• A thumbs-up to everyone who showed up on a frigid night last night to help the folks at RMF with their annual helmet-cleaning duties. Kelly and Lenny do a great job running that organization, but they couldn't without the help of many, many volunteers.
  
• Do you watch our show Locker Talk on Access 7? If so, what do you like about it? Or, what improvements would you like to see? We're all ears!
• I have yet to figure out how panicking helps resolve a difficult situation. But for some, it's an automatic response. Go figure.
  

Thursday Cheers and Jeers

It's been so long since I've done this, and I'm such an upbeat optimist, that I don't know if I'll be able to think up any jeers! Well, let's see what happens...

Cheers

• Optimum Lifestyle Center. They have doctors, massage therapists, nutrition counsellors, chiropractors and personal trainers, all under one roof. If you're failing miserably on your New Year's resolutions, they should be able to help!
• Access Communications. For some reason my "old style" PVR kept malfunctioning, so they upgraded me to a new model for free.
  
• Saskatchewan Roughriders. I'm liking the offseason changes so far. There are still some big holes to fill, but things appear to be on the right track.

Jeers

• Green Bay Packers. Sorry boys, but that playoff effort against the Giants last weekend was kind of pathetic. Tight end Jermichael Finley was injured last season and they went all the way. His dropsies were a major contributor to the early end of a great season this year.
• Regina drivers who drive 30 km/h because it's cold out. Not icy, not reduced visibility, just cold. Sheesh.
• Windchills in the -40 range. Yes, I know this weather is a fact of life in this part of the world, but we don't have to like it!

That's my first list of the new year. Who or what is on yours?

Monday Musings

I suppose it's a good idea to keep the brain working, or else it'll freeze!

• It had been an unseasonably mild (and therefore pleasant) winter around here, but that's on the shelf for at least a few days!
• I may have to invest in a balaclava for the walk from my parking spot to work - holy frozen face!
• Not unlike Giants coach Tom Coughlin when his team beat the Packers in Green Bay in the 2007 NFC final.
• I think that one hurt more than yesterday's loss, simply because the Packers were never really in a position to win this time around. Still sucks, though!
• So it's down to New England, Baltimore, San Fran and the Giants. I suppose it would be okay to see the Patriots and G-men in a rematch of the '07 title game.
• Can you imagine if Eli finishes the season with more Super Bowl rings than Peyton?
• I couldn't help feeling a season of deja vu while watching the Packers self destruct yesterday. Hmm, a team in green plays pedestrian defence and gives the ball away on offence. Where (2011 Riders) have I seen that before?
• So, did the Regina Pats do the right thing by holding onto Jordan Weal and Brandon Davidson at the WHL trade deadline?
• Prior to last night's loss to the visiting Saskatoon Blades, the Pats looked like a team that could do some damage in the playoffs. They may still.
• Almost two thirds of the way through my three month stint with a personal trainer and I'm definitely in better shape, but have lost a grand total of zero pounds! Um...what the hell?
• I had the pleasure of meeting (and interviewing) several members of the Australian national junior men's curling team on the weekend. Watch for that on next week's episode of Locker Talk on Access 7.
• Congrats to Weyburn's Graham DeLaet on successful return to active duty on the PGA tour. He slipped down the leader board after a blistering opening round, but still took home some decent change at the Sony Open.
  
• I'm not a big fan of watching golf on tv, but watching it in 3D is pretty darn cool! Now, when can we look forward to football and/or hockey in 3D?
  

Locker Talk lineup for January 9

Like that exercise equipment in Scruffy's basement, this blog has been neglected for too long! So, to get the ball rolling in 2012, here's the lineup for this week's show. It airs tonight at 9 p.m., Thursday at 6 p.m. and Saturday at noon on Access channel 7. Also available on demand!

Locker Talk Guests for January 10/12
Co-Host: Mitchell Blair

1. A profile of the top-ranked University of Regina wrestling team. Guest: Danielle Anderson (Cougar wrestler).

2. A profile of a Regina company offering repairs to high-priced composite hockey sticks. Guest: Cameron Wyatt & Justin Dickie (Co-founders, 24 Seven Hockey).

3. A report on the best-of-seven playdown to determine Canada’s representative at the world mixed curling championships. Reporter: Arielle Wood.

4. Our Man Carlo. Locker Talk sports movie reviewer Carlo Palazzo shares his thoughts on another sports cinematic classic. This time: Varsity Blues.

5. The Regina Rebels look to make some noise in the second half of the SFMAAAHL season, after winning gold at the prestigious Mac’s midget AAA hockey tournament over the holidays. Guests: Doug Folk (Head Coach) & Breanne Nychuk (Forward).

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