Well, that sucked!

What a lousy weekend this was for Regina sports teams! To recap:

• The University of Regina Rams were crushed 52-29 in Saskatoon Friday night, costing the Rams a CIS home playoff game. The Rams will travel to Calgary for a Canada West semi-final next weekend.
• The Regina Pats saw their three game winning streak come an abrupt end, as the Pats were destroyed 11-1 by Spokane at home Saturday night. When you can't keep the game within ten goals, things aren't so good.
• The Regina Thunder lost the PFC final 32-24 in Saskatoon. It was the Thunder's first trip to the league final in the ten year history of the club. They'll be back.
• The Saskatchewan Roughriders' losing skid has now hit four games, after a 23-17 Sunday afternoon loss in B.C. The Riders will try to stop the bleeding in the regular season finale at home to Edmonton next Saturday.

Further thoughts on the Riders, and their "performance" today:

• Anyone who cannot see the Riders' special teams are staggeringly inept is either blind or an idiot. It really has become that obvious.
• The Riders gave up their fourth special teams touchdown of the season this week. On the bright side, Ryan Grice-Mullin only fumbled one kick (yay!), and it was even recovered by the Riders. Sure, linebacker Sean Lucas was injured on the play, but you've gotta break a few eggs to make an omelet! (sarcasm off)
• Darian Durant isn't in the top three quarterbacks in the league. Not yet, anyway.
• Durant might have better luck if he didn't have to run for his life in crucial situations. As an example, left tackle Joel Bell was a complete turnstile on the final play of the game.
• Defenses must love playing the Riders right now. You can get great pressure on Durant with only 3-4 guys, and drop the rest into coverage. Bonus!
  
• The defense only gave up 16 points this week. Most weeks, that should be good enough to win.
• Wes Cates may have just posted the least impactful 1,000 yard rushing season in CFL history. That's not a knock on Wes, but the running game (there is one?) in general.
• An increasingly large percentage of the fan base has lost confidence in the ability of the Riders' brain trust to right the ship. I'm on the verge of joining them, frankly.
  

Friday thoughts

Well, we've all managed to survive the week - despite the nasty first taste of winter weather in this part of the world.

• The University of Regina Rams face a tall order tonight. They can earn a CIS home playoff game, but they have to beat the U of S Huskies in Saskatoon. That's never easy.
• The Regina Thunder face a similar challenge Sunday. They have to beat the Hilltops in Saskatoon to earn their first PFC championship. Good luck to both Regina squads!
• The Saskatchewan Roughriders look to snap a three game losing skid in Vancouver on Sunday. Expect Lions running back Jamal Robertson to get the ball early and often.
• If the Riders can finally hold a running back under 100 yards (it's been six games since they did that), they can win. If not, it'll be another looong game.
• The J-man plays his first game of the RCBA season tomorrow. His basketball team has decided to name itself Chuck Norris. Odd.
• The who's who of Regina will convene at the Victoria Club tonight for the latest installment of the cultural phenomenon known as High Impact Wrestling. The Palazzo man and I will join the denizens of the area affectionately known as degenerates row.
• The Regina Pats will try to extend their winning streak to four games when they host Spokane tomorrow night. I almost wish I didn't have other plans, as I'd like to check out the action for myself.
• Well, it looks as though the Stanley Cup parade down Yonge Street will have to wait a while yet. It was fun while it lasted though. Sigh...
• Any chance we could hook Graham James and Russell Williams up as cellmates? And then throw away the key?

Thursday Cheers and Jeers

It's a bit of a challenge to find things to be cheery about this week, as the weather is just ugly. But, we'll try!

Cheers

• The Regina sporting community. It is a pleasure meeting so many interesting and committed people through the Locker Talk program on Access.
• The Regina Pats. I think we all know they aren't Memorial Cup contenders this year. But hey, a three game winning streak is a step in the right direction!
• Clark's Luggage and Shoe Repair. For the cost of one lower-end pair of shoes, they're breathing new life into four pairs of shoes I already owned. Works for me!

Jeers

• The venom with which some "fans" have reacted to the Saskatchewan Roughriders' three game losing skid. Nobody is happy about the team's performance, but some of the on-line comments have crossed all lines of acceptable public discourse.
• The weather. Snow should be outlawed until at least Remembrance Day. Who's with me on that one?
• The weather, part two. Dexter the dog took one look at the snow yesterday and decided his bathroom break could be accomplished in much comfortable (ie: indoor) surroundings. Damn!
• Regina drivers. Inevitably, the first snowfall of the year brings out the worst in local motorists. I'm pretty sure it's not a phenomenon that's unique to this city, but it sure is annoying!

Again, feel free to contribute your jeers and cheers. It's very therapeutic!

Locker Talk lineup for October 26

Here's the lineup for the "big show" this week. In case you missed the extensive and expensive advertising/promotional campaign (ha!), it airs tonight at 9 p.m. and Thursday at 6 p.m. on Access channel 7.

Locker Talk Guests for October 26/10
Co-Host: Mitchell Blair

1. A preview of the 2010 World Men’s Curling Championships, coming to Regina. Guest: Derek Boe (Event Chair).

2. A Regina team captures the silver medal in the elite division at the recent national touch football championships. Guests: Deron Kuski & Jordan Hardy (Megalomania touch football club).

3. Eng segment. The University of Regina Rams prepare for their regular season finale, with first place in Canada West on the line. Reporter: Mitchell Blair.

4. The high school football program at Martin Collegiate is on life support, but still dreaming of better days ahead. Guests: Perry Leitner (Head Coach) & Jake Buzila (Monarchs player).

5. A Regina track and field coach saves an athlete’s life at the recent Commonwealth Games in India. Guest: Carla Nicholls (Athletics Canada Coach).

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

You read it here first

I took in the U of R Rams game last night. Unfortunately, the Rams lost 35-27 to the Calgary Dinos. Fortunately, I was able to observe the coming-out party of Rams first-year slotback Jared Janotta. Remember that name, folks. #21 for the Rams might be the next Andy Fantuz, only faster.

If this kid can stay healthy, I would not be surprised to see a Hec Crighton award in his future. Not unlike #83 for the Riders (Fantuz), who starred at slotback for the University of Western Ontario Mustangs before launching his CFL career.