Friday thoughts

An assortment of things from the back of the shelf. Still fresh, though!

• The Regina Pats gave it a hell of a fight, but their first-round WHL playoff series is going to be won by the Moose Jaw Warriors. Possibly as early as tonight, when game five goes down in the Jaw.
  
• There was some crazy stuff in game four at the Brandt Centre. A five minute major in the last ten minutes of regulation time? Double overtime? Wow.
• In the aftermath, the Pats were hit with a suspension (Dyson Stevenson) and a $2500 fine (Brent Parker). Well, it's certainly made for interesting listening on Rod Pedersen's SportsCage show this week.
• I, for one, think good talk radio should be confrontational and/or controversial on occasion. Otherwise, why bother?
  
• So, with the Leafs eliminated yet again, any thoughts on who I should cheer for in the NHL playoffs? It likely won't be a Canadian team, as I don't care for the Canucks or the Senators.
• The J-man cheers for the Penguins. That might be one possibility. I have a fondness for the Blackhawks, but I don't see them going anywhere.
  
• By all accounts, Riders quarterback Darian Durant is working out like a madman in preparation for the 2012 CFL season. Good to hear.
• Durant, like the rest of the organization, needs to prove last year's dismal performance was a one-year aberration, and not the start of a downward slide.
• The NCAA men's basketball Final Four should be some pretty darn good viewing. Personally, I'm hoping for a Kentucky-Ohio State matchup in the final. I've been an OSU fan in football and basketball since the early 80's.
• At one time my favourite NCAA men's hoops team was the DePaul Blue Demons. What the hell has happened to that program? They were a late 70s/early 80s powerhouse. Now, nothing.
• As the calendar flips to April this weekend, I think it's time to bring the little roadster out of winter storage. That very act alone probably guarantees snow and frigid temperatures next week - sorry!
  

Thursday Cheers and Jeers

Not much to get excited about so far this week. But when has that ever stopped us?

Cheers

• The Jakester. So far, so good as we're into day #4 of teenager-hood. Maybe it won't be so bad after all! (famous last words?)
• Galaxy Cinemas. Frankly, I expected pandemonium when I took Jake's "posse" to the Hunger Games last weekend. I have to say they handled the crush of humanity pretty well!
• West Side Pizza. We deliberately ordered too much, in order to enjoy some leftovers the following day. Once again, it/they didn't disappoint!

Jeers

• Jeremy Bresciani. He does some amazing artwork - much of it is Roughrider themed - but he really dropped the ball this time. When your website advertises delivery within four business days and it takes 14, that's not so good. Especially when the item is a birthday present. And then not to acknowledge the goof-up? Not so good x2. Hopefully it was just a one-time thing.
• Toronto Maple Leafs. I am hereby refusing to give a crap about that team until Brian Burke is removed as general manager. Seven straight years (four under Burke) without a playoff berth? Brutal.
• RIM. I still really like my Blackberry. But it's a little frustrating when all the new apps are for iPhones or Android only. C'mon Research in Motion, pick up your game! Give developers a reason to care about you again.
  

Locker Talk lineup for March 27

We've got our own version of March Madness on this week's edition of Locker Talk, with plenty of basketball content. And we just might sneak in a little discussion about the Pats and Warriors playoff series! Tune in tonight at 9 p.m., Thursday at 6 p.m., or Saturday at noon and/or 4 p.m on Access channel 7. And, unlike the Hunger Games, we won't make you stand in line!

Locker Talk Guests for March 27/12
Co-host: Mitchell Blair

1. A post-mortem on the 2011/12 season for the University of Regina women’s basketball team. Guest: Dave Taylor (Head Coach).

2. A preview of the Canada Cup curling event coming to Mosaic Place in Moose Jaw this fall. Guests: Leslie Glova (Mosaic Place Manager - Programming) & Danielle Sicinski (Event chair).

3. Access 7 Sports Highlights of the Month.

4. The Riffel Royals celebrate a provincial championship in high school boys (5A) basketball. Guests: Wade Hackl (Head Coach), Travis Sylvestre & Julan Lynch (Royals Players).

5. The top basketball prospect in Saskatchewan has played his final high school game, and now needs to pick a post-secondary destination for next year. Guest: Joe DeCiman (LeBoldus Golden Suns star).

6. A preview of the 2012 Kids of Steel Icebreaker triathlon. Guest: Terry Hooper (Race Director).

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

Monday musings

Okay, I'll acknowledge the start of another work week. But that doesn't mean I have to like it!

• First things first - A very happy 13th birthday to my pride and joy, the Jakester!
• The J-man was born at 5:31 pm on a Friday. So I got three whole days off of work!
• It's no joke, when I called work on Thursday afternoon ( I was doing the early morning news run in those days) to say they were going to induce Jake's mom the following morning, my genius news director said "So...you could probably do the afternoon run tomorrow huh?" Gosh, I miss the radio industry. Oozing with class.
  
• The Moose Jaw Warriors flexed their collective muscles Saturday night, and handed the Pats an 8-1 beating - literally and figuratively.
• On the bright side, the Regina boys got what they wanted - a split of the first two games of the opening round series. Now they return home for games three and four Tuesday and Wednesday. Should be good!
• Odell Willis in Rider green? Could work, I suppose.
• So now the Riders go into training camp with a ton of prospects at defensive end. What a difference a year makes!
• Apparently that Tiger Woods guy still has a little golf left in him. Does yesterday's win make him the favourite heading into the Masters? Somewhere network tv execs are chortling in glee.
• I took the boy and his crew out for pizza and birthday cake Saturday night, followed by the Hunger Games. Not a bad movie! But definitely get there early, the lineups are monstrous.
  
• As I near the end of a more than 13 month long process, I have some advice for parents out there. Talk to your financial planner soon, to make the estate admin process as simple as possible for your family. Trust me, they'll appreciate it!

Thursday Cheers and Jeers

A little late in the day, but it still counts as Thursday! A largely uneventful week, but let's see what we can come up with:

Cheers

• Slow Food Pub - the decor is a little meh, but the food was good and the service was decent.
• Safeway (Southland Mall) - Brent Kaminski's staff never let me down. I'm sure the J-man's birthday cake will be a gastronomic delight!
• Regina Northwest Wrestling Club - the boy's season was cut short by his ankle injury, but thumbs up to Kyle Dumont and Tenille Ulmer for running a fine club.

Jeers

• Toronto Maple Leafs - are they actually getting worse towards the end of the season? Somewhere Ron Wilson is laughing his butt off.
• The nervous Nellies that are beside themselves over a little harmless trash talk between fans of the Regina Pats and Moose Jaw Warriors. It's only been three years - have people really forgotten what happens when their WHL team makes the playoffs?
• New Orleans Saints. Hey, they're probably not the only NFL team to offer up bounties, but so far they're the only ones dumb enough to get caught!