Cardiac Kids Cause Heartburn !

They call them the Cardiac Kids. After overcoming deficits and posting a win and a tie in their last two games the Saskatchewan RoughRiders ran out of gas and left their coach Ken Miller with heartburn. And possibly a little gas himself.
They were never in it. Quarterback Darian Durant looked like a nervous rookie starting his first game fumbling a couple of
times as the Hamilton Tiger Cats downed Saskatchewan 24 - 6. Running back Wes Cates was non existent while their counterparts put together pretty impressive statistics. Quarterback Kevin Glenn (another former Rider) 21 for 35 for 233 yards and a touchdown and running back Cobb 25 carries for 159 yards and a touchdown.
Darian Durant - 8 for 20 for 66 yards, another interception and two fumbles that basically took the Riders right out of the game.
Wes Cates - 5 carries for a whopping 20 yards.
With numbers like that the Riders won't be hanging around in the playoffs for very long even if they do manage to snag a home playoff game. Listening to the post game show on the radio there were the usual "we need a quarterback calls" but really as ineffective as he was, you can't pin this all on Durant.
How many quarterback sacks did the Riders give up? The answer, in case you didn't know, is six. It's pretty hard to complete a pass when you are flat on your back and don't have the time to throw.
Was overconfidence a factor? Well perhaps it was. The media and practically everyone have come to believe that the Riders can just put together a comeback in the dying minutes, throw in a couple of two point conversions and the game is in the bag.
Well the TigerCats weren't going to allow that to happen and controlled the game from start to finish.
Maybe this is a blessing in disguise. The Riders can assess their weaknesses and get them fixed before the Calgary game next week. But where to start. The offensive line was dreadful, the running game, well there was no running game.
The defense was on the field too long and even the coaches looked lost and confused.
Next week Calgary visits Saskatchewan. First place on the line. Hopefully the ship is righted by then.

Government Botches H1N1 Vaccinations

From coast to coast the story appears to be the same. Governments at all levels have botched the H1N1 vaccinations leaving people scared, angry and frustrated.
The same government that advertised the importance of getting the shot now can not provide the vaccinations as supplies dwindle and run out. In Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan Health took care care of themselves and their own as not only front line workers were vaccinated but office people as well, some who work no where close to a hospital. Reports that family of health care workers were also vaccinated have been denied. A sampling of headlines accross the country.
Edmonton flu clinics may close next week because of supply shortage
Liepert on clinic closures: 'Don't panic'
Flu frustrations to worsen as vaccine shortage takes hold
Saskatchewan receives 124,000 fewer doses of H1N1 shots
Temperatures rise as 'flu rage' explodes across Canada
As much as flu fears have people pulling away, H1N1 is also uniting Canadians through emotion — specifically, a deeply entrenched sense of frustration that, for many, has mutated into bitterness, anger and even hostility.
Call it flu rage. Across the country, otherwise mild-mannered Canadians are finding themselves admonishing strangers for open sneezing, losing their cool with queue-jumpers at vaccination clinics, writing angry letters to government and media, and lashing out at friends whose H1N1 opinions differ from their own.
"Anger can cause us to be proactive . . . but it can also become destructive, which is what we see with flu rage," says psychologist Gordon Asmundson, a professor whose research at the University of Regina includes health anxiety.

CFL Predictions Week 18

It's that time of the week again. Time for my predictions for this weekends action in the Canadian Football League.
The last four weekends in a row I have been 3 - 1 on my predictions. Kind of wish I had kept track all season long but as the Toronto Maple Leafs say, there's always next year or the next or the next or the next. Ok enough of that.
First game tonight.
Toronto at Edmonton - have to go with the Eskimos on this one. Toronto's season is done. Edmonton needs to win to keep in the playoff hunt.
Saturday
Saskatchewan at Hamilton - how do you bet against the Riders. Two unbelievable comebacks to force overtime resulting in a win and a tie in their last two games. This team led by Darian Durant just never givers up and you can never count them out.
Going with the Riders to win this one.
Calgary at BC
BC is really banged up. Casey Printers was good last week but against Calgary he has to be even better. I would like the Lions to pull an upset but that isn't going to happen. Calgary will win forcing the showdown at Mosiac next weekend.
Sunday
Winnipeg at Montreal - Michael Bishop has been exceptional. Montreal's defense the last two games has been non missing.
Will the trend continue? Likely not but I am still going to go with the Bombers to pull out a close one.
Bishop may not be everyone's friend in the dressing room but when he's on he is great and I think he has the right coach in
Mike Kelly to handle whatever shortcomings he has. So Winnipeg to win!

Saskatchewan: Your Government Knows What's Best For You !

As I write this every other province in Canada is making the H1N1 vaccination available to their residents. In Saskatchewan, however the general public will wait until November 16th. Those in high risk categories will wait until November 9th at the earliest and Universities and tech schools (students are among the highest risk group) will wait until December 1st.
The above statistics pretty much outline what is happening in Saskatoon.
What's happening in Regina? Good luck finding out. Regina Health will not divulge any information on dates and times for clinics in that city.
What's the reason for all of this? Well the official line from a spokesperson from Saskatchewan Health is that Saskatchewan wants to avoid the long lineups and confusion that is being experienced in other provinces. So it appears the government's concern for you extends to the inconvenience of you standing in a long line, but if you get the H1N1 flu, that apparently doesn't seem to be a big concern.
It appears that the Brad Wall government has fallen back to the NDP era of doing things. We are a wee province, remember former Premier Lorne Calvert saying that, we are unable to make up our own minds on getting a shot or even if we want to
stand in a lineup. It appears the Saskatchewan Brad Wall government is buying into the argument that the government knows what is best for us and its arm, Saskatchewan Health, can take care of the problem. But can they?
This is the same Saskatchewan Health that distributes needles by the millions (the most of any province in Canada) to drug addicts in the name of AIDS prevention. Hundreds of thousands of these needles are then found lying in city parks where young children play. And any attempt to cut down on the number of needles distributed is met with vicious opposition.
So as it stands - in Saskatoon you can get your H1N1 shot at PrairieLand Park. There you will, I assume line up, to get your vaccination. Which makes me wonder, what was that Saskatchewan Health said about avoiding long lineups?

Patrick Spoils The TSN Script

I found myself in a strange place as I watched the Saskatchewan RoughRiders defeat the BC Lions 33 - 30 overtime win over the BC Lions in the Canadian Football League yesterday. I had cheered on the Riders all day, always do, and first place was on the line or at least a first place tie with the Calgary Stampeders. Luca Congi had just kicked a field goal to give the Riders the lead and now under the CFL overtime format it was the Lions turn to get the ball and try to score. And shocker of all shockers, I found myself inwardly cheering for Casey Printers to throw a touchdown pass and win the game for the Lions. I mean what a Cinderella story that would have been, All game long, almost every time Printers completed the pass the TSN broadcast crew, (I think they were cheering for the Lions as well) reminded us that Printers had been rescued from the football scrap, that no team had wanted him and now here he was about the throw the winning touchdown pass in overtime to win the game for the Lions. I mean what a story that would have been. But lurking over in the evil corners of the end zone was a villian, James Patrick apparently hadn't read the TSN scripted ending and intercepted the Printer's pass giving the Riders the overtime win.
I felt great elation that Patrick had made the interception, the Riders win the game, they still share first place with Calgary, but
you really have to feel bad for Casey Printers. He put on a show, took the blame for the pass on himself and played a helluva game. It's good to have Casey Printers back in the game.
My other thought on this Rider win is that coach Ken Miller may want to sit down with his offense and go over the difference between a two point conversion and a touchdown. The Riders seem to have a patent on scoring two point conversions but TD's seem to be hard to come by. Two point conversion equals two points Green Guys, a touchdown is six.
As for my predictions well I got three out of four right.
Calgary Stampeders spoiled my perfect weekend by whipping Edmonton 30 - 7. Thats what happens when you predict with our heart not your head.
Hamilton beat Toronto 26 - 17 (Leafs lost too - how bad are these Toronto teams?)
And Winnipeg got it done with a 41 - 24 drubbing of the Montreal Alouettes. Where has the Al's defense gone? 79 points scored against them in the last two games.
So the standings in the West
Saskatchewan and Calgary 9 - 6 - 1 for 19 points, BC 8 - 8 for 16 and Edmonton 7 - 9 for 14.
In the East - Montreal 13 - 3, Winnipeg and Hamilton 7 - 9 and poor old Toronto 3 - 13.
In the crossover Edmonton and Winnipeg are tied.
So Friday its Toronto at Edmonton, Saturday Saskatchewan at Hamilton and Calgary at BC and Sunday Winnipeg at Montreal.

Canadian Football League: Week 17

It should be another great weekend in the Canadian Football League. In the West its a log jam. Unbelievable to think that the Edmonton Eskimos could finish fourth or still finish first. It is that close in the West.
In the East Montreal has first. Hamilton and Winnipeg battle it out for second or one could be completely eliminated from the playoffs.
In Saskatchewan the BC Lions bring in the Sarcan look. Recycled quarterback Casey Printers gets the start. Printers has never looked good against Saskatchewan but if Printers decides to perform, it could be trouble for the Riders. For Saskatchewan, and this is unusual, there is no quarterback controversy. Darian Durant gets the start as he should. Durant was fantastic against Calgary. I am reminded of a saying my dear old Grandmother used to have. Grandma used to say " I am completely comfortable in my own skin" Durant must feel the same way. He has overcome the constant cries from Rider Nation to find a quarterback.
Mind you nothing short of a Grey Cup victory would satisfy many in the Rider nation and that has yet to come.
So Week 17 predictions.
BC Lions at Saskatchewan - have to go with the Riders. If the offense performs as well as they did in Calgary, this is no contest.
And if the defense can't stop Casey Printers, then the Riders don't deserve to be in the playoffs.
Hamilton at Toronto - The Tiger Cats continue to be a mystery but I'll go with them over Toronto. The Argonauts are bad, just
plain bad.
Edmonton at Calgary - this one is a toss up. I am going to go with the Eskimos. Ok I don't like Calgary but other than that.
Ricky Ray can be hot and if he gets it going Edmonton will win.
Montreal at Winnipeg - going to go with the Bombers on this one. I like to think that a team that desperately needs to win
will have more in the tank than a team who has nothing to lose and nothing to gain. The key again is Michael Bishop.
If Bishop is hot the Bombers could steal this one.

Sask Government Getting The Point

Finally, finally, finally. The Saskatchewan government is getting the point on the number of needles being distributed to drug users in the province, primarily in Saskatoon and Regina.
For those who don't know the program is called a needle exchange. Drug users are supposed to bring their dirty needles in
and exchange them for a clean one. Unfortunately in Saskatchewan that doesn't happen. Needles are handed out by the bucketful and many of them, well over 100,000 end up in playgrounds and parks where children are exposed to them.
As well many of these needles are taken by drug pushers loaded and then sold to addicts. Talk about a government assistance plan.
In his throne speech yesterday, Premier Brad Wall revealed his concerns about both the numbers of needles exchanged and distributed.
Wall also said that with 10% of used needles not being returned for safe disposal, this is a matter of public safety.
“100,000 needles are out there for what purpose?” said Wall. “Are they pre-loaded and available on the streets? I don’t know. Is that as good as it gets? Maybe, but we should be trying better - considering each one of those needles is a potential loaded gun,” he said.
Of course the NDP is upset about this. The groups that hand out the needles are upset but the fact remains Saskatchewan hands out nearly four times the number of needles that Calgary and Edmonton to combined. AIDS Saskatoon issued a news release late Wednesday, expressing disappointment with the government plan. Restricting access to new, clean needles is "a recipe for disaster" that will increase exposure to the hepatitis C virus and HIV, the agency said.
Nicole White, the executive director, said Wall does not fully understand how the needle exchange program works.
The problem is of course, most of us do understand how the needle exchange program work. We also understand that its
programs like this that keep these help group workers employed and naturally they will resist any changes.
Why does Saskatchewan hand out more needles than any other province? Why do give out more than the cities of Edmonton and Calgary combined?
We never do get any answers to these questions other than they must do it or disease will spread. That has worked for awhile but finally and not soon enough it may no longer work.
The government must cut back on this aiding and abetting program and cut back despite all the howls of protest.
Perhaps what is needed is a way of identifying the needles so we know which ones come from the government and which ones the addicts obtain by their own means. I'm betting the government needles will win hands down.

Simple Steps To Avoid H1N1

Dr. Vinay Goyal is an MBBS,DRM,DNB (Intensivist and Thyroid specialist) having clinical experience of over 20 years. He has worked in institutions like Hinduja Hospital , Bombay Hospital , Saifee Hospital , Tata Memorialetc.. Presently, he is heading our Nuclear Medicine Department and Thyroid clinic at Riddhivinayak Cardiac and Critical Centre, Malad (W).

The following message given by him, I feel makes a lot of sense and is important for all to know

The only portals of entry are the nostrils and mouth/throat. In a global epidemic of this nature, it's almost impossible to avoid coming into contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions. Contact with H1N1 is not so much of a problem as proliferation is.

While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection, in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and development of secondary infections, some very simple steps, not fully highlighted in most official communications, can be practiced (instead of focusing on how to stock N95 or Tamiflu):

1. Frequent hand-washing (well highlighted in all official communications).

2. "Hands-off-the-face" approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of face (unless you want to eat, bathe or slap).

3. *Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine if you don't trust salt). *H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/ nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms. Simple gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one. Don't underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.

4. Similar to 3 above, *clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water. *Not everybody may be good at Jala Neti or Sutra Neti (very good Yoga asanas to clean nasal cavities), but *blowing the nose hard once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population.*


5. *Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C (Amlaand other citrus fruits). *If you have to supplement with Vitamin C tablets, make sure that it also has Zinc to boost absorption.

6. *Drink as much of warm liquids (tea, coffee, etc) as you can. *Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm.

The Call

Much has been said about THE CALL made in the Canadian Football League game Saturday between the Saskatchewan RoughRiders and the Calgary Stampeders. You remember! The Call
John Chick is called for unnecessary roughness for landing on Henry Burris after he had fallen down. Instead of leaving Calgary with a 3rd and 40 plus yards, the Stampeders received a fresh set of downs and scored a touchdown. The end result being a
44 - 44 tie with Saskatchewan in the battle for first place.
Well, oh this is hard, gulp, gulp, it appears the CFL referee made the correct call. Correct that is if you go by the CFL rule book which of course all referees must do.
The rule states that if a player is down, unable to further advance and if an opponent jumps or lands on top of him its unnecessary roughness. Well Burris was down, the question is was he unable to advance? In the eyes of the official he wasn't and therefore the call (gulp, gulp) is correct. So it wasn't the referee that cost the Riders the win, it was the rule book. Or if you
want to come right down to it, John Chick made an error. Had Chick just done the hand touch, according to the CFL the play would have been whistled to an end. No harm, no foul.
So there you have it. In this case, the referee may have made the right call but that doesn't change my mind much about the
officiating in the CFL. Sometimes it is downright awful. Most times its just plain bad. A friend of mine summed it up best this morning. He said " Everytime there is a big play, you look for a flag. If you're team made the big play, you hope there isn't a flag thrown. If the big play is made against your team you hope that a flag will be thrown. In a professional football league it shouldn't be that way, should it?
At any rate that is my half assed apology to the CFL who on Saturday made THE CALL

Canadian Fluffball League: Did I Do That?

If there is one thing that you would be able to get all Canadian football fans to agree on its that Canadian Football League referees are the worst in any professional sport in North America. I am not only referring to THE call on John Chick but the overall officiating in the game today. These guys have already cost the Montreal Alouettes a win with their ineptitude and Saturday they did it again to the Saskatchewan RoughRiders.
The officiating in this league has been bad for years and the sad part is it's not getting any better. In fact this year more than any other CFL officials are determining the outcome of games with their ridiculous calls. Saturday's game started off with more flags than you would see at a military parade. Its like these officials think 40 or 50 thousand people in the stands came to see them throw flags. Did you see the arc I got on that flag? Do you think I should use back spin next time? The fans came to see that.
After almost every play you can expect a flag and almost a smug looking official saying in true Steve Urcle fashion "Did I do that?
Back to THE call against Chick. You can expect on Monday the league will defend this call. You will hear things like we are protecting a player on the ground and so forth. What is this the Canadian Fluffball League?
I mean its football. Meant to be hard hitting. Henry Burris is one of the most elusive quarterbacks in the league. How does Chick know if he is going to stay down or jump right up and throw a touchdown pass. And if Burris was down and the play was over why didn't one of these striped shirts blow the whistle before Chick got to him. And even with the hit there was nothing malicious about it. No intent to injure.
The bottom line is this flag happy official cost the Riders a two point lead in the standings and a win in their season series against Calgary. Chick says the referee was paying him back for something that happened earlier in the game. If that is correct then that official is pathetic.
You wonder how a guy like Bill Baker would have fared in this "don't hit anybody when their down league. I remember covering a game against the Edmonton Eskimos where Baker put Tom Wilkinson and Bruce Lemmerman out of the game on two consecutive plays. They called him the Undertaker and for a reason. Somehow I don't think the Undertaker would have liked playing in this new Canadian Fluffball League.

Adios Argonauts

Well its Canadian Football League weekend prediction time again. Four games make up the schedule. Nothing new in that considering there are eight teams.
Edmonton at Toronto
Saskatchewan at Calgary
Hamilton at Montreal
BC at Winnipeg
Its hard to believe but the Argonauts tonight with a ridiculous 3 - 11 record are still in the playoff hunt. Anyone think the CFL needs more teams. Hurray Ottawa.
Hurry Moncton.
If the Argos lose tonight they will be elminated from any chance of making the playoffs. I said it was ridiculous but 3 - 12 records tend to do that to you.
Goodbye Toronto. Picking Edmonton to win that one. Its kind of a sad situation in Toronto. The league for its future health really needs a strong team in Toronto but there seems to be little chance of that happening.
The interesting game comes Saturday. The RoughRiders minus Weston Dressler visit the Calgary Stampeders. Smiling Hank Burris has guaranteed the Stampeders will play Montreal in the Grey Cup but Hank forgets they may have to win a game or two first.
By the way Hank it helps when you score touchdowns. Going with my heart on this one but I (yes I am a homer) am picking the Riders to win.
The weekend closes out with Hamilton at Montreal. I'm going to pick the TigerCats to pull an upset here and what should be a great game BC at Winnipeg. The Bombers are hot, Michael Bishop is hot, Coach Mike Kelly is grinning ear to ear and might even be up for the CFL most gentlemanly award. Wow. Picking the Bombers to keep it going. Just don't think BC is that good.
So there you go for this week's winners
Edmonton
Saskatchewan
Hamilton
Winnipeg

Hank Is In The Tank

My first thought after this weekend's Canadian Football League is what is wrong with Hank? My second thought as the
Saskatchewan RoughRiders prepare for the Calgary Stampeders on Saturday is who cares and lets hope it continues.
Smiling Hank, ie Henry Burris, isn't doing so much smiling these days after the Montreal Alouettes throttled the Stamps 32 - 11
on Thanksgiving Monday. Hank was pulled out of the game with about five minutes remaining after tossing a couple of interceptions and failing to lead his team into the end zone for a little more than two consecutive games now. Something like nine quarters since the Stampeders failed to find the end zone. A dance instructor will have to be brought in to help the
Stampeder receivers regain than dancing steps, it has been so long since they have scored a touchdown. Isn't it nice to not
see those ridiculous dances from Calgary?
Three former Riders had pretty good games on the weekend. Jamel Richardson, three touchdowns for Montreal, Adarius Bowman, two touchdowns for Winnipeg and 10 catches for 213 yards. I don't think Jason Clermont has seen that many passes all year for the Riders. And then of course quarterback Michael Bishop leading the Bombers to their win over Hamilton. I realize a lot of
people around these parts do not like Michael Bishop but when that guy is having one of his good days, he is a pretty effective quarterback.
So now in the West its Calgary and Saskatchewan in first at 8 - 6, BC second at 7 - 7 (where did these guys come from all of a sudden) and Edmonton last at 6 - 8.
Over in the East Montreal 12 - 2, Hamilton and Winnipeg 6 - 8 and poor old Toronto 3 - 11. Interesting listening to the talking suits on TSN. Listen to these guys and why bother with a Grey Cup game? Just give it to Montreal. I guess they don't remember the BC Lions starting 11 - 0 one season and then failing to even get to the Grey Cup. Suitor of all people should realize the regular season means nothing other than 18 games to decide who gets the home field advantage.
So this week its Saskatchewan at Calgary. Can we keep Hank in the tank? Hamilton at Montreal, Edmonton at Toronto and
BC at Winnipeg. What a tough week for predictions but here we go.
Saskatchewan over Calgary (I admit its my heart, not my head)
Edmonton over Toronto
Hamilton over Montreal (nothing in it for the Als)
Winnipeg over BC

Riders lose a good one

All season long we have been impressed at how deep the Saskatchewan RoughRiders are in offensive talent. Talent so good that a player like Jason Clermont has been rarely used. The depth of that talent may get a test now as wide receiver Weston Dressler went down late in the 32 - 22 win over the Toronto Argonauts, The initial prognosis is two to three weeks on the sidelines and that is huge for the Riders who still find themselves in the hunt for first place. Quarterback Darian Duran threw for three touchdown passes including a short one to Dressler.
It really is unfortunate to lose a player like Dressler. Only three or four minutes left in the game. Riders seemingly in control.
Makes you wonder why some of the backups weren't in the game but second guessing, after the fact is always easy.
Remember Matt Dominquez. Late in the game, Riders in control, the win is there and Dominquez suffers a season ending knee injury. Just makes you wonder thats all.
Found myself feeling a bit sorry for Kerry Joseph in this game. This is a quarterback that gives it his all, as evidenced by the hit he took scoring a Toronto touchdown. I have to think that this guy deserves better than the Toronto Argonauts. Unfortunately for Kerry, there are only eight teams in the league and at this point none of them seem to need quarterbacks. The guy just deserves better. I mean he did engineer only the third Rider Grey Cup in their history.
So next week it comes down to a big showdown. Saskatchewan at Calgary in a first place battle and for the Riders they go without Weston Dressler. I would like to see Clermont inserted into the game for that one. This guy is a big time player and now maybe the game against the Stampeders will give him an opportunity to show how good he is.
Unfortunately I will be driving today home from Kelowna. Would love to see the Stampeders against the Montreal Alouettes and sorry Calgarians, I will be cheering for the east in this game. I feel like such a traitor but what a game it will be next week if the Riders and Calgary meet with identical records.
Darian Durant looked ok against Toronto but lets not forget the Argos are nowhere near the class of the Calgary Stampeders and Durant will have to have his best ever game if the Riders are to win.

Kelly Says "Bottoms Up" To Spanking!

Don't get excited guys! Block, A Conservative Member of Parliament, is talking about spanking your children.
MP favours spanking
Block asks constituents to help fight Senate bill

Saskatoon-Rosetown-Biggar MP Kelly Block calls spanking a "traditional punishment" and is asking her constituents to help her fight a Senate bill that would see parents charged for it.
Block sent a mailout with the words "Are Parents Criminals?" to her constituents recently, asking them to mail back their answer to a question on whether they support spanking as a form of punishment.

Not much hope of this bill ever passing. Its been tried before and always shot down by the Liberals or the NDP.

Block asks constituents whether they agree with the bill, to which they're given two options: "No! Parents have a right to choose how to discipline their own kids," and "Yes! I agree with Michael Ignatieff's Liberal Senators -- All spanking should be illegal."
To me spanking should always be a last resort. I have always had trouble with the scenario where a parent takes a child and spanks them for hitting another child.
Isn't that kind of like sending a conflicting message? On the other hand I don't agree with the Liberal and Socialist views of "Hug A Thug". Proper training begins at home. So therefore I guess I kind of lead Kelly Blocks way on this one.
Parents should have the right to discipline their children in a loving fashion which may include spanking. If it gets out of control or abusive, then parents who do that should be charged.

Who Is Watching You From Heaven

It has been a week now since my Mother's internment in Trochu, Alberta. Due to distance only a handful of people were there but what a beautiful sunshiny day it was. Vern and Dorothy Carmack were again there and Pastor Vern conducted the graveside service. What faithful friends to my parents this couple were. Even unto death. I was so thankful for Vern's strength and his guidance through this time.
Vern is a man that doesn't beat around the bush. You ask him. He gives it to you straight and again Pastor Vern delivered a strong message of salvation before committing my Mother's body to the ground.
Mom was buried alongside Dad as was her wish. Their headstone, which will now have Mom's name inscribed on it is so fitting. Dad an accomplished pianist and musician, Mom a pianist as well and carved onto the headstone is a grand piano. I was so delighted to see that. Dad's life was about music. It was his life and Mom shared that joy along with him.
I know I have been blessed to have had Christian parents. Dad was a man who modelled faith and worked hard. I don't know how many times I heard "When the going gets tough, the tough get going" That was how he lived his life and expected us to do the same. Mom was quieter but as I look back on it, we have Mom to thank for our
Christian heritage and ultimately our salvation. Dad came from a long line of unbelievers. Hard working, good men, strong men but just not believers. Mom, on the other hand came from a strong heritage of believers and through her Dad came to believe as well.
Today I did a little quiz on the internet. The quiz asked the question "Who do you think is watching you from heaven"? I took the quiz and answered all the questions and then waited for the answer. The answer came back your Father (Dad)
(this incidentally was a secular quiz) and went on to say "He misses you dearly and is keeping his eye on you, his special treasure. Whether that is true or not is unimportant. My parents were treasures to me and today I am grateful and thankful to them, my Mom and my Dad, for the life they gave me, the life we shared together and the love of music which we all shared together.

Riders Do It To Me Again

For the second week in a row, the Saskatchewan RoughRiders have messed me up on a perfect prediction weekend. Last weekend I foolishly predicted that the Edmonton Eskimos would defeat the Riders. The result: Saskatchewan 23 Edmonton 20
This week I went with the Riders to defeat British Columbia Lions. The result:
A concussed Buck Pierce played like he thought he was in the NFL as the Lions downed the Riders 19 - 16. Kind of sad that a quarterback who's brains have been scrambled and was on his back more often that a saturday night hooker, could beat the Riders with two supposedly healthy quarterbacks. Well one anyway. We don't use our backup quarterback in Saskatchewan no matter the cicumstances.
For the second game in a row Darian Durant was totally ineffective but this time the defense couldn't save him and pull out the two points.
In the other games that I got right. Winnipeg pulled the upset and beat Edmonton
27 - 17, Montreal beat the sad sack Toronto Argonauts 27 - 8 and Calgary edged
Hsmilton 15 - 14. Talk about a game Hamilton could have and should have won.
Again the quarterback thing. Why wouldn't Marcel Bellefeuille put in an experienced Kevin Glenn for the last three minutes when all the Cats needed to win was a
field goal. Instead rookie Clinton Porter hangs on to a ball he could have thrown away and gets sacked and loses fifteen yards. No field goal anymore.
So now Calgary sits on top at 8 - 5. Saskatchewan 7 - 6 and British Columbia and Edmonton at 6 - 7
Next week Saskatchewan hosts Toronto. If Durant manages to lose that one the Riders better be looking elsewhere for a qb.

Grey Cup or Bust?

'It's either Grey Cup or bust for us,' says Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Darian Durant

As I sit here disecting the Saskatchewan RoughRiders loss to the BC Lions 19 - 16, I came across that comment made by Darian Durant prior to the Leo's game. And after watching Durant perform Friday night one has to think that its more likely to be bust than Grey Cup.
For the second consecutive game Durant had an ineffective game and again tossed two many interceptions. The Rider defense saved the 23 - 20 game against Edmonton and they almost did it again against BC. The defense was stellar and was on the field far too much in stopping the Lions time and time again.
But the offense. Boasting the best arsenal of receivers in the league, the quarterback just couldn't or didn't get the ball to them. The running game was totally ineffective but when was the last time the Riders had a real good running game. Durant has silenced his critics for most of the season but he's sure to hear from them this week. And with good reason. Coach Ken Miller seems to be content to go with Durant come Grey Cup or bust. Why not throw Steven Jyles in for a few plays to see what he could do. Even BC's inexperienced backup Travis Lulay threw a TD pass, in short relief of Buck Pearce. The point is why have a back up if you are never going to use him.
So the Riders record falls to 7 - 6. A golden opportunity missed to put some distance between themselves and Edmonton and BC. And an opportunity to keep pace with the Calgary Stampeders who will likely defeat Hamilton later today.
Saskatchewan hosts Toronto next week. Might be a good time to give Jyles some playing time.

Fearless Predictions CFL Week 14

Week 14 in the Canadian Football League kicks off tonight. The interesting game of course will be the Saskatchewan RoughRiders in British Columbia to play the Lions. Last week the Riders ruined a perfect week on predictions when they beat Edmonton 23 - 20. I foolishly and to my shame had picked Edmonton to win.
So this weeks predictions.

Edmonton at Winnipeg
Probably foolish here again but I am going with the Bombers. Edmonton's defense is injury riddled and Michael Bishop, if he is on can pick apart a defense. So I'll go with the Bombers.

Saskatchewan at British Columbia
Made the mistake of not picking the Riders last week. Can't do that again. Riders will win by ten.

Montreal at Toronto
Going with Montreal obviously. Argonaut fans and the Argos themselves might be best advised to stay home.

Hamilton at Calgary
Calgary has been hot and cold. Lately the TigerCats have just been cold.
Picking the Stampeders to win this one,

Conservatives,Canada, Canadiens, all start with C

The King and his Kingdom have been saved, well for what, another two weeks or so and we will do this all over again.
Long live the King!
Jack (Robin) Laytonhood and his band of not so merry NDP'er's banded together and saved Prime Minister's Steven Harper's minority government from defeat. The scoundrel Michael Ignatieff and the separatist Gilles Duceppe had banded together to bring down the Government. But their fiery arrows all missed the mark when the NDP abstained from voting allowing the country and the Government to live another day. You have to wonder to live for what?
With Ignatieff fighting off questions about his leadership of the Liberal Party, one would think that this issue would be over for awhile and the Government could get on with running the country. But with the thirst for power Liberals around thats not likely going to happen. Ignatieff's attempt to force an election, though, came at an awkward time for the Liberal leader. He is being dogged by questions about his leadership in the wake of the resignation earlier this week of his party's Quebec lieutenant, Denis Coderre.Ignatieff had little to say about Coderre's fate, other than to issue a vague threat about "consequences" if Coderre does more harm to Liberal unity.
Or how about the huge earth shattering issue raised by Liberal Hedy Fry yesterday. According to Hedy, the Olympic logo looks very similar to the Conservative logo and my, you just can't have that. Canada's Olympic Games belong to all Canadians. While it is clear that the Conservative government's multimillion-dollar infrastructure campaign is crassly partisan, can the prime minister at least stop trying to politicize the Canadian Winter Olympics?" Liberal MP Hedy Fry asked in the House of Commons."I think the government should have said 'I think that this is too similar, people may think that there is a similarity. They may think we are trying to advertise and therefore, we shouldn't do this. Let's find a different kind of logo,' that is what (they) should have said," said Fry, a Vancouver MP.
Remember the Government's new friends? Jack Laytonhood and the NDP. Well they jumped in on the huge Olympic controversy as well. NDP MP Charlie Angus called it "cheap partisan politics" by the governing Conservatives.
Ah, yes your friends on the Hill don't stay with you very long.
So now its back to business as usual on Parliament Hill. In between dodging arrows from his own party members, Michael Ignatieff will try for another chance to bring down the government, Jack Layton will try to build up his own sagging support,
Hedy Fry will find another petty cause to rant about and the Government will likely not accomplish much more than it has in the past year. As for that Olympic logo someone might want to check with the Montreal Canadiens. Don't they have a logo
that resembles the Olympic logo and the Conservative one. Someone may want to point out to Hedy that Conservatives,
Canada and Canadiens all start with C. Just trying to help, Hedy, thats all.

NHL Season Opens Tonight

I make no bones about it. Hockey is my favorite season of the year. I do enjoy football and baseball season as well but
there is nothing that beats the enjoyment of a good hockey game. Well except of course for stupid back room decisions that fail to consider the fans.
For example I bought two tickets for the recent New York Islanders vs Calgary Flames exhibition game in Saskatoon.
Now I've been around sports long enough to know what exhibition games are all about and how some guys will dress and some won't and so on and so forth. But this night was a bit much.
For the Islanders the attraction was John Taveres. Well he didn't play. Not real surprising and really thats about the only attraction the Islanders have. Although credit to Rollie the goalie. He put on a good show in the Islander net for half the game.
Had a shut out going when he was pulled.
On the Calgary side no Iginla, no Boumeester, no Phaneuf, no Conroy, no Kiprasoff and on and on it went through the Flames lineup. They only two recognition players they played were Sarich and Seabrook. $180 bucks down the drain.
But now the season starts for real and I am not expecting the Saskatoon Coyotes (ie Phoenix Coyotes) to be in the mix this year.
With the judge nixing Jim Balsallie's bid for the Coyotes, much to Gary Bettman's pleasure, the old stories are circulating again about the Coyotes playing some of their home games in Saskatoon. Fat chance. The anti Canada Bettman and his side kick Daly will make sure that doesn't happen. And anyway having games played in Saskatoon might draw away from the huge fan base that the Toronto Maple Leafs have and Bettman must protect the Maple Buds at all cost.
But anyway to the regular season starting tonight. My favorite team comes out of hibernation. The Boston Bruins hosting the Washington Capitals. Should be an interesting games. Many are predicting this will be the Capitals year for the Stanley Cup but the Pittsburgh Penquins remain the best bet for a repeat. My Bruins had a good season last year before being bounced by the TSN cheerleading team of McQuire and company and the Carolina Hurricanes. Phil Kessel is gone for the Bruins this year so how good the Bruins will be remains to be seen. I have cheered for the Bruins since the days of Orr and Esposito and I would like to think they could win the Cup this year but thats a stretch.
San Jose Sharks have to been considered a front runner if they can get Danny Heatley to help them past their early round playoff exits. Detroit RedWings have been depleted but always manage to come up with something competitive.
Calgary Flames could be interesting. Does any team in the NHL have a better defense? And even the Vancouver Canucks could have a shot at it this year.
So in the East I am going to predict that the Washington Capitals will meet the Pittsburgh Penquins with the Penquins coming out on top and in the West I will go with the San Jose Sharks into the final against the Calgary Flames.
The Stanley Cup: Calgary Flames vs Pittsburgh Penquins
Champion - The Pittsburgh Penquins.
My fearless hockey prediction for 2009 - 2010