Mish Mash Between The Hash Marks - I

[TheGreyCupTDChicken]

Gonna start a new segment called Mish Mash Between The Hash Marks which will basically be used as a number of quick ideas, thoughts or opinions that don't quite have enough to make a full post but that I still want to comment on so here goes tell me what you think.
 
- Call me a little curious as to why there are so many players are retiring out of Calgary.  I realize in some cases that players get to a point in their non-playing carreers where they need to make a choice financially that will suit their families needs after football but to seeing three rather large pieces of the puzzle just up and retire is a little concerning especially when two of the three played on the offensive line.  Add in the surprising move to allow DeAngelis to walk and I just can't help but scratch my head about Stampeder Management.  Who knows it may be nothing but the football circle of life but I think I'm going to keep an eye open anyway.
 
- I have to say I find it a little ridiculous everytime there is a football poll on either TSN.ca or CFL.ca and it includes a Rider option.  It's like the rest of the country or the leauge shouldn't even bother to vote.  Now I'm not saying that I don't like Rider fans or that Rider fans shouldn't vote.  I won't even stoop to a low brow joke about how I can't believe that can even operate the internet let alone know what it is cause that's not right or fair it's just rude.  My problem is that every year at this time specifically you will see that poll that says "Who do you think is an early favorite to win the Grey Cup" and Rider fan just completely ignores objectivity and votes themselves as Grey Cup Champ.  While I know that homerism is rampant for all teams in all sports.  I just happen to think that Rider fans are truly at the top of the homer list.  I myself am a HUGE homer but when I'm making predictions and trying to evaluate the teams I put on my objective hat, do some research and get creative.  So to Rider fans and homers of all teams I say take a moment to judge your team fairly and stop spamming the football polls.  Until then I'm just going to use the second place vote as a closer measure of fan opinion.
 
- Pre-season is upon us and I have to say in the last ten years since I've really matured as a sports/football fan I've come to enjoy pre-season games more and more and of course for a different reason.  I used love just getting to the park and watching the game under the hot summer sun while enjoying a beer and a dog.  Well now it's become a matter of evalutation just as it is for the coaches.  I know where my teams weaknesses were last year and I want to see what coaches and managment did to fill the holes.  Which then leads me to watch the game a little more positionally and see just how well the new comers are doing.  I guess my small issue is that I miss one game.  In the entire season from today's pre-season to The Grey Cup in November there is only one game on the schedule that I do not have access to watch and that is the away pre-season game.  C'mon TSN get with the program and put it on the tube.  It would  be different if there were other events clogging up the time slots.  But hockey is done (at least it has been the last two seasons for sure) by the time the pre-season games start and basketball is also coming to a close.  The only other thing going is baseball which there are still five months to go and which you compete against all season long anyway.  Not to mention that TSN doesn't cover alot of baseball anyway.  So lets unite CFL fans and let our voices be heard let's tell TSN what we want and maybe next time their at the table with The CFL for a contract we can get these games too.

[Hambone]

Re: Rider fans and polls.

Personally I have no use for polls and totally ignore them. The results are always predictable if you are aware of the audience. Team1040 likes to run them all day long. As soon as you hear them you already know what the results will be. I've never heard one yet that made me think "Wow that's a surprise".

Rider fans though seem to love them. Maybe that's because they have an insatiable appetite for anything Rider-related on the internet. If there's a poll out there anywhere with a Rider option they're all over it like Hoof on a Coronation Street episode. I do often wonder if anybody actually works in Saskatchewan during football season. Last week somebody on RF started a thread about a rumour that Durant may have sustained some sort of hand injury. On a regular work day morning it only took 2 hours for the thread to be 248 posts deep. I wouldn't go as far as to say they don't have a life, but let's face it, the Riders are the only pro game in town. There is little else to draw their attention elsewhere. As such Saskatchewan sports fans likely tend to be almost 100% focused on the Riders and the CFL whereas the rest of us might be somewhat distracted by other leagues and teams that are also available in fairly close proximity. Whatever it is Rider fans can't get enough of Rider internet info with predictable results when it comes to any polls.

[LRF]

There must be something to the Rider Phenomenon though. I walk into Source For sports in Williams Lake BC I can buy Rider hats, jerseys, T-shirts and more - with choices of each as well. If I look hard I can find a Lions hat. Forget about any other teams.

I walk into Jersey City in Prince George BC a couple weeks ago and they have small section dedicated to all Roughrider stuff.

Although for sure the online polls are definitely non scientific and obviously over run with green blood this may actually be the first year in recent history that the Rider lunatics may actually have some merit to their lunatism. For the first year probably since 1977 even I believe that this can be the year for the Riders to bring home the cup again.

Maybe we could take a poll to see if the Rider Fans actually have justified rational reasons for being overly optimistic this year? ;-)

[Hambone]

I walk into Jersey City in Prince George BC a couple weeks ago and they have small section dedicated to all Roughrider stuff.

Snuck into town again without calling for a beer eh. Jersey City in PG doesn't do too bad a job on CFL stuff. It's no Ric's Sports N Stuff in Chilliwack but they keep a decent cross-section and are also glad to bring stuff in special order if requested. If you happen to be passing through Chilliwack Brad you should check Ric's out. He's in the mall right on Hwy 1.

[LRF]

Snuck into town again without calling for a beer eh.

Will be in PG next weekend (26th?) for the Lacrosse Playoffs, then in Richmond two weeks after that for the Bantam Lacrosse Provincials so I may have to check out that place in Chilliwack.

I thought you weren't in PG anymore?

[Hambone]

Will be in PG next weekend (26th?) for the Lacrosse Playoffs, then in Richmond two weeks after that for the Bantam Lacrosse Provincials so I may have to check out that place in Chilliwack.

I thought you weren't in PG anymore?

Still there part time. I'm working in Tumbler Ridge during the week and return to PG usually every 2nd weekend. I still have my townhouse there. I stayed in Tumbler this past weekend but was back in PG the previous 3 weekends. I'll be back again this weekend but wasn't planning on being there on the 26th weekend. I'll wait for the long weekend instead. Provincials 2 weeks after? Hopefully you make it since the green heathens would be at Empire that weekend too if you can fit it in. I'll be down for that one on my way back home to the Island.

Here's a link to Ric's website. He carries an amazing array of Lions paraphanelia. They only show a few Rider hats in the online store but I'm pretty sure he had a bit more than that last time I dropped in. He does have a real good selection of goodies for all sports there. Even if you can't find any ugly green and white stuff I'm sure there's lots there to have the boys digging into your wallet.
http://www.sportsandstuff.2ya.com/