(Pic from the 25th Anniversary. Dad, Mom, Me, Sis Lauren, Sis Rebecca, Fiance Carly)
How lazy am I? The only full week I've worked in July was last week, and that was essentially cut in half with our station golf tournament on Wednesday. But, it won't be long before those lovely days of getting up at 5:00, driving to Kindersley or Estevan or Portage or OCN and going to bed at 3:00 the next day will begin, so I don't feel too terribly bad about my summer sked. For the record, I'm not working a full week next week, either. I've got next Friday off, and the whole next week, mainly for a family reunion (Carly's side) in Cypress Hills. Then it's darn near hockey time. Swan Valley and Wayway start their camps the weekend of August 22nd, with Yorkton and Melville hitting the ice August 29th.
I probably could have worked today, truth be told. My parents' 25th celebration was over by mid-afternoon, most of us went out for supper, and then everyone was gone by about 7:00. Would have given me more than enough time to be back in Yorkton early enough to get up this morning. Oh well, didn't know that when I booked my days off. And I'm sure Randy Atkinson lit up the airwaves just fine without me.
Just went for a four mile bike ride. Used to do it all the time when I lived here in high school, and it was easy then, but HOLY CRAP was it hard this time! Pretty stiff breeze... but still, I stopped a couple times to "crop check." Had some hail here a couple days ago, but not enough to do much or any damage. Crops look good around these parts, good to see.
Anyway, this is turning into more of a diary than a sports blog. What's gone on the last few days?
- Riders. Like the Hamilton game, Saturday's game against Montreal looked bleak in the dying minutes. The Riders "surprised?" the Als by kicking deep with 2:30 left. Ex-Rider Jason Armstead made a great play just to get back and field what he thought would be a short kick, but, feeling the pressure, took a knee to avoid a fumble, I guess, right on his 10 yard line. Calvillo's pass was tipped at the line and picked by DB Lance Frazier on the 15, setting up a Darian Durant TD. Then Armstead was ROCKED by Anton McKenzie on the ensuing kickoff, fumbled, and the Riders basically just killed the clock and took the 41-33 win to improve to 4-0. Another former Rider had a great game. Reggie Hunt had 2 INTs and a sack. But it was McKenzie who replaced him at starting linebacker, and he put the final nail in the coffin with that forced fumble. At first I laughed at Armstead, but I kinda felt for him at the same time... not a good homecoming, and I don't think he wanted out when he was sent to Hamilton for Corey Holmes last year. Hunt, I have a tough time feeling sorry for. Yes, he's getting 40K more in Montreal, but the Riders got him a job with SaskPower for the summer... did the Als hook him up with that? Doubt it. They said on TV Hunt still lives in Regina in the off-season. Another guy who jumped ship is Fred Perry... and it looks like he's out for a LONG time after dislocating his ankle in Edmonton's loss to Toronto yesterday (where another guy from last year's team, KJ, lit things up). You hate to see that (Perry). On Sunday, the Riders host Kerry Joseph and the Argos. I'm hearing/reading Marcus Crandell is likely to start. I won't question coach Miller because he's never lost a game as Head Coach and has the Riders off to their first 4-0 start since 1970. But it's sure comforting to know who'll be coming in if Crandell gets hurt again or struggles.
- WMBL. I think the Yorkton Cardinals would be satisfied splitting yesterday's double header with Swift Current. The Indians have the top record in the league (22-7), and the Cardinals (13-17) won 4-1 and lost 3-1. There's a great recap at http://www.yorktoncardinalsbaseball.com/news_article.php?id=594 . Melville went 1-3 on their Alberta swing, splitting a pair with Medicine Hat, and dropping two in Lethbridge. The Mils are a half game behind the Cards for second in the East (11-16), and are in Regina (17-11) tonight against the first place Red Sox. Yorkton's off today and travel to Melville tomorrow (TUE).
- The SJHL/MJHL/WHL scenes are pretty quite for news right now. Guess it is July. It kind of dawned on me the other day that July is the only month of the year where there's no hockey going on that I care about. Junior teams start their camps in August, and Stanley Cup gets handed out in June.
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