Kudos to Ryan and Collaros for giving back
Robservations ...
Jon Ryan is an amazing person (understatement). The Reginaborn Seattle Seahawks punter has consistently stepped forward to help people and/or organizations in his hometown whenever he’s been asked (and even when there hasn’t been a request).
Consider the assistance he has selflessly and steadily provided to Regina Minor Football. An NFLer since 2006, the 36-yearold son of Bob and Barb Ryan has never lost sight of his roots, or of the importance of giving back. And when the time has come to speak out, as Ryan has done in support of the LGBTQ community and against homophobia, he never hesitates to do what’s right.
Ryan Road is already taken, so a street naming is out of the picture, but something should be done to honour a Regina sporting superstar who treats everyone like they’re the celebrities.
Kudos as well to Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Zach Collaros, who will donate $1 for each of his passing yards and $100 for each touchdown pass to the mamaweyatitan centre that assists North Central youth with recreational and fitness opportunities. The Mosaic Company will match Collaros’ total donation.
If and when ex-Roughrider
Rob Bagg resurfaces in the CFL, his new team should seriously consider moving him to slotback. The expansive CFL field is a playground for a smart, skilled receiver — someone whose opportunities were limited by the nature of the wide-side wideout position he usually played while in Saskatchewan.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ Weston Dressler, allegedly 33, never gets old. And neither does seeing him score a touchdown.
Winnipeg ’s Chris Streveler made a smashing pro football debut against the Edmonton Eskimos, throwing three touchdown passes during a twice-delayed game that began Thursday at 7:30 p.m., and ended Friday at 1:17 a.m. The Bombers were edged 33-30 by the Eskimos but Streveler was truly an overnight sensation.
When will the Bombers get serious about improving their sieve-like secondary? Winnipeg ’s defensive backfield was sliced and diced for 408 aerial yards by Edmonton’s Mike Reilly. The air show included a 101-yard scoring strike from Reilly to receiver Derel Walker.
Shameless plug department: Check out the Regina LeaderPost’s weekly Rider Rumblings podcast. The special guest this past week was CKRM’s Rod Pedersen, who was outstanding. Next week’s guest yakkers: The tag team of Peter Mills (CBC) and Austin Davis (Leader-Post), with yours truly hosting/refereeing. The podcasts can be found on leaderpost.com, iTunes and Google Play Music.
Three cheers for former Regina Pats captain Adam Brooks, who had an assist for the AHL’s Toronto Marlies on Thursday as they defeated the visiting Texas Stars to clinch the Calder Cup title. Brooks, 22, had two goals and four assists in 20 playoff games. During the regular season, he scored eight goals and added 11 assists in 57 games.
We now defer to the great Jack Todd of the Montreal Gazette, who nailed it on Twitter (@jacktodd46): “Montreal taxpayers stick at the thought of spending taxpayer dollars for a baseball stadium that would host 81 games a year. But hundreds of millions to gussy up the Big O for THREE World Cup games? We’re down with that.”
What a sporting year it’s been in Regina! So far, our fair city has already staged the Brier, the U Sports women’s basketball championship and the Memorial Cup. The LPGA’s CP Women’s Open is ticketed for the Wascana CountryClubinAugust.
But it gets even better! Oh, yes it most certainly does! On Nov.
10, WWE legend Brutus Beefcake (not his real name) will make an appearance in the Queen City as part of Canada Wrestling ’s Elite cross-country tour. Beefcake, nicknamed The Barber, is mustsee material. Clip and save.
TSN’s SportsCentre with Jay and Dan is the best show in television history. Example: Thursday’s classic “What Did I Learn During My Summer Internship on SportsCentre with Jay and Dan.” Sixteen seconds of pure gold.
Nice people who deserve a plug: Rance Cardinal, Jon Ryan, Dr. Brad Hornung, Zach Collaros, Rob Bagg, Darian Durant, Jeff Armstead, Ed Gainey, Brendon LaBatte, Devon Bailey, Christion Jones, Craig Dickenson, Angela Bray, Derrick Gullage, Mark Taylor, Adam Brooks, Jay Onrait, Dan O’Toole and Edward Harrison Leslie (a.k.a. Brutus Beefcake).