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Robservations ... ■ Speculation continues to percolate about the possible return of Kent Austin to the CFL — as the Hamilton Tiger-Cats’ head coach. The Austin-related conjecture has also spawned this question: How would Saskatchewan Roughriders fans digest that news? After all, Austin left the Roughriders early in 2008 to coach in the NCAA ranks.
■ The larger picture should be considered with respect to Austin. Over 100-plus years, the Roughriders have won a mere three Grey Cups. Austin played an instrumental role in two of those championships. He was the best player in the best game ever, throwing for 474 yards and three touchdowns as Saskatchewan defeated Hamilton 43-40 in the 1989 Grey Cup. Eighteen years later, in his only season as the Roughriders’ head coach, he was a champion once again. All things considered, Austin deserves a free pass.
■ Notice a trend? On Friday, the Roughriders introduced a new defensive backs coach — Richard Kent. Today’s column begins with the 1,378th reference to someone whose full name is Richard Kent Austin.
■ Kudos to Regina’s Garrett Gosselin, who won a bronze medal in the senior men’s division last weekend at the Skate Canada Challenge, held at the Co-operators Centre. Gosselin, 20, is preparing for the Canadian figure skating championships (Jan. 13-20 in Mississauga, Ont.).
■ The Regina Pats also deserve a pat on the back for their efforts to spread Christmas cheer. On Tuesday, the Pats distributed stuffed toys to children at various locations — such as the General Hospital, where veteran WHLers Colton Jobke, Dyson Stevenson and Trent Ouellette were conspicuous.
■ Speaking of Christmas cheer: Members of the Leader-Post’s all-star team will be at Nicky’s Cafe & Bake Shop this morning (8 a.m. to noon) to pour coffee. Proceeds from the coffee sales will go to the Christmas Cheer Fund. Feel free to drop by and meet great people such as Irene Seiberling, Will Chabun, Juris Graney and Emma Graney. As a bonus, Juris and Emma will answer all questions about roller derby, cricket and Australian rules football.
■ I will be pouring coffee, hitting the cup on occasion, from 11 a.m. to noon. Here’s hoping that this session is not a reprise of 2003, when I unwittingly and erroneously dumped maple syrup into coffee cups. The exalted Bob Hughes will never let me forget this — nor should he.
■ Care for some coffee on your pancakes? Just ask.
■ One game does not constitute a breakthrough, but the early returns are positive from a pair of trades engineered by Pats general manager Chad Lang on Wednesday.
The next night, defenceman Darian Henry and centre Marc McCoy were in the Pats’ lineup without having practised with their new team. Both players made a difference as the Pats snapped a sevengame losing streak by defeating the visiting Prince Albert Raiders 3-0. The Pats desperately needed reinforcements and Lang delivered.
■ Anyone who loves the CFL should be overjoyed with the news that Montreal Alouettes quarterback Anthony Calvillo plans to play at least two more years.
By the time the 2014 season concludes, Calvillo will be 42 ... and just entering his prime.
■ Thirteen of the 28 players on the Pats’ roster weren’t alive when Calvillo made his CFL debut with the Las Vegas Posse on July 8, 1994.
■ Eight days later, Calvillo threw two touchdown passes to lead Las Vegas to a 32-22 overtime victory over the visiting Roughriders. The temperature: 105 F. Saskatchewan’s roster included Ray Elgaard, Dave Ridgway, Mike Saunders, Tom Burgess, Glen Suitor and Wolf Barber. The Roughriders’ head coach at the time was Ray Jauch. Yes, dear reader, it has been a while.
■ Calvillo’s career has spanned all three NHL lockouts, and then some. The first NHL lockout took effect Oct. 1, 1994.
■ Does anybody play road hockey anymore?
■ Chris (Handles) Franklin of the Harlem Globetrotters was in Regina on Friday to spread the word for the team’s Jan. 7 appearance at the Brandt Centre. In addition to doing various interviews, Franklin talked to students at George Ferguson School. Check out Tuesday’s sports section for Franklin’s interesting life story, which includes some quality time spent with Barack Obama, and visits to 67 countries (including Iraq and Afghanistan).
■ Nice people who deserve a plug: Chris (Handles) Franklin, Garrett Gosselin, Bob Lawrence, Nick Makris, Willy Cole, Carol Lunn, Colin Martin, John Thompson, Don Pankewich, Laura Logan, Todd Ripplinger, Heather Ramage, Gord Currie, Annette Polasek, Mark Taylor, Eric Rankin, Dr. Jack Niedermayer, Jay Dufour, Jay Stone, Deepak Joshi, Barb Ryan and Jon Ryan.