Sports Roundtable – Sports fans have a lot to be thankful for this year

I always wanted to run out of the inflated helmet. /image: Arthur Ward

Participants: Taylor Sockett, Matt Wincherauk, Paige Kreutzwieser, Brady Lang

In order to make the post season, the Rams have to win both of their last two games and one of UBC or Manitoba has to lose both of its two remaining contests. With this in mind, do you think the Rams will make the playoffs this year?

Sockett: It’s never good to be in a situation where you need help from other teams to make the playoffs. The Rams need to win out, which isn’t at all easy. Not to mention both UBC and Manitoba have shown at times the ability to play aggressively mediocre football. I think it is unlikely we will see the Green and Gold in the post season this year.

Wincherauk: I’m going to be honest, it’s a pretty slim chance here. The Rams are going to have a hard enough time winning their next two games, at undefeated Calgary and at home Vs. a very good Saskatchewan team. It’s a slim to none shot here, and I don’t think it’s going to happen.

Kreutzwieser: So for this to work, Manitoba or UBC have to lose to the 0-6 Golden Bears, and the Rams would have to destroy Calgary’s perfect record. Keeping in mind that I lost $120 in like five minutes betting at the casino this weekend, I’d put my money on Calgary messing this up for our boys.

Lang: Statistically – and with common sense involved – I don’t think the Rams can salvage this season. We’ve seen bigger comebacks and collapses but the Rams have lost close games, which they needed to win earlier in the season. With this in mind, the Rams could pull off something incredible. It’s football and only time will tell.

Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Darian Durant was recently fined $250 for violating the teams’ social media policy when he responded to a fans comment on twitter. What do you think of this fine?

Sockett: Now I understand why the CFL does not disclose their fines, I mean really? 250 dollars? Now I’m sure they could have found a more effective punishment than that, perhaps making him go to bed with no dinner or a good solid grounding?

Wincherauk: Darian Durant was in the wrong here, you can’t just lash out at people on social media like that, and the fine is just. But, people have to stop being such idiots on twitter. Respect the athletes that you follow.

Kreutzwieser: #armchair was so clutch. #dumbfines #riderfansareridiculous #stayclassyregina

Lang: Money well spent. This lit a fire under DD-4’s ass and he played very well in B.C. Place, giving the Lions their first regular season loss at home since July 20th of last season. Let’s be honest, $250 isn’t too much for Darian or any other pro athlete, it’s hardly a slap on the wrist.

The NFL season is well underway. What has been the biggest surprise to you so far this year?

Sockett: My Atlanta Falcons sucking so bad they’re 1-4. This is unacceptable. They have lost every game in the last few minutes, Tony G. should have retired last year to save himself this embarrassment.

Wincherauk: The Cleveland Browns. This is a team that traded away their “star” in Trent Richardson, and proceeded to rip off three straight wins, to put them on top of their division. This is a team everyone thought would be in the “Play Dead For Ted” or “Drowney for Clowney” sweepstakes in the next NFL Draft.

Kreutzwieser: We could go on about the Giants and Steelers, or Peyton, or the Chiefs, but we’d all be lying if we didn’t think that fourth quarter by the Bills last Sunday wasn’t the biggest surprise ever. Fourth and 8 – I know, right. And then, Thad Lewis to Marquise Goodwin? Say what?

Lang: You’re kidding yourself if you thought at the start of the season that Kansas City would be sitting at 5-0. Another shocker for me, personally, is the poor numbers Colin Kaepernick has been putting up. Too much pressure? Overrated? Underutilized? Is it time to get some more insurance behind Collin K and Colt McCoy?

After an 0-3 start to the season, the Philadelphia Flyers have elected to fire former head coach Peter Laviolette. What do you think of this move?

Sockett: Peter Laviolette is an idiot, and so are Flyers fans; they should have been a perfect match for each other.

Wincherauk: Hate it. This is a coach who lead them to a Stanley Cup finals appearance only a few years ago, and now he’s the only problem? How about the fact G.M. Holmgren traded away the heart of that team in Carter and Richards and couldn’t find a starting goalie if one struck him in the head. He’s the one who should have been fired.

Kreutzwieser: 0-3 seems a little premature but let’s just hope he wasn’t fired around 3:00a.m., after you’ve been pulled away from the team bus and into a tiny room in an LA airport – because that’d be embarrassing, right Lane Kiffin?

Lang: Well, it’s not like this is the first time the organization has decided to pull off a quick move – see Jeff Carter, Mike Richards, Danny Briere, and even Ilya “Universe” Bryzgalov. Laviolette had done his time in Philly, but for real, three games? How long will Berube last? Holmgren?

If you could have one professional athlete (dead or alive) over to your house for Thanksgiving dinner, who would it be and why?

Sockett: Reggy Dunlope, the coach of the original and only good Slap Shot movie. That guy can make a hell of a speech. Imagine sitting down at the table and hearing “we gotta lotta losses” to be thankful for.

Wincherauk: I will always say Andre the Giant. From what I’ve heard, from the people who got to hang out with him, is that he might have been the most fun person in the world. As long as I don’t have to buy the gallons of beer and wine that he would drink.

Kreutzwieser: Ray Lewis. His prayer before dinner would make you reevaluate everything you’ve ever been thankful for. “Lord we thank you for the lint catcher in the dryer, for giving those little fuzzies a safe and warm place to lay their little heads.” And then I’d destroy him in Madden. Best Thanksgiving ever.

Lang: Gordie Howe comes to mind as someone that would be awesome to have over for supper. I wish coaches were included in this question, Don Cherry would be in my hometown of Balcarres in an instant.