Roundtable

For the Yankees to win, A-Rod needs to hit the juice

Braden Dupuis, Britton Gray, Kris Klein, Paige Kreutzwieser

Rams veteran quarterback Marc Mueller has been out for the last two games with a shoulder injury, do you think the Rams can win without him?

Dupuis: Spoiler Alert: No. They might win one or two without him, but the only way this team has a shot at a championship is with its star quarterback at the helm, which makes a lot of sense when you think about it. Get well soon, Marc.

Gray: While the injury to Mueller makes things more difficult, I think the Rams can pull it together and find out ways to win games. This could mean relying more on the running game, a defence that puts up points or the backup QB performing beyond expectations. Great teams find ways to win no matter what.

Klein: Well considering that they just beat Calgary in a big defensive show down, I think they won’t win the big games in the playoffs. Mueller just has the experience and the poise that they will need to get to the Vanier Cup.

Kreutzwieser: No one likes losing their starting quarterback, but I would think Oleynik is pretty used to being thrown into the position by now. So I think the Rams will do okay without Mueller. But, you can’t just bank on interception returns and rouges to win a game, so let’s hope the offense picks it up.

Women’s hockey star Hayley Wickenheiser was recently at the U of R, do you think it’s fair that she is playing in the CIS?

Dupuis: Do I think it’s fair that a 34-year-old, three-time Olympic gold medalist who is widely regarded as the best female hockey player in the world is allowed to compete at a university level? Personally, no, but that’s just the way it is. If she’s comfortable with it, then more power to her I guess.

Gray: I do not think it’s fair to have an Olympic gold medalist playing hockey against girls who have never even played professionally. Calgary has a clear advantage with her experience and just overall skill and that does not make for a level playing field (or ice).

Klein: Hell no. Look, she is the captain for the Women’s national team. She played professional in a men’s league. She could probably light up the CIS men’s league. There is no way she should be allowed to play in the CIS.

Kreutzwieser: The fact that someone can partake in university level sports at the age of 34 amazes me. Props to her. However, knowing her resume, and being a Cougars fan, it’s hard to say that I completely agree with her being able to play. But it does give me hope that maybe one day I could make a team? Maybe.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders are currently third place in the West with two weeks to go in the regular season, where do you think they will finish in the standings and how far will they go in the playoffs?

Dupuis: To be honest, they’ll be lucky if they can hold on to third in the West. Either way, they’ll be in the playoffs, and then all bets are off. Nothing is impossible, but I’m not holding my breath for a Grey Cup appearance this year.

Gray: They will be third in the west and make the playoffs and after that I have no idea how they will do. The Riders have been up and down all year and if they go into the playoffs on a hot run they can win it all, if not then one and done.

Klein: Well it looks like they will be finishing in third place in the West and only time will tell if they will play in the West or East. I think they will go to the Grey Cup, I really do. They just need to get their heads out of their asses when it comes to the big games.

Kreutzwieser: I feel when the Riders play at home, the majority of fans just get way too drunk by the second half, end up forgetting where they are, and then the Riders just give up. But, I’m going to be positive and say the boys will win their next two games, and get knocked out in the first round of the playoffs. I’m being optimistic.

The brooms were out in Detroit, were you surprised that the New York Yankees were swept by the Tigers?

Dupuis: Even though baseball sucks, I was pleasantly surprised to hear that the Yankees were swept by Detroit. I can’t stand deep-pocketed teams that just throw wads of cash at every superstar on the market. Fuck you, Yankees, better luck buying another championship next year.

Gray: The Tigers have one of the best pitching staffs in all of baseball and they also have the Triple Crown winner in Miguel Cabrera and their bats are popping balls left and right all postseason and they have a chance to win the world series. No, I’m not surprised they swept the Yankees.

Klein: Hell no, I literally jumped up for joy when the Yankees got swept and laughed at how A-Rod was pouting about not playing. The way I look at it, he is making more money to sit on the bench than what my family will make in a lifetime. If I were him, I would just sit quietly and finish a bag of sunflower seeds happily.

Kreutzwieser: No, because of two words: Justin Verlander. Alex Rodriguez is washed up, Jeter is a baby, and the Yankees only dependable player at the time was Raul Ibanez, who is 40 years old. Detroit has Cabrera, Fielder, and Jackson. I rest my case.

If you could dress up as any athlete for Halloween, who would you pick and why?

Dupuis: Do I go all-out, shave my head and don blackface for the Michael Jordan? Or do I take the lazy route – pick up a bong, snap on a speedo and rock the Michael Phelps? In the end I get drunk, combine the two and pass out at home alone dressed up as Michael Jordan-Phelps. Cause I’m classy like that.

Gray: I would dress up as Terrell Owens because then I have the ability to walk around and act like a cocky asshole and not have people judging me because it would just be me in my character. I’d also be able to do touchdown dances randomly.

Klein: Hmmm, that’s a tough one. The obvious choice would be Tiger Woods but I think I would be Gary Bettman just so if I get my assed kicked I can say “Hey I was Gary Bettman, I deserved it.”

Kreutzwieser: My favourite athlete costume was a couple years ago when this guy dressed up as Michael Phelps. Not only did he slightly resemble him, he played the character too, which made it that much more incredible. However, with the Lance Armstrong debacle in full effect, I think it would be very timely for someone to dress up like him.