There Will Be A Doctor In The House

With the release of two veterans yesterday, I thought this would be topical today. As you all have heard many times, there are still possibly going to be some veterans cut to make room under the salary cap. And, two names that have come up more than once are Matt Dominguez and Reggie Hunt. In my humble opinion, we will not be seeing these cuts. I know you never say never, and no, I have no inside information (Nobody really tells me anything, to be honest.). This is just my gut feeling and here is why: MD is a leader on this team and I think will continue to be for a few more years. His health is good, and he is still one hell of a ball player. I do question his choice in favourite superhero, but I don’t really see a downside to MD being here in 07 and beyond. As for Reggie, he is still one of the best in the league at his position and really is still in his prime. He wants to be here according to his web page http://www.reaper9.com/ and that is a great thing. But, the # 1 reason I think reaper will be here is that if he was let go Cathy (Gypsy) will bring physical harm on Eric Tillman, and no one wants to see that. Again, I want to clarify these are just my opinions not facts so don’t go buying a new 88 or 9 jersey based on this information, but if you already have one, I am pretty sure you will still be wearing it for all to see this season.

As for the vets let go, Charles Thomas and Craig Yeast, I think a large number of people will be happy to see #53 not in green and white again this year. From my perspective, I did not mind CT; he was always a good interview, he liked doing my “Whole 10 Yards” segment on Sportsline. One time he was on and I wasn’t going to do 10 Yards, however he asked if I was going to so I obliged. Plus, not badmouthing a man with brands on his arm I think is just a good way to go through life. Yeast – I never really knew him, so all I can say is I guess we won’t be able to see if he can rise to the occasion. (I know, I know LAME, but that one was for Frenzy as he liked using it, plus now I can plug The Lynch Mob website http://johnfrenzy.blogspot.com/ there is a new piece up there today go check it out.)

Another story has hit my email in response to my query Where did you get your Rider Pride? Here it is and thank you, Phil, for sending it and thank you also for the kind words:
Hey Joe;

Great job with the Blog. You’re a natural in the art of verbal and written communication.

I’d like to share my story of Rider Pride. I’m an old guy, so this may be a bit long.

I guess with any story I should start at the beginning.

In the fifties my parents and aunt were Rider season ticket holders. Unfortunately later in the fifties my aunt moved to Brandon, Manitoba and for various reasons my parents let their season tickets go.

My aunt still cheers for the Riders and least once a year will travel by Greyhound bus to attend a home game. Even though my parents couldn’t attend games on a regular basis they would go whenever possible and remained dedicated Club supporters. They wouldn’t miss listening to a game on the radio or watching one if it was ever televised.

So my Rider Pride stems from my parents and aunt. I was born and raised on the 2100 block Queen St in Regina not to far from Taylor Field. We couldn’t afford to go to very many games, but I can remember sitting outside listening to the games on the radio and hearing the cheers erupt from Taylor Field on a big play. For some reason in the sixties and seventies all I can remember are loud cheers coming from Taylor Field, so there must have been a lot of big plays back then.

As kids we used to play football in the park every chance we got and would pretend to be the Lancaster, George Reed etc, etc

Our family doctor back then was Dr Chapwin (sp) who was also one of the team doctors. So whenever I had to see him from getting banged playing football I’d get to sit in a waiting room with injured Rider players. For some reason the one that sticks out the most in my mind was Tom Campana with his broken arm.

In high school it was cool to wear football jerseys, so every other kid had a green and white jersey. Believe it or not it wasn’t easy to get your hands on a Rider jersey back then. I was one of the lucky ones and managed to find one in the bottom of a heap of stuff at one of the local sporting good stores in Regina.

In the seventies I was transferred to S’Toon with work. I would still listen to games on the radio whenever possible and only get to a game here and there, I’d always wear my Rider jersey that I had back in Grade 10.

Later in the eighties I now had my own family and was transferred back to Regina. Man I’ll never forget how our neighborhood, basically exploded with Grey Cup win in 1989. My wife (Cathy) that came from a very strong hockey oriented family was now also hooked on football and the Riders.

Unfortunately even though I was back in the land of the Green and White I was away more than I was at home with work, so still couldn’t attend games on a regular basis, but that still didn’t stop me from following our beloved Riders. I’m now retired and don’t have to worry about trying to schedule work road trips around Rider home games. If nothing else no matter where I was working in the world I’d have my Rider jersey with me.

Cathy, my dad and I would purchase 10 packs of game tickets and go to games whenever we could. Then in 2003 Cathy and I were finally able to afford to buy 4 season tickets for us, my dad and our son and we still have them to this day. We started up in Section 204 and even shortly after having quadruple heart bypass surgery; my father would walk the ramps all the way up. We have now moved to Section 102, so I can keep up with my 83-year-old dad.

The Riders have become more than a football team for Cathy and me. The games are not just a football game, they are a social event. We go to tailgate parties and some away games. Because of Rider football we have met and made new friends from not just Saskatchewan, but from all over Canada.

To me every game is like a family reunion and with today’s technology (computers & internet) I can keep in contact on a regular basis with my newfound family. Even though we have jumped into the new age of technology with a 52 inch Plasma TV to watch games on I still like to listen to the away games on the radio and talk to other fans over the internet on every play.

I thought as you got older time was to move faster, but the Rider off season doesn’t seem to follow that rule and for some reason seems to get longer and longer every year.

Our daughter is due to have our Grandson any day now and we are hoping we can get another season ticket. That will put 4 generations of fans from our family in the stands at the same time.

Attached is pic of my dad, aunt and myself from last years Labour Day game.


Well I told ya it was going to be a long one. That’s my story and I’m stick’n to it.

Phil Johnson (aka: Wolf)

Great read Phil, thank you.



Today on my delivery route, I decided to count the number of Rider plates I saw. In total, there were 37!! While I was at it, I noticed quite a few SK Centennial ones as well so I started tallying up too and came up with 35. Other plates of note:

7 Canadian Flags
6 I love Regina
1 Playboy Bunny. Now, is this a fan of the magazine? Or a wanna be model? I have no idea, as the car was parked.
1 God is my Co-pilot. That should be one very safe car you would think.
3 Dale Earnhardt Sr.
1 Kurt Bush This had to be his mom, as really, come on who else likes Kurt Bush?
And, not a plate but cool all the same, one sweet Rider mailbox, with green and white flames. And, as you know, everything looks better with flames.


The Rider Store in Northgate was busy today when I stopped to say hi to the ladies. Four other people were there, allwaiting to spend their cash on our favorite football team’s merchandise.
There are at least 3 Blue Jay fans out there still as I spoke with that many today.

And to finish off this great Friday at the start of a long weekend, a little racing info/thoughts. As I mentioned earlier in the week, it is the Nascar all-star race this weekend and I am very much looking forward to it. It is always a good race and usually an interesting one as well. No points, just $1,000,000.00 to the winner. There have been many a great race before, and I expect nothing different out of this one. With no points on the line, I am not as concerned one of my normal drivers I cheer for win the race, I just hope for a good race. Okay maybe there are some I hope don’t win the race! What I think would be kind of cool is if an underdog won - say a Bobby Labontie or a Casey Mears, even Juan Pablo Montoya would be kind of cool. To all of you not in the know, yes JPM is now a full time Nascar guy since leaving Formula One. It all goes down tomorrow night on Speed. Fan or not, I say give it a look.


Today’s Lyrics
“Ain't so funny when things ain't feelin' right.

Then daddy's hand helps to see me through.

Sweet as sugar, love won't wash away.

Rain or shine, it's always here to stay.”



Have a great day.