Random Thoughts From Motown Mitch: Oct. 1

Mitch Kasprick is the “Motown Curmudgeon” aka “Motown Mitch”

Odds and Ends, Thoughts and Questions, from this past week in sports – 

Just so there’s no confusion when I’m spewing my bias, I am a fan of the Winnipeg Jets, Arizona Coyotes, Manitoba Moose, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals, Toronto Blue Jays, Arizona Diamondbacks, Winnipeg Goldeyes, Toronto Raptors, all curlers from Manitoba, and all Canadian athletes competing on the international stage. 

I am NOT a fan of Gary Bettman or as I call him, Count Chocula.  I am a big believer in the 7Ps.  You’ve been warned.

1.  Jets:  The pre-season is done and it’s time for regular season.  The Winnipeg Jets will name their 23-man roster today and I don’t see any surprises.  Nic Petan’s status is that he is on a temporary “bereavement list” and will not have to be dealt with until he returns to the team..

UPDATE:

Winnipeg Jets opening day 23-man roster >>>> HERE  

2.  CFL:  Winnipeg Blue Bombers 30 – Edmonton Eskimos 3 … It’s not a typo, that was the score.  I don’t think anybody saw that coming.  We all hoped for a win but, I thought if they won it would be extremely close.  This was probably the most complete game the Winnipeg Blue Bombers have played in the past couple of years.  Richie Hall’s defence forced SEVEN turnovers and the Bombers did a terrific job in winning the field position battle.  The Blue Bombers are now 7-7 and still have a pulse.  Maybe this game will be the “TSN Turning Point” for their season.

3.  Jets:  I think most hockey journalists, fans, and players around the NHL knew that Mark Scheifele was a pretty good player but Scheif’s 14 goals last year’s playoff run have really elevated his status on a national level. 

4.  Jets:  I would love to see a race on a straightaway between Jack Roslovic, Kyle Connor, and Nik Ehlers.  (I’m not MSM so I can call him Nik.)  

 

 

5.  Ryder Cup:  Europe 17 1/2 – USA  11 1/2  … After Team Europe lost the first session on Friday (3-1), they never looked back and were in control the whole weekend.  That now makes six consecutive wins on home soil for the Euros and nine victories in the last twelve Ryder Cups.  This was a ghetto beating of massive proportions.  Ouch. 

6.  NHL:  Is it just me or does it seem like since Mike Babcock has moved on from Detroit to Toronto he has become a self-indulgent blowhard?  I used to like listening to him when he was in Detroit but he’s changed since moving to Toronto.

7.  Jets:  I wasn’t surprised that the Winnipeg Jets assigned Sami Niku to the Manitoba Moose but I was surprised they sent him down so soon.  It looks like they had as plan and were going to stick to it unless somebody absolutely forced their hands AND I’m not even sure that would have mattered.  

8.  Blue Bombers:  I guess after watching opposing teams put tons of pressure on Matt Nichols and the Bomber offence the light finally turned on in Richie Hall’s head and he put together a game plan versus Mike Reilly that was brilliant.  I’ve never seen Reilly under such duress for a full four quarters like that.  I know he was missing Darrel Mitchell and D’haquille Williams was banged up but it was a masterpiece by the Blue Bombers defence.         

9.  Ryder Cup:  I don’t buy one iota of the narrative that the Ryder Cup means more to the Euros than it does the Americans.  These guys all have an amazing competitive spirit and no athlete in any sport likes to lose.  Not buying it.  Next. 

10.  Jets:  I think Kristian Vesalainen has done enough to play with the big boys coming out of training camp.  I think we are all pretty sure that the Lowry/Copp/Tanev line is carved in stone but the possibilities for the other three lines should have Winnipeg Jets fans extremely excited.  It could be “Showtime” for Jets fans at Bell MTS Place this season. 

 11.  Blue Bombers:  Outside of one ill-advised throw in the second half, Matt Nichols did a pretty good job of managing the game and is starting to look a little like the Nichols of last season.     

12.  CFL:  Johnny Manziel hasn’t been Johnny Football since his Heisman Trophy days at Texas A and M.  He didn’t actually nick-named himself Johnny Football although he did trademark it.  If you’re going to call a guy Johnny Football, shouldn’t he actually be good at football? 

13. Yuck:  I don’t know what is more insufferable, the European fans or the Montreal Canadiens fans singing out loud that annoying Olay Olay Olay Olay Olay Olay.  YUCK.   

14.  Blue Bombers:  It was a foggy foggy night in Edmonton, Alberta and ……….. alright enough.  Saturday night, Kevin Fogg had quite a night.  He had a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and a pick six that basically sealed the game.  I think a lot of fragile Blue Bomber fan exhaled after that play.  For me, that was the first time in this game where I thought we were going to win for sure.   

15: Jets:  Question for Kevin Cheveldayoff:  Are you watching the waiver wire (11 am local time) to see what the Leafs do with Garret Sparks and/or Curtis McElhinney or are you happy with Laurent Brossoit?

16.  Ryder Cup:  Tiger and Phil should have stayed home and played with themselves.  ZERO wins and six lost points combined.  BRUTAL.

17.  Blue Jays:  The Jays have been auditioning pitchers for next season and my favourite has been Ryan Borucki.  The young leftie (24-years old) finished the season with a 4-6 record, with 11 quality starts and an ERA of 3.87.  I was also impressed with 23-year-old Sean Reid-Foley.  I think the hard throwing rightie has a chance to be in the Jays starting rotation next season.           

18. Jets:  I’m continually amazed at the amount of hate Brandon Tanev and Ben Chiarot get on Twitter.  If you continually focus on any one player, it is not hard to pick their game to pieces.  Chiarot and Tanev are far from perfect but they’re not as bad as their haters would like you to believe.      

19.  Ryder Cup:  After never earning a full point in his Ryder Cup career, Francesco Molinari posted an impressive 5-0 record in this year’s competition.  It’s only been done three times before.  That’s clutch.      

20:  Key dates:  

• Sept. 21:  Winnipeg Blue Bombers (7-7) at Ottawa Redblacks  (8-5).
• Oct. 4:  Winnipeg Jets season opener in St. Louis. 
• Oct. 9:  Winnipeg Jets home opener vs Los Angeles.

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Thanks, Mitch