CONAN CALLS TIMEOUT TO REMEMBER REPLACEMENT REFS!

BRONCOS LOOK TO ROMP IN RAIDER NATION

Rookie Brandi of the Oakland Raiderettes is a highlight among lowlights. 

BRONCOS LOOK TO ROMP IN RAIDER NATION

You kind of get the feeling things aren’t going that well for a National Football League team when one of the top items on its pimped-up website gushes over the fact that Brandi has been named Top Cheerleader for Week 13.

Now, after examining the pictures very closely (smile), Brandi appears to be doing very well, even if her Oakland Raiders are sagging with a 3-9 record and losers of five straight.

It seems the ornery fans at O.co Coliseum are the only folks dressed in black and silver who will hurt you in Oaktown these days. What has 1,000 legs and 12 teeth? The front row at Raiders’ home games!

In a turf-divided city that brought you such socialites as the Black Panthers, Hells Angels and East Bay Dragons, Raider Nation used to be the place where rival players developed the mysterious 24-hour flu and missed games.

Now, the Raider games are circled on the calendars as opportunities to pad stats and pick up easy wins. And football blogs are filled with Raider-haters throwing more garbage at the Black Hole.

The Denver Broncos, sporting a 9-3 record and zipping along with a healthy Peyton Manning calling the shots at quarterback, are in Oakland for Thursday’s lone NFL game.

All the experts expect the powerful Broncos – third-best offence in the NFL and winners of seven straight -- to kick the hapless Raiders, who will be playing with heavy hearts as the 66-year-old father of head coach Dennis Allen passed earlier this week due to cardiac arrest.

This pick is too easy.

Broncos will make it another miserable night for Raider Nation, even if Brandi and the Raiderettes give it 110 per cent.

MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK: GUNS AND DEADLY DRIVERS

MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK: GUNS AND DEADLY DRIVERS

Things that make you go hmmmm, besides your boss’s latest brainstorm:

While people who like guns and use guns often scream at the mere suggestion of gun controls, Jovan Belcher’s girlfriend and the Kansas City Chiefs’ linebacker are the latest examples of why guns in the wrong hands pose a serious threat to society. These incidents also cancel out the “opposed” votes.

So many people who buy guns for “protection” or “recreation” often end up being the victim, by accident, suicide or via domestic/neighbourhood dispute.

Then again, when it comes to gun ownership, you can legislate everything except intelligence. RIP to Kasandra Perkins, Belcher and good luck to the three-month-old daughter left behind without parents.

As Christmas season fast approaches and people’s patience becomes thinner than my savings account, why is it necessary for self-centred people to park their vehicles backward in a stall, when parking nose first would save a ton of time and make the people behind them much happier?

And, despite all the pleas to not text and drive, or talk and drive, or drink and drive, why are these illegal acts on the rise?

Instead of raising our taxes every few months to feed the money-sucking monster that is TransLink and highway improvements, why not start raising needed revenues by fining motorists and breaking these deadly/illegal behaviours?

And if fare evasion is still a serious issue on SkyTrain, why not have officers on the trains or at the stations stopping it or handing out enforceable fines?

Finally, if it is OK for people to knock on my door when I’m sleeping in the morning to pitch books, candies, religion, whatever, is it OK when I get home at 2 a.m. to knock on their doors? Just asking!

STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND!

Geroy Simon would look super, man, in a Roughriders' uniform in 2013.

By Ward Kurenoff, DMN

 (Doesn't Mean Nothing)

The Second Cutest one in the family!


STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND ...

Was many years ago that I left home and came this way

I was a young man full of hopes and dreams

But now it seems that all is lost and nothing (West Division Final this year) gained ...

-- Lyrics from Iron Maiden ... Stranger In a Strange Land

Couldn't help but think that over the last few weeks if "Superman" -- a.k.a Geroy Simon -- may be feeling somewhat this way considering his current situation with the Lions. Should he stay or should he go?

Hey it's a tough job!

Comments flying around these days may have him wondering what more he has to do to go and end his career his way and on his financial terms. (If you remember how Wally Buono dealt with now-Regina realtor, Jason Clermont ... all class by the way, but Wally knew what was going on in terms of player personel).

After Coach G (you'll see what I mean shortly) entering the league in 1999 and finding his way to become the CFL's best with 15,787 yards (thank God my beer fridge isn't that far from me) it now has become talk around here that Wally may (nothing official, just my feeling) offer Geroy a lower salary or part ways with him. Selfishly, I would like to see Geroy in a Riders' jersey next year as I perceive the Riders are missing that component of clutch catches when it is second and 8, etc., when the defence covers Dressler and Getzlaff.

Add Geroy and Carr in the Rider receiving core and who do you cover regularly?? Does make for interesting fodder.

* * * *

Answers to four B.C. Lion players on the "bubble" because of their birth certificate.

Paul McCallum stays just as long as he doesn't have to kick any more 17-yard field goals in the West Division Final.
Arland Bruce will be a numbers victim because of all the up-and-coming receivers the Lions have.

Angus Reid who does a great job for Team 1040 Radio should stay if he wants, but may not get the chance. Hope he stays!

And you know my thoughts on Geroy. (Go Green, Barrin Simpson did!)

* * * *

Speaking of Coach G..

Pictured here with Cloverdale Bobcats (hope I got that right, Spilly) Sensational Full Back Aidan (a.k.a Aido) capturing the Cloverdale Pee Wee Football League championship last week, who are now playing for the provincials against Abbotsford this Sunday in Langley.
Good luck you two this weekend and let's hope Aido can be Running Free (some of you Maiden fans will get that one) all over the Abby defence on Sunday. Also, Aido can you tell Geroy to sign with the Riders? Would this be considered tampering?

* * * *

LET'S HOPE THE TREND CONTINUES

2011 Grey Cup BC Wins on home soil.

2012 Argos (Does Eric Tillman get an honory ring too) wins on home turf.

2013 It's in Regina! Just saying.

Grey Cup 2013 countdown Kicks off Thursday in Regina!

So with no NHL action on the horizon and the 100th Grey Cup over where this year 75 per cent -- that would be six out of eight for you math whizzes out there -- of the teams did not lose money. The two losers were in Southern Ontario, which means that Winterpeg didn't lose money. Just think if they had a real team.

* * * *

Any way, we had time to go around town to see the "sights" of North Surrey and there was Leo the Lion entertaining the crowd in attendance.

Young Luc Kurenoff with Leo.
Luc asked Leo how many playoff
games they won this year.
Leo answered: "See my number!"
Luc asked how many smart brothers
does my dad have. Leo said
"Same answer !"

 Have a great weekend folks...And I'll leave you with this:

No hockey, No CFL now...
If only work didn't get in the way..
Cheers to all!