It Feels Like Friday.

Knowing tomorrow is a holiday makes tonight feel like a Friday night.  Listening to the Riders-Argos game adds to the feeling.  And of course it's the last day of the month as well.

I'm Sorry, Roughriders.

I forgot you had a game yesterday.  So I missed you beating the Alouettes to end the season on a promising note.  It does make me wonder how many other people didn't watch yesterday either.  In any case better luck next year.

Riders Win.

Finally.  It seemed at times so far this season they might never win.  They played well, better than they'd played in a good while, and the number of penalties Winnipeg received didn't hurt.  And the funny thing is, with 8 games left in the season, the Riders could still make the playoffs.  It seems unlikely, but weirder things have happened.

Weird Sounds.

If you're in Regina, that really weird sound you heard a few minutes ago was a bunch of happy Roughrider fans.

If you're in Hamilton that weird noise you heard was a bunch of unhappy Tiger Cats fans.

There can be few more appropriate ways to end the history of Taylor Field than the Roughriders winning the Grey Cup at home.  And they did it convincingly. 

The big surprise of the game was probably Tom Hanks being there, apparently a guest of Martin Short.   Not that I saw them, since I listened to the game on the radio.  That's what I've done most of the year, so why stop now?

Some day I really have to go to Regina and see a game.  Just not in November.

Congratulations, guys.  Hopefully you can do it again next year.

Fan Phone.

Walking down the street today I heard someone's phone blurt out a familiar sound.  It was the opening bars of "Green is the Color," the old Saskatchewan Roughriders theme song.  These days it's pretty hard being a fan given how poorly they've done this year.  But there is a consolation, the BC Lions are every bit as bad this year, so the Riders aren't alone in the CFL West basement.

Green And White Go Grey (Cup).

That odd noise you just heard? It was a bunch of Saskatchewan Roughriders fans cheering, as the Riders just defeated the Calgary Stampeders in the CFL West final. Next week it's off to the Grey Cup, and their first Grey Cup matchup ever with the Montreal Alouettes. That fact kind of surprised me. I would have thought the two teams had battled for the Cup before.

Victories.

It wasn't the prettiest game ever. In fact the opening quarter was kind of ugly. But they ultimately rewarded the faith placed in them by the faithful. The Saskatchewan Roughriders won the 95th Grey Cup game, beating the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 23-19. The Grey Cup is the Canadian Football League's equivalent of the NFL's Superbowl, and this is the first time the Riders have won since the 1989 Grey Cup, a much more exciting and well played game. Still, you aren't going to hear any complaints here in Riderville. It was the first Grey Cup game as coach for CFL veteran Kent Austin.

While this was going on I was busy playing as well, but the game in my case was online poker. Having won a bit of money yesterday on a Pokerstars freeroll I decided on a whim to drop $1.65 on a Limit Hold 'Em tournament. Limit isn't a game I play as well as No Limit Hold 'Em, but much to my pleased surprised I came in 7th out of a field of 954. My winnings? $42.22, the most I've won to date on poker. But don't worry, I don't intend to blow my increased bankroll as quickly as possible, although I will be speonding part of it this week. Hopefully I can win a bit more.