It’s my Parting Shot for my reactions to the headlines in today’s Star-Phoenix Sports Section…..

First headline…Unblemished record hides the Riders’ small blemishes as they aim to maintain streak. My reaction…once again, as I said after the team improved to 3-0, Rider Nation should wait to grouse about the team’s play until they actually lose a game! At that point, fill your boots and tell yourself, me and anyone who really cares to listen just how smart of a football expert you are – that you saw what was coming out of the pre-season, etcetera! Whatever, the Saskatchewan Roughriders are 4-0, for a second straight year – enjoy it while it lasts!!

Next headline…Experienced depth benefits Roughriders, Key takeaways from victory over Lions as team enters bye week a perfect 4-0. Reaction…Actually, I’m going to fill my boots and tell you what a football expert I am – just because I have this forum to do so. Let me remind you of what I said back on Monday in this commentary, and I quote, last year, injuries started to hit the Green and White around this time and they were 5-8-1 the rest of the way. This year’s Riders are already dealing with injuries, and are overcoming that with solid depth – seemingly – at all positions. So far! It helps that the defence and A-J Ouellette are having banner starts to 2025! If only I had the ability to hang around the know-it-all Regina media snoops and regale them on a daily basis with my veteran background in covering all sports – not just hockey!!

Last headline…McQueen, Reschny, Lewandowski hear their names called at draft. My reaction…I’m thrilled for all three to have their initial dreams realized, having an N-H-L landing place once they’re ready to make the jump! It’ll be fun for me to see McQueen and Lewandowski continue to develop up close from my perch in the broadcast booth. I will be curious to see how 18-year-old Reschny progresses at the University of North Dakota this season. I hope he does well, I really do! I just hope Cole and, more importantly, his family and agent understand what they’re getting into. He’ll have to take a full slate of classes and maintain a 2.3 grade point average. While a 57-and-a-half per cent average doesn’t sound tough, professors don’t lean on you in university anywhere near like grade school teachers do. The motivation comes from the student-athlete, hence the word “student” comes first in that description, even though the “athlete” part is what drives the youngster the most! I also hope everyone in the Reschny camp knows that he’s going to be coming up against opponents upwards of 25-years-old, some already married with children – not an easy row to hoe for an 18-year-old freshman! Good luck, Cole. I hope I’m wrong, but I think you’ll need it!!

That’s my Parting Shot. I’m Les Lazaruk…and it turned out nice again!