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

First headline…The Big Question – Will the Roughriders host a playoff game? Mature squad looks unlikely to falter as in previous years. My reaction…there’s a lot of mixed messages above the big picture and below the big picture on Page A-4 of today’s rag. The secondary headline to the main headline containing the question is pretty certain of answering the question in the affirmative. However, the quote at the top of the page from veteran writer Darrell Davis points out that, quote, with six games remaining in the regular season, it’s mathematically possible for two West teams to leapfrog the Roughriders and drop them into third place. While it’s Davis’ job as a journalist and columnist to point out the math, the notion that one of Winnipeg, B-C or Edmonton – along with Calgary – will overtake the Green and White in the standings over the final seven weeks of the regular season is preposterous! While I can see the Stampeders catching the Riders and taking away top spot because they’ve won the season series, it says here that there is no way in H-E-double hockey sticks that Saskatchewan pulls one of the great stretch run choke jobs in C-F-L history and prevents Rider Nation from getting to witness a playoff game at Mosaic Stadium! No way!!

Next headline…It’s unanimous: Spitting in sports is unacceptable, Three high-profile incidents within a week bring a “new level of disrespect.” Reaction…No poop, Sherlock! And, while we’re at it, how about getting male athletes to stop spitting, period, on the playing field?! It’s gross and not a good look!! If you need to spit, either swallow it – come on, it’s not that bad and it is your own saliva so you won’t get sick! – or get checked out for some sort of ear, throat and nose issue by a specialist and get the problem rectified!!

Last headline…Doctors seek restrictions on sports betting ads, saying they are a harmful influence on youth. My reaction…Our news poll question addressed this back on Monday with an overwhelming 95 per cent agreeing with the docs! So do I! It’s one thing to have an in-house predictions pool, as we have here with the Saskatoon Media Group, or a fantasy draft among friends. But, I’m so tired of watching non-produced commercials being attached to the live action that I severely wonder if we’ve taken the phrase, life is a gamble, a way too literally?! Seriously!!

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