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

First headline…Roughriders showing their championship traits again, Reigning Grey Cup winners breeze past hapless RedBlacks. My reaction…I went through this back on Monday, which leads me to the strange ways of today’s, so-called, major daily newspaper. They only print an edition five days out of a week – taking Sunday and Monday off. That kind of schedule reminds me of the old days of small towns declaring which was their additional retail day off during the week in order to be open Saturday, so that average working people can do their shopping – and, Monday was usually that off-day. So, with all that said, you’d think that the Tuesday edition would have the three stories in the sports section that are in today’s edition, but no! Amazingly so!! I must also point out that the Tuesday paper gets delivered to the Saskatoon Media Group at the same time the Saturday paper does – sometime during the weekend! Insane!! Now, what I will add in regard to the actual headline and story, is head coach Corey Mace’s “next man up” mantra, when it comes to injured players needing to be ably replaced isn’t just coach-speak. It is expected – and has been executed extremely well – by the Green and White for all three seasons that Mace has been at the helm!!

Next headline…High hopes for Hilltops – again – in defence of national title. Reaction…those high hopes are also the expectation for football fans in Saskatchewan. When it comes to the Riders, the Hilltops and the Huskies – the feeling has become amongst the public that anything less than a title is a disappointment! That’s a large burden to carry, but the teams do an amazing job with it!!

Last headline…Powerful Als send a strong message to rest of the C-F-L, Dominant performance against Elks solidifies Montreal as the team to beat so far this year. My reaction…ah, those expectations for Saskatchewan football teams by fans is the same for Quebec football fans with the Alouettes and the university teams at Laval and Montreal. Look at last year – the Montreal Carabins beat the Huskies for the Vanier Cup and the Riders knocked off the Als for the Grey Cup. I’m willing to say that I see a Saskatchewan versus Quebec battle in both those championship games in November this year!!

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