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

First headline…Harris cleared to return as Q-B, after big hit he wanted to keep playing but Riders didn’t want to take chances. My reaction…Keeping Trevor Harris out of the B-C game was the right call. I can handle Jake Maier as the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ quarterback for one game, here and there, as it is near impossible for a quarterback in today’s C-F-L to play every snap of every game! For the Green and White to reach the promised land of winning a Grey Cup for the first time in 13 years, they need a healthy Harris – or else!

Next headline…The Big Question: Are the Riders better than the Stampeders? Reaction…I’ll reserve real judgement until Monday and I’ll even wait to tell you what I think going in until tomorrow when T-F-P is here with Week 6 picks! Okay, I’ll go out on the limb and say that the Calgary offence scares me and it will take a herculean effort from the Saskatchewan defence to keep Vernon Adams Junior and company in check!!

Last headline…Your favourite sport – sponsored by a sports book – might have a problem, with betting endorsed by major leagues, folks aren’t shocked by scandals. My reaction…really, how can anybody be surprised that athletes are betting on sports. They get paid the salaries they get because you folks out there, the consumer, pays the freight – no matter how expensive! What are young, mostly single, athletes supposed to do with all that cash? Burn a hole in their pockets?! Workout and play 24/7 and not have any kind of life away from the stadium or arena?! Get serious!! I’d like things to return the way they were before legalized sports gambling became the norm and everything I hear about, see and read has a betting line attached to it – but the sports books pay a lot of cash for sponsorship and easily recoup it because everyone, fan and athlete, wants to hit the big return and show just how smart they are! Except when they lose their shirts, which happens more often than not, sadly!!

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