Kick off is just under an hour away. For Sask expats (or the just plain curious) who can’t get the game on TV, you can listen live at 620 CKRM Regina (and get a better play by play than the CBC). From the reports coming out of a completely befuddled Toronto, the stands are going to be about 75% green&white.
As an indicator of just how big a deal this game is for the province – yesterday’s Regina Leader Post featured 32 pages of coverage.

At times it wasn’t pretty, but congratulations to Kent Austin, the Riders and the “Nation” – Grey Cup Champions.

And special tip-o-the-hat to Premier Brad Wall and the SaskParty – for removing the NDP jinx from office and making a Grey Cup win possible again.
From a dog show list I belong to:

“The streets are KAOS….oops..I mean Chaos!!!!! Albert St and Vic is impassable, the intersection had to have 1000 people standing on the streets and sidewalks. The Albert St bridge is packed with
cars and people walking carrying flags open beer, which will get them in trouble, Horns honking…..and jsut bedlam!
I ran into Joyce D. ( WF Terriers) at my parents apartment lobby, and she said there was a totally naked guy running down Albert St. between the cars….she said she forgot her camera! hahaha….We made it out to Victoria via McIntyre and headed east to home…..the noise and traffic is incredible…what a great win for all of Saskatchewan!!!”

Twas the night before Grey Cup, and all through the Dome,
Not a creature was stirring, but the gophers back home.
The players were nestled and snug in their beds,
While visions of Grey Cup Rings danced in their heads.
When out on the field, there arose such a clatter,
Kent sprang from his bed to see what was the matter,
Away to his window, he flew like a flash,
Threw aside the Green Curtains, and Silky White Sash.
And what did he see with his wondering eye?
But a sea of Green Revelers and a furry brown guy.
“That looks like Dominguez, and Flick and Fantuz!”
“Its way after curfew! Do they want us to lose??”
So, out of his room and down to the field,
Coach Austin stormed out with a fury to wield.
As he went through the tunnel, the ground shook with a beat,
From the dancing and prancing of ten thousand feet.
“Hey Coach,” cried a voice, “Whatcha doing down here?”
It was Szarka and Schultz, and they were handing out beer!
Chucky and Chick were grilling up Dogs,
With Burgers being served by O’Day and the Hogs.
Crandall cooked Hot Wings, Joseph grilled steak,
While Cates, Holmes, and Hughes helped Makowsky serve cake.
“This is nuts!” Austin shouted, “It’s one-thirty AM!”
“I expected some revelry, but this is mayhem!”
Eric Tillman tapped Austin, ” You’re not Eagle Keys -”
“But I’m not Berry, or Gotta, or Gregory – so PLEASE!”
“You’re all waddling around here like Wascana geese!”
“And in need of a dance coach like Donald Narcisse.”
“Now, you’ve all had your fun, so back to your rooms.”
But then Austin’s nose picked up the barbecue fumes.
Then Green Is The Color rang out through the air,
As Congi and Boreham played Banjos with flair.
On Davis, on Johnson, on Coach Ritchie Hall,
Even old Alex Smith flashed a smile after all,
On Lloyd, on McCullough, on Hunt and on Perry,
On Kornegay, Frazier, and yes, even Kerry.
The skydome then filled with a soft greenish glow,
And the whole Rider Nation set poised for a show.
An S and a wheat sheaf then formed in the air,
And a smile took the place of Coach Kent Austin’s glare.
Then everyone there, the players, the fans,
They formed a big circle by all holding hands,
Then right in the centre appeared the Grey Cup,
Which Fairholm and Ridway and Elgaard picked up.
They handed it over to Ritchie and Kent,
Who called Kerry and Eddie, and off the Cup went.
It was passed round the field, past heroes to present,
While Gainer dug holes for the Blue Bomber Pheasants.
That music was heard coast to coast people say
And they say Rider Pride grew three sizes that day.
Everyone left there dreaming of Blue Bomber doom.
And they sent all the Banjos to Troy Westwood’s Room.
GO RIDERS!
h/t John Gormley
Open thread on Sunday’s game.

🙂

(post game scene at Albert and Victoria, Regina.)
h/t Green Zone

(via Regina Leader Post)

Goes horribly wrong.
(Vote here).
(CFL Western Final open thread)
Update – Those cheatin’ Lions… have they no shame?

Enjoy today’s sweet taste of victory. but never, ever forget …

Alberta-style football, over the past 16 years, has featured such terrifying events such as many home playoff games and 6 Grey Cup championships; 3 each from division rivals Edmonton and Calgary. In addition to playoff success, Alberta-style football also features a two-tier ownership as Edmonton is a publicly owned team while Calgary is privately owned.

“As you can see, the management of the Roughriders has risked change to follow Alberta and, now look at what’s happened,” continued Calbert, “Not everyone has access to a ticket to a game anymore, the wait times at the concession stands have increased dramatically, and, with the team now offering Rider shares, they are well on their way to being privatized.

“I miss the days when our team was a bunch of meek and mild lovable losers that played in front of a half empty stadium and had to beg for money every year just to stay in operation. That was the kind of team the entire country embraced. Now look at the dark path they are travelling!”

Heh. Saskabush is back.

(bumped)
Listen here.
From the comments – “As an Albertan, I’m jealous…”
For those who don’t have time for the full thing, Richard Evans has captured the final 5 minutes at No Libs. Highly recommended!

Spotted at Calvert’s final news conference today….

Tuesday Where-Have-We-Seen-This-Before? Update:

“To make amends, the teens have committed to helping Alm’s team take down the signs on Thursday morning following today’s provincial election. Alm shook Hamilton’s hand and thanked him for taking the initiative to come forward and make reparations.
“I do appreciate that,” Alm said before the boys left the office.
But he didn’t appear completely satisfied when he took reporters to a back room to view the damaged signs. He held up a large one, ripped nearly in half and defaced in permanent marker with the word “fag” written under Alm’s photo and a Nazi swastika on his forehead.

(Currently, there are 58 seats in the Saskatchewan legislature, NDP with 30 – the SaskParty 28. )

And don’t forget to make your final trades in the Saskatchewan Election Market! These online markets have a habit of being pretty good predictors.

SaskNDP.ca

“I am proud to be a member of Premier Lorne Calvert’s NDP team that wants to make life better for all Saskatchewan people,” she said.

She’s also a member of the Facebook group, “Elaborate schemes about burning down Walmart is the hottest pillow talk.”
Where do they find these people?
Update – Well, that didn’t take long. Her membership has gone *poof*. SDA gets results!
(h/t to Mark in the comments)

They’re not going down with a fight!
Without a clue, maybe, but not without a fight.

The Lorne Calvert Election Sign Generator

From the Lornerator Hall Of Fame

Remember to save your sign to your own computer before emailing it to me as an attachment. I won’t promise to use them all, but I’ll try to feature some of the best. Or worst, depending on your viewpoint, I suppose.

The Lorne Calvert Election Sign Generator.

Because I just can’t help myself.
(Note: you’ll need to save your sign and host it on your own blog or webspace if you want to display it. If you think you’ve been especially clever, send me the file by email, and I”ll consider setting up a page with a few of the best. )

I’m going to burn in Hell for this….

Which is why I brought marshmallows!

“What really struck me though was that Calvert was riding in this old RV that had blue smoke puffing out of the tailpipe. It had to be at least 15 years old. It looked like it was from a different era.”
Tales From The Doorstep. Grab the Kleenex.
“Will trade for Rider playoff tickets.”
Don’t forget your election market trades for today!
Birkbeck predicts and so can you – in the comments. There are 58 seats up for grab, currently the NDP hold 30, the SaskParty 28.

By invoking the three most dreaded words in the Saskatchewan language, the SaskParty leader has just deep-sixed privatization as an election issue among the water-cooler debating set. Those words?
“Changing the clocks”.
Check the deadbolts and load the shotgun, Martha. There’s no telling what Hell is about to be unleashed …

This is so sad.

Not even an offer of “free money” is enough to get his supporters to bet on Calvert.
Look out your windows NDP’rs… those aren’t raindrops. Those are Tommy’s tears, falling down from heaven.

So far, the best take on Karwacki.
“Lying Ass Lorne”– on gas tax revenues.
Don’t forget to play the Saskatchewan Election Market! My tip: “NDP shares are currently underpriced”.
Another good omen for the SaskParty – because, as every Rider fan knows, we have never won a Grey Cup under an NDP administration.
Hey, Lorne – 1982 called. They’d like their bogeyman back.

The Vandalism Continues…. “No More NDP” signs placed by a private citizen (they were mounted on large round bales near Hwy 7) were torched last night. And who’s the “scary” party, again?
(I’ve chuckled every time I’ve driven past this display this past week. If someone can pop out and get me photos, I’ll post them).
Add your election links or comments.