ROBSERVATIONS: Having a great time at the Combine … the 40 is not my forte … thank you, J-Mo!
Please don’t tell anyone — this is our secret, OK? — but I broke the law.
Oh, yes I did.
But I do have a shaky alibi that hopefully will spare me from any deferred and/or Draconian discipline.
On Thursday at 8:52 a.m., I purchased one hour of precious parking time on Saskatchewan Drive. I built in some wiggle room in case my interviews extended beyond the allotted half-hour (9 to 9:30).
Upon arriving at the Delta Hotel — where this weekend’s CFL Combine is headquartered — I proceeded to yak with receivers Daniel Wiebe (University of Saskatchewan Huskies) and Kaseem Ferdinand (Carleton Ravens), both of whom were unbelievably cordial and quotable.
Both interviews quickly settled into casual conversation mode. It was a joy to meet them and to have the honour of telling their stories (which appeared Friday on Riderville.com).
Having concluded my media-related obligations for the morning, I made my way back to the hotel lobby, with roughly 12 minutes (whew!) to spare before my parking time expired.
Hold on! There’s Craig Dickenson …
I had a wonderful chat with the former Saskatchewan Roughriders head coach, who is now the Calgary Stampeders’ special teams co-ordinator.
Down the escalator came Bob Slowik, the Stampeders’ defensive co-ordinator. Craig quickly introduced us.
After chatting with Craig, I had one minute to reach my vehicle before running the risk of encountering the parking police.
Screeeech! There’s Rob Fry …
I first met Rob, now a prominent player agent, when he played high school basketball on behalf of Luther College High School.
Rob knows everyone, so our conversation was frequently and understandably interrupted by hellos and hugs. It is amazing how many people you meet simply by standing beside Robbie.
Location, location, location.
Hold on! There’s Solomon Elimimian!
Legendary linebacker. Legendary human being. President of the CFL Players’ Association.
Solly was chatting with Roughriders Vice-President of Football Operations and General Manager Jeremy O’Day. It was J.O. who signed Solly in 2019 and brought him to Saskatchewan as a player for what turned out to be one more All-Star season in his Hall of Fame career.
It was that kind of day — that kind of experience.
Everywhere you looked, there was a GM … a coach … a prospect … a media member … a friend.
It felt like a reunion.
Even in March, there was a Grey Cup feel, simply because the CFL community converged upon one city for one event.
The challenge, from this standpoint, is to know when to stop talking and start writing. This column, for example, should have been done four hours ago.
My tendency toward tardiness was also on display Thursday morning, when I finally returned to my car at 10:43 a.m. — nearly an hour after my permissible parking time had concluded.
To my not-inconsiderable relief, I was not greeted by a parking ticket.
If a belated fine should result from this very public disclosure, no worries.
I’ll just start a GoFundMe page.
(Please donate generously.)
MY 40-YEAR DASH
My time in the 40-yard dash: Tuesday.
That is only slightly less embarrassing than the painful truth.
Earlier this week, when members of the Roughriders’ business-office staff ran 40-yard sprints leading up to the Combine, my clocking was (gulp) 6.43 seconds.
Advanced age — the 61st birthday is looming — didn’t help. Neither did a lack of pliability/circulation in the joints, tendons, arteries, etc.
And the only stretching I did was while attempting the, er, joke with which I began this item.
On Tuesday at the AffinityPlex, a good time was had by all even though good times were not had by all.
Me, especially.
Josh Shaw, a former Regina Rams receiver, was the fastest. He completed the straight-ahead course, without asking for directions, in an economical 5.3 seconds.
Some of the business-office blazers enjoyed the sprinting so much that they lined up more than once.
Morgan Fleury, Digital Media Co-ordinator: Pair of 40-yarders.
Yours truly: “Paramedics!”
It was Rebecca Perigny, by the way, who implored me to take part in the proceedings after I articulated grave, well-founded concerns about: (a) Pulling a muscle, if one could be located; (b) Rupturing six of my favourite organs; (c) Chest pains; (d) As in d-fibrillator.
I was raised too well to refuse … so here are some reviews.
“You were actually surprisingly fast, compared to what I was expecting of you,” said Rebecca, our Manager of Marketing and Fan Engagement.
“I thought you would run a nine.”
Corey Mace was more optimistic.
“I judge a writer by his work, and thus you had ZERO time to train for such athletic feats,” the Roughriders’ Head Coach said, charitably.
“I would have had you at seven, flat. This is great news, Rob. You’re still faster than Mueller.”
Not the 2011 version of Marc Mueller.
Now the Roughriders’ Offensive Co-ordinator, Marc travelled 40 yards in 5.1 seconds while attending the Combine 14 years ago as a member of the University of Regina Rams.
“Mueller is now fast in your book, then?” quarterback Trevor Harris wondered, echoing the theme of the day.
The Roughriders’ play-caller was also sought out for a reaction.
“As long as you finished without getting seriously hurt, it’s a win,” Usain Mueller said, taking the high road.
I seriously injured the artificial surface at the AffinityPlex. Does that count? (No invoices, please.)
After being wholly responsible for the most glacial 40-yard dash anyone will ever endure, my cutting-edge cool-down consisted of being removed from the turf by a vacuum cleaner.
“It can’t be that bad,” receiver Shawn Bane Jr. texted from Florida, “but it definitely will give you perspective on how it’s not easy being fast.”
Bane Jr. makes it look easy.
In 2019, he covered 40 yards in a hand-timed 4.19 seconds.
His profile on Hudl shows a time of 4.26 seconds.
After 4.26 days, I am still hurting from the travails of Tuesday.
THAT’S ALL FOR JAMAL
Jamal Morrow announced his retirement the other day.
At 30, he is turning his football focus to coaching high school players in southern California.
Each one of them is very fortunate to have J-Mo as a friend and mentor.
Our careers intersected in 2023 — his final season with the Roughriders and my first in the team’s employ.
J-Mo’s time with the Green and White dated back to 2019. After spending his first CFL season on the practice roster, he emerged as a kick-return threat in 2021. His talents were then showcased as an all-purpose running back in 2022 and 2023. Then came a stint with the Ottawa REDBLACKS.
“What can I say?” he wrote on Instagram earlier this week. “This game has brought me so many memories and taught me so many lessons. I sit here with a heart full of gratitude.”
Anyone who has spent time with Jamal Morrow, all-star person, is also grateful.
ROLL CREDITS …
• Nice people who deserve a plug: Daniel Wiebe, Kaseem Ferdinand, Sean Kleisinger, Rob Fry, Gail Fry, Larry Fry, Craig Dickenson, Solomon Elimimian, Jamal Morrow, Henry Burris, Dave Naylor, Bill Baker, Dhel Duncan-Busby, Lucas Barrett, Joel Lipinski, Mary-Lou Gibson, Randie Gibson, Colby Collins, Channing Masuhara, Barry Zerr, Cindy Zerr, Rhett Burgess, Shawn Bane Jr., Trevor Harris, Marc Mueller, Lana Mueller, Larry Mueller, Kevin Beattie, Wes Kosteroski, Camden Lubkiwski, Joelle Hydaman, Jackson Findlay, Anthony Findlay, Richie Hall, Ed Tait, John Hodge, Lucas Barrett, Herb Fung, Mark Stephen, Bob Slowik, Larry Dean and Brendan Taman.
