Monday Morning Meissnervations

It's Monday. Here's what's happening.

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Before talking about anything else, please allow me to remember my Dad. He passed away one year ago this past Saturday at the age of 88.

This time last year was a three-day period I'd prefer to forget. On November 5th, I received a call from home, saying Dad was failing fast and that I needed to get home. In preparing for the trip that evening, I dislocated my right pinky finger shutting our front door, necessitating a trip to the emergency room. The next morning, on the way to the airport in Milwaukee(We lived in Central Wisconsin at the time), we hit the largest deer either of us have ever seen. My wife was driving(She has earned the nickname Killer. She's now ran over or into two oppossums and one deer since we've been married) with the cruise control set at 65 mph. It all happened in an instant, with a very brief flash of deer, then air bags in our faces.(The power used to propel the air bags doesn't smell good at all!) We were thankful that no one was seriously hurt, especially our Jimmy, who was just about 5 1/2 months old at the time. In fact, he barely stirred, then went right back to sleep. We returned home, I was able to rebook my flight for later in the day and I made it home to Portland, Oregon that evening.

As it was late, I planned to go see Dad the next morning, but sadly, he passed early the next morning. Arrangments were made, services were held and life went on. One of the best moments of the service was when, after I gave the details of Dad's life, friends were allowed time to comment. The son-in-law of Ray Williams, Dad's best friend from his days at Boeing, stood and talk about how Dad bragged about and was proud of his grandson Jimmy. After not being able to realize my plan to bring Jimmy for a visit to meet his Grandpa, that made me feel very good.

I miss my Dad. Maybe he wouldn't have won a Dad of the Year competition and maybe we didn't always get along like some sons did with their parents, but he was my Dad, and that's what counted. At the end of the day, we knew we loved each other.

I love you Dad. Thanks for all you ever did for me. I hope I can be as good to Jimmy as you were to me.

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First things first. The World Series is over. The Yankees beat the Phillies in six games. They won their first title in the first year of the original Yankee Stadium and they won #27 in the first year of the new Yankee Stadium. As long-time Yankee voice Mel Allen would say" How about that?"

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The Saskatchewan Roughriders beat the Calgary Stampeders 30-14 Saturday, winning their first West Division title since 1976. Darian Durant was spot on all night long, pretty remarkable considering how much he struggled in an embarrassing loss in Hamilton the week before.

The Riders receive a bye into the West final, to be played in Regina on Sunday, November 22nd, beginning at 4:30p.m. EST against the winner of this coming Sunday's West semi between Edmonton and Calgary. Both games can be heard on 620 CKRM radio, with the link to listen on the right side of this blog. The West semi is this coming Sunday at 4:30p.m. EST between Edmonton and Calgary. You can hear the game at http://www.620ckrm.com/.

The East semi is this Sunday also. With Winnipeg's loss at home to Hamilton yesterday, BC gets the third spot in the East as a crossover team. The Lions finished 8-10, while the Bombers(who seemingly didn't make a lot of friends this season) finished 7-11. Hamilton hosts BC this coming Sunday, at 1:00p.m. EST. You can hear that game at http://www.team1040.ca/bclions/ or http://www.900chml.com/ with kickoff set for 1:00p.m. EST.

Saskatchewan hosts the West final on Sunday, November 22nd at 4:30p.m. EST, while Montreal hosts the East final that same day at 1:00p.m. EST.

The 2009 Grey Cup championship game will be played in Calgary on Sunday, November 29th, with kickoff set for 6:30p.m. EST.

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The Tampa Bay Lightning should move all their games to Montreal. Two goals in the first, one in the second and outstanding goaltending by Antero Niittymaki led them past Montreal 3-1 on Saturday. Tampa Bay, which lost the first game of a four-game road swing, finished the trip 2-0-1, including Thursday's 3-2 overtime loss at Ottawa.

The Bolts are home twice this week, Thursday against Minnesota and Saturday against Los Angeles. 7:30p.m. EST faceoff both nights at the St. Pete Times Forum. The crowds haven't been great so far, especially for the weeknight games. But this is a hard-working team and you'll like what you see. Check 'em out and maybe I'll see you there.

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The Oregon State Beavers were pretty impressive Saturday in defeating the Cal Bears 31-14. Sean Canfield was first rate, going 29-of-39 passing for 342 yards, 2 touchdowns and 1 interception, while also rushing for a touchdown. Jacquizz Rodgers carried the ball 25 times for 67 yards and 1 touchdown, Joe Halahuni caught 6 passes for 128 yards, and James Rodgers and Jordan Bishop caught touchdown passes. Justin Kahut kicked 4 PATs and 1 field goal and Johnny Hekker punted 4 times for a 40.3-yard average, kicking 2 inside the 20.

The Beavers became bowl eligible with their sixth win of the season, while also improving to 4-2 in the Pac-10. Oregon State hosts Washington next Saturday, with kickoff on the Beaver Sports Network(http://www.kpam.com/) and Fox Sports Net set for 3:30p.m. EST.

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Just another week of fun and frivolity in the NFL this weekend. Last Monday, New Orleans ended week 8 with a 35-27 win over Atlanta. Yesterday, the Saints went 8-0 for the first time in team history, beating Carolina 30-20. Arizona rolled past Chicago 41-21, New England came back to beat Miami 27-17 and Indianapolis edged Houston 20-17 to stay unbeaten(318 yards passing for Peyton Manning).

The surprising Cincinnati Bengals beat Baltimore(I want to hear the Ravens marching band one day) 17-7, Jacksonville slipped past Kansas City 24-21(Chiefs released troubled running back Larry Johnson today), Atlanta beat Washington 31-17(Giving Sherm Edwards play calling responsibilties after calling bingo in a retirement center is really working out well, isn't it?) and Seattle beat Detroit(the cure for everyone's losing streaks) 32-20.

Tennessee won again, beating San Francisco 34-27(135 yards rushing for Chris Johnson), the New York Giants, after winning their first five, lost their fouth straight, going down to San Diego 21-20 and Dallas beat Philadelphia in the Sunday night game 20-16.

Saving the best for last in week 9, Tampa Bay brought Buc-o Brucie and the creamsicle uniforms out of retirement yesterday and beat Green Bay 38-28, winning for the first time this season. First round draft pick Josh Freeman got his first start at quarterback and while not looking real sharp a lot of the time, did guide the team to the win, with his biggest pass of the day being a late TD pass to Sammie Stroughter in the right corner of the endzone, where no one else could have caught it. Perhaps the team should have started him beginning in week one. The results might not be any different than they are now(1-7), but maybe the added experience would have put him further ahead. The Bucs might not be real good, but they do work hard. Tampa Bay plays at Miami next Sunday and another solid effort will give them a chance to win.

Week 9 ends with tonight's Monday Night game, featuring Pittsburgh at Denver.

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As Jimmy gets more upwardly mobile(meaning he walks more than he crawls), he gets more and more adventurous. Here he is, proudly carrying an air filter he pulled out of a closet in his bedroom. And now that he's starting to run as well, they'll just be no keeping up with him. And to quote that great American philosopher Aaron Tippin, we "wouldn't have it any other way!"











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Okay, women have the Chippendales Dancer, us men have the Lingerie Football League. (http://www.lflus.com/) What's kinda funny about the LFL is that, while the season started on September 4th, our local team, the Tampa Breeze, doesn't open their season until December 4th, when they host the Chicago Bliss at the St. Pete Times Forum. Whatever. Talk about a tease, eh?

My wife and I have reached a deal: She'll let me go to a game if she gets to hold up a sign that says "SKANK." I agreed, as long as I get to hold up a sign that says "That's a NICE tight end!"

Let's just say I'm not holding my breath of getting to see a game. But, if y'all put together a road trip to Tampa, I'll sneak out of the house and go to a game with you.

I'll betcha no one goes to the concession stands during play at these games!

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Well, that's all for this week. For me, it's a consult with a surgeon today and another doctor's visit tomorrow. Let the good times roll, huh?

See ya next Monday!