Saskatchewan Rough Riders IP Durant and Adams

Our local Trade Fair was today. It brought lots of businesses and lots of food for people to take in. Rider faithful lined up early to see the two Riders in person. I had my usual jerseys and two balls to get signed. For $5 towards a local charity, you were first in line with the guys to get a printed pic and autographs. I did something today I have never done with any autograph. I used some Goo Be Gone and cleaned the Durant auto off the ball.

Darian primed the pen and it blobbed on the ball. I was not a happy person so I was tickled when I heard the Riders coming were Marcus 'Chunky' Adams and Darian Durant. The two smiled, took pictures and signed autographs for 2 hours. Marcus played it up for my wife when he noticed her taking pictures.

The Saskatchewan Rough Riders well themselves as community team, meaning the whole province. Some of the guys stay in Saskatchewan in the winter and tour communities speaking to kids. They are always polite and never turn down a request for a picture or autograph.
The ball was resigned by Durant and now Adams and I love the outcome.

More pictures in the Sports Images section on the right side of my blog.

CFL Football--Saskatchewan Rough Riders IP

At our local Rider store this morning, two of the best CFL football players made an appearance signing autographs.  2008-2009 CFL Rookie of the Year, Weston Dressler and Darion Durant signed autographs from 11:00am to 1:00pm.  No catch, just promoting the Rider store and upcoming season.  They snuck up behind the waiting 100 or so fans and smiled for every man, woman and baby, and camera.  We were there by 10:25 to be 30 in line so not too bad.  I had a football, picture and jersey to get signed by both players, my wife had a #7 to be turned into a Dressler jersey, and her new Rider shirt to be autographed.  Rider players are always nice, the team sells itself as a provincial team and most players tick around in the off season to work other jobs, most love living in Saskatchewan.  Durant even signed a new contract moving into his option year.  We got our stuff signed and both got pictures with the guys and headed off.  We ran into someone we knew and they were messing around, grabbed my ball (not realizing it was signed) and the paint smudged.  UGGGGGHHHHHHH.  I was mad but could not say anything.  But I went to SportChek and bought another ball, told them to get it signed because my paint pen blobbed on the other ball.  So they did and I ended up with the other ball signed. Now, if you have never heard of Weston Dressler, click here to see this amazing football player.  3-4 inches taller and he's making millions in the NFL.

Oh My, Check this out! CFL Rider Football

This was the greatest CFL haul of the year. Every year the 2007 Grey Cup Champion, Saskatchewan Rough Riders hold a practice in Saskatoon instead of Regina. They hold an autographs session, then a practice. All the players are accessible and just hang around the entrance. Something like 70 players in camp and all 70 were there. A different approach this year that threw us for a loop but then turned quickly to a great thing. They had a bunch of JR Football players line up, which appeared like a autograph line. But the players came out high-fiving the kids and then mingling in the crowds. John Chick, a D-lineman walked down the isle of kids and someone asked him for an autograph, he motioned with his hands where he would go to sign. I just waited and he walked right over to us. I missed him on my 2008 Rider ball so this was cool. I turned right after and saw Andy Fantuz was signing. No one really saw where he was because in 10 mins, there was a 15 min wait to get any where near him. I met up with Marc Parenteau, who visited our school in May and is also a very talented Offensive Lineman for the Riders. I chatted with him for a bit and went for more autos. I got Jason Clermont and very end, I have him on another ball but it was good to get him on the team ball. Seante Williams signed my ball, looked at it and said "This is a nice looking ball, better get it into a glass case." When the pro athletes comment on your items to get signed, makes the day even better! Last year I got 34 Autos on the 2008 ball, this year, 56. Oh Yah!

Marc Parenteau Saskatchewan Roughriders IP

Signed IP today, Saskatchewan Roughriders' Marc Parenteau. Great guy, great player and should be a starter this year.

Chris Szarka and Gene Makowsky-IP

Over the Trade show weekend, our town was visited by two Saskatchewan Roughriders. We were on our way to the Nickelback concert so time was kinda an issue. The deal was the local high school was fundraiser for a defibrillator so $5 or 2 players for $10 a picture to be signed after printed. Not a bad deal...So after a short wait I dropped $20 for the cause, laughed and said well I will get a football and jersey signed too. Some of my former students found me in line too, so I got them to get a smaller ball signed along with their hats too ( I then bought them a couple of Cokes). I have met both players before but the jersey is new so I added two more players (see earlier Rider post). More pics from the signing are in my Sports Image Section.

Oh my, they're where? A couple of Rider IP's

This morning my wife was looking though a local website, Kijiji and spotted a Family Expo in Saskatoon. Autographs from Saskatchewan Rough Riders Seante Williams and ex Lion & local boy, Jason Clermont from 11:00 to 1:00. We live 45 mins from the city so off I went. I am always prepared, I grabbed my jersey and small Pilsner Football and off to the city I sped. There was no line up, but it was set up for a long line. So like in the movies, I wandered through the line ropes to get to the players. Jason introduced himself and we chatted about golf and then I had my ball and jersey signed. Jason commented I had no numbers on it yet and I should go with his. It was a brief 2 mins or so but a great signing! Welcome home Jason!

Mike Abu Mechrek IP

The Riders will send out certain players each winter to promote reading in Saskatchewan. Mike Abu Mechrek visited our town to the delight of hundreds of school kids. Of course, it was more special after the 2007 Grey Cup Win. The sponsor is the store that pays for the player to visit the community and in turn, the player will visit the store to be with the fans. Mike is a great guy, funny and a real class act.