Riders - Windy Game Day

I hate the Weather Network when it comes to their dealings with wind. When wind is mentioned, it is always forecast lower than Environment Canada and gusts are not part of their current readings or predictions. If you go by them, today might not seem like a bad day (wind west at 35.) To them, they might be surprised that I was awakened at 5:45 AM by a howling wind from the West gusting to near 80 KM per hour. Where their cozy Weather Network offices are located in Greater Toronto, they issue warnings at that level of wind. It's a weekly occurrence here.

The more reliable wind forecast comes from Environment Canada, or the "weather office," as you farmers might call it. They are predicting a west wind at 50 gusting to 80 KM/h this afternoon. It will shift to south, 20 KM/hr overnight. Not in the evening, as is usually the case. In fact, we're supposed to be windy here right through Wednesday.

What does this mean for the Riders? It means they have to win the coin toss and take the wind in the first quarter. Letting Calgary do so could take our fans out of the game (and by the second quarter, many of them without ski goggles my have their eye lids blown off.)

The second half will be played after sunset. This brings hope that the wind will taper off somewhat (20 k from the south overnight.) I predict a cross wind for the second half, somewhat less gusty in the fourth quarter. It may even shift to the south by late in the game. In the olden days, Ron Lancaster had a direct phone line to the weather office in his dressing room.

It's going to be windy and unpleasantly cold. Maybe unbearably cold. Maybe the worst weather in years for a Rider game. It's good the Riders' bench is on the west side, it should be somewhat sheltered.

But will Eric Tillman be criticized by the end of this game for bringing in a lukewarm Corey Holmes because "he's a good guy" and "a friend"? Or will Corey have a breakout game and become a Saskatchewan hero on a whole new plane?

More importantly, how many Riders have rattlely windows like mine and might be awake predawn wondering what the day has in store?

It's going to be windy in Winnipeg, 40 gusting to 60, but this 80 KM/hr business we're going to have here is insane.

Dress warm. Consider goggles and:

Go Riders!