I learned a long time ago in life never to say, "what else can go wrong?"
That's because usually that's when something far worse occurs, and the 2008 Saskatchewan Roughriders certainly don't need that.
Tuesday's revelation that Rider defensive line coach Ron Estay will begin chemotherapy treatments this week for an aggressive form of cancer is just another kick in the ribs to a team that's already on its knees, bleeding from the lip.
Watching Monday Night Football this week, the announcers were describing the woeful plight of the Pittsburgh Steelers, who were missing their top three running backs in Week 4. Remarkably, they were able to win on an overtime field goal.
Pshaw! The Saskatchewan Roughriders had the best record in the CFL two-thirds through this season despite longterm injuries to their top receivers, one of the best pass-rushing defensive ends in the league, and a myriad of other ailments which has sent the number of man-games lost into "the twilight zone", as General Manager Eric Tillman puts it.
And now Ron Estay is on the most serious injured list of them all.
Don't say it! Don't say, "what else could go wrong?"
Rider defensive coordinator Richie Hall, Estay's close friend, said the latest round of tests on the Hall of Famer came back negative and things look good. Let's keep our fingers crossed.
And as far as the rest of this season goes, the prognosis is FAR from bleak. Saskatchewan heads into a home-and-home series with Calgary beginning Friday night at Mosaic Stadium, and since they trail the Stamps by two points for first-place with five games left, it's being tabbed a must-win by the Green & White.
Former Rider coach Danny Barrett always said games are only 'must-win' if you're facing the end of your season, but in this case it applies to the Riders' goal of finishing in first-place. If they achieve that goal, it'll be the first time since 1976. But with their stable of injuries, I don't have my hopes up. It doesn't help matters that thousand-yard rusher Wes Cates will miss a second straight game with injury.
Tillman says the team will be healthy come playoff time, but there's concern by some over what type of physical shape they'll be in. But let's be honest; most players are banged and dinged up by playoff time regardless, and nowhere near 100%.
The goal remains to win a second consecutive Grey Cup which is rare, and even unheard of in these parts. And coach Ken Miller, who had fans and reporters proclaiming him Coach of the Year at Labour Day, will have his full personnel back for the most important time of the season.
Maybe he won't be so hedgy on the trigger-finger in the redzone, or on short yardage gambles, when he has the players in there he has confidence in.
For the first time this season, he was asked about the heat which is beginning to mount around him. He calmly deflected the question, saying there's no more pressure on him that what he puts on himself.
Cut him some slack and let him coach! And let's stay positive and hope for the best. That patience paid off last year in the best of ways.
(Rod Pedersen is the Voice of the Riders on 620 CKRM Radio)
