STACKHOUSE SOAPBOX (Yorkton This Week Feb 8)

The story of a Weyburn family who racked up a $10 000 bill on roaming charges while on holidays to the United States is a remarkable one.  First of all, I think we all need to do a better job of educating ourselves as to what roaming charges actually are and why they are incurred.  I’m also surprised to read the lack of sympathy many of us have for that family, who admits to making the mistake.  Guaranteed, if the shoe was on the other foot, the ones criticizing would be the first in line asking for a break.  I also wonder what the ‘real’ cost to SaskTel is when it comes to roaming charges.  Is SaskTel ‘eating’ any of that by giving the family a break?  Or, are they simply sacrificing profit by forgiving the bill?

In a Canadian world of bad broadcasting talent, it’s nice to turn on the television in the morning to Global Regina and their morning show.  It’s very well done by both production and on-air.  There are no more potential stars out there like Peter Mansbridge, Lloyd Robertson, Ron MacLean, Bob Cole, Charles Adler, or Bob McCown anymore.  The talent is quite sub-par.  And, the corporations know that; but they also know that if you want to watch you will watch a bad announcer just as likely as you will watch a good one. 

It’s been a pretty good run in Saskatchewan with rock concerts as of late.  Theory of a Deadman put on a great performance in Regina at the Centre Of The Arts last Monday night.  It was a no frills show as far as extras are concerned; but the music was second to none.  They played all their hits and don’t sound anything like Nickelback, so for those people who like to throw around the Theory Of A Nickle Creed moniker, you can stop doing that because you really don’t know rock music by saying such a thing.  The lead singer of Theory could easily be a brother to Dean and Andy Katzberg.

Speaking of Nickelback, they’ll be in Saskatoon on the Friday of May Long Weekend.  Bryan Adams has just been announced for Regina during the Farm Progress Show in June.  It’s nice to see Saskatchewan getting major acts.

I thought Madonna’s performance at the Super Bowl Sunday night was pretty good despite some obvious lip syncing.  I don’t even know the name of the performer who flipped the bird at the camera and it’s a good thing because I’d hate for that person to become famous from such a boneheaded act.  I’d like to see a musician like that black balled from all future major playing engagements.

After being the victim of the RCMP’s ‘stop sign blitz’ last month; I am wondering if there isn’t something that can be done with those that are, continuously, breaking the rules when it comes to parking.  A couple of Saturdays ago there was a disaster at the Saskatchewan Science Centre in Regina where an SUV was boxed in by two vehicles.  One decided to park in front of it, another behind it.  Then, two days later an entire row of vehicles at the Gallagher Centre in Yorkton set up shop behind another row leaving barely enough room to get out. 

I whined last week about the lack of NHL stories that actually concerned hockey.  Everytime I turn on the tv, I see analysts breaking down a trade about a fourth liner for a fourth liner, or why certain hits warrant suspensions and certain hits don’t, or why the collective agreement doesn’t work for the players and/or owners.  Well, I was happy to see Sam Gagner steal the headlines with his eight point effort in a game last Thursday.  I haven’t seen any of the highlights as I’m still not moved to flick the channel to watch; but this is a start.  I did check the scoreboard one night (can’t remember which night) and there were three games played and all had scores that were 1-0 or something like that.  Moving on.

The SJHL is not at all like the NHL.  There are enough mistakes at the Junior ‘A’ level to generate excitement for a full sixty minutes.  Sure, the players are not as good as the NHL; but that’s part of what makes the SJHL fun to watch.  A 5-1 lead isn’t safe (ask Melville from their last encounter with Yorkton).  And, yet you just might see a goalie make 50-saves in a 2-0 win too.  When the Terriers and Millionaires meet in the playoffs this year, it will be the best hockey any of us will witness all year.

Nice person mentions this week to Denis Perron, Rob Nicholas, Derek Henkelman, Rod Steciuk, and Mike Reagan.