Darrell Davis: Racquetball instead of football next week

Saskatchewan Roughriders training camp never used to conflict with the Canadian racquetball championships.

But this inexorable march toward an earlier CFL season means I might entirely miss Riders training camp for the first time since 1986. I’m on Racquetball Canada’s executive, so I have to attend annual meetings, then I stay to play in the week-long event.

This year’s nationals are in Langley, too far from the B.C. Lions’ training camp to visit high-priced quarterback Mike Reilly and some of the staff I interviewed when they were players, like general manager Ed Hervey and coaches DeVone Claybrooks, Drew Tate, Bryan Chiu and Nik Lewis. Last year in Winnipeg, I visited Blue Bombers camp for a quick “Hello” with Paddy Neufeld, Richie Hall and Paul LaPolice.

I’m glad the CFL has a new collective bargaining agreement and, starting Sunday, I would like to watch the Roughriders’ workouts to see if the defence changes without Willie Jefferson and with Micah Johnson, or if that receiving corps has improved. Until then I’m relying on the Green Zone and Rawlco Radio to keep me updated.