ROB VANSTONES OBSERVATIONS

Robservations ...

* Wes Cates became the first member of the Saskatchewan Roughriders in his lifetime to rush for 83 yards on a single play when he took off down the left sideline during Saturday's 24-20 CFL victory over the visiting Edmonton Eskimos. A Roughriders running back had not gained that many yards on one play since Aug. 20, 1976, when Pete Van Valkenburg scored on a 90-yard run against the host Calgary Stampeders. Cates was born Oct. 3, 1979.

* Cates also had a 53-yard run in a season-opening 54-51 victory over the visiting Montreal Alouettes on July 1. The 83- and 53-yarders are Cates' two longest runs with the Roughriders, whom he joined in 2007. So much for the notion that Cates is in decline.

* You will not see a more picturesque play than Darian Durant's 37-yard touchdown pass to Roughriders slotback Andy Fantuz in Saturday's game. Durant threw a perfect deep pass. Fantuz displayed soft hands and textbook pass-catching form while reaching up and grabbing the ball just across the goal line. Fundamentally, a play of that calibre is difficult to top.

* I don't understand the fuss over Eskimos middle linebacker Maurice Lloyd visiting the Riders' locker room after Saturday's game. Lloyd spent three years with the Roughriders and made many friends here. Many of those friends are still with the Roughriders. This is a sport — not warfare — and it's an exaggeration to refer to this as fraternization. What other opportunities does he have to catch up with his buddies? It's an eight-team league. Players are more nomadic than ever. Everybody knows everybody. What's the big deal? Hostilities, if there are any, can be suspended when the game is over. Kudos to the Riders' brass for not subscribing to the militaristic, us-against-them mindset.

* The scenario was reversed after the 1989 Grey Cup. After Saskatchewan's classic 43-40 victory over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Roughriders slotback Ray Elgaard visited the losing team's locker room. He wanted to commend the Tiger-Cats on a fine showing. It was a classy gesture.

* Last season, Roughriders fans often lamented a perceived lack of halftime adjustments. This year, nary a word has been heard on that topic. The 2010 Roughriders are a terrific second-half team . . . so far. Several ingenious calls by offensive co-ordinator Doug Berry have helped matters.

* "On Roughriders'' should be played at every Saskatchewan home game during an anniversary season — and that includes the 101st, 102nd, 103rd and 104th anniversaries. Etc.
* Memo to the Roughriders: Bring back the halftime dog show!
* When suggesting possible endorsements by Roughriders employees, how could I have forgotten Brent Hawkins Cheesies and Ken Miller Genuine Draft? And, honestly, local florists should have been all over Richmond Flowers III. (Thanks to Mitchell Blair, Rod Pedersen and Doug Russell for pointing out the glaring omissions.)

* Unfortunately for the fine people of Indian Head, the Kraft Celebration Tour will land elsewhere in Saskatchewan — namely Outlook — on Aug. 25. As part of the tour, TSN's incomparable duo of Jay Onrait and Dan O'Toole will host an edition of SportsCentre from Outlook. It promises to be must-see TV. There is not a finer duo of sportscasters, anywhere, than the highly comedic and always informative Onrait and O'Toole.

* Can somebody, somewhere, please explain why Darryl Sutter is still the Calgary Flames' general manager? The recent return of the hopeless Olli Jokinen to Calgary — at $6 million for two years — should have spelled the end of the Sutter regime.

* Only 52 more sleeps until NFL Sunday Ticket.

* Everyone should visit New York City in their lifetime. It doesn't even have to be an expensive trip. Just spend every day vegetating in Central Park.

* Nice people who deserve a plug: Darian Durant (there is not a better interviewee in the CFL), Paul Godfrey, Jay Onrait, Dan O'Toole, Troy Mick, Richie Hall, Jim Daley, Karen Brownlee, Cari Speers, Bev Greenfield, Eric Dove, Eileen Forrieter, Shawn Knox, Roger Currie, Dave Arnold and Michelle Hugli.

* And let's not forget Henry Burris!
rvanstone@leaderpost.canwest.comRead more: http://www.leaderpost.com/sports/Robservations+Riders+Cates+records+longest+since+1976/3306933/story.html#ixzz0uPjr1DEx