There is an old adage within the newspaper business that an editorial deal with topics which are of interest to readers, and if possible discuss topics which readers are already talking about.
While not exactly local to Yorkton, it is a fair bet that many of our readers will be focusing a lot of attention at the water cooler and coffee shop, about the upcoming playoff hopes of the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
That is not particularly surprising since the 'Riders are the province's only professional sports franchise. Even the most casual sports fan in our province follows the team; even those of us who have moved elsewhere tend to still follow the 'Riders in rather rabid fashion.
It is that loyalty to the 'Green and White' which means a large section of green in every road stadium the team plays, and the franchise sells more promotional materials than the rest of the Canadian Football League teams put together.
So when the Roughriders head into the playoffs they become the main topic of conversation whether you live in Regina, Prince Albert, or Yorkton.
This season the 'Riders have been a tale of two teams, the first under the practiced arm of quarterback Darian Durant who looked poised to take the 'Rides to a repeat of their 2013 Grey Cup.
And then there was the team which tail spun into bare mediocrity once Durant was injured and out of the lineup.
So after a solid start, the team stumbled toward the playoffs, managing to stave off relegation to the Eastern semi-final by defeating an Edmonton team Saturday facing an Eskimo team resting its key players for the more important Western semi-final.
It will be an Edmonton team with rested stars playing on home turf against our 'Riders this Sunday.
There remains hope in Riderville Durant will be at the helm in the playoff game and coming off weeks of the disabled list will turn the tide back for the team.
It might be a bit much to expect for a guy with rust on his throwing arm, if he starts at all, but it will bring the province together as well cheer, with our fingers crossed, that the team will prevail.
Few things make us feel any more part of our province than on those days our 'Riders play, and Sunday we will most certainly be part of a much larger collective supporting our team, and hoping for a win that will be the first step to another Cup celebration for us all.
