{"id":612776,"date":"2026-04-18T17:05:08","date_gmt":"2026-04-18T17:05:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/612776\/"},"modified":"2026-04-18T17:05:08","modified_gmt":"2026-04-18T17:05:08","slug":"robservations-darian-durant-loves-being-a-dad-ruff-start-to-todays-second-item-and-the-weekly-shout-outs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/612776\/","title":{"rendered":"ROBSERVATIONS: Darian Durant loves being a dad \u2026 \u201cRuff\u201d start to today\u2019s second item \u2026 and the weekly shout-outs!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Family is at the \u201c4\u201d for Darian Durant<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Saskatchewan Roughriders\u2019 legendary No. 4 feels blessed to share a household with four females \u2014 his wife (Sigalit) and three daughters (Amayah, 8, Talyah, 6, and Zoey, 4).<\/p>\n

\u201cZoey has just started gymnastics,\u201d Doubles said from Boca Raton, Fla. \u201cShe\u2019s the most athletic of them all. She\u2019s going to be something special.\u201d<\/p>\n

Like father, like daughter.<\/p>\n

The Durants\u2019 first child was born in January of 2018. Her full name: Amayah Taylor.<\/p>\n

And, yes, the \u201cTaylor\u201d is a tribute to dear old Taylor Field.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy daughters are starting to ask a lot of questions,\u201d Durant noted. \u201cThey\u2019ll type my name into YouTube. All these videos will come up and they\u2019ll sit there and watch some of my highlights. There\u2019s Jersey Day at school, so they\u2019ll get to go to school in my jersey.<\/p>\n

\u201cAmayah, especially, understands that Daddy was able to achieve something at a high level. She\u2019s also into gymnastics. She\u2019s a big Simone Biles fan. She sees how many people are in the arena when Simone Biles is doing her gymnastics routines. Then she watches our (Riders) games and sees how the fans are everywhere and sees our crowds.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019ll say, \u2018Wow, Daddy. I can\u2019t believe that you played in front of so many people. I can\u2019t wait to do that one day. I want to be just like you.\u2019 She understands now, right? It\u2019s great having these conversations with her.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow I can influence or motivate her little bit and say, \u2018OK, Amayah, if you want to perform on the biggest stage or if you want to be in front of a huge crowd, these are the steps you have to take when you\u2019re this young so you can reach that goal.\u2019 \u201d<\/p>\n

YouTube was in its infancy when Durant joined the Roughriders in a franchise-altering trade on April 12, 2006. In one deal, Saskatchewan acquired two future Grey Cup-winning quarterbacks.<\/p>\n

Kerry Joseph, who wore No. 4 for the Green and White in 2006 and 2007, capped the latter season by quarterbacking Saskatchewan to a 23-19 championship-game victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Three days earlier, he had been named the CFL\u2019s Most Outstanding Player.<\/p>\n

After Joseph was shockingly traded to the Toronto Argonauts on March 5, 2008, Durant requested and received what would become his trademark number. He previously wore No. 14.<\/p>\n

Durant led the Roughriders to Grey Cup berths in 2009, 2010 and 2013. He was at his absolute finest in the 2013 post-season, which culminated in a home-field Grey Cup win.<\/p>\n

Reflecting on his time in Saskatchewan, it is hard to believe nearly 10 years have elapsed since he last suited up for the Green and White.<\/p>\n

That was back on Oct. 29, 2016, for the final CFL game at historic Mosaic Stadium.<\/p>\n

(Oct. 29, 2016 was also the 62nd birthday of legendary Roughriders receiver Joey Walters. Walters and Durant\u2019s father, Israel, were basketball teammates in the early 1960s at Wilson High School in Florence, S.C. Small world!)<\/p>\n

Durant again mentioned his daughters when asked to reflect on his time in Saskatchewan.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can honestly say it\u2019s the biggest blessing of my life, besides my children,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was very fortunate, being able to be in Saskatchewan and start my career under the guidance of Kerry Joseph, (quarterback) Marcus Crandell and (offensive co-ordinator) Tommy Condell \u2014 guys who are such knowledgeable people.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen, going through my career, there were the ups and downs of not starting, getting hurt, losing Grey Cups, becoming a man, growing up, dealing with criticism \u2026 everything. You name it. It all molded me into a Grey Cup champion.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf I hadn\u2019t gone through all those things, then I don\u2019t know if I would be mentally strong enough to even handle the pressure of Saskatchewan.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s also the fans. Being in that place \u2014 such a small little dot on the map in Canada \u2014 I was able to influence people\u2019s lives. I was able to be part of people\u2019s last wishes before they passed away.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s just so much it has done for me. It has made me into such a thankful, experienced, grateful person. Going to Saskatchewan really changed my life.\u201d<\/p>\n

CONVERSATION WITH MY DOG<\/p>\n

I always knew Candy was a growler of rare intelligence, to accompany her undeniable charm, but I still underestimated her.<\/p>\n

Consider her mastery of NHL trivia!<\/p>\n

Me: \u201cWho is the Buffalo Sabres\u2019 head coach?\u201d<\/p>\n

Candy: \u201cRuff!\u201d<\/p>\n

On that career-threatening note, here is a list of the best Roughriders player(s) to hail from each 2026 Stanley Cup playoff city:<\/p>\n

Anaheim: This is a tie between Morris Bledsoe and Carl Bradford. Bledsoe, a quarterback, joined the Roughriders on a 21-day trial in October 1983. He attended training camp the following spring. Bradford, a linebacker, was on the practice roster in July of 2018.<\/p>\n

Boston: Beantown-born offensive lineman Roger Ellis played in three regular-season games with the 1964 Roughriders.<\/p>\n

Buffalo: Roughriders Vice-President of Football Operations and General Manager Jeremy O\u2019Day, who grew up in Lockport, N.Y., was born in Buffalo. A perennial All-Star centre, he played for the Roughriders from 1999 to 2010. (Also notable from Buffalo: Naaman Roosevelt.)<\/p>\n

Dallas: Thirty-five Roughriders roster players or hopefuls were born in the Big D. Let\u2019s go with Curtis Mayfield, who scored a team-high 12 touchdowns (nine on receptions and three on punt returns) in 1999 \u2014 O\u2019Day\u2019s first year with the Roughriders. Fast fact: O\u2019Day and Mayfield scored a second-quarter TD in the same game! Mayfield returned a punt for a 47-yard major on Nov. 5, 1999 against the host B.C. Lions. Five minutes later, O\u2019Day (who lined up as an eligible receiver) was wide-open in the end zone when he hauled in a seven-yard TD pass from Steve Sarkisian. (Sarkisian and receiver Rick Eber, a member of the 1973 team, are the best Roughriders players to emanate from Torrance, Calif.)<\/p>\n

Denver: Another tie. A Denverite has yet to make the Roughriders\u2019 active roster. The two candidates: Al Humphrey (linebacker, training camp 1975) and Ryan Clement (quarterback, practice roster, August 1999).<\/p>\n

Edmonton: Hall of Fame receiver Ray Elgaard was born in Edmonton. He grew up in Vancouver, mind you, but we\u2019re using birthplaces as a gauge.<\/p>\n

Las Vegas: Elgaard, who now resides in Las Vegas, was a teammate of defensive back Charles Anthony in 1992 and 1993. Anthony had eight interceptions, including five in 1993, over those two seasons.<\/p>\n

Los Angeles: Among the 53 candidates, offensive tackle Clyde Brock (a Roughrider from 1964 to 1975) is the sole Hall of Famer.<\/p>\n

Montreal: Three members of the Roughriders\u2019 Plaza of Honour \u2014 Reg Whitehouse (1992), Johnny Bell (1998) and Jeff Fairholm (2005) \u2014 were born in Montreal. Samuel, the Most Valuable Canadian in the 2025 Grey Cup, Emilus is a sure bet to make it four.<\/p>\n

Ottawa: Jim McFaul was a starting tackle with the Roughriders from 1949 to 1952. He played in the 1951 Grey Cup versus \u2026 Ottawa!<\/p>\n

Philadelphia: Tim Edwards, who played in 26 games over the 1995 and 1996 seasons, is the lone Philadelphia-born active-roster player in Roughriders history. Edwards registered three sacks on Sept. 3, 1995 to help Saskatchewan defeat Winnipeg (wait for it) 56-4. Elgaard caught two TD passes in the rout.<\/p>\n

Pittsburgh: Ron Lancaster grew up in Clairton, Pa., which is part of the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. Next!<\/p>\n

Raleigh: Running back Bobby Thompson (Plaza of Honour, 2007) was one of Lancaster\u2019s favourite targets out of the backfield. Thompson holds the Roughriders\u2019 record for the longest kickoff return (115 yards versus the B.C. Lions on Aug. 24, 1971).<\/p>\n

St. Paul: Jeff Bentrim, a Roughriders quarterback from 1987 to 1990, grew up in the St. Paul portion of the Twin Cities. He was a member of the 1989 Grey Cup championship team. Due to injuries, the ultra-athletic Bentrim was used as a slotback and kickoff returner late in the 1989 campaign.<\/p>\n

Salt Lake City: Middle linebacker Jake Dougthy registered 30 defensive tackles and one interception during seven games with the 2015 Roughriders.<\/p>\n

Tampa: In 28 games with the Roughriders, Anthony Allen (2014-15) rushed for 1,504 yards (averaging 5.8 yards per carry) and eight TDs. He added 48 receptions for 318 yards and three more scores. He rushed for 100-plus yards four times, peaking at 158 against Hamilton in the 2014 regular-season opener \u2014 his CFL debut. Also of note: A 15-yard, game-winning TD run with 28 seconds left in the 2014 Labour Day Classic. Make the final: Roughriders 35, Blue Bombers 30.<\/p>\n

ROLL CREDITS \u2026<\/p>\n

\u2022 Nice people who deserve a plug: Anton Amundrud, Darian Durant, Sigalit Durant, Amayah Durant, Talyah Durant, Zoey Durant, Mike O\u2019Donnell, John Lipp, Kelsey Lonie, Blake Tiedeman, Morgan Fleury, Brad Herauf, Anthony Allen, Bobby Thompson, Jeff Bentrim, Brent Ghiglione, Dr. Mark Anderson, Kelsey Rosenkranz and Mark Habicht.<\/p>\n

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