10 WEEKEND THINGS

Taking shots …

1 – THE “OTHER” QUEEN CITY: This week’s column comes to you from somewhere in an endless sea of waffle houses and fried chicken restaurants – in some cases a combo of both – in gorgeous Charlotte, North Carolina. We’ve made our way here to broadcast the IFAF Continental Americas championships and One Flag Football Championship hosted by USA Football all week. We’ll get into all of that in a second, but first, it’s our first visit to this beautiful city, the largest in the Carolinas, at a population of 2.6-million. That makes Charlotte the 15th-most populous city in America, and 7th-most in the South. From 2004-2014, it was the fastest-growing city in the USA but alas, it’s been deemed still too small to host a Super Bowl according to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. Panthers fans don’t seem to care for him.

2 – FLAG FOOTBALL: These are the world, and U.S., Flag Football championships running in two separate tournaments. It’s the fastest-growing sport in the U.S. with over 7-million players, and is also the fastest-growing sport globally. IFAF (International Federation Of American Football) and USA Football are hoping it becomes an Olympic sport in time for the 2028 Los Angeles Games, so it benefits the U.S. to have good competition around the world. Canada was represented by one Regina club team whose parents are all great friends of mine: the Struch’s, Adam’s, Zimmer’s & Clive’s, and coached by Football Saskatchewan boss Mike Thomas. I had occasion to visit with them ALL on the sidelines this week.

3 – SUPPORT: Why has it become so popular, so fast? USA Football CEO Scott Hallenbeck credits the fast-paced play, low cost, safeness, and the fact boys, girls and men & women of all ages can play. It doesn’t hurt that there has been HEAVY involvement from the NFL and the Carolina Panthers all weekend, with current and former players like Torry Holt, Steve Smith Sr., Tori Gurley and Steve Chinn all stopping by the fields. Holt, the Super Bowl XXXIV champ, actually spent all day everyday at the fields as the newly-named Global Ambassador for Flag Football. My broadcast partner Darren Dupont and I played Rock, Paper, Scissors for the chance to interview Holt at halftime of one of our broadcasts. Dupes won, but let me interview Torry anyway because he knew how much it meant to me. That’s the kind of guy Darren is!

Of course Torry and I exchanged contact info! Which leads me to …

4 – THE BROADCAST: Regina-based startup HomeTeam Live is the official streaming partner of USA Football and tabbed Darren Dupont, Sarina Taylor and me to broadcast the games. Co-founders Logan Fraser & Tanner Goetz said they wanted broadcast veterans whom they could trust in this massive venture which not only streamed on USAFootball.com and Hometeam Live, but also saw featured games carried on the Olympic Network live across the USA. Friday was an absolute grind, calling six consecutive games over nine straight hours of coverage. But what a blast! I used to wonder how Gord Miller could call two or three games per day at the World Juniors. Then this happened!

5 – USA! USA! USA!: Friday night’s spectacle at Championship Field at the USA Performance Center in Charlotte was a scene I’d never before witnessed. To preface, it was so jaw-dropping that I actually never thought to pull out my phone for photos or videos because I was too overwhelmed. That’s a first. The stands were jammed to capacity and split right down the middle between boisterous fans of Mexico and USA. Their national mens & womens teams were meeting in back-to-back gold medal games, carried on the Olympic Network and streaming. LIVE! What a blast it was calling, “TOUCHDOWN … USA!”

The American men won 46-42 while the American women won 26-21 in a game where hometown hero, Madison Fulford of Charlotte, scored four touchdowns! It was a true Sports Illustrated moment seeing the elation on Madison’s face when Sarina interviewed here amongst the bedlam. The sport is fantastic for television!

You wanna know what broadcasting U.S. sports is like? HomeTeam had 4,000 viewers for A TEST of their feed of a U.S. game on Tuesday’s Day 1. By Friday, there were 26,000 streaming viewers plus the TV audience on the Olympic Network. Hol-ayy.

6 – BARNSTORMING: In our halftime interview, I noted to Torry Holt that his St. Louis Rams teammate Kurt Warner put the AFL on the map, becoming the first AFL alum (Iowa Barnstormers) to be named NFL MVP and win a Super Bowl. Does Torry think a Flag Football player will become the first to make it to the NFL? “It’s coming,” Holt nodded. Now that gives kids something to aspire to! With the NFL and its players backing Flag Football and now national television deals (we’re told NFL Network is considering re-airing the gold medal games) this sport is well on its way. What a thrill to be the Voice of it! I just want to have fun, see new places and meet new people at this point in my life. This is it!

THANK YOU HOMETEAM, LOGAN & TANNER!

7 – CFL WEEK 5 NOTES: No complaints over the CFL’s current TV deal with CBS Sports Network, one of endless sports channels in America. They may only show 50% of the games but those seem to be the games I’m able to watch. The rest are streamed flawlessly. … So I caught Friday’s Sask 12-11 victory over Edmonton. Let me get this straight: the Riders are 3-1 in a season where many predicted them to open 1-5 but people are complaining about boring games? And some are now getting on Trevor Harris’s back? Wow. … The Calgary Stampeders are not what they used to be. That’s something for them and their fans to figure out but it appears the Winnipeg Blue Bombers waited for the Stamps to make a mistake Friday night, which they eventually did, and choked them out 24-11. That used to be the Stampeders’ modus operandi. Calgary is now 1-3 and I’m guessing the fact-finders are scrambling to find out when’s the last time that happened? There’s plenty of time to fix things but again, the old white mare ain’t what she used to be. … And then on Saturday night in another game on CBS Sports Network, Ottawa’s Jeremiah Masoli was unable to finish the game which caused his RedBlacks to lose 21-13 in Hamilton. It was the Ticats’ first win of the season. Hamilton will assuredly not be apologizing for that. … The week closes on Sunday with a rematch of the 2006 Grey Cup: Montreal at BC. Go Cody Go! The Lions will be looking to atone for their embarrassing showing in the Braley Bowl where QB Vernon Adams Jr. threw a franchise record six interceptions. … I saw somewhere someone say, “If it wasn’t for the six interceptions, BC’s a better team than Toronto!” Uhhh, last time I checked, the quarterback is part of the team. And if my aunt had …. ah never mind. … Edmonton broadcaster Jason Gregor wrote this week that the Elks have never recovered from the firing of GM Ed Hervey, and I felt that. You can thank former President Len Rhodes for that genius move.

8 – HOCKEY NOTES: There was a time when the first two weeks of July, after Wave 1 of Free Agency, were a dull spot in the calendar and a chance for NHL people to take a breath. Not anymore. Rookie development camps are well underway and there truly is no rest for the wicked. That’s why they get the big bucks. While some camps have concluded, the Florida Panthers development camp opens on Monday afternoon and I’ll be there at the IceDen to give you the best coverage! … #Grateful … On Saturday, former Leaf and current TSN analyst Carlo Colaiacovo Tweeted that the NHL should have a summer league, similar to the NBA which is gobbling up airtime on the networks at the moment. “#GrowTheGame” Carlo wrote. The best response came from TSN’s Darren Dreger who succinctly responded, “Stop it.” … These summer development camps should scratch everyone’s itch, and I’m excited to see the Panthers again live. … As my friend Joe Lozito wrote from New York, “These camps make me realize the season is coming soon!”

9 – BROADCAST NOTES: The Mouth Of The South Rob Mahon is moving on again. After just a few seasons as Voice of the P.A. Raiders, the former Estevan Bruins Voice was named Communications Manager and Voice of the Brandon Wheat Kings this week. … Meanwhile the Tri-City Americans will have a new Voice this season as the legendary Craig West announced he won’t return. If I read it correctly, Westie called 28 seasons in the Dub with Tri-City and Spokane and as far as I’m concerned, should be the WHL’s next Bob Ridley Award winner. … Rumours abound that Rogers Media (Sportsnet) is primed for another shakeup this week. Should be interesting! … Peter Loubardias’s good friend Kelly Remple was on the RP Show this week explaining Lou’s decision to leave the Flames after 10 seasons as colour commentator, saying he’d like to do something else. I know the feeling bud! There’s life out there and it’s f-a-n-t-a-s-t-i-c.

10 – RANDOM THOUGHTS: What would we do without Hotspot, and now Apple Air Tags? … I see fanny packs have made a comeback for guys, although now they’re slinging them around their shoulder. That was my go-to at Craven back in the day. … I see all the hoopla from friends on social media at Calgary Stampede. Looks like a great time but I’d rather be here! I realized last summer that I like rodeo, but don’t love it. .. All time great quote from Flin Flon Bombers Voice Rob Hart, “You have to be paranoid when everybody’s out to get you!” … What would your last meal be if you were going to the electric chair the next day? Mine is steak, baked potato and Caesar salad. … Saskatchewan’s most famous export is Shannon Tweed. End of discussion. … Whatever happened to Emilio Estevez? … AND HOW WAS YOUR WEEK?

Y’er welcome,
RP
@rodpedersen