10 WEEKEND THINGS

1 – Everyone can exhale now. The CFL is safe. Experts predicted the world would emerge from the pandemic as a stronger place and while we’re a long ways from it being over, I can at least see the finish line for the Canadian Football League. It started a month ago when a CFL insider tipped me off, “The CFL is being run by the MLSE, Rod”. I didn’t put a ton of stock in it at the time – or even understand it – but it’s become far more clear in the weeks since.

2 – Instead of the NFL infusing funds into the CFL, or even the federal government, it’ll be Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment. From what I’m told, it’s already happening. With an estimated value of $2-billion, MLSE is indeed the CFL’s knight in shining armour. How this is all going to work isn’t entirely clear, but I’m told the effort has begun. Commissioner Randy Ambrosie is apparently a big part of it, and will remain Commissioner when the smoke clears. (Boy am I glad I’ve had his back throughout all of this).

3 – When we floated the story on the RP Show this week, it got universal approval from viewers and CFL fans. What’s the possible downside? We can’t see one. MLSE has been called the most innovative sports organization in North America and will immediately inject much-needed credibility into the CFL, not to mention cash, national corporate sponsorships, TV network relationships and much more. MLSE has vision and won’t put up with the shortsighted decisions that have plagued the CFL for decades. TUH-DAAAAAAA! Crisis averted. Hats off to whomever came up with this plan because it’s genius. My guess it’s a combo of Ambrosie and Argos President Bill Manning.

4 – Why has no one else reported on this? For the same reason no one picked up Steve Simmons’ scoop in the Toronto Sun that the Leafs’ Auston Matthews tested positive for Coronavirus. (He seems to have recovered nicely by the way). MLSE controls sports in this country and that includes TSN and Sportsnet. The national networks didn’t report on the Matthews scoop because they didn’t want to get on the Leafs’ bad side. However I have no fear of that. I’m not looking for a job in the CFL, nor with MLSE, TSN or Sportsnet. So here’s the news, and for once it’s good for the CFL.

5 – That’s what’s going on beneath the surface. Above the surface, the CFL and the federal government continue to do this inane dance over funding for a shortened 2020 season. Folks, we’re into the second week of August. The people I trust tell me there is absolutely no logistically possible way a shortened season can be pulled off. They point to quarantine times, pro-rated salaries that the players are against, health & safety issues, adequate facilities in Winnipeg (there are no hotels walkable from IG Field unlike the NHL’s bubbles in Edmonton and Toronto), financial concerns like per diem, etc., the overall cost (including a $1-million pricetag alone just to feed the players) and much more. So why they continue to dance this dance, and use the media, fans and players as yo-yos, is beyond me. Everyone deserved an answer long ago. All the other leagues are back. Hopefully this is the last embarrassing PR crisis the CFL will ever face.

6 – To the Stanley Cup Playoffs. This is why we love it; the unpredictability. Never saw it coming that Cam Talbot would out-goaltend Connor Hellebuyck, nor that Jets stars Mark Scheifele and Patrick Laine would go down and Winnipeg would go out with a whimper. Final thoughts on that: Hats off to the Calgary Flames because they’re playing rough-and-tumble playoff hockey and ran the Jets out of the rink. They’re a contender. As for Winnipeg, GM Kevin Cheveldayoff of Blaine Lake, SK built a team that can go deep in the playoffs and he’ll do it again. As for Dustin Byfuglien, thanks for nothin’.

7 – The Oilers were ousted in four games by Chicago and we didn’t see that coming either. Perhaps we should’ve, as Hawks alum Brent Sopel prepared us for it on the RP Show saying, “They’re the CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS!” They’re men and the Oilers are boys. At least, that’s how it looked in this series. Oiler fans were burning down the city last night (on Twitter) but I’ll remind them that at the outset of the season everyone would’ve been happy with a playoff appearance. They got it. Now they’ve got some emotional scars that’ll serve them in the years ahead. Funny how sports is so much like life.

8 – The Oilers can say they made the playoffs just like Pittsburgh, Minnesota, Nashville, the NY Rangers and Winnipeg can. I’ll bet you today this playoff format is here to stay because it’s what the owners will want. It’ll guarantee more revenue in terms of TV sponsorship not to mention meaningful late-regular season games because more teams will be in contention. That’ll translate into increased ticket sales in way more markets. If you follow the money, you’ll see this format is here to stay.

9 – The expansion Seattle Kraken have had a lot to say for themselves with bold political statements and that their merchandise launch this week sold 4-times what the Golden Knights boasted in 2015. Let’s not forget that we’re here to play hockey boys, and if the Kraken makes it to the Stanley Cup Final in their first year and then follows it up with two more playoff berths, then they’ll really have something to brag about. As for the Golden Knights, imagine how good they’ll be in these playoffs when they decide to play a full 60 minutes.

10 – RANDOMS TO END: Sportsnet’s Chris Cuthbert really seems to have a bounce in his delivery. Youthful, in a way. He’s better at hockey than football, and he was great calling CFL games. In these Stanley Cup Playoffs, he’s been phenomenal. … When the CFL comes back, I predict Dave Randorf will be TSN’s #1 playcaller. … Don’t forget the 1-day voting for Kraft Hockeyville is August 14 and Pense, SK is the lone Western Canadian rep. We’ll post the link when the date gets closer. … Here are the Top 10 cities for Rod Pedersen show viewership on Game+ TV and Facebook Live: 1) Regina, 2) Saskatoon, 3) Winnipeg, 4) Calgary, 5) Edmonton, 6) Las Vegas, 7) Toronto, 8) Hamilton, 9) Moose Jaw, 10) Ottawa. On the fringe are Chicago, Vancouver, Montreal, New York City, Myrtle Beach, Detroit, Toledo, Phoenix, Swift Current, Estevan, Halifax, Nashville and Amarillo, TX. As I figured, going on Game+ in over a million homes across North America has been like rocket fuel. … The semifinals at the CEBL Summer Series go today (Saturday) and will be broadcast nationally on CBC-TV. They feature the Fraser Valley Bandits against the Hamilton Honey Badgers and Edmonton Stingers versus the Ottawa Blackjacks. The Saskatchewan Rattlers went 1-5 in the round robin, but were fun to watch. … Roughly 70 cars are in Regina for this weekend’s Kings Park Speedway Invitational. Races start at 7:00 pm and it’s only $5 at the door. See you there!

Y’er welcome,
RP
@rodpedersen