10 WEEKEND THINGS FOR UNIVERSAL COLLISION CENTRE

1 – Caught myself thinking this week “Is this the new normal?”, referring to travel bans, hand sanitizer galore, no large crowds, etc. Then I realized that no, it can’t be because there’s no sports. I thought further and realized that there actually is sports, with MLB, NHL, MLS, NBA, CEBL, PGA, Racing, etc. all back playing and the NFL right around the corner. What we’re missing is the CFL and they’re almost the only ones stuck on the sidelines. The Western Canadian Baseball League shuttered their entire season but they’re a collegiate league where the players aren’t paid and the team executives are volunteers. That’s a farrrr cry from the CFL.

2 – Wait a minute … the CFL players aren’t being paid either. It was clarified by media sources this week (passed along from CFL leaders) that the players are designated as seasonal workers and therefore are ineligible for wage subsidies or, really, anything financially. That doesn’t make it right, and I can see why the players are hopping mad. It doesn’t feel nice to realize you’re not being taken care of like you thought you were.

3 – It’s the very definition of a traumatic time. Trauma is described as any event or set of circumstances that your brain can’t process. Some mental health experts have tabbed it “Covid Brain”. And mine can’t process the Covid/CFL situation. TSN and CFL personnel are setting up for a bubble in Winnipeg and seem very convincing yet player representatives tell me there’s no way logistically that a 2020 season can be pulled off. They say the owners are creating the illusion of a grand attempt to play but in the end when the plug is terminally pulled, the finger will be pointed at the players. Who to believe?? I’m glad I’ve got unlimited minutes from SaskTel Mobility.

4 – When it comes to a deadline for the players to vote, or for a final decision to be made on the 2020 season, the voice of ESPN’s Chris Berman at the MLB Homerun Derby echoes in my head; “Back, back, back, BACK!” First it was July 23, then July 24 and now we’re told July 31 at best. It’s been the furthest from a streamlined, efficient process.

5 – Then you’ve got the financial aid situation. The entire existence of the Canadian Football League seems to hinge on support from the Federal government. Will the Feds be keen on dishing out taxpayers’ money to a league which hasn’t been run well for decades? Many, many sources have told me in the past week that Parliament Hill is prepared to save the CFL – at least on the short term – but is saying “get your act together”. What does that look like? What does that mean??

6 – We’ve had fun passing the time with the CFL SIM season, broadcasting marquee computer-generated games on Facebook Live. We surpassed 70,000 viewers this week so it’s no joke! Our celebrity viewers have included Cody Fajardo, Alex Singleton, Philip Blake, Darian Durant, John Chick, Don Narcisse, James Wilder Jr., John Murphy and more. Edmonton, Toronto and Calgary all lead the league with five wins after Week 7 while Saskatchewan is 3-2. The Riders suffered a 12-7 loss to the Argos in a wild Touchdown Atlantic. Unfortunately Ottawa is 0-6. For those who haven’t grasped the concept of Esports and gaming yet, WE HAVE NO CONTROL over the results nor what happens from play-to-play. That’s what makes it unbelievably fun and unpredictable.

7 – I’ve said for months we are now in a new era of sportscasting. It’s officially here. Dan Shulman and Buck Martinez called the Blue Jays’ season-opening 6-4 win at Tampa off of a monitor in Toronto Friday night. Don’t think this won’t continue after the pandemic ends. Sportsnet’s been doing it for CHL broadcasts for some time and CBC planned to do it for the Olympics. Does it make a difference to me whether we’re calling computer games or real games if we’re going to be stuffed in a studio not far from home? No. If broadcasters can’t travel and experience different venues, see friends and family across the continent, I’m definitely not interested.

8 – It’s taken a year but people are finally grasping why I said after the Roughriders job that I’m not pursuing a play-by-play position any longer. The RP Show has hit national television on Game+ TV and we’ve got a series of markers set up with the network for the future as the show continues to grow rapidly. We now have a seat at the table of national sports broadcasters and the feeling is euphoric. Plus I only work two hours per day! It may or may not be the greatest job I’ve ever had – they’ve all been great – but this is definitely the perfect spot for me now and for the future. Thanks Anthem Sports!!!!!!!

9 – For the junior hockey fans, here’s what our WHL Insider Kelly “The Silver Fox” Remple had to say this week on the WHL’s Return To Play: “I don’t know if the season will start on time but here’s what I’ve learned and believe is going to happen: where there’s a will, there’s a way, usually,” Remple revealed. “From everything I’ve heard from people in the league, there is a real appetite to get the league going. Everybody connected, from Commissioner Ron Robison on down, is 1000% committed to having hockey this year. There are challenges, obviously.

“In the WHL you’ve got teams in Washington and Oregon where the pandemic meter is flickering in the red. It’s a different situation down there. We’re pretty lucky here on the prairies that we don’t see the nasty political and virus stuff. They may have to have American teams play in Canadian hubs. Travelling across the border is going to be very different.

“There’s no way there will be training camps with 80 kids. 30 is the number I heard. It’s not going to be the 15- and 16-year olds at the camps. There’s a lot to figure out but I think they’ll play.”

10 – The CEBL’s Summer Series tipped off with a doubleheader Saturday CBC. In the opening game the Niagara River Lions downed the Hamilton Honey Badgers 97-85 at the Meridian Centre in St. Catherines, ON. In the second game, the Guelph Nighthawks made their own headlines with a convincing 89-71 win over the Ottawa Blackjacks.

The Saskatchewan Rattlers are the defending league champions and they open the tourney Sunday at 11:30 am Sask Time against the Niagara River Lions. You can watch the game on the CBC Gem app (I’ve downloaded it and it works like a Cadillac). The Rattlers return just three players from last year’s squad but one new face is Kai Williams of Regina. He played at South Dakota State and has been playing professionally in Europe for years. Get on board now because this is going to be an exciting two weeks!

Y’er welcome,
RP
@rodpedersen