10 WEEKEND THINGS

Truth & Rumours …

1 – THE WEEK THAT WAS: All the kibitzing and chortling this week over the Toronto Argonauts’ free agent spending spree and the Edmonton Football Team’s new name was the usual all-in-good-fun CFL stuff. It’s what makes being a fan and media so fun. But Friday’s revelation by Commissioner Randy Ambrosie on CHML Hamilton that teams are looking at a $1-million per franchise pricetag for Covid testing was an unintentional shot over the bow. It was met with silence by anyone who loves the 3-down game. While Blue Bombers voice Bob Irving reported teams are prepared to “bite the bullet” on this one, many of us can’t be anything but skeptical. Where’s this money going to come from? Without a massive cash infusion from an angel investor, I think we can see where this is going. As Jerry Jones is fond of saying, “We’re walking in some tall grass.” If the CFL came out and said they’re not playing this season, with this latest revelation by Ambrosie, I don’t think anyone would blame them.

2 – ONCE YOU POPP: 3DownNation reported former Alouettes & Argos GM Jim Popp has joined the coaching staff at Alabama State. Many probably don’t remember Popp got his start in the coaching business in 1992 with the Saskatchewan Roughriders as receivers coach. While it’s no secret Jim has been in search of a management/personnel role (he consulted with the XFL in 2019), this is another case of a guy going back to his roots and taking the “bird in hand’. It’s not entirely different from Mike Babcock going back to the U of S. Guys, particularly in football, are scrambling to take the sure thing and with the prospects for football in Canada at all levels still looking grim for 2021, coaches are looking to the USA. At least in that country they’re playing. There’s a really big scoop coming in this regard and when you hear it, just know that I knew.   😉

3 – FAN CONTROLLED FOOTBALL LEAGUE: Week 3 of the FCFL Saturday night was a watershed moment for the fledgling league. QB Johnny Manziel didn’t play due to dental surgery but that didn’t matter. Viewership cracked 41,000 on Twitch which represents a roughly 40% jump from Week 1. The quality of play was a lot more polished, there were spectacular plays, and they broke the news that NFL bad boy receiver Josh Gordon has signed, and will hit the field once he finishes mandatory quarantine. Hall of Famer Joe Montana joined the broadcast for analysis and Seahawks/49ers great Richard Sherman has joined the ownership group which already included Marshawn Lynch. This league is doing so many things right on both the football ops and marketing sides!

What is it? Think –> Arena Football League meets WWE.

4 – UNCLE GIGGLES: The Western Hockey League announced Saturday they have instituted the Bob Ridley Award for Media Excellence on the very night the Medicine Hat Tigers legend called his 4,000th game! I gave him the nickname “Uncle Giggles” years ago due to his uncanny resemblance to the Flintstones character and it always gave Rids a laugh. Bob is the Dean of junior hockey broadcasters and this is the perfect way for the WHL to honour his legacy. I’ll never forget in 1993 when I was the 20-year old Voice of the P.A. Raiders, head coach Donn Clark always gave me a rough time for climbing on the team bus and immediately falling sleep after having already worked a full morning radio shift. “The radio guy in Medicine Hat also drives the bus but you can’t stay awake for a trip to Moose Jaw?” Donnie chided. One day I responded with, “Do you want me driving the bus?” Clarkie never brought it up again.

5 – NO-KAY BLUE JAYS: With this week’s news that Sportsnet is shelving Blue Jays radio broadcasts for the first time in the franchise’s 44-year history and going instead with a simulcast of the TV broadcast, put me in the camp of Nelson Millman. The iconic Fan 590 radio executive told The Athletic, “I’m dissapointed, a little sad, but not surprised at the end of the day.” Does anything surprise us in the world of sports & media right now? The only surprising thing is that Sportsnet thought we’d buy the line that this decision was made in order to “follow league and government mandates around Covid 19.” Are they hoping we’ll forget by the time 2022 rolls around and they still haven’t hired a radio crew? I won’t.

(Don’t forget the Jays open the preseason Sunday at 1:05 pm ET against the Yankees in Tampa. There will be fans).

6 – MORE ON BROADCAST: Since most of our favourite leagues are still on pause, we’ll continue with commentary on broadcast media. It’s clear that Sportsnet is pushing the diversity movement with their recent hirings and frankly, I don’t have a problem with it provided they’re good enough to be there. Besides, it’s their network so they can do what they want. It’s up to us whether we want to keep watching. I recall that ratings spiked when Coach’s Corner came on for 30+ years and I also recall setting my VCR to tape the first intermission on CBC around 6:45 pm back in the day. What are the ratings now? Hockey Night In Canada play-by-play man Harnarayan Singh has gotten a rough ride on social media but honestly I find his signature Oiler goal calls somewhat cute. By that I mean, they make me smile. It’s his thing. Inclusion’s cool, but I just hope the idea of hiring the best person doesn’t get lost.

7 – THEMS THE BREAKS: It’s weird. I’d say I’ve suffered a form of discrimination too. When Sportsnet secured the national NHL TV rights beginning in 2014, I had an agent meet with Sportsnet face-to-face in Toronto. They told him, “We’re not hiring Rod for three reasons: 1) He’s a western guy, 2) He’s a football guy, and 3) He’s a radio guy.” I wasn’t even offended! I shrugged and said to myself, “I guess this isn’t a goal to pursue any longer.”

A hockey guy recently inquired with Sportsnet about replacing Brian Burke on the panel but was told unless you’re female or minority, you won’t be considered. I noticed former Regina Pats and NHL defenceman Shawn Belle on the Sportsnet Oilers intermission with Gene Principe the other night. I’ve known Bellesie since he was 17. He’s a good guy, offered quality analysis, and I never changed the channel.

Again this is the path Sportsnet has chosen, it’s their network, and viewers can get on board or get out of the way. There are a lot of other options out there for viewing if you don’t like what you’re hearing.

8 – UP-AND-COMERS: I’ve had a lot of Zoom calls with broadcast journalism classes and young media types during the pandemic and it’s always a treat to look at their young, eager faces and answer their questions. Grizzled vets have told me I should put it on the line and tell those kids the media biz has become a toilet but I just can’t. Who am I to dash their dreams? If you’re highly-motivated, smart and talented, you can definitely make it in this business. But one thing should be made perfectly clear: These kids have seen the way broadcasting icons have been coldly discarded and their radar is up. They’re not going to stand for being exploited in a sweatshop, or mistreated. This is how society has changed and I applaud it.

9 – NHL LEFTOVERS: Quite a week in the NHL. The Montreal Canadiens skidded coach Claude Julien but did not experience the usual next-game-bump after appointing Dominique Ducharme. In fact they’ve lost back-to-back matches with Winnipeg. Habs enthusiasts are clamouring to see Patrick Roy get a shot and after all, he posted a 130-92-0 record with the Colorado Avalanche. Why did he get fired? I guess guys like us wear our bosses out. But if anybody knows intimately how to handle the pressure in Montreal, it’s Patrick Roy. … The cream has risen to the top in the Scotia North Division and that’s Toronto, Edmonton and Winnipeg. Three teams will be fighting for the fourth and final playoff spot – Calgary, Vancouver and Montreal. Teams in the Canadian division are lucky because realistically six teams are fighting for four playoff spots. In the U.S. Divisions, eight teams are vying for four playoff spots. … Will the real Mike Smith please stand up? It also didn’t look good that he was yelling at his defenceman after a goal in Saturday’s 4-0 loss to Toronto. … I don’t know what a penalty is anymore. … To quote my high school music teacher Mrs. Anderson, it’s been “weird & wonderful” on this ride Game+ TV Network has taken me on. Somehow or another American podcasters got the notion I’m an NHL expert after watching our show on cable TV down there and they’ve asked me to appear on their shows in Washington, DC, L.A., Albany, St. Louis and New York City. It’s truly been a riot and made my NHL Centre Ice package from Access incredibly valuable. “But it’s WORK honey!” They’re extremely keen on the prospects too, which has made me bone up on the WHL.

10 – LEFTOVERS: I feel like we’re all just sitting around waiting for Season 4 of Yellowstone. … Did you know the Yellowstone character Jamie Dutton (Wes Bentley)’s wife is from Regina? … Saskatchewan’s Sherry Anderson rink won’t be moving onto the Scotties playoffs after finishing at 6-6 but she did the province proud! We knew she would. … Team Dunstone, you’re now on the clock. This would be a good year to smash the #1980Curse. … … I still can’t believe how easy the Tampa Bay Buccaneers made it look to win a Super Bowl. … All that glitters is not gold. … OHL Owen Sound defenceman Andrew Perrott wrote an open letter to the OHL, Premier Doug Ford and health officials regarding how desperately the players need and want to play this season. I could just cry. … BUT AT LEAST YOU DIDN’T DIE! … Toronto will never get an NFL team. They don’t have a stadium. … Ring those phones for Telemiracle 45 this weekend on CTV! I’ll be appearing at 10:45 am and presenting a cheque for $1,500 along with our partners Flame Tech, RoxDar Supply Chain Solutions, Directwest and Capital. I’m challenging all other Saskatchewan sports talk shows to meet or beat it!! #LFG

Y’er welcome,
RP
@rodpedersen