Commentary: If You Can’t Beat ‘Em
Photo: BMO Field
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It’s Random Thoughts Wednesday on this Commentary!
#1 – It’s the thing popping up in my mind the most for some reason. CFL fans – and some pundits – are up-in-arms over Tuesday’s announcement by the NFL’s Buffalo Bills and Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment in Toronto that the two sides have entered into a promotional partnership.
Why are they up-in-arms? Likely because they always are, over something or other, but the comments I’ve seen are that “This is the end of the Argos!”
I don’t agree. And since I’m the king of “Let’s Work Together”, I think it’s great that the two sides finally joined forces. A war against the NFL and its teams isn’t one any opponent is going to win. Ever.
If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.
#2 – In a poll of RP Show viewers on Tuesday, it was nice to see that 67% of respondents are still *into* the Blue Jays even though Fall is for football and hockey is right around the corner. It was a bad news/good news day for Toronto on Tuesday as shortstop Bo Bichette went on the I-R but later in the day the Jays rallied for a 4-3 extra innings victory over Houston.
The Jays will remain Canada’s Team for as long as this thing goes …
#3 – Feels like I was one of the only ones excited to learn former Blue Bombers coach Mike Kelly has been named Commissioner of the re-invented Continental Football League (CoFL) which will kickoff next summer. Coach Kelly and I’ve gotten to be close over the years so I’m eagerly anticipating the latest incarnation of this league which gained some notoriety in the 60’s and 70’s. Mike tells me there will be eight teams, and they’ll be announced shortly.
Everybody else ignored the news, or poo-poo’ed the idea. That’s their right! I’m going to be enthusiastic and curious about it regardless.
#4 – It’s Week 15 in the CFL and my Power Rankings on Tuesday drew a mild stir. From top to bottom, I’ve got Saskatchewan-Calgary-Hamilton-Winnipeg-Edmonton-BC-Toronto-Ottawa-Montreal.
Stampeders fans crowed because they’ve beaten the Riders twice but Calgary stubbed their toe against Edmonton on the weekend. Great teams rarely stub their toe.
Speaking of the Elks, Cody Fajardo’s getting credit for rallying that franchise from the dead and they’re in a playoff spot today, tied with BC with five wins each as the league enters the final turn.
That went fast didn’t it?
That’s today’s Rod Pedersen Commentary
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Like I mentioned back in 2017 when Cody Fajardo put the nail in the saskatchewan roughriders annual funeral coffin when he led the Toronto Argonauts as tgey ousted the riders out of the playoffs. As I said, remember that name, CODY FAJARDO. Funny, he even came to play for those failures in riderville but the riderville fanbase and their inept team management kicked him to the curbside. This time, young Cody will be back to oust the riders once again 2025 except he’s now with the Edmonton Elks.
Mmmmm, Kirill turned down a 8 year 128 million player contract from the Minnesota Wild. It would be wise for Connor McDavid to wait out the NHL market and eventually be the highest paid player wherever he lands.