Commentary: Takeoff

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It’s Random Thoughts Wednesday on this Commentary! Let’s dive in …

#1 – There are many, many reasons why I love sports. One is they’re a great distraction from the real world, and I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to spend a lifetime in it. Besides, there’s so much going on politically that you’d drive yourself crazy if you worried about it 24/7. My friends and neighbors here in the USA don’t seem too worried about it at all, so I’m not going to be.

#2 – Frankly I’m trying with all my might to keep my focus on the NHL games and this weekend’s NFL conference championships, but my phone and TV screen are littered with the NFL coaching carousel and Major League Baseball free agency. (aka off-field stuff)

It seems with Bo Bichette fleeing the Blue Jays for a $42-million per year deal with the Mets, Toronto fans got over it by suppertime. Bo’s not the first big name free agent to leave Toronto, and clearly won’t be the last.

#3 – Just when I thought this perilous industry of sports media was stabilizing, I see another wave of layoffs. This time with the subscription website The Athletic. It’s traumatic losing a job, and I feel for those affected. So many kids wanna get into this profession, and there’s no dissuading them. But you’d be better served to find something more stable, if you can.

#4 – So about the NHL, here come the Jets. They’re seven points out of a playoff spot after last night’s 3-1 home win over St. Louis, and there’s still half a season to go. My pundits say that if there’s any non-playoff team who has the best chance to turn their season around and save it, it’s Winnipeg.

I hope they do — after all I picked them to go to the Stanley Cup!

I’m also hopeful the Florida Panthers can get hot too. I got a jolt the other day when thinking it would suck not to have the Stanley Cup Final here in the Sunshine State for a seventh straight season.

What else would we do with our time?

That’s today’s Rod Pedersen Commentary.

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