10 RANDOM THOUGHTS FOR CAPITAL AUTO MALL

Brace Yourself …

1 – It’s tough to tell where we are with the CFL right now. Fans are focusing on the bad news (i.e. the Roughriders’ financials and/or players continuing to call out the Commissioner), so I guess those people haven’t heard the phrase “No news is good news”. If you forced Randy Ambrosie to make a decision on the season today, he’d have to say it’s cancelled. However since it’s still only postponed, that tells me he continues to move mountains to get the teams on the field in 2020. For one, I feel his efforts are admirable.

2 – Some people continue to preach patience and to “trust the science” as the pandemic relates to the CFL. That’s real easy to do if you’re still being paid or have a nest egg in the bank. The demographic hit hardest by the pandemic has been people in their 20’s, which is the prime age for CFL players. As one CFL-type told me this week, “I can’t imagine going nine months without a paycheque”. We saw Eskimos WR Ricky Collins Jr. Tweet this week: “Got to do what’s best for my family”, with a shrug Emoji. I met his family during an event at Capital GMC one day. They are relying on Ricky to provide for them and right now CFL players are unable to do that. Ricky’s Tweet sounds like a retirement, without all the pomp and circumstance of a news release and press conference. Three months ago I wrote in this space that this situation will end careers and people scoffed. In sporting terms, this is tragic.

3 – CFLPA President Solomon Elimimian said something very intriguing this week that made me ashamed I hadn’t realized it before. The Riders linebacker revealed that everyone’s being paid in the CFL right now but the players. Look it up if you must, but that’s how it appears. And you wonder why they’re so angry? Sol went on to say this isn’t about Randy Ambrosie. He admitted that the Commissioner is a nice man. However Elimimian explained that he’s played under three different Commissioners during his CFL career yet the systemic “shaft” the players get in the CFL has always been the same. My spidey senses tell me this will need to change before the players set foot on the field, and that means bye-bye CFL 1.0.

4 – This eerily reminds me of the National Lacrosse League’s work stoppage two years ago which delayed the start of the season. The players had all the leverage there because, frankly, playing pro lacrosse was their second job. They didn’t need it. And when the leverage shifted to the players, the owners bucked up for the requested salary bump and the league was back on the field in a jiff. There’s a farrrr larger pool of hungry football players than lacrosse players so the situation isn’t exactly the same, but if CFL players get the public on their side, look out.

Said TSN’s Glen Suitor on CJME’s Greg Morgan Show this week: “I hope the players, the players’ association, fans and media understand just how severe this issue is for the league.”

5 – Another thing we’ve heard a lot of lately, even from players who’ve appeared on the RP Show, is “All the other leagues are coming back so we can’t the CFL?” My take on that is 1) Wait until the other leagues (NHL, MLB, NBA, CEBL, CPL, WHL, etc) are actually back because that’s far from guaranteed, and 2) This pandemic has particularly hit the CFL where the sun don’t shine, more than any other leagues. They have way larger rosters, pay more than pro basketball and soccer in this country, yet their TV and gate revenue is peanuts compared to the major leagues. The CFL felt the squeeze more than any other league and THAT’S what’s going to make them change the way they do business.

6 – We’re told there’s a “Save Our CFL” campaign brewing – or something of that ilk – and while I’d like to see it start getting rolled out now, that’s very hard to do. You can’t start the Recovery process until you get the final tally on the damage and it seems we’re a long ways from knowing that. Consider the phrase, “People don’t seek help until they hit rock bottom”. It applies here. However we’re eager to help. For the time being, we’re keeping the fires burning with plenty of CFL coverage on the RP Show and on this blog.

7 – Proud to announce that almost immediately I’ll be writing for the fantastic website DubNetwork.ca which covers the Western Hockey League so spectacularly. I’ll be accredited under the RP Show and Cat Country 98 (that’s huge Warriors territory down there) and writing on the Pats and Warriors. My initial goal is to make you sick of hearing about Connor Bedard (aka Justin Bieber on Skates). I’ll also have a significant role on SJHL broadcasts and a few other leagues whenever things get back to normal. Life is good.

8 – Football guys around the continent find it shocking that hockey is my mother tongue and I’m both proud of, and annoyed by that. I’m proud that working so hard to learn and immerse myself in pro football paid off, but also annoyed that people forget fast what you’ve done and that includes 17 full-time seasons in the WHL.

9 – Is the NHL as deserving of the egg on their face that Twitter has heaped since Friday’s Draft Lottery? I’d say 50/50. They never should’ve included the play-in teams in the first place, as having bingo balls for the 7 non-playoff teams should’ve been enough. However there was only a 2.5% chance of Team X winning in the first place so in the end, this looked like a major fluke. No doubt, it’s turned out to be an embarrassing moment for the NHL but they did it to themselves. Similar to the lottery itself, which the league had to implement as a punishment to tanking teams.

10 – FINAL RANDOMS: A lot of people just “talk”. No substance. … The opening race of the King’s Park Speedway season is July 18/19 weekend and Pat Fiacco and I will be there to drop the green flag. Provincial TV networks are jockeying to get the broadcast rights after years of the sport being ignored. Isn’t it fascinating how this pandemic has worked out for some sports, but not others! … Catch the Brandon Wheat Kings official podcast this week as I’ll be guesting with Wheaties Voice Branden Crowe. I know; I never thought I’d see the day either. … A huge BRAVO to the country music community for stepping up this week, with Brett Kissel appearing on the RP Show and Alex Runions singing at halftime of our CFL Sim Thursday Night Football broadcast on Facebook Live. We have a list as long as your arm of acts who want to sing the national anthem and perform at halftime. Watch for yourself! … All this virus talk got me reflecting on when the Norwalk Virus infected an Alberta hotel 15 or so years ago and WHL teams were taken down one-by-one after staying there. Some teams could only ice 12 players as the road squad, but they persevered. Was the Norwalk Virus that much weaker than Coronavirus that athletes could recover within a few days? Who knows. But news coverage at the time referred to it as a “deadly virus” too and that scared the bejeezus out of everyone. If I recall it wasn’t that serious but it didn’t seem to spread as far or as wide as COVID-19. … Get outside and enjoy the summer!

Y’er welcome,
RP
@rodpedersen