THURSDAY CAT COUNTRY COMMENTARY: END OF DAYS FOR THE CFL?

(Listen daily for the Rod Pedersen Commentary at 9:50 am and 5:20 pm on Cat Country 98 FM)

IT IS THE ULTIMATE CAVEAT.

OR DEAL-BREAKER, OR CONDITION … OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT.

A HEADLINE WEDNESDAY BLARED “ALOUETTES PRESIDENT SAYS CHANCES OF CFL SEASON EXCEEDINGLY SLIM”. THEN WHEN YOU READ THE STORY, IT CLARIFIES THAT’S WITHOUT FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID.

TALK ABOUT CLICK-BAIT. THEY GOT ME.

BUT IT ALMOST SEEMS CRUEL THAT SO MANY PEOPLES’ FATE AND FORTUNES HANG ON WHAT DECISION CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER JUSTIN TRUDEAU WILL ULTIMATELY MAKE.

OBVIOUSLY I’VE BEEN TALKING WITH A GREAT DEAL OF CFL-TYPES AND ONE VERY ADAMANTLY SAID IN MY FACE “OTTAWA WON’T SEND MONEY TO THE CFL UNLESS WE PLAY IN 2020”.

IT TOOK ME AWHILE TO GET MY HEAD AROUND THAT AND TO BE HONEST, I’M STILL TRYING. WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE WHETHER THEY PLAY OR NOT? WHY IS THAT THE DEAL-BREAKER FOR TRUDEAU?

THIS IS THE EXACT SAME SCENARIO WE TALKED ABOUT ON TUESDAY’S COMMENTARY REGARDING THE CHICKEN AND THE EGG BUT IT BEARS REPEATING. AND, WITH A DROP-DEAD DATE REPORTEDLY SCHEDULED FOR TOMORROW FOR THE CFL TO MAKE A DECISION ON THE 2020 SEASON, WE COULD VERY WELL BE AT THE END OF THE LINE.

AND THAT’S FOR THE CFL, AS A LEAGUE, TOO. SPORTS PEOPLE THINK IT’S AN AUTOMATIC SLAM DUNK THAT THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT WILL CO-SIGN FOR THE CFL’S EXISTENCE BUT ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS TALK TO SOMEBODY OUTSIDE THAT SPORTS BUBBLE AND YOU’LL GET A QUICK WAKEUP CALL.

IT IS NOT OTTAWA’S RESPONSIBILITY TO PROP UP A FAILING SPORTS LEAGUE WITH TOP-HEAVY SALARIES WHILE SO MANY OTHER LEAGUES HAVE RETURNED TO PLAY WITHOUT GOVERNMENT HELP.

WE MIGHT BE FAST APPROACHING “END OF DAYS” FOR THE CFL AS WE KNOW IT.

THAT’S TODAY’S ROD PEDERSEN COMMENTARY ON CAT COUNTRY 98.