TUESDAY COMMENTARY – CAN’T SHOVEL SUNSHINE

(Listen daily for the Rod Pedersen Commentary on Cat Country 98 FM & Rock 98.5 FM)

IT’S DAY 5 IN FLORIDA, AND I’M HAVING A GREAT TIME.

IF YOU RECALL, THIS RADIO STATION TOLD ME TO TALK ABOUT WHATEVER I WANT ON THIS DAILY COMMENTARY, SO THAT’S WHAT I CONTINUE TO DO.

FRANKLY I GOT TIRED OF HAVING TO EXPLAIN TO PEOPLE EVERYDAY WHAT WE’RE TRYING TO DO WITH THE ROD PEDERSEN SHOW ON GAME+ TV, FACEBOOK & YOUTUBE, SO I’VE KINDA LEFT IT UP TO PEOPLE TO FIGURE IT OUT FOR THEMSELVES.

IT’S LIKE PEOPLE THINK I’M ONLY HOSTING THIS SHOW (ON NATIONAL TELEVISION) UNTIL A PLAY-BY-PLAY OPPORTUNITY OPENS UP.

NOT SO.

WE’VE DONE LIVE SHOWS THIS SUMMER FROM MONTREAL, WINNIPEG, SASKATOON, CALGARY AND OF COURSE REGINA, SORT OF SAMPLING WHAT’S OUT THERE AND ACCEPTING INVITATIONS. WE’VE GOT SUBSEQUENT REMOTE BROADCASTS PLANNED THIS FALL FOR EDMONTON AND LIKELY LAS VEGAS AND NASHVILLE.

I GUESS WE’RE TRYING DIFFERENT THINGS ON FOR SIZE.

AND NOW HERE IN SOUTH FLORIDA, THINGS HAVE REALLY CLICKED. I’VE BEEN HANGING OUT WITH NFL AND NHL PEOPLE – WHICH I TOLD YOU I WOULD – AND THE FIT HAS BEEN SEAMLESS.

THERE’S A SMALL BUT DEDICATED HOCKEY CROWD HERE IN THE SUNSHINE STATE, BUT IT’S GROWING. FRANKLY I’VE ALWAYS WONDERED WHY MORE PEOPLE DON’T LIVE HERE IF GIVEN THE CHANCE AND THAT’S WHAT FORMER PANTHERS LIKE ROBERTO LUONGO, ED JOVANOSKI, CHRIS PRONGER & BILL LINDSAY HAVE DONE.

I’VE ALSO ALWAYS WONDERED WHY, IF YOU’RE GOING TO COVER THE NHL, WHY WOULDN’T YOU WANT TO DO IT HERE? AS THEY SAY, “YOU CAN’T SHOVEL SUNSHINE.”

AND THE HOCKEY FOLKS HAVE ONLY BEEN TOO HAPPY TO OPEN THEIR DOORS AND SAY “COME ON IN.”

THE NFL PEOPLE HAVE BEEN THE SAME – SPECIFICALLY THE DOLPHINS – AND I CERTAINLY AM GRATEFUL FOR MY 20 SEASONS IN THE CFL TO OPEN THOSE DOORS WITH THE PRO FOOTBALL CROWD.

AND WITH THAT HAS COME AN AVALANCHE OF INVITATIONS TO TRAVEL THE STATE WITH COACHES AND SCOUTS, AND TAKE IN COLLEGE GAMES UP AND DOWN BOTH COASTS AND AROUND THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE. I’VE TOLD ‘EM THAT’LL HAVE TO WAIT TILL MY NEXT TRIP, ALTHOUGH I’M CONSIDERING EXTENDING MY STAY. I’VE BEEN NOTIFIED MY SERVICES AREN’T REQUIRED FOR THE REGINA PATS HOME-OPENER ON TV.

IN FLORIDA, WE MAY HAVE FOUND THE PERFECT FIT. IT’S NICE TO BE WANTED.

THAT’S TODAY’S ROD PEDERSEN COMMENTARY