WEDNESDAY COMMENTARY – OLD DOG, NEW TRICKS
(Listen daily for the Rod Pedersen Commentary on Cat Country 98 & Rock 98.5 FM)
THEY’VE HAD IT ALL WRONG ALL THESE YEARS.
TURNS OUT YOU CAN TEACH AN OLD DOG NEW TRICKS.
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY 49 YEARS, I ATTENDED THE CALGARY STAMPEDE “TARP AUCTION” DOWN AT STAMPEDE PARK TUESDAY NIGHT.
WITH A THOUSAND REAL, AND WEEKEND, COWBOYS IN ATTENDANCE PLUS THE WEALTHIEST AND MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE IN CALGARY, THEY AUCTIONED OFF THE CANVASES FOR THIS YEAR’S CALGARY STAMPEDE CHUCKWAGON RANGELAND DERBY WHICH OF COURSE GOES IN JULY.
YOU KNOW ME. I GOT THERE EARLY AND GOT THE INSIDE SCOOP FROM EVERYBODY. THIS EVENT IS THE UNOFFICIAL KICKOFF TO THE CALGARY STAMPEDE AND HOW MUCH SPONSORS DIG INTO THEIR POCKETS IS ALWAYS SEEN AS AN INDICATION HOW THE CALGARY ECONOMY’S DOING.
AGAIN, BUSINESSES ARE BIDDING TO PUT THEIR NAME ON A CHUCKWAGON IN THE CALGARY STAMPEDE.
I BELIEVE, ALL TOLLED, OVER 2-MILLION DOLLARS WAS RAISED WHICH ISN’T A RECORD BUT IS FAR FROM AN ALL-TIME LOW AND IT WAS ANOTHER SIGN THAT “WE’RE BACK”.
OF COURSE I HAD A CHANCE TO VISIT WITH THE CHUCKWAGON DRIVERS TOO. THEY’RE EXCITED TO BE BACK RACING BUT DISMAYED THAT THE FIELD’S BEEN CUT FROM 36 DRIVERS DOWN TO 27.
THE ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVISTS NEED TO BE SATISFIED DON’T-YA-KNOW, AND REDUCING THE OUTFITS IN EACH HEAT FROM FOUR DOWN TO THREE WILL HOPEFULLY REDUCE THE WRECKS.
THAT’S THE THINKING ANYWAY.
AND JUST LIKE THE REST OF THE CALGARY SPORTING COMMUNITY, THE STAMPEDE WELCOMED US WITH OPEN ARMS AND EXPECT US TO BROADCAST THE RP SHOW LIVE FROM STAMPEDE IN JULY.
TURNS OUT IT’S THE SAME TIME AS TOUCHDOWN ATLANTIC IN HALIFAX BETWEEN THE RIDERS AND ARGOS BUT AS I TOLD THE COWBOYS, I’VE SEEN ENOUGH FOOTBALL GAMES IN MY LIFE.
IT TURNS OUT YOU CAN TEACH AN OLD DOG NEW TRICKS.
IF HE’S WILLING TO LEARN.
THAT’S TODAY’S ROD PEDERSEN COMMENTARY.
(The Rod Pedersen Show airs daily at 12 pm ET on Game+ TV across Canada and the USA. Call your cable provider for details. You can also watch on YouTube Live and listen 24/7 at RodPedersen.com/ListenLive)
I don’t think at 49 you’re learning new tricks. You’re just getting started discovering new things and that is so great to follow on here and watch. You’ve simply moved forward and that is so nice to see in the new media landscape. Talent can’t be held back and we’re seeing that. Regina was loaded with media personalities who hung on way to long, lost their zip on the fastball so to speak, and frankly became bitter and jaded. When they leave nobody remembers them. I see your next 30 years setting the standard in huge markets like you did… Read more »
Thank you.
The Calgary Stampede BoD has been infiltrated by weak kneed wokes. The wagon races are what made the Stampede special. Last year they put on the Stampede without the chucks and found out it was just a rodeo of little consecuence in the big picture. So now they’ve allowed a watered down version of the chucks and think they’re heros.
Thrilled the chuckwagons are back. Best part of the stampede for sure. Great to see some real money come thru for the drivers and teams … it’s an expensive sport. Love it.