Thursday Commentary: Let The Games Begin!
Photo: Montreal Alouettes
(Listen daily for the RP Commentary on the All New Hits 98 CKHD & LTD Radio)
I think if you do this long enough, you’ll get to the point where I am in the sports media game.
Cheering for players, not teams.
So when the Montreal Alouettes kickoff at the Winnipeg Blue Bombers tonight to get the 2024 CFL season underway, I’ll be pulling for Cody Fajardo and his Alouettes.
He is, by far, my favourite player in the CFL and comes in leading the Grey Cup champions, and is the reigning Grey Cup MVP.
Don’t let anybody try to dismiss that, nor make you forget it.
When the email from the CFL entitled “Week 1 Game Notes” hit my inbox earlier this week, I got a warm sensation.
It’s just so great, and I couldn’t wait to click on it and see what’s up!
History is on Montreal’s side tonight; they’re 6-0 in season-openers against Winnipeg all-time.
And this June 6 season kickoff is the earliest in league history as well. Having long been a proponent of the CFL starting its season as early as possible, I applaud this development.
It also shows you how long it takes to affect change in pro sports. I hope they move it up another month, although, I’m not as passionate about the idea as I once was.
Cheering for players over teams really affects your prediction record too. For instance, I’m cheering for Cody tonight but really have no gut feeling about who will actually win the game.
Bo Levi Mitchell returns to Calgary for the first time with Hamilton on Friday night. Obviously I’m going with the Stamps there!
It’s Sask at Edmonton on Saturday. Corey Mace against Chris Jones and – believe it or not – I’ve never even met Corey Mace. And let’s just say I want to see Jones prove the doubters wrong, and keep his job.
Week 1 closes Sunday with BC at Toronto in the Braley Bowl.
Let’s just hope for a good game and packed stands at BMO Field!
That’s today’s Rod Pedersen Commentary
(The Rod Pedersen Show airs daily at 12 pm ET on Game+TV, WQEE Radio, Podcast & YouTube Live)
You probably put it in just for click bait but I couldn’t possibly cheer for Chris Jones after all the harm he did to ‘Rider Pride’.
You gonna blame Jones for the $1.1M loss last year?
Yes Rod I’m blaming Jones for the $1.1 M loss. It’s called decline in merchandise sales. Right from the day Jones gutted the Riders there was and is less ‘Green’ worn throughout the whole province.
He was here from 2016 – 2018 and after a 5-13 year to clean up the pig sty he inherited he went 10-8, and 12-6. The cupboards were full, and the coaching staff was set. That same coaching staff had won a Grey Cup in Edmonton. He left 6 years ago. Just typical Saskatchewan loserville. Well, you get to vote NDP this fall so maybe they can take care of you cradle to grave. Once I called into Sportsline during the cold winter when Roy Shivers was here. I said what that guy had to clean up just to get… Read more »
Montreal is set up to be the next version of Winnipeg. Danny Machoicia is French Canadian – they have that 10th CFL franchise at Laval to pull players Quebec is a hotbed for Canadian talent. It’s built the right way. Jason Maas gets rail roaded out of here and they are holding the Cup. Chris Jones I am ALL IN with. He is the reason why the Roughriders utterly suck beyond comprehension with the franchise speeing to the bottom faster than the titanic. I’ll let people in on some trade secrets. When the Accountant wanted to make his mark he… Read more »
I distinctly remember Rod Pederson was very much in favour of Jeremy O’Day being hired for GM after Chris Jones bolted. I absolutely remember reading this blog when Pederson was promoting the view that Jeremy should be the GM.
ERRONEOUS!
The truth does not answer questions.