COMMENTARY: CAN’T DISAGREE
(Listen daily for the RP Commentary on Cat Country 98, Rock 98.5 FM & LTD Radio)
It’s Tuesday and that means it’s time for the Good, the Great & the Ugly!
First the good: A pretty bad, long-lingering cold prevented me from giving the type of coverage I’d have liked for the 110th Grey Cup. But believe me, it would’ve been all positive.
The Hamilton host committee truly gave off the “big time” feel they were shooting for, and then of course the game itself was off the charts.
My affection for Cody Fajardo aside, the Montreal Alouettes’ last minute drive to beat Winnipeg 28-24 has to rank up there with one of the biggest upsets in the history of the Grey Cup.
Having followed this league for 40 years, I’m pretty confident in that statement.
Next the great: I get tingles thinking about Monday’s news that 3.5-million Canadians watched the Grey Cup on TSN and RDS. That’ll take some examination as well!
Honestly that was the buzz in the press box at the Oilers/Panthers game last night here in Florida. We all watched the Grey Cup, and even the hockey people were raving about the ratings.
The NHL is still full of Canadians, and Canadians love the Grey Cup. Apparently as much as ever!
Now the CFL needs to make an effort to stay in the media over the next six months, which has never been their strong suit, nor even their desire.
And finally the ugly: Take your pick – the Edmonton Oilers or the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Gosh knows we’ve dissected the Riders enough but it at least it appears people are finally seeing the light there. (It honestly took Fajardo winning a Grey Cup for people to see the Riders are headed in a terrible direction?! Wow.)
But with the Oilers, what could be said here that hasn’t already been said? Virtually the same team that won multiple playoff series the past two seasons has turned into one of the worst teams in the NHL.
It’s only been a week since their latest coach firing but they just went pointless on a swing through Florida and have gone back to looking dreadful and listless.
A guy told me this morning he thinks the Oilers will never figure it out.
Can’t say I disagree.
That’s today’s Rod Pedersen Commentary
(The Rod Pedersen Show airs daily at 12 pm & 5 pm ET on Game+TV, WQEE Radio, Podcast & YouTube Live)
I would agree the 2023 Grey Cup is a classic. Two really great teams and the entire season was good to watch. You have 3 franchises that are absolute dog $h!t – It starts with Edmonton, veers to Ottawa, and Saskatchewan…..people….you haven’t seen anything yet. This is the perfect storm in Saskatchewan. Complete and utter moronic Board level leadership. To the point based on the CEO I would take him in for testing to see if he’s on the spectrum, and then I’d book a private MRI to see if the GM has early CTE. Imagine this, because hindsight is… Read more »
Guaranteed the Elks will finish above the Riders as they almost did this year! My money would be on last place in the west in 2024 with the bozos we have leading this team
Very well stated. The problem is Reynolds and a blind Board that can’t see the problem.
Only thing Reynolds knows about is how to count beans. With all the people I have heard not supporting the Riders this year he will have less beans to count
You forgot O’Day, he’s a major problem for the Roughriders.
As for taking momentum – Randy Ambroise honestly if he had to be entrusted to “build” something. I would encourage him to just sit on his a$$ like he has been doing for years and he can then give a Board presentation on the set of pyles he’s built. This league the CFL – it’s like the mid-90s NHL. It’s a great game and idiot proof and all it takes is someone like Gary Bettman to come along from the NBA and 3 years into his tenure starting putting it on track. Now it’s 30 years later and the NHL… Read more »