Commentary: Making Betts
(Listen daily for the RP Commentary on the All New Hits 98 CKHD & LTD Radio)
I try not to have any pet peeves anymore, but there’s one I’ll probably always hold onto.
As long as people say, “Labour Day Weekend is the unofficial kickoff to the CFL season,” I’ll continue to be annoyed.
Because if you’re just now tuning into the Canadian Football League in 2024, you’ve missed a lot!
Meh, I guess that’s their problem.
But a couple things reared their head on Wednesday in Canada’s league, which should be discussed here.
For one, an independent arbitrator upheld the suspension of 3-time Grey Cup champion D-lineman Shawn Lemon for gambling on CFL games, including one in which he played.
At 36 years of age and after 13 years in the League, I gotta think Lemon’s done. And it seems like an open and shut case to me.
I like the Lemonator, but if you do the crime, you gotta do the time.
But almost immediately, diehard fans compared it to the case of Toronto quarterback Chad Kelly, who served a nine-game suspension for his role in a sexual harassment claim involving a former female staff member.
They said, “You can’t gamble but you can sexually harass and still play?”
It’s not my responsibility to defend the league but that seems like a pretty unfair statement to make.
Plus, on the Kelly situation, I’ve heard arguments from all sides and I’m sure the CFL did too. A few have said “It takes two to tango”.
I don’t know but basically what I’m saying is none of us have all the facts, there are three sides to every story, and can’t we all just move on?
There’s plenty to discuss around the BC Lions signing D-lineman Mathieu Betts, who was cut by the NFL’s Detroit Lions on Tuesday.
Fans are howling about how the Lions can afford to sign last year’s league Most Outstanding Defensive Player just two weeks after breaking the bank to sign quarterback Nathan Rourke?
As far as explaining that one goes, I’ve gotta say … the CFL’s on its own.
That’s today’s Rod Pedersen Commentary.
(The Rod Pedersen Show airs daily at 12 pm & 4 pm ET on Game+TV, WQEE Radio, Podcast & YouTube Live)
Maybe Betts was paid a $200,000 entertainment money like Rourke was?
Yes Gord, kinda reminds me of the marquee rule… remember the Rocket and Flutie, CFL needs to set a hard cap and stick to it. Marketing money could apply to every contract in Sask. A lot of players do the rubber chicken suppers promoting and selling the Riders all over the province!
Those are long gone – these players are on social media and developing followings while allowing their individual personalities to flourish. That is what the marketing money is.
Heading to some rink in the middle of February to speak to a bunch of yokels is long gone and done.
More eyeballs on the players means more eyeballs on the game.
Let me know if you’re on Windows 95 and Word Perfect/Lotus 123 okay.
I see, I guess the marketing money is for new computers, and PR firms. I don’t think it’s working with what they have now, is it? Stadiums are empty except on Labour Day. CFL is still a gate driven league, so these players followers aren’t showing up…. The window on the old truck is 2010, yes couple cracks and grasshoppers, but I just picked up my new 24 …. , Oh ya can see clearly, empty stadiums. Maybe the potluck suppers need some gravy
My role is just to clarify a few details. I did this with the Rouge by pointing out it’s a carryover from Rugby which the CFL is/was based on and evolved from. Chad Kelly was never charged/or complaint regarding “Sexual Harassment” – that carries a different tone. He was accused of violating the CFL’s Gender Based Violence policy. What this in turn means is when they’re treated as equals or it gets to the point after X amount of conversations if she plays dumb or sabatoges a situation – he did the wrong thing if fire blasting here in front… Read more »