COMMENTARY: THE GOOD, THE GREAT & THE UGLY
(Listen daily for the RP Commentary on the All New Hits 98 CKHD & LTD Radio)
It’s Tuesday and that means it’s time for another edition of the Good, the Great & the Ugly!
First the good: While the NFL Playoffs are down to the Final Four on the field, the coaching carousel is generating just as many headlines off of it.
My insiders have predicted for weeks that Bill Belichick will wind up as the next head coach of the Atlanta Falcons. Many – including me – wonder why, at 71, Belichick wouldn’t hang up the whistle and start to enjoy life.
But coaching is the way he enjoys life, and we strongly encourage the notion of “You do you”, if it makes you happy.
So if Bill is coaching next season, in Atlanta or anywhere else, that’s good.
Next, the great: Wouldn’t that be something if Corey Perry ends up winning a Stanley Cup with the Edmonton Oilers?
The 38-year old went through the humiliation of having his contract terminated by the Chicago Blackhawks earlier this season for what they described as unacceptable behaviour. He sought professional help, says he’s better for it, and is now joining the hottest team in the NHL. Clearly the Oilers didn’t have an issue with whatever he did, or are satisfied with the changes he’s made in the past two months.
Sometimes you need to die before you can live.
And lastly, the ugly: Oh this one’s easy. The decision by five Alberta Junior Hockey League teams to defect to the rival BCHL beginning next season has people up-in-arms.
The A-J has refuted the report that those five teams have been kicked out immediately but the day ain’t over yet.
The SJHL issued a statement Monday saying none of their 12 teams are leaving, and won’t be.
To say the least, it’s a complicated issue but the Brooks Bandits are one of those teams leaving the Alberta league, and they’ve won the last three straight Centennial Cups; the national Junior A title.
Clearly the level of play has been too easy for them and they feel BC offers better competition and a better path for their players to college, and the NHL.
The initial rumour when this came up three years ago was that the BCHL was joining the USHL – which would’ve made more sense – but that never happened.
Is this the right or wrong decision? We’re about to find out, because it’s too late to go back now.
That’s today’s Rod Pedersen Commentary
(The Rod Pedersen Show airs daily at 12 pm & 5 pm on Game+TV, WQEE Radio, Podcast & YouTube Live)
Belichick’s ego is what’s keeping him from retirement, he wants to beat Shula’s wins record , and prove he can win a superbowl without Brady. It’s Atlanta or nothing because it looks like nobody else is interested, Falcons fans… myself included don’t really want him either.
Growing up in Regina and listing to 980 CKRM Sportsline which is not to be confused with 620 CKRM Sportscage this is telling. I have always known people are completely clueless with it comes to Football. First off Bill Belichick should have an ego. He came into New England with 2 Super Bowls as an Assistant Coach to Bill Parcells. The narrative has changed because for many years it was how Parcells never won anything after Belichick left. What should be the narrative is the New England Patriots are going to have a wing in the Pro Football Hall of… Read more »
Pretty crazy Perry signed for a team that’s going to miss the playoffs eh Rod 😉
Is it me or have all the teams that hired young exciting coaches in the NFL are moving in the right direction?
You’re entirely right , that’s why nobody is interested in having Belichick come in and try pad his win total to catch Shula then retire.
Nothing has changed. I’ll explain football as it seems to be needed. If you go through any playbook they are still using formations from Alonzo Stagg and Pop Warner. It’s all speed and that goes all the way back to Jimmy Johnson wanting his Lineman to have Linebacker speed, Linebackers are DB speed, and DBs better be able to keep pace with Michael Irvin ergo Deion Sanders as a DB. – nothing has changed it’s just evolved. Offense Andy Reid took Urban Meyer’s spread offense years ago and that’s the standard which evolved from Bill Walsh’s west coast offense which… Read more »
Keep developing USA Hockey, BCHL. You’ll see Canada losing the World Juniors in the quarterfinal every year!!
What a joke that they take taxpayers money for their arenas, but won’t do rosters with Canadian kids.
It is an easy trade off. The taxpayers can rest assured it’s isn’t new Canadians that are plugging up the emergency rooms with their calamities around addictions and obesity.