FRIDAY COMMENTARY – LIVE FROM WINNIPEG

(Listen daily for the Rod Pedersen Commentary on Cat Country 98 FM & Rock 98.5 FM)

OUR TRAVELS FIND US IN WINNIPEG TODAY FOR THIS WEEKEND’S WORLD JUNIOR LACROSSE CHAMPIONSHIPS AT CANADA LIFE CENTRE, HOME OF THE WINNIPEG JETS.

THE BEST LACROSSE PLAYERS IN THE WORLD ARE HERE AND IN GAME ONE ON THURSDAY, CANADA EAST CLUBBED CANADA WEST 15-9 ON TSN2.

THE ORGANIZERS INVITED US OUT TO BROADCAST LIVE FROM THEIR EVENT AND HERE WE ARE!

WATCH FOR OUR LIVE ROD PEDERSEN SHOW FRIDAY FROM CANADA LIFE CENTRE ON GAME+ TV, FACEBOOK AND YOUTUBE.

OF COURSE IT COINCIDES WITH TONIGHT’S FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL CLASH BETWEEN THE TORONTO ARGONAUTS AND WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS AT IG FIELD!

IT’S A BATTLE OF 1-0 TEAMS AND WHILE I’VE GOT TORONTO PICKED TO WIN – PRIMARILY BECAUSE THEY’VE GOT LESS INJURIES – WE’RE LEARNING FAST THAT ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN IN THE CFL.

TAKE FOR INSTANCE THURSDAY NIGHT’S EYE-GLAZING BC LIONS 15-9 VICTORY AT CALGARY. THAT’S RIGHT, 15-9. BO LEVI’S STAMPEDERS WERE SHUTOUT OF TOUCHDOWNS IN THEIR OWN PARK, AND ARE NOW 0-2.

THERE’S PLENTY OF HAND-WRINGING GOING ON TODAY IN CFL CIRCLES OVER THE FACT THE BC LIONS LED US TO BELIEVE ALL WEEK THAT ROOKIE NATHAN ROURKE WOULD START A SECOND STRAIGHT GAME AT QUARTERBACK.

THAT LED THE STAMPS TO BE 7-POINT FAVOURITES, AND THAT’S WHERE I MADE MY BET.

BUT LO AND BEHOLD, FOR A SECOND STRAIGHT WEEK, THE LIONS CAME OUT WITH A SURPRISE STARTER. THIS TIME IT WAS MICHAEL REILLY, WHO FRANKLY DISPLAYED NO SIGNS OF THE INJURY WHICH KEPT HIM ON THE SIDELINES OF LAST WEEK’S LOSS AT SASKATCHEWAN.

HERE WE GO AGAIN. THE LIONS WON THE GAME AND HEAD COACH RICK CAMPBELL DOESN’T CARE ABOUT BETTING LINES, STORYLINES OR SINGLE GAME BETTING.

BUT HE’D BETTER START.

BETTORS ARE FURIOUS OVER THE LIONS’ SECRECY AND IT’S TURNING THEM OFF THE CFL. THAT’S A BIG PROBLEM FOR A LEAGUE WHO FIGURES TO BE SAVED BY THE BILLION-DOLLAR SPORTS BETTING INDUSTRY.

NEW CFL FANS FROM THE USA ARE SCREAMING THAT THEY’LL NEVER TAKE FANTASY ADVICE FROM ME AGAIN. (LOOK IT UP). THAT’S OKAY – I NEVER ASKED THEM TO IN THE FIRST PLACE AND BETTING NEVER REALLY WAS MY THING. I WAS HOPING TO GET INTO IT MORE WITH THE CFL, BUT THE LIONS ARE RUINING THAT.

AND AS FOR THE STAMPEDERS, THEIR PROBLEMS ARE PLENTIFUL. THEY’RE 0-2 FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OVER A DECADE AND THEIR STADIUM WAS HALF-FULL AT BEST.

FOR THE PAST MONTH THE GOOD NEWS WAS, “AT LEAST THE CFL’S PLAYING”.

BUT REALITY IS SETTING IN FAST.

OH WELL – FOR ME, IT’S BACK TO LACROSSE. TALK TO YOU SOON FROM WINNIPEG!

THAT’S TODAY’S ROD PEDERSEN COMMENTARY