FRIDAY COMMENTARY – THAT’S HOCKEY

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

ONE OF THE THINGS I TRY TO DO HERE DAILY IS OPEN YOUR EYES A BIT.

IT’S NOT TO EDUCATE NECESSARILY, BECAUSE YOU’RE ALREADY SMART ENOUGH. IT’S MORE TO SHOW YOU THE OTHER SIDE TO THE STORY. THE ONE YOU DON’T SEE, OR ISN’T BEING REPORTED.

WE LONG AGO REALIZED THAT SPORTS AREN’T A PRIORITY IN EVERYONE’S LIVES LIKE IT IS FOR US WHO’VE SPENT OUR ENTIRE LIVES IN THE GAME. IT WAS A MIND-BENDING REVELATION, BUT MAYBE IT WAS TIME WE HAD OUR OWN EYES OPENED.

BUT THAT DOESN’T CHANGE THE FACT THERE ARE THOUSANDS UP THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN THE SPORTS INDUSTRY (AND LET’S NOT FORGET ABOUT ENTERTAINMENT) WHO HAVE BEEN ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY THE PANDEMIC. THEY’RE STILL HURTING IMMENSELY, WHILE MOST OTHERS’ LIVES HAVE RETURNED TO NORMAL.

IT REALLY HIT HOME THURSDAY IN A LENGTHY INTERVIEW WE DID WITH A WHL TEAM STAFF MEMBER WHO’S SPENT A COUPLE MONTHS IN THE “HUB”.

HE COULD NOT BE CONVINCED THAT THEY’RE THE LUCKY ONES, AND TALKED ABOUT THE MASSIVE RESTRICTIONS PLACED ON WHL TEAMS; RIGHT DOWN TO NOT BEING ABLE TO GO FOR A WALK OUTSIDE AT THE U OF R.

IT DID NOT SMACK OF BEING UNGRATEFUL AT ALL. IT’S THE PLAYERS’ REALITY AND YOU’D HAVE TO BE INCREDIBLY MENTALLY STRONG TO SURVIVE. AND LET’S NOT FORGET, WE’RE DEALING WITH TEENAGED BOYS.

ON THE FLIPSIDE MOST ATHLETES, COACHES AND SUPPORT STAFF ACROSS THIS COUNTRY AREN’T PLAYING AT ALL AND ARE DEALING WITH THEIR OWN MENTAL ANGUISH AS THEY WATCH THEIR CAREERS AND MENTAL HEALTH DWINDLE AWAY AS THIS PANDEMIC STRETCHES INTO YEAR 2 WITH NO CLEAR END IN SIGHT.

IN SHORT, EVERYONE’S STRUGGLING WHETHER YOU’RE PLAYING OR NOT.

HATE TO BE THE BEARER OF BAD NEWS BUT THE SUMMER OF 2021 IS LOOKING BLEAK. THERE WILL BE NO WESTERN CANADIAN BASEBALL, THE PRO BASKETBALL LEAGUE WHICH HAS A SASKATOON TEAM (CEBL) HAS DELAYED ITS SEASON AND I’M FAR FROM CONVINCED THE ROUGHRIDERS WILL TAKE THE FIELD BEFORE LABOUR DAY.

THIS IS NOT TO COMPLAIN. I’M JUST TELLING YOU WHAT’S GOING ON.

I’LL SAY IT AGAIN – HOW GRATEFUL ARE WE THAT THE WHL OWNERS “BIT THE BULLET” IN ORDER TO HIT THE ICE? IT’S COSTING THEM MILLIONS.

BUT THAT’S HOCKEY.

THAT’S TODAY’S ROD PEDERSEN COMMENTARY.