FRIDAY’S CAT COUNTRY COMMENTARY
(Listen daily for the Rod Pedersen Commentary at 9:50 AM and 5:20 PM on Cat Country 98 FM)
IN THE END, IT’S GOING TO COME DOWN TO YOU. AND BY YOU, I MEAN THE FANS.
HERE’S WHY — WE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THE LEAGUES WE CARE ABOUT ON THURSDAY.
CFL COMMISSIONER RANDY AMBROSIE ISSUED A LENGTHY PUBLIC STATEMENT COVERING A LOT OF ISSUES. THEY’VE OFFICIALLY REQUESTED THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INCLUDE CFL PLAYERS IN THE WAGE SUBSIDY PROGRAM. HE AND OTHER TOP EXECUTIVES IN THE LEAGUE OFFICE HAVE TAKEN 20 PERCENT PAYCUTS, AND THEY CONTINUE TO RESEARCH A RETURN TO PLAY PLAN THAT’S BOTH SAFE FOR THE PLAYERS, BUT ALSO FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE.
PUNDITS SUGGEST THIS WAS A TIP THAT THE LEAGUE IS POISED TO SCRAP THE 2020 SEASON ALTOGETHER BUT UNTIL THAT’S OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCED, I PREFER NOT TO SPECULATE.
HOWEVER THE COMMISSIONER DID THANK CFL FANS FOR LEAVING THEIR SEASON TICKET MONEY WITH THE CLUBS RATHER THAN REQUESTING REFUNDS. NO MATTER HOW THE CFL COMES BACK, IT’S ONLY CHANCE AT SURVIVAL IS IF THEY FILL STADIUMS IN 2021 AND BEYOND.
RIGHT NOW, THE CFL HAS LOST THE P-R BATTLE HANDILY WITH THE PLAYERS AND ME-THINKS THAT WAS A BIG REASON WHY AMBROSIE REVEALED ALL THESE THINGS IN HIS STATEMENT.
I GET THE SENSE CANADIANS DON’T WANT FEDERAL MONEY, NOR THEIR OWN DISPOSAL INCOME, TO GO TO A LEAGUE WHICH IS TOP-HEAVY AND IS BEING PORTRAYED AS AN OUTFIT TAKING ADVANTAGE OF PLAYERS AND COACHES FOR YEARS. AMBROSIE HAD TO FIGHT BACK, AND EARN SOME GOODWILL.
THE WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE IS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT STORY BUT COMMISSIONER RON ROBISON TOLD REPORTERS THAT DUB TEAMS WILL NEED TO PLAY IN ARENAS THAT ARE AT LEAST 50-PERCENT CAPACITY IF THE LEAGUE CAN MAKE A GO OF IT. AND THEY HOPE TO BEGIN PLAY OCTOBER 2ND.
SO NOW, YOU SEE THE FANS ARE HOLDING ALL THE CARDS. AND ON THIS, THE 100TH DAY OF THE PANDEMIC, IT’S BECOMING MORE AND MORE CLEAR THAT THIS HAS BECOME A PUBLIC RELATIONS RACE TO SEE WHO CAN BEST EARN YOUR SUPPORT, AND YOUR MONEY.
THAT’S TODAY’S ROD PEDERSEN COMMENTARY ON CAT COUNTRY 98.
