MONDAY COMMENTARY – BRAVO CFL

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

THERE’S REALLY NOTHING BUT POSITIVE THINGS TO BE SAID ABOUT THE CANADIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE TWO WEEKS INTO THE SEASON.

FOR THE MOST PART. AND I’LL EXPLAIN WHY.

THE FOOTBALL’S BEEN PRETTY GOOD, THE GAMES HAVE BEEN CLOSE, AND OVERALL WE’VE HAD PLENTY TO TALK ABOUT.

FOR SOME REASON PEOPLE WANT MY OPINION ON ATTENDANCE, INCLUDING SATURDAY’S GAME WHERE THE RIDERS SPANKED HAMILTON 30-8, AND AT 27-THOUSAND-AND-CHANGE, IT WAS THE LOWEST ATTENDED GAME SINCE THE NEW STADIUM OPENED.

I HAVE TO SAY, SO WHAT?

THE ATTENDANCE HAS ACTUALLY BEEN GREATER AT CFL GAMES THIS MONTH THAN I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE. THE RIDERS BOASTED A SELLOUT FOR THE HOME-OPENER AND HAVE ALREADY ANNOUNCED A SELLOUT FOR THE LABOUR DAY CLASSIC.

IN WINNIPEG, CLOSE TO 30-THOUSAND SHOWED UP IN WEEK 1 AND WHILE IT WAS A SEVERE DROP-OFF FOR FRIDAY’S WEEK 2 WIN OVER TORONTO WHICH WE WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE AT (THANKS TO THE BOMBERS), WHAT MORE CAN WE EXPECT?

IT’S NOT CHEAP TO ATTEND CFL GAMES ANYMORE. TO TAKE A FAMILY TO A GAME AND ACTUALLY ENJOY IT (I.E. HIT THE CONCESSION AND GET SOME MERCH), IT COULD EASILY RUN YOU UP TO A THOUSAND DOLLARS.

THE ATTENDANCE IN CALGARY HAS TO BE A CONCERN, AT SUB-20-THOUSAND FOR THEIR TWO HOME GAMES; BOTH LOSSES. IT’S BEEN WHISPERED THAT ATTENDANCE CAPS AND RESTRICTIONS HAVE AFFECTED THAT, BUT MY CALGARY FOOTBALL SOURCES SAY THAT’S HOGWASH. IT’S A CONCERN.

WHAT’S THE DOWNSIDE OF THE CFL SEASON SO FAR? WELL, BEING CUT ON SUNDAY IF YOU’RE ROOKIE JAPANESE BC KICKER TAKERU YAMASAKI. HE WAS SHAPING UP TO BE THE CFL’S BIGGEST STORY BUT HE HAD A TOUGH TIME HITTING THE UPRIGHTS AND NOW IS GONE.

THE TICATS, STAMPEDERS AND ELKS ARE ALL WINLESS AND NO ONE SAW THAT COMING.

THE REVOLVING DOOR AT QUARTERBACK FOR THE BC LIONS IS A HOT TOPIC AND I’VE MADE MY THOUGHTS KNOWN ON THAT. BASICALLY, THANK GOD I’M NOT A GAMBLER.

BUT IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A SCATHING CRITIQUE ON THE CFL FROM ME TODAY, YOU’LL HAVE TO LOOK ELSEWHERE.

I THINK IT’S A BIG “BRAVO” FOR GETTING THIS FAR.

THAT’S TODAY’S ROD PEDERSEN COMMENTARY