MONDAY RUNDOWN: TIME’S UP FOR CFL

We had major breaking news on Episode #298 of The RP Show plus we chatted Stanley Cup Playoffs and NFL! Here’s the recap:

• Rod and Dupes opened with The Rollout for Flooring Superstores covering these Quick Six show topics: 1) The Federal government denies the CFL’s funding request (RP reported it was a tie between Justin Dunk and Dave Naylor for who broke the news), 2) Sunday’s NHL winners were NY Islanders, Dallas, Chicago, Philadelphia and St. Louis, 3) Monday’s games are Tampa/Columbus, Colorado/Arizona, Boston/Carolina and St. Louis/Vancouver, 4) The Raptors open the NBA Playoffs Monday afternoon against Brooklyn, 5) Blue Jays MVP Bo Bichette goes to the Injured List, and 6) It’s 27 days until NFL Week 1.
• In Hour 1 TSN’s Matthew Scianitti broke the news that the CFL is scrapping the 2020 season. Shortly thereafter the CFL confirmed it in a news release. Viewer reaction was of shock and outrage but RP said they’ve been preparing CFL fans for this outcome for weeks. It became a theme throughout the show.
• TSN 1050 Toronto’s and NHL alum Carlo Coloaiacovo joined the show from Toronto to chat NHL Playoffs but admitted he follows the CFL because he’s surrounded by Argo fans at TSN. He feels badly for the players at this time and hopes for the best. Regarding the NHL, Carlo said the Leafs are in a bad spot, saddled by inflated contracts with players who didn’t perform adequately in the playoffs. He also said the Blues and Capitals may be suffering from Stanley Cup hangovers and there are likely several players who aren’t “into” these playoffs. He also respects Boston goalie Tukka Rask’s decision to opt out, and that it had to be an incredibly difficult decision.
• The daily Capital Auto Mall/Universal Collision Centre poll question was: Who’s to blame for the CFL funding fumble – CFL owners or the government? At press time over 60% of respondents pointed their finger at the owners.
• Hour 2 was broadcast on Facebook Live only and we were joined by Zig Fracassi of Sirius/XM NFL Radio in New York. He’s been following the CFL situation and feels it’s a shame, but doesn’t think Canada should go the route of being an NFL farm league. Zig talked NFL and said the Vegas Raiders are brewing something under coach Jon Gruden and GM Mike Mayock, and will be a force. He also predicts Cam Newton will be New England’s starting QB in Week 1. Zig also talked about his beloved Boston Bruins, and reflected on spending a day with Rod at the Sirius/XM studios in New York a few years back.
• Philadelphia Flyers great Brian Propp joined the show from his New Jersey home and said everyone there is into the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He said the Flyers have undergone a methodical rebuild but admits they weren’t preseason favourites to be Stanley Cup contenders. However they are now. Propper told some playoff war stories with the likes of Bobby Clarke and other Flyers greats, and said he’s really enjoying these playoffs.
• During the show Allan The Intern showed off the brand new Ricky The Iguana costume and viewers said it was the most awkward mascot reveal in history!
• The balance of the show was filled out by CFL talk and where the league will go from here. RP said this is an historic time for the CFL and all options for the future have to be considered. Dupes hijacked Rod’s Rant saying CFL owners shouldn’t point the finger of blame at anyone but themselves, and that goes for society in general as people don’t want to look in the mirror.
• Monday’s show is available for viewing now on our Facebook page, you can listen to the podcast by clicking on the PODCAST tab at the top of this page, or you can listen anytime to our 24-hour live audio feed at RodPedersen.com/ListenLive.
• See you at 10 am MT on Tuesday!