THE MONDAY MORNING GOALIE

1 – HOLA: Hello from beautiful Cabo San Lucas, Mexico where we are enjoying some vacay on the Bell Media (CTV/Pure Country 92.7) annual excursion! It’s easy to see why stars like Tiger Woods and Oprah Winfrey have homes here; it’s the most-Americanized Mexico city, yet still has all the breathtaking views and sizzling temperatures. We even got to hang out with country star Gord Bamford, who will be doing a live show on Wednesday for Bell Media sponsors! No life complaints today.

2 – XFL: With CFL free agency all but over and NFL free agency not opening for a couple of weeks, the XFL has taken centre stage in the pro football world. After 2 weeks of figuring the rules and each other out, Week 3 featured some breakthrough performances and electrifying plays. For instance, the league’s first kick return touchdown was scored at a soldout Dome in St. Louis on Sunday. Houston QB P.J. Walker is getting national headlines as potentially the next big thing. With full stands, great plays and the stage all to themselves, the XFL is making a major play to be here to stay. Plus they’ve got all the marketing, promo support and adjunct dollars behind them. Good for them!

3 – XFL VS CFL: It’s funny to watch the CFL flat-earthers do their best to poo poo the XFL. Some are even suggesting us pundits ignore the XFL altogether, and maybe it’ll just go away. (Right – that always works. Ask your doctor, dentist or mechanic). Nope. Competition is a great thing and this continent is big enough for the NFL, CFL and XFL. The Vince McMahon reincarnation is forcing the CFL to up its game in a variety of ways. This is fascinating to watch unfold.

4 – TD ATLANTIC: One of the biggest news items to come out of the CFL last week was the League asking the City of Halifax and Province of Nova Scotia for a few hundred thousand dollars to stage TD Atlantic in July between the Riders and Argos. At first glance that appears rather hat-in-hand but the City of Regina put up between $100,000-$150,000 to help the NHL stage the Heritage Classic last October. I can hear the business people saying, “This is the way it’s done Rod“. Perhaps, but if Halifax City Council balks – which it sounds like they may – here’s hoping the game isn’t ash-canned altogether.

5 – MORE: It always seems like the CFL is living hand-to-mouth. They must be, or they wouldn’t have capped coaching salaries and limited coaching staff numbers? Two things on this: 1) If this is the case, I’d rather see the money spent on TD Atlantic than CFL 2.0. Granting an expansion franchise to the Atlantic Schooners is FARRRR more important to the long-term stability of the league than global expansion. And 2) Perhaps a merger with the XFL should be explored again. I suggested it back in 2001 and faced the firing squad. That was even before Twitter and Facebook, which serve as an accelerant for online backlash. 

Point being, if you keep doing the same things you’ve always done, you’ll get the same results you’ve always gotten. CFL 2.0 is a noble goal, but getting a 10th team in a football hotbed like the Maritimes seems so much more important, IMHO. Merging with the XFL may pump in the required dollars to accomplish both.

6 – STILL MORE ON TD ATLANTIC: It seems CFL types have been caught a little off-guard with the invasion of the Rider Nation for the CFL’s marquee summer game. So many fans I’ve talked to – including many on this Bell Media trip – have booked flights and hotels for Halifax but are getting worried that tickets aren’t on sale yet. Their concern? With the migration of the Tractor Factor, not to mention the thousands of Rider Priders who already live in the Maritimes, will there be enough room in the stadium for everyone? A reasonable fear for sure.

7 – LYNCH MOB: Lost in the shuffle of the Chris Jones news in Cleveland is the fact the Browns have added former Roughriders LB/DB Brandon Lynch to their coaching staff as Assistant DBs Coach. Brandon spent three years with the Riders (2007-209), winning a Grey Cup, before immediately going into coaching. He’s had stops in Northern Iowa and East Carolina as well as an internship with the Vikings. Well done Brandon!

8 – NHL TRADE DEADLINE: The Golden Knights got the jump on things with the addition of Alec Martinez last week (he’s been a scoring machine from the backend since being acquired from LA), and the acquisition of G Robin Lehner who’s a huge upgrade over Malcom Subban. Vegas has won a season high 6 in a row and are hitting the gas. Meanwhile with the addition of Mike Green and Andreas Athanasiou, the Oilers have served notice that they’re In It To Win It. I’ve settled on a favourite American team (Vegas Golden Knights) and Canadian team (Edmonton Oilers) and life is good in both fanbases. If they met in the playoffs, I’ll be pulling for Vegas. Given the way they’ve treated me, it would be tough not to.

9 – FEEL THE RUSH: After a shaky start, your Saskatchewan Rush lead the NLL’s Western Conference at 6-2 and have won 3 in a row. Their 15-10 win at Philadelphia on the weekend was a trip, and can you believe Rush star Mark Matthews notched NINE points in the game?  They go for four in a row this Saturday at the Phone Booth (SaskTel Centre) when they host the Toronto Rock. I can’t be there, but my season seats are in good hands.

10 – RANDOM THOUGHTS: Today’s column was a few hours late. It’s called ‘Mexican Time’. … Sorry, but I feel it’s a shame Rachel Homan didn’t win the Scotties however hats off to Manitoba for taking the crown. Rachel will be doubly mad since Canada’s womens champion finally takes home the same paycheque as the Brier (mens) champ. Rachel told me earlier this winter that it would be nice if she got retro pay for her past 3 Canadian titles. For this and many more other reasons, I was really hoping she’d win it all. … And hats off again to Moose Jaw for hosting a great event. You are a special place. … I keep confusing the team names Raptors and Rattlers. People are talking about Saskatchewan’s CEBL team, and can’t wait for season two in Saskatoon – as defending champs. … You can tell hockey playoffs are getting close. The hitting has picked up, and suspensions are on the rise. … The best advice I’ve gotten lately: “Keep doing what you’re doing“. … Gord Bamford is a really nice guy with a lot of great country songs. I’m glad I’m back listening to Country & Western full time. … Darren Dupont has the RP Show in my absence this week. Go check the kid out!

Y’er welcome,
RP
@rodpedersen

(Photo: XFL.com)