THROWIN’ ELBOWS WITH BRENDAN MCGUIRE

1. RELEVANCE, NOT COVID, CFL’S RETURN-TO-PLAY BIGGEST CHALLENGE: Games on TV have been great since the start of the coronavirus raging the world but, even on TV, is just isn’t the same in front of empty stadiums. The combination of our lack of normalcy in the world as we know it, lack of certainty that life will go forward the way it’s supposed to, and lack of relevance from the unimportant games we’re seeing on TV relative to what’s happening in the real world has clearly dampened our enthusiasm for live sports. The Canadian Football League will face these issues head on if and when the return to play happens this summer or fall. I suspect stadiums will be back at full capacity by the time Grey Cup 2021 rolls around but again, how enthusiastic is the country going to be to celebrate such an event after everything else that has occupied our minds morning, noon and night for the past year-plus? Time will tell.     

2. LEAGUE IN BETTER SHAPE THAN MOST REALIZE: If reports of a billionaire group backing away from buying the BC Lions because they “got tired of waiting” are true, than the Leos, and that matter the rest of the league, are in much better shape than I had thought. If groups with deep pockets like that are kicking tires, then it’s clear as day the CFL has a bright future. The fact David Braley’s family hasn’t made clear that it plans to sell this money-bleeding albatross tells us that maybe, just maybe, they’re not ready to sell anytime soon, either. New, great owners in Montreal and deep-pocketed Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment carrying the ball in Toronto signal that our game is in far better shape than the garbage that THE ROCK is trying to sell us from down south. 

3. BETTER FOR REGINA TO NOT HOST GREY CUP THIS YEAR: I’m sure the celebration in Hamilton will be great moment for us all to watch on TV but how many people are going to make travel plans at the last minute to actually go to this thing? Hamilton will miss out on many of the economic benefits usually brought by hosting the Grey Cup. Regina, meanwhile, will host in 2022 after we’ve all had an entire offseason to plan our Grey Cup getaways. That should mean more visitors to the Queen City.

4. PLAYERS POLITICAL VIEWS: I used this space last week to point out some of the social media commentary former Rider superstar (and yes, he was a superstar here) John Chick has been sputtering out. As evidenced by some writings on 3 Down Nation, he’s been losing some fans over it. Personally, I don’t give two rips about what John Chick or any other ex-player (except Marcus “Chunky” Adams because we used to host a podcast together) thinks about Donald Trump, the coronavirus, religion, the weather or anything else. Athletes, current and past, have as much right to express themselves just like the rest of us do. But at the same time, if John Chick or anyone else chooses to exercise their right to shoot their mouth off, they do run the risk of hurting their own brand. If you’re an ex-player, that might matter to you and then again, it might not. I’m starting to think it ain’t that important to John Chick.  

5. STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS: Tuned in to game one of Vegas-Minnesota series and thought the league should be embarrassed it went all the way to overtime before anyone scored. Then I tuned into the Tampa Bay-Florida game and just about fell outta my seat. Like Wow! That and the first Habs-Leafs and Jets-Oilers matchups in more than 30 years give this playoff some real potential to be the best in a long time. And for some whose so down on the NHL these days, that’s hard for me to admit.   

6. BLUE JAY BROADCASTS: Dan and Buck is the best duo they have going. Pat Tabler more or less takes up space when he fills in. I actually quite appreciate the fact Rogers has come up with a rotating crew. 162 games of the same voices and faces is just a bad idea. Variety is the spice of life and I would even go so far to suggest they could work a few more faces into the rotation. The CFL on TSN could take that advice, too.

7. YOUTUBE VIDEO GAMERS: Who actually watches this crap? An ex-coworker of mine makes his fulltime living playing video games over YouTube and has some with views into the millions. Give me 40-year-old CFL and Montreal Expo broadcasts before I’ll ever watch that garbage.

8. ANTI-COVID VAXXERS: I wonder how many of you have been whining that we can’t get back to life as normal? When we do, you’re just freeloading off the rest of us who are being responsible and doing our part to get our economy going again.

9. CAMEO GREETINGS: Discovered over the weekend that Willie Jefferson, Bo Levi Mitchell, Rod Pedersen, Buck Martinez, Matt Devlin, Ron MacLean and Andrew Dawson will give you your own personal birthday greeting for under $80. Not bad. Mike Modano wants $199 ? Like get bent, Mike! I’ve heard some of his commentary and behavior since his playing days have ended. I wouldn’t order a birthday greeting from Mike Modano if he offered me money.

10.NERDY YOUTUBE VIDEO OF THE WEEK: HOLY COW, the story of Harry Caray shows us all he was a much more complicated man than the Will Ferrell imitations will lead you to believe.

(Follow Brendan on Twitter at @brendanhowardmc)