THROWIN’ ELBOWS WITH BRENDAN MCGUIRE

1. TEN GAME SKED IS ENOUGH: A Labor Day weekend start would leave plenty of time for a great CFL season. I know I’m beating a dead horse with this but all of these ‘deadlines’ and ‘no later than’ declarations being made by the league governors and its players association are unnecessary. It puts unneeded pressure on the business which has been crushed enough from all of this and, even worse, it creates too much uncertainty for the players, themselves, and their families. Start on Labor Day Weekend or bust. Announce it right now and so everyone will not only have clarity but also put the whole thing in the best possible situation to actually succeed. A ten-game season is enough time for everyone to play everyone at least once and then a home-and-home in there, too.

2. EDMONTON ELKS: Just wonderful! A chance to sell some new merch for a tired brand that hasn’t really changed its logo much at all over its entire history. We all know the colors and symbols will end up back where it’s been, already. And that’s okay, too.

3. USFL RELAUNCH: They’re using words like “innovative” to describe how they will operate. Remember the “Alliance of American Football”? They told us all a lot of the same stuff. We were all going to see this flashy new app that had all of this bionic information on players that would magically teach us how to properly bet on the games in real time. We were sold on this being a technology company that would change the face of the sport. As it turns out, that outfit couldn’t even get through a full season. And they didn’t even have the COVID excuse, either. If this new United States Football League is a pay-for-play league, then I suspect it might not even last as long as the others. Having a TV deal with Fox doesn’t convince me, either. The original XFL had one with NBC until the record-low ratings ruined it all.

4. YET ANOTHER REASON TO AVOID XFL: These hair-brained American startups are going to just keep on coming. What hope does that leave for the XFL? CFL partnership or not, that American league is doomed. I wouldn’t be surprised if it never plays a down.

5. CHRIS CUTHBERT: Does anyone know who’s replacing him on the CFL broadcasts, yet? My vote is for Gord Miller. Classy guy. Great broadcaster. Speaking of class, how about Jim Hughson stepping aside, for COVID reasons, to allow Cuthbert do his first ever, and probably only ever, Stanley Cup final this summer? Most broadcasters would have too big of an ego to ever let someone else steal any of their thunder like that. Hughson, who chose his family and lifestyle to do Canucks radio in the 90’s over Blue Jays baseball on TV, has never been like most broadcasters. He’s always had great perspective.

6. SCHEIFELE’S HIT: Complete garbage. Only people I’ve heard complain are Jet fans and even some of them have come around on this. The conversation is thankfully changing from, ‘Well he didn’t intend to hurt anyone’ to ‘Well, what is he doing to avoid hurting anyone?’ The suspension probably finished off the Jets and it was deserved. Maybe next time, he’ll think twice. So will the guy who has Scheifele lined up for a cheap-shot.

7. HABS BANDWAGON: I grew up a big Canuck fan in the Pavel Bure era with a soft spot for the Jets and Canadiens. Since Bure turned out to be a complete flake as a person and today’s Canucks don’t at all resemble what I grew up with, I decided to take a break from them this year and so a Winnipeg-Montreal 2^ndround series was as good of an outcome as I could’ve hoped. Vegas giving the Avalanche a run is just what the doctor ordered for some of us who would like to see a Canadian team finally win another Cup. It’s been too long since that city had a feel-good sports story.

8. FEDS GET IT RIGHT FOR CANADIENS PLAYOFF RUN: Like they had any other option but to let the NHL travel back and forth from Montreal to the U.S. to keep this playoff run going. Will be a source of strength and happiness for our country to see this through.

9. JAYS RETURN TO CANADA: I’m glad they get to play some games in Buffalo. I spent a weekend in Buffalo once upon a time and it felt more Canadian than Toronto, even. Since they did two months in Florida, it would make sense for them to do two months in Buffalo and then follow it up with another two months in Toronto. A great way to finish what’s been a horrible last couple of years.   

10. GOOD PODCAST LISTEN: ESPN 30 FOR 30 PODCAST-THE STERLING AFFAIRS A very entertaining listen while I picked up rocks in my backyard over the weekend. Details the sordid affair which led to Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling being kicked out the NBA. Great to see good sports documentaries in audio format still exist.

(Follow Brendan on Twitter at @brendanhowardmc)