THROWIN’ ELBOWS WITH BRENDAN MCGUIRE

1. ROY HALLADAY DOCUMENTARY: While getting my hair trimmed for the first time in awhile on Friday night, I could not help but feel riveted by the ESPN documentary on the TV screen in front of me. Imperfect : The Roy Halladay Story is yet another stark reminder to us all that although we love the game, sport is what we do but not who we are. When an aging Halladay’s back began seizing up, he didn’t give up like the rest of us would do. He fought through it and took whatever painkillers he could to numb the pain so he could perform for all of us. Within a year, he was hopelessly addicted and it would eventually finish him, literally. If you haven’t figured out why we need to monitor the medications athletes take, then you’re probably not paying very close attention.

2. REGINA RED SOX SEASON CANCELLED: Accepted this as an inevitability a long time ago and I’m glad everyone can get on with their lives this summer. Selfishly, I’m heartbroken to not launch our new Soxcasts in 2020 but it just gives us more time to plan a world class production for 2021. When the Sox do return, this experience will make us all appreciate them and the grand old game a whole lot more.

3. RIDICULE OF CFL OWNERS UNFAIR: These guys are not getting rich off of owning CFL franchises. They’re already rich to begin with and can afford to withstand the losses which inevitably go with their teams. It’s a toy and an expensive one at that. There’s no doubt in my mind the CFL will survive all of this and come roaring back, eventually. But to crap on owners who lose money just to field a team for all of us to watch and enjoy each summer is wrong. Yes, their business model is flawed. Find me an industry that isn’t. They might not get a bailout here and they might not even deserve one. But above all else, they deserve our respect.

4. VIOLENT COPS: Being a police officer is a rough gig and most of them handle it pretty well. But unfortunately, a few bad apples do spoil the bunch. If you don’t have the common sense to realize that kneeling on someone’s neck is unacceptable, then you probably don’t deserve the badge, nice salary or the cushy pension. There is no reason these other 3 cops haven’t been arrested. And because of that, so much of America is paying a brutal price right now.

5. PROTESTS: Sad that it takes destroying property to make change. The LAPD didn’t start making inroads with the black community until after the Rodney King riots and O.J. Simpson murder trial. Horrific events that could’ve been avoided, had the police taken the necessary steps to work with oppressed minorities. None of us white guys can ever pretend to understand what it’s like to live as a visible minority which is why it’s hard for me to criticize what’s happening in the states. The lesson here : Treat everyone with respect and treat them the way you would want to be treated.

6. ARGO CONTRACT SHENANIGANS: If the Argos signed a player to a contract, then the player and his agent should be able to file that contract with the league office. Period. If the contract was signed by both parties, then it should be valid. End of story. This kind of stuff saves the Argos and league just about nothing and only bolsters the bush-league image it suffers from.

7. TALKSHOW CIRCUIT: My regular listening habits include The Rod Pedersen Show of course, and Bob McCown’s new Okay, You Got 5 Minutes podcast which I know I labelled as dreadful in this space one week ago but I’m still listening to because, quite frankly, I miss Bob. One podcaster I will not listen is Bill Simmons who just last week compared Michael Jordan to serial killer Ted Bundy. If that isn’t deplorable, I don’t know what is. Sounds to me like a guy who can’t get on with his life after being dumped by the main networks.

8. OVER-UNDER ON A 2020 SEASON: Somewhere close to zero. Flight schedules will be a mess at least for the balance of the calendar year. Too many holes in this idea. Just about time to shelve it, I’m thinking.

9. OFFICES AREN’T SO BAD: Working at home is nice once or twice a week but for this cat, working from home day after day after day is getting old and fast! The message: Love and appreciate your co-workers and office mates. You never know when they’ll be snatched from you!

10. BOOK OF THE WEEK: The Harasen Line : A Broadcaster’s Memoir is a book I’ve recommended twice in this space now but have yet to grab hold of a copy of, myself. Through my newfound dealings with the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame, I’ve been in regular contact with the legendary Lorne Harasen who was among the first open-line radio pioneers in Canada. He’s still sharp as a tack and as I look back on his curmudgeon-like style, I realize he was Bob McCown before Bob McCown. A more thoughtful analyst you will never find.

(Follow Brendan on Twitter at @brendanhowardmc)