THURSDAY CAT COUNTRY COMMENTARY

(Listen daily for the Rod Pedersen Commentary at 9:50 AM and 5:20 PM on Cat Country 98)

SO NOW WE KNOW.

IF THERE IS CFL FOOTBALL IN 2020, IT WILL NOT CULMINATE WITH THE BIGGEST GREY CUP EVER AT MOSAIC STADIUM THIS NOVEMBER.

COMMISSIONER RANDY AMBROSIE CLARIFIED THE SITUATION – AS MUCH HE COULD – ON WEDNESDAY, SAYING THE 2020 GREY CUP FESTIVAL IN SASKATCHEWAN WILL BE MOVED BACK TO 2022. THIS YEAR’S CFL CHAMPIONSHIP – IF PLAYED AT ALL – WILL BE IN THE HOME STADIUM OF THE TEAM WITH THE BEST RECORD. THAT COULD STILL BE THE RIDERS. AND HAMILTON WILL GET IT IN 2021.

BUT NO ONE KNOWS FOR SURE IF CFL TEAMS WILL EVEN HIT THE FIELD THIS YEAR DUE TO COVID-19, AND AMBROSIE SAID THE BEST CASE SCENARIO WOULD BE A SEPTEMBER SEASON KICKOFF. PERSONALLY I HAVE MY DOUBTS THAT’LL EVEN HAPPEN SINCE THERE ARE JUST TOO MANY HURDLES TO CLEAR.

IF THE BORDER IS OPENED IN TIME, IF THERE ARE ASSURANCES PLAYERS AND STAFF WILL BE KEPT SAFE FROM THE VIRUS, AND IF PLAYERS ARE WILLING TO PLAY FOR FAR LESS MONEY THAN THEIR CONTRACT STIPULATES, THERE’S A CHANCE THIS SEASON WOULD KICKOFF. AND WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE’S AN OUTBREAK IN A LOCKER ROOM MID-SEASON?

OH, AND THIS ALL HINGES ON RECEIVING THE FEDERAL AID THE CFL’S ASKED FOR IN THE FORM OF 30-MILLION NOW AND LIKELY MORE DOWN THE LINE. RIGHT NOW THAT’S ANOTHER BIG “IF” AND THE CFL’S REQUEST STILL SPARKS RAGING DEBATE FROM COAST TO COAST. DO ENOUGH CANADIANS EVEN WANT THIS LEAGUE TO SURVIVE?

AS ONE VETERAN, GREY CUP-WINNING COACH TOLD ME THIS WEEK ON THE PHONE, “WE’RE ABOUT TO FIND OUT HOW MUCH THIS LEAGUE REALLY MEANS TO THIS COUNTRY.”

THAT’S TODAY’S ROD PEDERSEN COMMENTARY ON CAT COUNTRY 98.