THURSDAY COMMENTARY – A CANADIAN CFL?

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

SOME MORE CFL JOTTINGS TODAY. WHY NOT? TRAINING CAMP’S SUPPOSED TO OPEN IN LESS THAN TWO MONTHS.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT PROVED TO BE A REAL TUG-OF-WAR OF EMOTIONS WITH CFL PUNDITS REPORTING TRAINING CAMPS WILL BE DELAYED UNTIL AUGUST, MEANWHILE CODY FAJARDO SAID HE’S BEEN TOLD TO REPORT TO THE RIDERS FOR MAY 10.

SIGH.

AND THE PROPOSED 20 PERCENT PAYCUTS FOR THE PLAYERS HAS BECOME A MAJOR LIGHTNING ROD TOPIC. I MENTIONED IT’S A “TAKE OR LEAVE IT” SCENARIO AND SOME TURNED THEIR GUNS ON ME.

HEY – I DON’T LIKE WHAT THE CFL OWNERS ARE DOING BUT THE GOLDEN RULE STILL APPLIES: THEY OWN THE GOLD SO THEY MAKE THE RULES.

IF THIS ALL GOES DOWN, THEY CAN TAKE THE BLAME TOO.

ON A BRIGHTER NOTE, THE LEADER POST’S ROB VANSTONE WROTE A CHEERFUL COLUMN ON HOW HE’D LIKE THE CFL TO EMERGE FROM THIS.

HE’D LIKE IT TO GET BACK TO THE CANADIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE WE KNEW UP TO THE 1970’S WHEN THERE WERE ONLY A HANDFUL OF AMERICAN PLAYERS ALLOWED PER TEAM. GEORGE REED HAS TOLD MANY GREAT STORIES ABOUT THAT ERA.

I AM ABSOLUTELY NOT OPPOSED TO THIS CONCEPT. WHY WOULDN’T A TRULY GREAT LEAGUE MADE UP OF CANADIAN PLAYERS BE THE WAY TO GO?

AND WHY DOES IT REALLY MATTER WHERE THEY’RE FROM AS LONG AS IT’S ENTERTAINING, GOOD QUALITY BALL?

I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE THE PLAYERS ARE FROM IN THE FAN CONTROLLED FOOTBALL LEAGUE AND IT’S A RIOT. AT SASK RUSH GAMES, I ONLY CHECK THE PLAYERS’ HOMETOWNS IN THE PROGRAM DURING TV TIMEOUTS. OTHERWISE I DON’T REALLY CARE WHERE LACROSSE PLAYERS ARE FROM.

NO MATTER HOW THE CFL EMERGES, THEY’RE GOING TO HAVE DECIDE IF THE NEW PRODUCT CAN BE MARKETED PROPERLY AND IF CANADIANS WILL BUY INTO IT.

THAT’S WHERE THEY’VE FAILED OVER THE LAST DECADE OR SO.

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