TUESDAY CAT COUNTRY COMMENTARY: W.I.N. – WHAT’S IMPORTANT NOW

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

THE OTHER SHOE DROPPED ON MONDAY.

AS EXPECTED, THE CFL BOARD OF GOVERNORS VOTED IN FAVOUR OF SCRAPPING THE 2020 SEASON AFTER FEDERAL FUNDING FELL THROUGH OVER THE WEEKEND.

THE REACTION AROUND THE CONTINENT HAS BEEN WIDE-RANGING; FROM SHOCK AND OUTRAGE TO STRAIGHT UP DISBELIEF. BUT ABSOLUTELY NO ONE IS HAPPY ABOUT IT.

FANS AND PUNDITS ARE RUNNING OFF IN ALL DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS AND THAT INCLUDES FUNDRAISING IDEAS, OR WHAT THE CFL WILL LOOK LIKE WHEN IT RE-APPEARS.

WILL TEAMS DROP OUT, CREATING A 6-, 7-, OR 8-TEAM LEAGUE?

IT’S FUN TO TALK ABOUT BUT IT’S AN ABSOLUTELY WORTHLESS CONVERSATION.

PUTTING ON MY CAP AS A RECOVERY COACH, I FAVOUR THE ACRONYM FOR W.I.N. – WHAT’S IMPORTANT NOW.

IF THE CFL’S GOING TO WIN IN THIS SITUATION, THEY NEED TO EXAMINE WHAT’S IMPORTANT NOW. THAT INCLUDES WHAT THE SEASON CANCELLATION MEANS TO PLAYER CONTRACTS, WHAT’S THE BARE MINIMUM STAFF NEEDED TO MOVE FORWARD, AND BASICALLY, WHAT’S REQUIRED SIMPLY TO STAY ALIVE?

IT WAS ADMIRABLE THAT COMMISSIONER RANDY AMBROSIE TOOK THE BULLET FOR THIS SEASON GOING DOWN THE TUBES BUT IN REALITY, THE CFL’S PROBLEMS WERE AROUND LONG BEFORE RANDY SHOWED UP IN 2017.

IT’S TIME FOR A FRESH START FOR THE CFL. THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE MUCH-DISCUSSED RESET IS HERE.

AND I’LL BET YOU TODAY THAT WHEN THE SMOKE CLEARS, RANDY AMBROSIE WILL STILL BE AROUND AS COMMISSIONER.

BUT A LOT OF THE LONG-TIME CFL DECISION-MAKERS WILL NOT.

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