TUESDAY COMMENTARY: THE BEST OF TIMES AND WORST OF TIMES
(Listen daily for the Rod Pedersen Commentary on Cat Country 98 & Rock 98.5 FM)
Monday was a night in sports where we saw the best of times, and the worst of times.
Let’s start with the good news: It would be hard to fathom anyone in Canada hasn’t heard of Connor Bedard by now but the Regina Pats and Team Canada phenom officially became a household name by scoring twice, including the OT winner, to lead Canada to a 4-3 victory over Slovakia in a World Junior Quarterfinal in Halifax.
His game-winner was very Eberle-esque and we’re at a point now where it’s a waste of time to talk about how good he is or whom we should compare Connor to.
It’s time to just sit back and enjoy Connor Bedard, and maybe daydream about who will get him with the #1 overall NHL pick this summer.
Sadly, the Bedard news was overshadowed mightily by the events of Monday Night Football.
The World Junior game had narily ended when I learned what had happened at the Bills/Bengals game in Cincinnati where Buffalo player Damar Hamlin suffered a heart attack in the game and had to have CPR administered on-field.
That emergency tactic restored his heartbeat but as we sit here today, Hamlin remains in a Cincinnati hospital in critical condition.
The game was initially delayed an hour and in truth, I really thought they’d finish it.
Pro leagues realllllllly want to finish games and will sit for hours until it’s safe to play.
But in Monday’s case the NFL – for the first time I can think of – strongly considered the P.R. nightmare/debacle that would create and elected to postpone the rest of the game.
I was surprised. Let’s say, pleasantly surprised.
The NFL did the right thing which is likely why they’re the #1 league on the continent.
If you looked in the eyes of the Bills players, they were in shock. It would’ve been an abhorrent move to play but I’m also of the age-old notion, “The show must go on.”
But not on this night. And not for the NFL.
Bravo.
That’s today’s Rod Pedersen Commentary
(The Rod Pedersen Show airs daily on Game+ TV, WQEE Radio and YouTube Live)
Photo: Ryan Varty
I read that the NFL wanted to finish the game but the players on both teams decided against it.
I believe it.
It was impossible. Between sideline Reporters crying, and then you have the Booger McFarlanes’ of the world saying not to play so it took on a life of it’s own so it had to cancel. Keep this in mind. He had a heart attack – this was not a football accident and a Michigan Assistant Coach collapsed this year on the sideline as well. In that case the band played on. At the end of the day I can assure you that on any industrial, construction, or office environment people fall off ladders, get run over by equipment or get… Read more »
Great article “we’re at a point now where it’s a waste of time to talk about how good he is or whom we should compare Connor to.” For Regina Pats fans – to think it took 40 years for that to happen. Every stud that passed through the Pats organization gets “compared” to a few previous generations. When I was little kid all we heard was Bill Hicke. Then it was Sobchuk/Gillies and after that my generation with our fadiing memories we had Derkath and then everyone else. This kid comes along and a guy isn’t sure what he’s watching… Read more »
Why have we not sent the Russian pro athletes back to Russia as we banned the world jr team and all the oligarchs? If they want to be here earning a living they should have to stop hiding and face the music as to their view on the invasion of Ukraine
Okay, when do we go after the Russian immigrants too? Where do you draw the line?Should we go after anyone with a Soviet birth certificate? Should we deport them or just steal their property?