TUESDAY RUNDOWN: BIG PLAY V.A. JOINS!!

We opened a shortened work week with Episode #289 of The RP Show! Here are the highlights:

• Rod and Dupes opened with The Rollout for Flooring Superstores covering these Quick Six show topics: 1) Monday’s NHL playoff games – Carolina, Winnipeg, Tampa Bay, Vegas, Pittsburgh and Edmonton all won, 2) The CFL throws a Hail Mary with a last-ditch pitch to the federal government, 3) The Rock buys the XFL, 4) Should MLB be playing?, 5) Tuesday at the CEBL Summer Series features a doubleheader with Saskatchewan versus Hamilton and Ottawa against Niagara (a Rattlers win clinches a playoff berth), and 6) NLL free agency opened Monday with the Rush signing forward Adrian Sorichetti.
• RP stated that his phone was burning all weekend with conversations with CFL types. Piecing it all together, the host figures Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) will be the saviour for the CFL. Under this scenario, MLSE will infuse the requisite funds and a reset won’t be that difficult. Assuming there’s no 2020 season, all contracts could become void which would pave the way for a rigid salary structure starting as early as 2021. Randy Ambrosie will remain CFL Commissioner and nothing will have to change as far as rules, field dimensions, ratios, etc. (i.e. a deal with the NFL would’ve possibly changed all that). While nothing is set in stone, RP feels this is the way the CFL is headed and the viewers were very optimistic about this arrangement.
• Montreal Alouettes QB Vernon Adams Jr. joined the show from his home and fashioned a studio desk just like Rod’s. Big Play V.A. discussed his string of positive Tweets about the CFL’s future over the weekend, and how he’s optimistic a great plan will be unveiled. He also discussed the future of the Alouettes franchise on the field (he expects James Wilder Jr. to come out of retirement), reflected on his time with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, and announced his Top 10 CFL Quarterbacks – unselfishly leaving himself off the list. It was a very entertaining, energetic segment which was a hit with viewers.
• The daily Capital Auto Mall/Universal Collision Centre poll question was: Which is Canada’s Game of the Week in Week 9 of the CFL SIM – WPG at OTT, MTL at HAM, TOR at CGY or BC at SK? At press time, the Lions/Roughriders were way out front. The leading vote-getter will be broadcast live Friday at 7 pm MT on the RP Show Facebook Live channel.
• Hour 2 was broadcast on Facebook Live only and we were joined by 12-year NHL veteran goalie and former Portland Winterhawk Jason Labarbera. He discussed the 2-goalie systems with the Golden Knights and Oilers, said Matthew Tkachuk didn’t intentionally go after Mark Scheifele’s Achilles tendon, and covered the other Stanley Cup Playoff storylines. The Burnaby, BC product also explained his role as assistant/goalie coach with the Calgary Hitmen and coaching goalies for Hockey Canada.
• RP Show soccer analyst Simon Fudge joined the show from Vancouver to breakdown the MLS Is Back tournament and all the Canadian teams bowing out. He also explained the Canadian Premier League’s Return To Play plans this month and examined the road to the World Cup for Canada.
• You can vote now on our Twitter poll for the Rockstar of the Day for RoxDar Supply Chain Solutions. At press time, Vernon Adams Jr. was leading. Friday’s vote was won by Greg Ellingson.
• Tuesday’s show is available for viewing now on our Facebook page, you can listen to the podcast by clicking on the PODCAST tab at the top of this page or listen anytime to our 24-hour live audio stream at RodPedersen.com/ListenLive.
• See you at 10 am MT on Wednesday on Game+ TV, Facebook Live or RodPedersen.com/ListenLive!