WEDNESDAY CAT COUNTRY COMMENTARY

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

WE’RE NOT SURE IF THIS IS WHAT DONALD TRUMP MEANT WHEN HE SUGGESTED DRAINING THE SWAMP, BUT THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT COVID-19 HAS DONE – EXPOSED A LOT OF THINGS IN OUR SOCIETY.

FOR TODAY LET’S STICK TO SPORTS, AND TO CANADA, AND 60 DAYS OF THE PANDEMIC HAVE EXPOSED THE CFL FOR WHAT IT IS. SHOOT – EVEN THE COMMISSIONER ADMITTED IT BEFORE THE HOUSE OF COMMONS – THE CFL IS A BIG BRAND BUT NOT A WEALTHY BUSINESS.

SO NOW ALL OF CANADA KNOWS THE CFL IS BASICALLY A HOUSE OF CARDS AND THAT’S FINE. ITS FUTURE HANGS IN THE BALANCE AND IF THEY DON’T RECEIVE FEDERAL AID, THEN WE’LL FIGURE OUT A “SAVE OUR CFL” CAMPAIGN. NOT A BIG DEAL.

BUT WHAT’S ALSO BEEN EXPOSED IS HOW LITTLE CANADIANS KNOW ABOUT CFL BUSINESS. THAT’S OKAY – IT’S NOT THEIR JOBS – BUT FOR ONTARIO M-P PETER FRAJ-ISS-KAY-TOSS (FRAGISKATOS) TO SAY AMERICAN CFL’ERS SHOULD BE EXEMPT FROM GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE IS JUST PLAIN IGNORANCE.

THE GUY DESCRIBED HIMSELF AS A FAN OF BOTH THE TICATS AND ARGOS BUT CLEARLY HE KNOWS LITTLE ABOUT THE PLAYERS FOR WHICH HE’S CHEERED FOR DECADES.

BC LIONS STAR MIKE REILLY WAS THE FIRST TO SHOOT BACK AT THE MP, SAYING HE’S PAID TAXES IN CANADA FOR A DECADE, BOTH HIS KIDS WERE BORN HERE AND HE’S GIVEN COUNTLESS HOURS OF HIS TIME TO COMMUNITY SERVICE.

SHOULDN’T THAT BE OBVIOUS TO EVEN THE MOST CASUAL OF CFL FANS, WHOM YOU’D THINK WOULD KNOW OVER HALF THE LEAGUE’S PLAYERS ARE AMERICAN?

LOOK – I GET IT. INITIALLY I WAS WILLING TO LISTEN TO BOTH SIDES BEFORE MAKING A DECISION TOO, BUT THE AMERICAN PLAYERS QUICKLY SOLD ME. IT’S THEIR SOLE SOURCE OF INCOME AND IF THEY GET SCREWED OVER HERE, YOU CAN FORGET ABOUT AMERICANS COMING NORTH IN THE FUTURE.

HERE’S HOPING OTTAWA TAKES THE TIME TO HEAR ALL SIDES OF THE ARGUMENT BEFORE MAKING THIS CRITICAL DECISION.

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