WEDNESDAY SHOW RECAP: NLL, NHL, NFL, CFL NEWS AND MORE!

Proving that we are the Golden Corral of Sports Talk (our buffet has something for everybody!), we covered it all on Episode #281 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) The Edmonton Eskimos are no more. What are some potential names? (Edmonton Empire has reportedly been ruled out), 2) Winnipeg has been named the CFL’s Hub City (will this save the season?), 3) The Blue Jays win 8-6 at Boston in preseason play, 4) The NFL has announced there will be no preseason games and the players have yet to agree on financial terms for the 2020 season, 5) Touchdown Atlantic won the viewer vote for Canada’s Game of the Week meaning the Riders and Argos computer simulation will be broadcast Thursday at 7 pm MT on The RP Show Facebook Live channel, and 6) Rod’s been invited to drive a race car at King’s Park Speedway (“I’m not Super Dave Osbourne!” RP huffed).
• News broke in Hour 1 that the National Lacrosse League is welcoming its 14th franchise as an expansion team has been granted for Fort Worth, TX. The panel debated this news and RP admitted he thought the franchise would go to Las Vegas and the Black Knight Sports & Entertainment Group.
• 3DownNation CFL Insider Justin Dunk joined the show from Southern Ontario for a CFL update. He feels the Winnipeg Hub City news doesn’t necessarily mean there will be a 2020 season and that several hurdles need to be cleared first. Dunk feels players are not happy with the Return To Play proposal from owners and may not accept it even if bonuses are included from the Federal Government. The entire Dunk segment was devoted to the CBA negotiations and what may be next for the CFL.
• Sportsnet Flames analyst and Hockey Night In Canada’s Kelly Hrudey joined the show from Calgary for a wide-ranging visit. They delved into Vegas’s 2-goalie scenario and Hrudes recalled how back-up Robb Stauber got the 1993 L.A. Kings out of the first round because Kelly’s game had gone in the tank. He revealed that coaching from Tony Robbins got him out of the funk. They also discussed the controversial Toronto-L.A. Western Conference Final in ’93 and Hrudey said it’s time for Leafs fans to “quit whining” about the Gretzky high stick non-call on Doug Gilmour. Regarding the Flames/Jets Play-In Round series, Kelly predicted a Flames series win in five games and recalled the tight 2-1 Jets win over the Flames in the Heritage Classic in Regina. Hrudey also reflected on rubbing elbows with RP at a Rogers reception the night before the game, and said he’d planned on visiting Mosaic Stadium for a Rider game this summer with his wife Donna, a longtime Rider fan.
• The daily Capital Auto Mall/Universal Collision Centre poll question was: What’s the best 2-sport sibling combo in Canadian sports history: Ryan & Chris Getzlaf, Ryan & Jordan Reaves, Oshae & Dejon Brissett or Kia & Darnell Nurse? At press time, the Getzlafs were leading by a wide margin.
• Hour 2 was broadcast on Facebook Live only and the crew was joined by TSN Winnipeg’s and NHL.com’s Darrin Bauming. Bauming feels there are simply too many hurdles for the CFL to overcome to play this year despite the Hub City news. He also previewed the Flames/Jets series saying oddsmakers aren’t giving the Jets much of a chance but he feels Winnipeg is a dark house. They agreed it may be a worthwhile bet in Vegas.
• Charlotte, NC sportscaster and RP Show Panthers correspondent Brian Snow joined the show to discuss the pending NFL season. The “Snowman” predicted an upcoming labour war between players and owners but doesn’t think that’ll happen before this season. He thinks they’ll play. Brian also explained why he isn’t a big believer in Tom Brady’s Buccaneers (they don’t have a running game) and predicted Cam Newton won’t be the Patriots starting quarterback. The absence of a preseason won’t allow Newton enough time to get up to speed with the offense nor take vital reps in exhibition games. You can listen to the Snowman daily at 8:00 am MT at www.SDMNetwork.com/radio.
• You can vote now on our Twitter poll for the Rockstar of the Day for RoxDar Supply Chain Solutions. At press time, Kelly Hrudey was leading.
• Wednesday’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 you can listen anytime to our 24-hour live audio stream at RodPedersen.com/ListenLive.
• See you at 10 am MT Thursday on Game+ TV Network, Facebook Live and RodPedersen.com/ListenLive!