WEDNESDAY SHOW RECAP: THE LEGENDS CHIME IN

Canadian football fans got a buffet on Wednesday’s Episode #233 of The Rod Pedersen Show! Here are the highlights:

• Rod and Dupes got it going with The Rollout for Flooring Superstore covering these Quick Six show topics: 1) Ontario MP Peter Fragiskatos saying American CFL players shouldn’t get government assistance, 2) Should Major League’rs take a paycut?, 3) SJHL SIM – Yorkton and Melfort are 1-1 in the virtual Canalta Cup, 4) Gary Bettman’s optimistic the NHL season will resume, 5) What are sports suitable for social distancing? (Curling, golf, etc.) and 6) How Canada West football can play but the CFL cannot?
• Rod mentioned that the fears surrounding a vacant Mosaic Stadium in the event of the CFL folding are unfounded. He presented what the rebirth of the CFL could look like with fixed salaries for players, coaches, management, front office, etc. similar to the XFL. “Nobody complained when the XFL designated $500,000 for QBs and $75,000 for everybody else,” Rod explained. “Why should the CFL be any different?” Regarding Canada West versus CFL, Rod and Darren explained that student athletes would likely take their classes online (Joe Burrow did at LSU) and that playing in empty stadiums, unfortunately, isn’t a stretch for Canadian university football.
• Rod discussed broadcasting the SJHL Playoffs Simulation on Twitch TV and how being on air in “Gaming” isn’t about precise play-by-play at all. It’s only about being entertaining. Regarding the Korean Baseball League, Rod said his favourite player Dong Min Han of the Wyverns belted his league-leading 4th round-tripper Wednesday morning despite his team losing 14-2 to the Twins. The Wyverns and Wiz are in last-place at 1-5 while Justin Dunk’s Heroes lead the 10-team loop at 6-1.
• CFL on TSN sideline reporter Claire Hanna of CTV Regina joined the show and discussed covering the CFL at the moment, and how they’ve dug deep for stories. She supports Federal funding for the CFL. She also talked about the heated rivalries in the new landscape of Saskatchewan mens curling, and that it would be a shame if these guys can’t get on the ice in the fall. She suggested a renewal of the Saskatchewan Curling Tour, and how pro curling will become regionalized.
• TSN Calgary’s Jermain Franklin was next up and covered a variety of topics. He gushed over Netflix’s The Last Dance documentary and the magnificence of Michael Jordan. He also talked about Calgary’s view of the current CFL situation and how Flames players are anxious to get back on the ice and compete for the Stanley Cup.
• In Hour 2 the guys were joined by Hall of Famer Damon Allen who gave a very reasoned analysis of the situation the CFL finds itself in. He also explained the importance American players have played in the history of the CFL. Damon talked about the hunger for a CFL franchise in the Maritimes (he helped conducted the regional Pass, Punt & Kick competition in the Maritimes last summer) and promoted his Instagram Live show The Whole Nine Yards where he interviews football legends. On his list of interviews are Nate Burleson, Marcus Allen, Ronnie Lott, Jerry Rice and many more. Rod and Damon laughed that if the CFL and NFL play in front of no fans, legendary “practice players” will become Hall of Famers. So many guys in history have disappeared when “the lights come on.”
• Fan favourite, 3-time Grey Cup champion and CFL on TSN’s Henry Burris joined the show from his home in Ottawa to take questions from viewers. Hank said it’s “blasphemous” for politicians to exclude American CFLer’s, talked about the good ol’ days of the Stamps/Riders rivalry and said the CFL was running the RPO long before it became popular in the NFL. Hank also said the player who had his number the most was Eskimos CB Malcolm Frank.
• Dupes went into a monologue on the role of leaders at this time and how the public feels a sense of fear if they don’t hear from their figureheads regularly. He compared it to children who feel a sense of safety when their parents are around.
• The daily Capital Auto Mall/Universal Collision Centre poll question was: In which league would you prefer to own a team – NFL, NBA, NHL or MLB? At press time the NFL was running away with it, but viewers also voted for the NLL and junior hockey. Rod said the NFL is his choice because you don’t even have to be successful to make money.
• You can vote now on our Twitter poll for the Rockstar of the Day for RoxDar Supply Chain Solutions. At press time, Smilin’ Hank was leading. TSN Edmonton’s Lieutenant Eric won Tuesday’s vote.
• 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 presented by SUDS Full Service Car Wash.
• See you at 10 am MT on Thursday on Facebook Live and RodPedersen.com/ListenLive.