Recent OT Jottings
Dickenson Wants CFL Contracts Guaranteed
February 28, 2007 8:43 PM
Guaranteed contracts are considered harmful to sports leagues. Real life says employers should be able to let you go at any time based on performance (if someone younger, better, cheaper comes along, I’m out of a job too). If you can still play, you can find work with another team. If you can’t, it will be time to start the second part of your life. A guaranteed contract that forces a team to pay you whether you are performing or not only encourages mediocrity, something that should be eliminated from all aspects of our society. A player has no right to guarantee his employment in a certain city because he likes it there. Sports is performance driven, get used to it. #CFL Announces 2007 Television Schedule
February 28, 2007 5:19 PM
The schedule sees 77 games televised. The CBC has 27 games in their final season as a broadcaster, 22 regular season and 5 playoff. TSN will broadcast 50 games this year on TSN and TSN Broadband with 35 of those games in High Definition. This is the last year of the current shared broadcast contract. In 2008 TSN has the rights to all CFL regular season, playoff games and the Grey Cup. #Evaluating the Ryan Smyth Trade
February 28, 2007 5:12 PM
A quick evaluation of the Ryan Smyth trade. Summary: Edmonton, short on offence this year, now has an even bigger gap on offence with Smyth gone. That gap can only be filled now by draft picks and free agent signings.
The Oilers came out flat last night on Mark Messier night, losing 3-0 to the Phoenix Coyotes. The fans are not happy.
#‘Riders Anderson Acquisition Adds to Receiver Depth
February 24, 2007 10:05 AM
With thirteen receivers currently under contract, Saskatchewan is hoarding receivers from the other teams. Depth is always good. You need the numbers as not everyone will be able to play in Coach Austin’s five receiver offensive scheme, which will require lots of thinking in a league that focuses on pass defence. It will be interesting to see who catches on to the new system during training camp. #Brunt: Canadian Football HoF Controversy Good For Hall
February 23, 2007 11:08 AM
Maybe, but the Canadian Football Hall of Fame does not try to be a shrine for baby boomers to take their kids like the Hockey Hall of Fame. Interest in Canadian football is much more in the now, with little interest in the past and players gone by. #Media Picks Up On CFL Hall Controversy
February 22, 2007 8:12 PM
It is about time. #More Bio Info on Mark Cohon
February 21, 2007 6:18 PM
Apparently a real renaissance man. #Toronto Feels Snubbed by Hall Call
February 21, 2007 4:59 PM
I think this article raises some interesting points. Are the voters actually looking at the whole eligible list or just the people eligible for the first time? #NHL GMs Talk About Changing Instigator
February 20, 2007 5:18 PM
Changing the number of games before suspension will do little. The definition of instigator needs to be adjusted. Bringing in the instigator penalty was supposed to curb fighting, instead it opened up skilled players to abuse. Now that the NHL is back to a skilled game, there is no one to protect the skilled players.
I would rather see guys spontaneously fighting to protect their own rather than the choreographed exhibitions that are put on now for fan entertainment.
#Mark Cohon One of Finalists For CFL Commissioner
February 20, 2007 5:10 PM
Wright could have been referring to the fact that the league attracts scorn in some corners because its teams routinely flaunt rules on the salary cap, creating an uneven playing field.
Could have, but probably was referring to a constitution that requires two thirds support on a commissioner confidence vote in an eight-team league. Or the problem achieving a consensus on anything. Or the regular media leaks from owners trying to undermine the commissioner or league with no ability to punish them under the constitution. #Five Inductees Announced For Canadian Football Hall of Fame
February 20, 2007 5:02 PM
Seems like the CFL wanted a part of the Hall of Fame election controversy that swirls other sports. This is a pretty weak field, no offence to the accomplishments of these great players. I think a Hall of Fame should house the exceptional players and builders, not elect five every year from a weak field. This certainly is not targeted at every inductee this year either. #Murphy: “Be very careful”
February 18, 2007 2:28 PM
Cal Murphy encourages serious thought about privatizing the Winnipeg Blue Bombers while the other community owned clubs cannot see privatization in their future. #Don’t Worry About Grey Cup Name Toronto Star States
February 16, 2007 9:09 PM
Everyone will still call it the Grey Cup they claim. Yet the CFL becomes slightly more irrelevant as the first league to sell naming rights to their championship game/trophy. Trophy cups are a tradition in Canada; the Grey Cup is probably the second most prestigious trophy in North America behind the Stanley Cup. Nothing else has been passed from winner to winner for the last hundred years. #CFL Media Statement on Grey Cup Naming Rights
February 15, 2007 10:12 PM
The statement does little to dispel the idea that the Grey Cup will be sold to the highest bidder by 2008. #Atlanta Owner Wants Replacement for 15-Year Old Georgia Dome
February 15, 2007 6:30 PM
When will the madness stop? I think retrofitting the current stadium with a few more thousand club seats would be more logical than building a brand new complex. #Argos Explain Difficulty in Schedule Making
February 15, 2007 6:28 PM
A brief look at the challenges of scheduling Argo games, avoiding all the competing activities and meeting current fans demands for dates and times. #CFL Peddling Grey Cup Naming Rights for Right Price
February 15, 2007 6:26 PM
In response to a Toronto Star report that approval had been given to open up bids on naming rights for the Grey Cup game, the CFL confirmed it is being looked at and did not deny approval had been received to open the bidding process. Another cash cow private owners want an expansion team to pay for, but is not theirs to sell. Such money should go towards promoting the Canadian game, for example towards a stadium in the Maritimes, instead of towards the bottom line of the private owners. #2007 CFL Schedule Released
February 14, 2007 8:13 PM
The 2007 CFL schedule was released today. Interesting aspects are back-to-back bye weeks for the East and West divisions for a single bye week per team and a 19 week season. #No Transparency in CFL Cap
February 10, 2007 11:02 AM
Making the contract length and terms filed with the league public like most other leagues would provide enough transparency to CFL fans. Instead the CFL continues to live in the 1970′s, shielding its operations from public scrutiny. #Skrastins Ties Consecutive Games Streak
February 6, 2007 10:03 PM
A guy plays seven years without missing a game, approaches the record and I’ve never heard of him or the record. Maybe this is what is wrong with today’s NHL. #Bombers Ask for Developer Proposals
February 2, 2007 9:35 PM
Wanting a competing bid to the David Asper proposal, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers have advertised for developer proposals for new stadium development or stadium improvements. Wanting to increase their revenue streams, they still do not explain how any developer is supposed to make money off of any development that costs more than the football club can afford. #
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