As the eight CFL teams begin training camps, the league doesn't have any gloom and doom scenarios hanging over their heads. There are no dark clouds hovering over any of the teams(however rainy ones continue to persist over the heads of the Riders). No team is clinging to solvency and there is talk of expansion. One must give credit to commissioner Marc Cohon for having the CFL in this state as the 2009 season begins. What is the biggest problem facing the commissioner?? Is there one that is really something causing him to lose sleep?? The invasion of the Buffalo Bills into Toronto has proven to be a failure. He doesn't have a major drug problem to deal with, he doesn't have to deal with convicted felons, he has a vision for his league which is working and the global downturn in the economy on the surface doesn't appear to have a negative affect on the eight teams.
While Cohon and the CFL will never get the ink that MLB, NBA, NHL and the NFL get, one could argue that he is the most successful out of the commissioners that serve their respective sports. Having a strong commish means you have a strong league and I think its safe to say that as the CFL enters 2009 that it maybe is stronger now than it ever has been. That's nothing but good news for fans of Canadian football.
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Speaking of commissioners, does Gary Bettman have a date in Pittsburgh with Wings captain Nick Lidstrom for the second straight year. The Red Wings look to end the NHL season tonight with a win in Game 6 over Pittsburgh. Its been a home series so far, but Detroit looked so good on Saturday that its hard to think they won't wrap this one up and avoid a 7th game. If the Wings should win, who gets the Conn Smythe?? There hasn't been one dominant Detroit player in these playoffs have there. One might have to lean towards Chris Osgood.
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CTV Calgary reports Brent Sutter is ready to step down as coach of the New Jersey Devils. This will get the Brent is coming to Calgary to join Darryl fire burning big-time.
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Those who know me know I am good friends with Rob Vanstone. The L-P sports editor is one of the best in this country and he has proven it again with an interview with Ron Lancaster's son Bob. Take a read....
http://communities.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/blogs/roughriders/archive/2009/06/08/an-interview-with-lancaster.aspx
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We all know Joe Dimaggio has one of sports' records that may never be broken. Dimaggio's 56 game hit streak in 1941 is something that no other major league baseball player has come that close to. However, Oregon high school softball player Kayla Braud has surpassed Dimaggio and then some. The Grade 12 student has hit in 106 straight games. 106!!!! HOLY CRAP!!! Consider that the previous national record was 46 before Kayla came around. In a sport like softball that is more pitcher oriented than hitter oriented and in games that are seven innings and not nine, this is a very impressive feat whether she be a high schooler or a collegiate athlete.
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I didn't see the idiot that ran onto the court during the French Open mens final Sunday to put something on Roger Federer until yesterday. This guy should be thankful Federer didn't crack him a couple with his racquet. Nice security in Paris as well. This guy could have performed some kind of heinous act on the world's number one tennis player with great ease. Considering that Monica Seles just about saw her life end at the hands of a lunatic, one would think there would be better security at a tennis match. I guess not!!!
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Blogger correction. I talked yesterday about the Giants offering the Jays pitcher Tim Lincecum in exchange for Alex Rios and Jays GM JP Ricciardi turned it down. Chris Szarka uber-fan Chris Garton informs me it was Ricciardi who wanted Lincecum and offered Rios and was turned down by Giants GM Brian Sabean. He countered with pitcher Matt Cain and Ricciardi said no to that. I stand corrected. Thanks Garts!!! Now that you've done that, you can get back on your keyboard as Szarka33 and resume arguing with your fellow Rider supporters on riderfans.com now. I'm sure you are missing out on a debate or six. You really should change your handle from Szarka33 to Turtle though. :)
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If you are a fan of the WWE, how can you not love the ending of RAW last night. Is there anyone better than Triple H!!!!
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2 comments:
Chris Garton??? Was he sober when he let you know he's made a mistake. I don't think I've ever seen that guy where he hasn't been bombed by the end of the night. He must have shares in Molsons or Labatts.
It is nice knowing the CFL doesn't have any huge problems as 2009 begins. I think Cohon has done a great job, but it could be better. I would like to see games on a big time American cable network, players being used by corporate Canada, which is something you've harped on, and finding a way to have more Canadians on a roster ie: a quarterback!
LD
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