WEBVTT 1 00:00:35.479 --> 00:00:39.560 Well here. We are back here again Wednesday, midweek here 2 00:00:39.719 --> 00:00:44.039 getting ready for the CFL playoffs. Jason, I were talking offline, 3 00:00:44.079 --> 00:00:47.920 you little drag here near the end of the CFL season. 4 00:00:47.960 --> 00:00:50.880 But we are at the playoffs today, very exciting. I 5 00:00:50.920 --> 00:00:54.320 have my cracking jersey on. Almost wore my commander's jersey 6 00:00:54.359 --> 00:00:56.759 Hottest team in the NFL coming off our big Hail Mary, 7 00:00:56.799 --> 00:00:59.280 but I thought that that would be disrespectful to our 8 00:00:59.520 --> 00:01:03.320 Canadian listeners. Although we did beat the Habs last night 9 00:01:03.399 --> 00:01:05.480 eight to two, so that was exciting. And we have 10 00:01:06.200 --> 00:01:09.599 Jason and Anthony here. I have some bookkeeping stuff off 11 00:01:09.599 --> 00:01:12.359 the top. But first off, Jason, how are you. It's 12 00:01:12.359 --> 00:01:13.599 been a couple of weeks. Good to see you. 13 00:01:14.400 --> 00:01:16.640 Yeah, good to see you too. Read I'm happy to 14 00:01:16.680 --> 00:01:18.640 be here. You know. It's been a long time, but 15 00:01:19.040 --> 00:01:21.680 we're heading into the playoffs here and ready to go 16 00:01:21.719 --> 00:01:22.519 for the stretch run. 17 00:01:23.239 --> 00:01:25.400 Yeah, we have Anthony Sepin. It was trying to get 18 00:01:25.400 --> 00:01:28.560 the professor on. I think the professor is Professor and Andy. 19 00:01:28.959 --> 00:01:30.799 Anthony was on here with me last week all his 20 00:01:30.879 --> 00:01:34.120 workover at Sports Illustrated. Anthony, I wanted to have a 21 00:01:34.120 --> 00:01:37.120 little bit of a roundtable today. Do a little CFL preview. 22 00:01:37.159 --> 00:01:39.519 You were here last week. What are you most looking 23 00:01:39.560 --> 00:01:40.680 forward to here for this weekend. 24 00:01:41.920 --> 00:01:44.319 I'm just glad if we finally have the playoffs set 25 00:01:44.359 --> 00:01:46.280 and we know exactly who was going to play. And 26 00:01:46.840 --> 00:01:49.519 you know, I think your team Reed probably has my 27 00:01:49.640 --> 00:01:52.599 interest to most because I have no idea which PC 28 00:01:52.760 --> 00:01:54.519 team we're going to see. We're going to see the 29 00:01:54.599 --> 00:01:55.799 Are we going to see the one from the beginning 30 00:01:55.799 --> 00:01:57.200 of the year, We're going to see the one that 31 00:01:57.439 --> 00:01:59.959 was that nearly collapsed at the end of the season, 32 00:02:00.079 --> 00:02:03.519 and so really interested to see how the Lions do 33 00:02:03.719 --> 00:02:04.239 this weekend. 34 00:02:04.840 --> 00:02:06.640 Yeah, and Anthony and I talked a lot about the 35 00:02:06.640 --> 00:02:09.000 Lions last week. I do really want to get Jason's 36 00:02:09.080 --> 00:02:11.680 thoughts on all of that. Speaking off the top, just 37 00:02:11.680 --> 00:02:14.879 to plug here like and subscribe two weeks away from 38 00:02:14.919 --> 00:02:17.919 the Great Cup. We'll probably do a similar midweek things 39 00:02:18.240 --> 00:02:20.840 next week, kind of looking forward to, you know, the finals, 40 00:02:21.199 --> 00:02:24.639 and then we will be live in Vancouver getting that 41 00:02:24.879 --> 00:02:27.680 I'll do a big post, but we're official. Jason and 42 00:02:27.680 --> 00:02:30.919 I will be live at BBC lions Den part of 43 00:02:30.960 --> 00:02:33.639 the media row on Saturday. We'll have all of our 44 00:02:33.680 --> 00:02:36.319 guests as we always do the Nailors and far haunts, 45 00:02:36.360 --> 00:02:39.400 and maybe we'll get Matt Baker or moje or whoever's 46 00:02:39.439 --> 00:02:42.319 walking around, but we'll get all of that thick of things, Dan, Ralph, 47 00:02:42.360 --> 00:02:44.960 everything else. So that should be really exciting. The show 48 00:02:45.240 --> 00:02:48.520 did very well last year. Evan was there. I know 49 00:02:48.560 --> 00:02:49.879 Evan's going to be a part of it. I don't 50 00:02:49.879 --> 00:02:52.080 know if Andy's I don't even know who's coming to 51 00:02:52.159 --> 00:02:54.039 Vancouver or not, but I know Evan's going to be there. 52 00:02:54.199 --> 00:02:57.479 Jason and I. That's all you need plus everything else. Anthony, 53 00:02:57.560 --> 00:03:01.400 how does that sound? Are you excited to to presumably 54 00:03:01.400 --> 00:03:03.560 hopefully watch remote here our big show coming up in 55 00:03:03.599 --> 00:03:04.400 a couple weeks. 56 00:03:04.759 --> 00:03:06.319 Yeah, you get all those people on. I mean that's 57 00:03:06.360 --> 00:03:07.319 going to be a massive show. 58 00:03:07.439 --> 00:03:09.960 So, I mean I always watch your stuff for you, 59 00:03:10.120 --> 00:03:12.280 so you know, you know I'm going to be plugged 60 00:03:12.280 --> 00:03:13.319 in and ready to watch. 61 00:03:13.840 --> 00:03:16.560 Well, and I think I'm about ready to pull gloves 62 00:03:16.599 --> 00:03:19.759 off and fight with Dave Naylor over this CFL the 63 00:03:19.800 --> 00:03:22.319 Saint Louis kind of thing. So we've promised that that's 64 00:03:22.360 --> 00:03:25.240 been brewing for a couple of weeks. Excuse me, I 65 00:03:25.280 --> 00:03:28.000 have a coffee. Dave sent me a YouTube link that 66 00:03:28.039 --> 00:03:30.159 I still need to watch kind of my homework prep 67 00:03:30.199 --> 00:03:32.400 for that, but I think that that will be exciting 68 00:03:32.439 --> 00:03:35.639 because Naylor very high on the CFL at the Saint Louis. 69 00:03:35.800 --> 00:03:37.919 What can't we just replicate it like it was back 70 00:03:37.960 --> 00:03:42.479 at like Dave and we'll talk through all that stuff. Jason, 71 00:03:42.800 --> 00:03:45.000 speaking the Lions, I want to get your thoughts first 72 00:03:45.039 --> 00:03:48.400 off here obviously going and playing Sasketchwan this weekend, but 73 00:03:49.240 --> 00:03:51.800 the game last week we had Vernon Adams there, I 74 00:03:51.919 --> 00:03:54.360 was in attendance. We have a lot of comments of like, 75 00:03:54.400 --> 00:03:57.599 well Montreal was really playing for anything and this doesn't 76 00:03:57.639 --> 00:04:01.080 matter and it's vanilla defense, Like what is that the 77 00:04:01.120 --> 00:04:03.280 Lions team? What did you make of that game? And 78 00:04:03.319 --> 00:04:05.039 what what does that make you think here heading into 79 00:04:05.039 --> 00:04:05.479 the weekend? 80 00:04:06.680 --> 00:04:09.879 Well, I mean, it certainly is a very unique situation 81 00:04:10.080 --> 00:04:12.560 the whole Lion season this year, being in a great 82 00:04:12.599 --> 00:04:15.840 Cup year with all the pressure associated with that. Then 83 00:04:15.840 --> 00:04:18.439 you also, you know, bring in a guy and Nathan 84 00:04:18.519 --> 00:04:21.680 Rourke's you know, profile in the middle of the season. 85 00:04:21.720 --> 00:04:26.000 I think it's kind of an unprecedented situation. So I think, 86 00:04:26.240 --> 00:04:28.360 you know, just based on who Nathan was and what 87 00:04:28.399 --> 00:04:31.839 he accomplished with the Lions previously and what BA had 88 00:04:31.879 --> 00:04:34.680 already done, uh these past what is it two and 89 00:04:34.680 --> 00:04:37.519 a half years since he's been a Lion. I think 90 00:04:37.560 --> 00:04:40.240 that you know, it was you know, you know, Destin 91 00:04:40.319 --> 00:04:43.519 did really drive a wedge between that team. I think 92 00:04:43.600 --> 00:04:46.720 there's definitely got to be regardless of what they say, 93 00:04:46.759 --> 00:04:50.319 and to the credit of Rourke and b A, they 94 00:04:50.360 --> 00:04:54.319 have you know, you know, been very you know, uh, 95 00:04:54.680 --> 00:04:57.959 you know, very friendly friendly with each other, I think, 96 00:04:58.319 --> 00:05:01.920 you know, relatively speaking, but you know, in that locker room, 97 00:05:02.240 --> 00:05:04.519 there has to be a division between the guys that 98 00:05:04.560 --> 00:05:07.600 are Rourks guys and ba's guys. And I think that's 99 00:05:07.600 --> 00:05:10.199 what we've seen throughout the second half of the season 100 00:05:10.240 --> 00:05:13.439 and why they haven't really really hit their stride since 101 00:05:13.680 --> 00:05:15.639 that first half of the season where they looked really 102 00:05:15.639 --> 00:05:18.079 good and among the best teams in the league. So 103 00:05:18.399 --> 00:05:21.560 I think that going back to VA, I think gets 104 00:05:21.600 --> 00:05:24.199 started as his team this year. I think it's kind 105 00:05:24.199 --> 00:05:26.920 of only right that he you know, tries to get 106 00:05:26.920 --> 00:05:29.279 them going in the playoffs here, but at the end 107 00:05:29.319 --> 00:05:31.519 of the day, there's still is that division, and I think, 108 00:05:32.040 --> 00:05:35.439 you know, until they really move on from BA this offseason, 109 00:05:35.480 --> 00:05:38.319 it's not really going to be totally solid them whose 110 00:05:38.360 --> 00:05:39.319 team it really is? 111 00:05:40.319 --> 00:05:43.079 Yeah, Anthony, if that's any updated thoughts on that. It 112 00:05:43.120 --> 00:05:45.560 reminds me a little bit. I was watching the Steelers 113 00:05:45.600 --> 00:05:47.720 game was that Monday, right, and you kind of have 114 00:05:47.839 --> 00:05:52.920 Russell Wilson sitting there kind of talking with with Justin 115 00:05:52.959 --> 00:05:55.279 Fields here on the sidelines, and Okay, we're kind of talking, 116 00:05:55.360 --> 00:05:57.800 but like, you don't really know how comfortable he is 117 00:05:57.800 --> 00:05:59.600 with this because it felt like he kind of lost 118 00:05:59.639 --> 00:06:03.199 his job. Similar obviously different dynamics, but kind of similar 119 00:06:03.199 --> 00:06:05.560 situation there. Any updated thoughts on kind of the VA 120 00:06:05.720 --> 00:06:08.279 Nathan debacle here and the fact that they're going to 121 00:06:08.360 --> 00:06:10.439 obviously ride with VA heading into the playoffs. 122 00:06:11.079 --> 00:06:13.160 I mean, I'm glad that the team is gonna go 123 00:06:13.319 --> 00:06:15.800 with Vernon Adams. He's clearly the better quarterback for that 124 00:06:15.879 --> 00:06:18.120 offense right now. And I think we talked about this 125 00:06:18.199 --> 00:06:20.639 last week, like no offense to Nathan Rourke. You know, 126 00:06:20.720 --> 00:06:22.959 he's got all the potential to be a good starting 127 00:06:23.000 --> 00:06:26.079 quarterback in the CFL. I just think after going through 128 00:06:26.160 --> 00:06:28.759 four NFL teams over the last year plus and then 129 00:06:28.839 --> 00:06:31.199 jumping into the CFL after playing in the NFL for 130 00:06:31.199 --> 00:06:33.560 a year plus, you know, playing American football versus Canadian 131 00:06:33.560 --> 00:06:36.279 football is two different things and it takes time to adjust. 132 00:06:36.439 --> 00:06:38.279 I just don't think Nathan Workers really set up for 133 00:06:38.279 --> 00:06:40.920 success in the first place. So I'm glad that they're 134 00:06:40.959 --> 00:06:42.920 gonna go with Adams, who's been in the system for 135 00:06:42.959 --> 00:06:46.000 a while. He's got chemistry with the receivers, the team 136 00:06:46.000 --> 00:06:48.800 seems to be more comfortable with him. It just makes 137 00:06:48.839 --> 00:06:50.519 all the sense in the world. And then when the 138 00:06:50.560 --> 00:06:53.759 off season rolls around, I mean, they got to go 139 00:06:53.800 --> 00:06:55.439 with Nathan Work. I mean, when you spend the kind 140 00:06:55.439 --> 00:06:57.240 of money that you did on him, where he's got 141 00:06:57.240 --> 00:06:59.839 the biggest contract for in league history, like, you got 142 00:06:59.839 --> 00:07:02.000 to with him. He's he's got to be your future 143 00:07:02.040 --> 00:07:03.560 quarterback and you got to see what you have in 144 00:07:03.639 --> 00:07:06.560 him in the next two three years. So they have 145 00:07:06.639 --> 00:07:08.800 to let Adams walk. So it'll be interesting how the 146 00:07:08.839 --> 00:07:11.399 Lions kind of ads next year. But I think for 147 00:07:11.519 --> 00:07:14.000 the time b I mean this year, it's yeah, the 148 00:07:14.079 --> 00:07:17.160 last few months have been just kind of a disaster 149 00:07:17.199 --> 00:07:19.319 for this team. It's really disappointed because they started out 150 00:07:19.399 --> 00:07:20.800 so good. They were one of the best teams in 151 00:07:20.800 --> 00:07:23.480 the league. And I truly thought this that I really 152 00:07:23.519 --> 00:07:25.759 thought it was going to be bec and Montreal meeting 153 00:07:25.800 --> 00:07:27.399 each other in the Great Cup, and technically it could 154 00:07:27.399 --> 00:07:30.639 still happen. But everything that's happened, I feel like there's 155 00:07:30.639 --> 00:07:32.439 a lot of stuff going on behind the scenes. But 156 00:07:32.839 --> 00:07:34.360 you know, like us you were saying, I think they've 157 00:07:34.360 --> 00:07:36.759 done a great job of hiding that if there is issues, 158 00:07:36.920 --> 00:07:38.839 I think they've been able to do a really good 159 00:07:38.879 --> 00:07:41.000 job of keeping that behind curtains, which is always a 160 00:07:41.000 --> 00:07:41.639 positive thing. 161 00:07:41.720 --> 00:07:44.399 So you know, hopefully they get through this season. 162 00:07:44.519 --> 00:07:47.319 Next year they can cut the cord with probably Burden 163 00:07:47.360 --> 00:07:49.720 Adams and you know, roll on with the future with 164 00:07:49.800 --> 00:07:50.360 Nathan Morrik. 165 00:07:51.040 --> 00:07:53.680 It reminds me and it's obviously different as well, but 166 00:07:53.759 --> 00:07:56.120 I just spend the day kind of watching this Anthony 167 00:07:56.240 --> 00:08:00.240 Richardson debacle, pam out kind of with the Colts, and like, well, 168 00:08:00.279 --> 00:08:02.439 we drafted him and we knew it was a project 169 00:08:02.519 --> 00:08:04.319 and then we you know, he got injured last year 170 00:08:04.399 --> 00:08:06.399 and he starts this year and they were benching him 171 00:08:06.439 --> 00:08:08.839 and like, you know, how much time is enough time? 172 00:08:08.879 --> 00:08:12.000 And obviously we've recounted on here kind of bringing to 173 00:08:12.079 --> 00:08:15.639 Nathan and throwing them right into the gauntlet there. I 174 00:08:15.959 --> 00:08:18.560 don't know, I feel like they didn't do right by him, 175 00:08:18.600 --> 00:08:22.040 but also you certainly didn't do right by va Jason. 176 00:08:22.160 --> 00:08:25.319 Is it? I don't know, is it fair to say that, 177 00:08:25.399 --> 00:08:27.879 like if the Lions played in America with the with 178 00:08:27.920 --> 00:08:30.680 the with the heavier amount of American media kind of 179 00:08:30.680 --> 00:08:33.360 covering the NFL versus and obviously the CFL and Barhunt 180 00:08:33.360 --> 00:08:35.039 and Naylor and everyone do a great job, but like 181 00:08:35.519 --> 00:08:37.759 this might be a bigger story than it is, like 182 00:08:37.799 --> 00:08:41.000 because it feels like it's a similar situation, but obviously, 183 00:08:41.080 --> 00:08:42.600 like the VC Lions are only going to get so 184 00:08:42.720 --> 00:08:46.200 much kind of airtime in Vancouver. Is that kind of 185 00:08:46.240 --> 00:08:46.799 how you feel? 186 00:08:47.679 --> 00:08:50.200 Yeah, I don't think you'd ever see this situation in 187 00:08:50.240 --> 00:08:53.399 the NFL, just because you know, teams really want to 188 00:08:53.399 --> 00:08:56.600 declare who is their guy, and I think in the 189 00:08:56.639 --> 00:08:59.679 CFL it's less, you know, pronounced. Usually you know what 190 00:09:00.000 --> 00:09:02.200 teams have their number one guy that they roll with, 191 00:09:02.240 --> 00:09:05.919 but it doesn't mean that, you know, some teams that 192 00:09:06.240 --> 00:09:09.360 the starter can't eventually be overtaken by the backup. But 193 00:09:09.679 --> 00:09:11.840 in the NFL you kind of want I think Dave 194 00:09:11.919 --> 00:09:14.159 Naylor says this a lot. You want to have your 195 00:09:14.200 --> 00:09:18.039 backup as a guy that will support the starting quarterback 196 00:09:18.080 --> 00:09:20.240 more or less not necessarily push them to be the 197 00:09:20.320 --> 00:09:23.000 number one guy. So I think it would be a 198 00:09:23.039 --> 00:09:25.080 huge story if it ever did happen in the NFL. 199 00:09:25.159 --> 00:09:29.159 But I think, you know, the quarterback controversy like this, 200 00:09:29.480 --> 00:09:32.039 I think is really a one of a kind situation 201 00:09:32.120 --> 00:09:34.559 that we've seen in BC this year. 202 00:09:35.639 --> 00:09:37.720 Let's see a couple of other news items and then 203 00:09:37.759 --> 00:09:39.279 we'll kind of do a little bit more of a 204 00:09:39.279 --> 00:09:43.120 deep dive into these matchups. Anthony, I was at our 205 00:09:43.200 --> 00:09:46.759 niece's soccer game Saturday, standing in the rain watching them. 206 00:09:46.960 --> 00:09:49.039 They won a very exciting game. They won that I 207 00:09:49.080 --> 00:09:51.840 don't like soccer, but they won, got the goal. It 208 00:09:51.919 --> 00:09:54.080 was like ten seconds of over its left, and then 209 00:09:54.080 --> 00:09:56.240 they started together like wow, that was really close to it. 210 00:09:56.360 --> 00:09:59.200 I mean, the news came out, I ran, they Ambrosi 211 00:10:00.360 --> 00:10:03.440 down getting ousted, and he didn't have the full support 212 00:10:03.440 --> 00:10:05.200 of the board TOGETHERS just wanted to make sure we 213 00:10:05.279 --> 00:10:06.840 touch on all that go around, because none of us 214 00:10:06.879 --> 00:10:09.360 have really shared the thoughts on that on here. We'll 215 00:10:09.399 --> 00:10:12.320 go first to Anthony on that surprised not and what 216 00:10:12.360 --> 00:10:13.960 do you make of that? Let me see if I 217 00:10:14.879 --> 00:10:15.720 article up here. 218 00:10:16.200 --> 00:10:18.960 Yeah, I think it was super surprising this is. I 219 00:10:18.960 --> 00:10:21.080 think he's been in that position since twenty fifteen. I 220 00:10:21.080 --> 00:10:22.639 think he's done a lot of good for the league. 221 00:10:23.480 --> 00:10:26.080 I think in terms of what he's done with getting 222 00:10:26.120 --> 00:10:28.960 Americans to watch the CFL, I think has been big. 223 00:10:30.440 --> 00:10:32.759 You know, I think just the evolution of where the 224 00:10:32.799 --> 00:10:36.120 league has been. And also he probably had the the 225 00:10:36.200 --> 00:10:39.360 toughest job of any commissioner and is to get through 226 00:10:39.879 --> 00:10:42.679 get the league through COVID. I mean, he they canceled 227 00:10:42.679 --> 00:10:45.159 the whole season, They lost millions of dollars. I mean, 228 00:10:45.200 --> 00:10:47.919 I can only imagine the turmo that was going on with, 229 00:10:48.120 --> 00:10:50.559 you know, with the CFL, because that it's really important 230 00:10:50.559 --> 00:10:52.879 that they have fans and games and they're playing the 231 00:10:52.879 --> 00:10:57.000 games obviously, but you know, unlike the XFL, which I 232 00:10:57.039 --> 00:10:59.279 hate to knock on the XFL forward, but the CFL 233 00:10:59.440 --> 00:11:02.279 was able to get through it. They were able to survive. 234 00:11:02.600 --> 00:11:05.879 They keep increasing their attendance. I actually just wrote an 235 00:11:05.960 --> 00:11:09.360 article on it today that they actually did I think 236 00:11:09.399 --> 00:11:11.919 thirty thousand more fans total. I think they had a 237 00:11:11.919 --> 00:11:14.600 two percent increase in attendance from last year. So I 238 00:11:14.600 --> 00:11:16.399 think that's a really big thing for the CFL. And 239 00:11:16.440 --> 00:11:19.200 he's really helped with that growth process. I'd be really 240 00:11:19.240 --> 00:11:22.559 interested to see who is coming up to be the 241 00:11:22.600 --> 00:11:25.799 next commissioner, because I'm pretty sure that the probably the 242 00:11:25.840 --> 00:11:28.039 number one thing they're going to be asked is, hey, 243 00:11:28.240 --> 00:11:29.480 when are we getting our tenth team? 244 00:11:29.519 --> 00:11:30.639 It's finally going to happen. 245 00:11:30.720 --> 00:11:34.200 I'm sure that was kind of hovering over you know, 246 00:11:34.320 --> 00:11:36.200 Randy this whole time that he's been commissioner. 247 00:11:36.240 --> 00:11:37.279 He wasn't able to bring it in. 248 00:11:37.320 --> 00:11:39.679 So this next one is gonna probably that's probably gonna 249 00:11:39.679 --> 00:11:41.279 be the number one priority is can we get a 250 00:11:41.279 --> 00:11:43.960 tenth team in the CFL. But I think overall, I 251 00:11:43.960 --> 00:11:46.960 think he did a good job during his tenure, and 252 00:11:47.000 --> 00:11:50.279 I think the league should be appreciative of it. And yeah, 253 00:11:50.320 --> 00:11:52.720 I think he did a solid job. But it was 254 00:11:52.759 --> 00:11:54.799 a major surprise to see that. You don't see it 255 00:11:54.919 --> 00:11:57.960 very often that commissioners are in and out this way, 256 00:11:58.000 --> 00:11:59.600 but he did a really solid job. 257 00:12:00.720 --> 00:12:04.240 Yeah. Well, we'll toss here to Jason and I'll share 258 00:12:04.240 --> 00:12:06.759 my thoughts because he doesn't. To me, Jason, this doesn't 259 00:12:06.799 --> 00:12:09.559 feel like this is that coveted of a role, like 260 00:12:09.600 --> 00:12:11.320 it feels like it's a little bit more grief than 261 00:12:11.320 --> 00:12:13.279 anything else. I'll I'll let you shure your thoughts first. 262 00:12:14.080 --> 00:12:17.080 Yeah. Absolutely. My first thought was that I wish that 263 00:12:17.600 --> 00:12:20.120 even though he wasn't perfect, I think the biggest thing 264 00:12:20.159 --> 00:12:22.879 with Ambrosie that I would criticize is that he was 265 00:12:22.919 --> 00:12:25.440 a little bit too much of a cheerleader with his rhetoric, 266 00:12:25.519 --> 00:12:27.840 and you know, I think like he was almost overly 267 00:12:27.919 --> 00:12:31.320 positive and trying to overspeak what the CFL was capable 268 00:12:31.360 --> 00:12:34.000 of doing. But what I was gonna say is that, 269 00:12:34.360 --> 00:12:36.720 you know, he in the history of the CFL, I 270 00:12:36.720 --> 00:12:39.960 believe he's the second or third longest tenured commissioner and 271 00:12:40.000 --> 00:12:41.960 he's only been there since I think it was twenty 272 00:12:42.000 --> 00:12:45.000 seventeen that he got hired, So that really speaks to 273 00:12:45.159 --> 00:12:47.519 how much turnover there is this role. And I was 274 00:12:47.639 --> 00:12:50.279 kind of hoping that he would stay on for you know, 275 00:12:50.320 --> 00:12:53.440 at least another like five years or so, because, you know, 276 00:12:53.519 --> 00:12:55.840 just to bring some more stability to that position and 277 00:12:55.919 --> 00:12:59.399 just show that it's not a complete revolving door. But 278 00:12:59.519 --> 00:13:01.320 in terms of the stuff that he did that I 279 00:13:01.360 --> 00:13:04.919 think were positives, I think the seven year Collective Bargaining 280 00:13:04.960 --> 00:13:08.279 Agreement was a huge thing. I think getting guarantees as 281 00:13:08.360 --> 00:13:11.720 part of the contracts you know, partially guaranteed money for 282 00:13:11.799 --> 00:13:13.960 the first time ever for players. I think that was 283 00:13:14.200 --> 00:13:17.039 a big thing, and that has really helped the teams 284 00:13:17.080 --> 00:13:19.919 as well retaining guys and have less turnover in free 285 00:13:19.960 --> 00:13:22.679 agency each year. So I think that helps the league 286 00:13:22.679 --> 00:13:25.080 in general because there was just too much turnover from 287 00:13:25.120 --> 00:13:27.399 one year to the next. I think that, you know, 288 00:13:27.600 --> 00:13:29.559 the the Global Initiative, if you want to point the 289 00:13:29.559 --> 00:13:31.559 things that he didn't do well, I think the Global 290 00:13:31.559 --> 00:13:34.240 Initiative was a complete waste of time. I think I 291 00:13:34.279 --> 00:13:36.679 don't know the dollar value that they've spent on that, 292 00:13:36.799 --> 00:13:40.000 but I think, you know, in terms of like real results, 293 00:13:40.039 --> 00:13:42.960 I think that it hasn't really produced that many star 294 00:13:43.039 --> 00:13:45.840 players except for some great punters that we've seen in 295 00:13:45.840 --> 00:13:48.039 the CFL the last few years and a couple of 296 00:13:48.039 --> 00:13:51.519 noteworthy examples elsewhere on the rosters. So I think that 297 00:13:51.720 --> 00:13:53.919 was a waste of time. I think that, you know, 298 00:13:54.080 --> 00:13:56.799 the way that he went about again talking about the 299 00:13:56.879 --> 00:13:59.840 tenth team, just really saying that it was super close. 300 00:13:59.879 --> 00:14:03.120 And I get that they did have conditional funding, you 301 00:14:03.159 --> 00:14:07.960 know about uh Stadium in Halifax before COVID. Then then 302 00:14:08.039 --> 00:14:11.399 COVID kind of killed that, but that still wasn't like 303 00:14:11.879 --> 00:14:15.440 set in Stone, and they didn't really have like like 304 00:14:15.879 --> 00:14:17.759 it didn't feel like it was furthered up along for 305 00:14:17.840 --> 00:14:20.240 him to really say that this thing was in the pipeline. 306 00:14:20.320 --> 00:14:23.720 So I think those are my problems I had with him, BROSI, 307 00:14:23.840 --> 00:14:27.000 but he definitely did some good. And to be the 308 00:14:27.039 --> 00:14:29.399 second or third longest commissioner, I have to look that up. 309 00:14:29.919 --> 00:14:32.120 They were saying that on the Three Down podcast this week, 310 00:14:32.159 --> 00:14:34.679 but uh, you know, I think that's an achievement in 311 00:14:34.720 --> 00:14:36.679 itself that he stayed in the role this long and, 312 00:14:36.759 --> 00:14:39.039 as Anthony said, guided them through COVID. 313 00:14:39.720 --> 00:14:41.279 Yeah, I thought I was speaking of three that. I 314 00:14:41.320 --> 00:14:44.240 thought it was Travis. Was it? Travis and Jason Kelsey 315 00:14:44.320 --> 00:14:48.159 voted People's sexiest podcasters of the year. I saw Hodge 316 00:14:48.200 --> 00:14:50.519 tweet out I think they were a close second. I 317 00:14:50.639 --> 00:14:52.679 would I would cass this into the mix there. I 318 00:14:52.720 --> 00:14:56.360 have slight slightly more hair than John Hodge, not much, 319 00:14:56.399 --> 00:14:58.480 but I do have slightly more hair there. I will 320 00:14:58.480 --> 00:15:02.600 take that to me. The thing with Randy always been 321 00:15:02.600 --> 00:15:04.600 great to the show, friend of the podcast. I think 322 00:15:04.600 --> 00:15:07.159 we had him on three times talking, you know, said 323 00:15:07.159 --> 00:15:09.000 I could call him a friend of the podcast. I 324 00:15:09.039 --> 00:15:10.960 thought the last time I had him on because like, 325 00:15:11.440 --> 00:15:13.039 how many times are you going to ask about like 326 00:15:13.080 --> 00:15:14.960 a tenth team or whatever. But we were talking about you, 327 00:15:15.039 --> 00:15:16.559 what do you want your legacy to be? What you 328 00:15:16.639 --> 00:15:19.080 want to be remembered as, and I thought he got 329 00:15:19.120 --> 00:15:21.039 a little emotional and saying, like, you know, I really 330 00:15:21.080 --> 00:15:23.440 want just the fans to know that, like I gave 331 00:15:23.480 --> 00:15:25.639 it all to them, and I really like I work 332 00:15:25.679 --> 00:15:27.919 hard every day and I wake up kind of wanting 333 00:15:27.960 --> 00:15:30.919 to promote the league. I do believe that. I think 334 00:15:30.919 --> 00:15:34.120 it's a tremendously hard position. That we've talked about this 335 00:15:34.200 --> 00:15:35.879 in the past, and that people want. You know, the 336 00:15:36.039 --> 00:15:38.879 CFL commissioner is not like Roger Goodell with the NFL, 337 00:15:38.919 --> 00:15:41.679 where they have kind of full control. It's very much 338 00:15:41.759 --> 00:15:44.200 kind of the lop sided power on that. I don't 339 00:15:44.240 --> 00:15:47.519 know who's clamoring for the job. I don't know what 340 00:15:47.679 --> 00:15:49.879 else is better out there in terms of that. We've 341 00:15:49.879 --> 00:15:54.399 seen Randy deal with the Montreal Alouette sale twice, right obviously, 342 00:15:54.480 --> 00:15:57.399 the mare Doman sale, like these are things that you know, 343 00:15:57.720 --> 00:15:59.720 as a commissioner you are kind of in the position 344 00:15:59.799 --> 00:16:02.080 to help but navigate through. And I think all of 345 00:16:02.080 --> 00:16:04.519 those things went well, obviously, the COVID and all of that. 346 00:16:04.879 --> 00:16:06.519 You know, I think we could have figured out some 347 00:16:06.559 --> 00:16:08.480 sort of the bubble in Toronto or whatever they were 348 00:16:08.480 --> 00:16:11.039 talking about for that Anthony, any other thoughts on that, 349 00:16:11.080 --> 00:16:13.440 because I just he said he'll stay, you know, in 350 00:16:13.480 --> 00:16:15.519 position until they get someone else voted in. But I 351 00:16:15.600 --> 00:16:17.679 just if the Board of the Governors voted him out 352 00:16:17.720 --> 00:16:19.720 right five to four whatever, like, I just don't know 353 00:16:19.759 --> 00:16:23.120 what those what anyone else wants for someone else to 354 00:16:23.120 --> 00:16:24.399 come in and kind of fill those shoes. 355 00:16:25.279 --> 00:16:28.000 Yeah, you know, if it is true that he was 356 00:16:28.080 --> 00:16:30.519 voted out, I kind of wish they didn't announce it 357 00:16:30.519 --> 00:16:33.519 as he's retiring. I wish it would just be honest 358 00:16:33.559 --> 00:16:36.000 and just say, hey, we're looking for somebody else to 359 00:16:36.000 --> 00:16:37.919 come in. I would like a little more transparency from 360 00:16:37.919 --> 00:16:40.039 the league on that, because if he did truly get 361 00:16:40.080 --> 00:16:42.279 voted out, I mean, why did he get voted out? 362 00:16:42.279 --> 00:16:44.559 What was he supposed to accomplish? You know, what were 363 00:16:44.600 --> 00:16:47.240 the goals that he didn't reach? Instead of just making 364 00:16:47.279 --> 00:16:49.559 it and I know they were trying to you know, 365 00:16:49.679 --> 00:16:52.399 save face, you know, pr wise and try to make it, 366 00:16:52.480 --> 00:16:55.240 you know, look like he's retiring and stuff. But you know, 367 00:16:55.279 --> 00:16:57.080 like I said, read, I mean, he clearly loves his 368 00:16:57.200 --> 00:17:00.159 job and he wore as harder to sleep, and he's 369 00:17:00.200 --> 00:17:02.399 done a good job with the league. But I really 370 00:17:02.480 --> 00:17:04.240 do want to understand, you where did he miss the 371 00:17:04.279 --> 00:17:06.400 mark him? What does the next commissioner need to do 372 00:17:06.799 --> 00:17:09.279 in order to get the CFL to the next level. 373 00:17:09.319 --> 00:17:11.559 So I wish there was a little more transparency on 374 00:17:11.599 --> 00:17:14.240 the the league side, because it definitely does not sound 375 00:17:14.319 --> 00:17:16.640 like this is the retirement, So I don't That would 376 00:17:16.640 --> 00:17:19.279 be the one part that really bothered me about this announcement, 377 00:17:19.440 --> 00:17:23.079 but otherwise it would be really interesting what the next 378 00:17:23.279 --> 00:17:24.240 commissioner has. 379 00:17:24.119 --> 00:17:28.279 To do to get the CFL to the next level. Yeah. 380 00:17:28.359 --> 00:17:31.480 I liked Randy a lot and as someone that has 381 00:17:31.680 --> 00:17:33.680 you know, had the foraging to kind of interview him 382 00:17:33.720 --> 00:17:36.400 and then even people with like the XFL. Right with that, 383 00:17:36.440 --> 00:17:39.640 we've I've talked with Russ at the showcase you that 384 00:17:39.680 --> 00:17:41.440 we didn't he was like on the podcast on the 385 00:17:41.480 --> 00:17:44.200 podcast here, I had Moose on the podcast, right, had 386 00:17:44.200 --> 00:17:47.640 the other people in those positions, Like anytime like you're 387 00:17:47.680 --> 00:17:51.400 someone like Randy and you're in that position you're doing interviews, 388 00:17:51.519 --> 00:17:54.759 it's always antagonistic, right, Like no one's ever coming up 389 00:17:54.799 --> 00:17:56.960 to the commissioner and being like telling me how great. 390 00:17:57.400 --> 00:17:59.839 Like it's always like, well this was bad or why 391 00:17:59.880 --> 00:18:02.279 do you handle this? Or this is going wrong. It's like, 392 00:18:02.640 --> 00:18:05.559 so you're always kind of in that defensive mode anyway, 393 00:18:05.799 --> 00:18:08.119 So I give a lot of grace, Like I've gotten 394 00:18:08.119 --> 00:18:10.440 a lot of private comments like hey, when Randy was 395 00:18:10.480 --> 00:18:12.640 coming on, a lot of CFL like ask him this 396 00:18:12.839 --> 00:18:15.039 or do this, or hey, be prepared, is it gonna 397 00:18:15.079 --> 00:18:17.960 do whatever? And you're like yeah, but you're always on 398 00:18:18.000 --> 00:18:19.759 the defense. And that was like when Moose came on 399 00:18:20.000 --> 00:18:22.160 and we were talking with Daryl Johnson about the UFL, 400 00:18:22.240 --> 00:18:24.400 like he knows from the second he comes on, right, Hey, 401 00:18:24.480 --> 00:18:26.799