CFL commissioner’s office is equipped with a revolving door
The Canadian Football League is out of commission (er). This is a recording.
Once again, the CFL is searching for a chief executive following Thursday’s announcement that Jeffrey Orridge is leaving his post, effective June 30, by mutual agreement.
As recently as November, Orridge declared that the league’s board of governors had approved his five-year plan. It was more like a five-month plan, as it turned out.
So here they go again, searching for candidates who aspire to assume the league’s highest office.
Good luck finding an able and long-term successor to Orridge. Any self-respecting businessperson has to be apprehensive about leaving or interrupting a presumably successful career to occupy an office that may very well be equipped with a trap door.
The way things are trending, the next commissioner’s nameplate should be written in chalk, because the revolving door continues to spin wildly out of control.
Consider the fact that Orridge was the CFL’s ninth full-time commissioner since 1984. The NFL has had an equal number of commissioners in its entire history, dating back to 1920.
And get this: Since 1960, only three men have held that exalted position in the NFL — Pete Rozelle, Paul Tagliabue and Roger Goodell.
Orridge’s replacement will become the CFL’s third commissioner in a decade, and its sixth in 20 years.
The goal, of course, will be to hire a dynamic individual with football and business acumen. It is a job more suited for Superman, so perhaps Geroy Simon — remember the superhero-like touchdown celebration? — should apply.
Given the consistent turnover in the league office, you have to wonder whether a future commissioner can hope to have a tenure approaching that of Rozelle, et al.
Orridge’s predecessor, Mark Cohon, stepped down after holding the position for eight years — that being an eternity at CFL headquarters. Cohon was a spectacular hiring, someone who was comfortable in all circles.
Is there another Cohon out there, somewhere? And if there is someone of that description, how can he or she be confident that sufficient support will exist to allow for an extended term?
Perhaps the answer is to find someone who loves the CFL so much that its systemic flaws can be overlooked.
How about the ebullient Michael (Pinball) Clemons? He is beloved across the league and, like Cohon, he could be equally comfortable interacting with fans or CEOs.
The concern, though, is that Pinball would eventually become Pinfall. Such is the way of the CFL.