WHERE IS CFL HEADED?

Time for straight talk, Vanstone says

The Canadian Football League is “talking about talking” without even talking at all.

Such is the unaccountable and uncertain state of the professional three-down game.

At a time when the foundation is disintegrating, the fixation is on a mysterious, illogical dalliance (merger?) with the XFL, which may or may not ever play again.

All of this, of course, happens in secret.

Team governors have reportedly signed non-disclosure agreements while commissioner Randy Ambrosie and his flock preoccupy themselves with establishing some sort of lovey-dovey relationship with the reconstituted XFL and its power brokers: actor/wrestler Dwayne (The Rock) Johnson, Dany Garcia and the people at Redbird Capital.

Activation of the cone of silence did not prevent Dan Ralph of The Canadian Press from breaking the story on Wednesday that the federal government had again denied the CFL'S request for an interest-free loan. Such a response would signal that the politicians, too, are lacking interest. (And who could blame them?)

“In terms of the people that

I've talked to within the federal government, the CFL didn't come and ask for an interest-free loan again,” 3Downnation.com's

Justin Dunk said Friday on Rod Pedersen's eponymous sports talk show. “What they did go and ask for was what money could be available.

“The federal government again pointed them in the directions of programs that they have out there for every other citizen in the country. There have been some that have been added since last August, when the CFL'S `give us $30 million or nothing in the form of an interest-free loan' was denied.

“So there are other programs out there that they could access. They are talking with the federal government about that.”

Or are they just “talking about talking ”?

Regardless of the nature of the CFL'S inquiries with the federal government, one has to be appalled by the audacious lack of self-awareness.

Representatives of the very same league that has embraced the concept of increased Americanization (see: XFL) and marginalized homegrown players — only seven of the 24 starters are required to be Canadian — covet cash from the Canadian government.

This is rich, albeit at a time when the league is poor.

There is actually a convincing, heartwarming case to be made to the federal government, but it would require some backtracking, accountability and, yes, transparency (cue canned laughter).

So, you want federal funding of some description, do you? OK, then. Here's the recipe.

Demonstrate — in fact, enhance — a commitment to Canada.

Exhaust all possibilities as far as sustaining, or even growing, the game in our home and native land.

Commit to increasing the number of Canadian starters, who should be the league's engine. Instead, they are treated like the cigarette lighter.

Open the books, and your eyes. Forget about fantasy football, in the form of a grandiose CFLXFL marriage that cannot possibly allow the three-down loop to continue in a recognizable, relatable or watchable form.

And, at long last, give people the straight goods instead of reciting vague talking points.

Failing that, the federal politicians have every reason to conclude that there are better ways to incinerate taxpayers' money. (“Hey, let's bail out Air Canada!” Now there's a corporation with baggage.)

My, what a calamitous off-season this has been.

On March 10, for example, the CFL distributed a media release to trumpet the fact that it was “exploring opportunities for alignment” with Johnson, Garcia, et al.

Ambrosie promptly made the media rounds, seemingly for the purpose of dousing rampant speculation that had been ignited by (guess what?) the league's own release.

While declaring that the communiqué was disseminated in the interest of “transparency” — an amusing assertion, considering the veil of secrecy under which the league is customarily cloaked — Ambrosie went to considerable lengths to downplay any discussion about where the CFL-XFL discussions may lead.

The affable commissioner, who is obligated to speak for the nine governors, wouldn't even go so far as to provide assurance that the essence of the great Canadian game — three downs, expansive field, etc. — would be preserved.

Such talk, he told us, was ahead of the process.

His eminently mockable catchphrase was that the CFL and

XFL were merely “talking about talking.”

Since then, there has been an apparent disinclination to talk to the league's primary stakeholders.

“Despite all the chatter, the home office remains silent — keeping those most important to its future, the players and its fans, in the dark,” Winnipeg Free Press sports editor Steve Lyons wrote in his newsletter, Playbook. “At a time when it should be working to build unity and consensus, the Pooh-bahs operate in a vacuum, doling out information when they think it's your time to know.”

This isn't simply a self-serving lament on the part of a member of the media. Consider the plight of the players.

“Getting really frustrated,” Saskatchewan Roughriders receiver Shaq Evans tweeted Tuesday.

“At the same time our coaches are having us do virtual meetings like there's going to be a season. Kind of hard to sit in front of a computer screen for two or three hours when it could potentially be for nothing again. Transparency isn't a lot to ask.”

It shouldn't be, especially considering that Evans is employed by one of the league's three community-owned franchises. But, having read this far, you know the real story.

Worse yet, who can envision things getting any better? The detached nature of the crisis management is yet another cause for concern.

Who knows? Maybe we will hear something soon. After all, training camps are scheduled to begin next month.

TSN'S Dave Naylor tweeted Friday that the CFL has scheduled a board of governors' meeting for Tuesday, adding: “It's expected they'll delay start of season and hopefully provide some indication of what comes next. No coincidence that is one day after the federal budget is presented, giving owners opportunity to understand its impact.”

The delay would be a postscript to the Covid-induced cancellation of the 2020 campaign. Good times.

This is a league that, despite its football follies, is absolutely worth preserving, one that is blessed with more than a century of tradition, a nucleus of fervent fans, an excellent television deal with TSN, and a championship game that attracts massive TV audiences, and seats with cupholders.

But, first and foremost, Ambrosie and associates have to demonstrate that the homeland genuinely means something to them.

They have to take bold steps to appeal to the core — the fans, the players, and even gargoyles of the media who actually have a soft spot for the great Canadian game — and contend with the current crisis in a relentlessly straightforward, realistic manner.

Alas, that is likely too much to ask because it is all too easy to see through the resolute lack of “transparency.”