Deep Thoughts
If the CFL gets it, why not the CWHL and other (not so) deep thoughts
A few random thoughts for National Join Hands Day. Which is a nice concept but might get you arrested in 2020 …
No good
Canadian Football League commissioner Randy Ambrosie had a national TV audience prior to the league draft Thursday to explain the request for a bailout of up to $150 million. During the interview with TSN, he was asked what happens if the initial ask of a $30-million payment was denied.
“Frankly, I’m just not indulging in the question of what happens if it doesn’t work,” he said. “Because I believe we’re going to find a way to make it work.”
Being a glass-half-full guy is laudable. But if you’re asking for millions of taxpayers’ dollars, this answer wasn’t nearly good enough. The public deserves to know in an absolutely transparent way — even if it’s painful for some to hear — why its money is necessary.
What about them?
The woman who had been commissioner of the now defunct Canadian Women’s Hockey League says the league had talked with the federal government about a bailout before things fell apart.
“When the CWHL was folding, we were talking in the hundreds of thousands (of dollars) to get us in the clear so the league didn’t have to fold,” Jayna Hefford told the Canadian Press this week.
Which could make finding $150 million for a men’s league that historically has revenues, has some wealthy owners and has a TV deal a tough one for a feminist prime minister to defend when comparatively a few pennies couldn’t be found for a fledgling women’s league.
Where’s the NHL?
The one question that always comes up about a pro women’s hockey league is why doesn’t the NHL get involved and prop it up like the National Basketball Association did with the WNBA until it gets its legs under it?
“(Gary Bettman) wants this. He wants this to happen. But what the NHL under Bettman has always been afraid of is embarrassment,” The Spectator’s Steve Milton said on Home Games this week. “They need to know there’s a germ of something there.”
For the full discussion with Milton, Rick Zamperin from 900CHML, Bubba O’Neil from CHCH and me, go to the Home Games channel on YouTube — search Home Games Hamilton — and dive in.
FYI
Something to keep in mind as you watch “The Last Dance” on Netflix about Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. Jordan’s production company was a partner.
Doesn’t mean the series isn’t really good. Doesn’t mean it isn’t accurate or fair or credible. Just means you should watch who looks good and who doesn’t with a discerning eye.
Not a favourite
That note notwithstanding, the series has offered a nice reminder of how hateable Detroit Pistons centre Bill Laimbeer really was.
Your Question
It’s only been a little more than a month since sports shut down. Which teams were in first place in the NHL and NBA when play stopped?
Answers below.
Unbreakable records
Friday was the anniversary of both Rickey Henderson breaking Lou Brock’s all-time record for stolen bases and Nolan Ryan throwing his seventh nohitter. Both are records that are unlikely to ever be broken.
But what are the five sports records that are truly untouchable?
1. Cy Young — 749 complete games
Last season, the leaders had three.
2. UCLA men’s basketball — seven straight March Madness titles
One-and-done means even a repeat would be unlikely now.
3. Cal Ripken Jr. — 2,632 consecutive games
Two words: Load Management
4. Wayne Gretzky — 2,857 career points
Fourteen straight seasons of 200 points needed.
5. Byron Nelson — 11 straight PGA tournament wins
Tiger’s best was seven.
Another option
If you’re loving “The Last Dance” and need another behind-the-scenes sports documentary to fill some time, search the internet for Mario, Mike and The Great Gretzky about the 1987 Canada Cup.
It’s very ’80s but it’s lots of fun. And much of it was shot in Hamilton.
How to get a book
Wrote about Mark Hebscher and the book he penned about George Orton this week. Orton being the greatest athlete nobody’s ever heard about.
Anyway, neglected to mention how people can get the book. If you’re interested, send a note to markhebscher@gmail.com.
Seems odd
According to ESPN, there are 263 roads named after Secretariat in the United States.
Meanwhile, Canada has just two streets named after Wayne Gretzky.
How much?
We learned this week that the federal deficit is going to be in the range of $250 billion this year. How much is that in real terms?
Seattle quarterback Russell
Wilson is the highest-paid player in the NFL this season. He’s supposed to make 49 million loonies this year. He would have to play for more than 5,100 years at that salary to match the deficit.
Again, how much?
You can’t relate to Russell Wilson’s paycheque?
OK, let’s try this.
A CFL player making the league minimum of $65,000 would have to play for 3,846,154 years to pay it back.
Politics. Always politics.
One more thing about the CFL’s bailout request.
The beating heart of the league is out west, particularly in Saskatchewan and Alberta. Meanwhile, the Liberals don’t hold a single seat in those provinces after an obliteration in the last federal election. Folks out there are generally distrustful of Justin Trudeau and his government.
Does the PM then give the bailout in hopes of softening some feelings and capturing a few more votes next time or decide it’s a political lost cause and direct bailout money elsewhere?
Your Answer
The Boston Bruins were leading the NHL when play stopped and the Milwaukee Bucks were in first in the NBA.
Scott Radley is a Hamilton-based sports columnist at The Spectator. Reach him via email at sradley@thespec.com.