It’s bad enough that the beloved Habs will soon be heading for the golf course rather than winning a Stanley Cup. Now there could be a players strike in 3-down football? Please, say it ain’t so !
Unlike other recent labour showdowns in sports, the players union in the Canadian Football League might just win this battle for public support.
A story about Tristan Jackson if I may. He’s a defensive corner and kick returner for Saskatchewan. A year ago the Riders released him, but as often happens they called him back in August when injuries reduced their ranks. By then, Tristan was working in the Alberta oilfields, making more money than he made playing football.
But like a shot from a cannon, he turned in his hard hat for a football helmet and caught the next plane to Regina. The reward was getting his name on the Grey Cup.
Clearly it’s not about the money. The CFL is one step above the Arena league, and it’s light years away from the NFL when it’s time to show players the money. As time goes by, we hear more and more stories about football players ending up with dementia long after the final whistle has blown.
The NFL is being sued once again by players who say they were ordered to play hurt or get released. It’s not a very safe way to make a living, and careers tend to be very short.
Our league is doing well, and the players want a bigger piece of the pie. The talks have gone nowhere, and this week they broke down completely. Everyone always thought that CFL players would be the last athletes on earth to walk a picket line, but I wouldn’t be at all surprised.
Hey, I’ve got NetFlix now, so I’ll be OK until they settle this mess.
I’m Roger Currie
