Canada's Commissioner

Canada's top football man is also the Canadian game's biggest supporter. In London Tuesday morning for Western's scholarship fundraising breakfast, the commish came armed with praise for the Mustangs' MANY contributions to his league. Just don't get him started on the NFL's continued push North of the 49th. Actually, why not? Keeping the CFL strong and well is Mark's passion, but can he keep that behemoth to the South of us from advancing any further? Success or failure against the world's most powerful sports league will almost certainly determine his legacy as Canada's Commissioner.


CFL Commissioner, Mark Cohon

My Q & A with CFL Commissioner, Mark Cohon

nj: What are your thoughts on Rogers considering bringing additional Bills games to Toronto?

mc: I've been on record in the past indicating that beyond one game we're not supportive of that initiative. What we are supportive of is making sure the Bills are successful in Buffalo. We don't want anything that's going to hurt our Toronto and Hamilton franchises, and we think Growing it beyond that could have a profound impact on those two teams.

nj: Have you spoken to the people at Rogers about this?

mc: Its imcumbent upon them to approach us if they want to look at what we're doing with the CFL. Right now, we're growing our league. We're doing a lot of interesting things to grow this league. We have stadium renewal projects. We're amalgamating our websites. We're eventually doing a game out in Moncton, so I think there are a lot of things that I can do and I can control and that's really building our league.

nj: Isn't fighting to keep the NFL out of Canada a form of protectionism?

mc: I listen to Canadians. When Canadians say that the Grey Cup is one of the defining events since the birth of our nation, I think you have to hear what Canadians have to say. If you travel this country like I do that's what Canadians are saying. I believe the Grey Cup and the CFL are part of the fabric of this nation and as a proud Canadian I want to make sure we strenghten and support it.

nj: What about expansion? Will we eventually see teams out East? Perhaps even London one day?

mc: We haven't looked at expanding beyond our current eight and then potentially Ottawa. I think the important thing that you need to know is that its predicated on a couple of things. Number one, you have to have a stadium that can support it. You need 25 to 30 thousand seats. You need local owners who will support it and you need the local corporate community. We haven't analyzed it to say we want to go to 10, 11, 12 teams. Really, where we are right now is focussed on the 8, eventually getting back to Ottawa and see if we can expand it through maybe some preseason games or regular season games in other markets.

nj: Did the CFL learn from the reckless American experiment?

mc: I think the American experience is a great indication of what we've learned. Learn from the your mistakes in the past and focus on what you're strong at. I'd rather have 8 strong teams then 12 teams, expand and not have them healthy.

My take on the CFL - November 2008

CFL = Can't Find the Love

Nope.

As much as I've tried, I just don't feel this league. Perhaps its a tad insensitive to reveal one's lack of affection for Canadian football on its grandest of days, but here goes...

I've never been the most rabid of football fans, so I'm not one of those people who looks down on the CFL while emersing myself in NFL worship. I'll leave that nonsense to just about every other football nut in London. My issue with "our league" is what I perceive to be its resistance to progression. Sure, after the failed American experiment over a decade ago I can understand why the league treads lightly going forward, but how about mixing in a few new Canadian clubs? A century of football in this country and we can only find enough support in 8 markets? Really? Have we tried looking beyond Ottawa for another place to grow the game? Speaking merely from a casual fan's point of view, I'd get excited by expansion out East (Maritimes) and/or into Quebec City. One only has to look at the University of Laval's success and support to understand that the game is more than thriving in the Quebec capital. Its living, breathing, exploding! Imagine the pipeline from Le Rouge Et Or to Quebec City's CFL club?? Now imagine how the locals would follow with passion their young french Canadian footballers go from up-and-coming stars to professional heros, and all within the city limits.

I could just be nuts and this whole idea just plain dumb.

Then again, for something I profess to care litte about I've just offered considerable opinion on. And here's the thing, I COULD CARE. I could love the CFL. I could be a newcomer to the fold. The question is: would a league that's heart is tugged by the past embrace a sports fan with eyes on the future?