Adopting U.S. football rules would not change the level of interest in my opinion. The CFL product is extremely entertaining, with more than half the games decided on in the last few minutes.. Unfortunately, some Canadians (many in the Toronto area) have bought the NFL Cool-aid. The NFL is over-hyped (IMHO) based on what I've seen on the television.
Throughout the world people watch their local league in various pro sports because it's their domestic league. The CFL is the 2nd best gridiron football league and IMO it is embarrassing as a G7 country we have to compare everything to the United States.
God Bless you Steve for advocating for the uniqueness of the CFL & it's rules as opposed to an embarrassment. I agree the last 3 minutes of a CFL game are usually the most thrilling, akin to the last minute in the NBA. As much as I also enjoy the NFL I'm tired of often watching 4 kneels in the final 2 min to end a game. Typical of Canada & especially snobby T.O.in not appreciating what we have & looking south of the border for approval & answers. If there is any solution to growing the CFL it lies in embracing & having pride in our differences. Happy Canada Day all !
Toronto, the largest potential market should be drawing at least 40,000 on average to a game. Season tickets should be more of a priority, even 3 game mini packs. I try to attend three games per year. Keep pushing for higher TV contracts and advertising sponsors to generate interest and revenue.
Horrible, incredibly rude. Has no idea what he's talking about. Basically admits he doesn't know anything about the CFL but yet is sure 4 downs is the answer. I'm surprised Steve put up with his bullshit and didn't just tell him stfu.
The CFL on field product is excellent. Marketing and revenue is not as good but improving. Honestly, it was a bigger deal in the 1970s. People would actually flock to the airport to get a glimpse of the teams returning home after a road game. To answer the gentleman's question about why three downs? We Canadians invented football in North America in the 1860s. The USA copied us after they were done with their civil war and modified our game with 'an extra down', smaller field, one less player and some rule changes. One of the first sanctioned games was between McGill and Harvard in 1874 and is was mostly ivy league for a while. The Quebec Rugby Football Union was one of the first conferences including teams from Quebec, Ontario and New England. Commissioner Randy Ambrosie means well but some of his ideas are 'pie in the sky'. The CFL has to be run by people that know and love Canadian football and its history, that understand sports marketing, TV contracts, etc. In the past, the CFL competed head up with the NFL. Our season began in August and ended with the Grey Cup in December. Bye the 1990s, it had moved backwards starting in the first week of July and ending in the last week of November. Those in charge of the CFL business model failed to understand the nature of traditional football fans. They don't like certain kinds of changes. Now they have pushed the season back to mid June. The new stadiums in Hamilton and Toronto are embarrassingly small, B.C., Winnipeg, Regina stadiums are beautiful and Calgary and Edmonton have good sized stadiums. The CFL should recognize that alot of their fan base age is in their 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s. The key demographic is to develop fans between the ages of ten to seventeen, then they may be fans for life. Instead we see our CFL commissioner embarrassing us by wandering around Europe and the USA, hat in hand begging for interest from people who have never heard of the CFL nor care. Lastly, why an odd time number of teams? So that every week, one team will get a week off. Makes perfect sense.
Like every other domestic sports league in the world, the CFL would've benefitted from having at least two teams in at least one of their major markets. The CFL is strong in markets where the teams represent an identity (i.e. Saskatchewan, Hamilton) and having the Argos represent downtown Toronto or even white collar workers or recent immigrants and a team within the vicinity repping the opposite (i.e. where people live, work, go to school but support different teams based on identity) probably would've helped (though it's probably too late now). The Sydney Swans in the AFL used to suffer from poor membership levels but the introduction of the Greater Western Sydney Giants (the more working class/immigrant area of New South Wales) has helped the Swans to become one of the most popular teams. The Argos represent an area (the GTA, which does not include Hamilton) similar to the same population of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba combined (which have four teams). The Argos represent "everyone" and in so doing represent "no one." If they were given a more defined identity (like being the downtown team/white collar team/immigrant team) people who have those identities would support them because of who they are regardless if they actually like the sport (as what happens in Scotland with Celtic/Rangers and in New York with Mets/Yankees/Giants/Jets).
I’ve been a season ticket holder for the Argos for over 20 years. It’s a great product. Too bad many don’t realize what their missing. Is it the NFL? No, but it stands on its own.
"why does the CFL have to be three downs" Because that's what the CFL is. It's literally a league for the sport of Canadian football. The rules are not the issue.
Bob is 100% completely wrong. I watch both leagues. The quirks between them hold my interest. IF the CFL adopted NFL rules, what's the point? I'd just watch NFL at that point. Bob, you are wrong.
My answer is to reintroduce Canadian football to a new audience, especially in Toronto. So many newcomers to Canada who don't know the game. They're playing cricket in fields and abandoned tennis courts. Also, what's the state of Toronto high school football? Bettman's NHL sunbelt expansion has produced NHL players that come from homegrown programs, i.e, Austin Matthews.
If TSN didn't have the CFL, they wouldn't have any Canadian content on it's network. All you would get is more 'Merican programming like Poker and Pickleball
Great synopsis of the history of football & the CFL taking the lead ! The dynamic nature of pass 1st offence has been copied by the NFL over the past few decades. NFL of the 70's was a boring style of run up the middle for 2 downs & pass on 3rd only when necessary. We need to be more proud of our innovation & pedigree rather than always taking a back seat. Happy Canada Day all !
The sport is dying in most CFL cities. The trend is attendance lower year after year, even in the traditional cities. They can’t even find a 10th franchise to balance out the schedule as the two most obvious places, Halifax or Quebec City, can’t find enough interest to get a team. If you are watching this video in 2030 does the CFL even still exist? The trend right now says it might not by then.
Steve make an effort. You are in media for longer than 30 years. Maybe a microphone? Better camera angle? Respect Bobs show and show up like a professional.
I find the quarterbacking to be bad in the cfl. Without good qbs you just don’t have a good game. Maybe they need to raise the qb salary to attract better players from the states.
I love my Hamilton Tiger Cats put a good product on the field for any team I think more people will watch. Also I disagree with Bob just leave it has three down's but again put a good product on the field.
What a bunch of muppets..lack of intrerest they say..go try to buy a ticket for next week's game Calgary at Montreal..they are few and far between. Winning football brings back the interest..not disgusting suspended quarterbacks that can't play for the argos.
As a 42 year old born and raised Torontoian who is a major sports junky, the CFL has never been of any interest to me or anyone I know growing up. There was always some fringe guy who liked the Argo’s or Tiger cats but it was rare. Most people here just like the Bills plain and simple. This City is much more America like then people here would like to admit.
Bob McCown should never speak about the CFL. He clearly doesnt know a damn thing but has the arrogance to act like he has answers. NFL is popular has 4 downs, hurrr durrr CFL needs 4 downs then would be massive is such a clown argument. To top it all off, he refuses to listen to Steve, asks him questions, then cuts him and says thats not an answer because its not my answer.
Bob I am a month older than you and have been a long time listener to PTS. Now you are very hard to listen to due to your post stroke attitude. “Who cares!” and ”I could care less!” seem to be all you have to say. You can be very disrespectful of John and guests. You need an attitude adjustment if you expect people to continue to listen.
I live in Edmonton and Edmonton is a huge fan city . So 4 downs would be fine . Plus only people that might be considered concerned about having Canadian players is the ones who are dying off literally. Sports should be best players not the best players and percentage of best Canadian only players
![[LIVE] : ONE ลุมพินี 68 | คู่เอก "พระจันทร์ฉาย vs โจนาธาน"](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/F3IM3w-XchI/mqdefault.jpg)
With all due respect to Bob, if the CFL went to NFL rules with 4 downs, that would be the end of the league.
Adopting U.S. football rules would not change the level of interest in my opinion. The CFL product is extremely entertaining, with more than half the games decided on in the last few minutes.. Unfortunately, some Canadians (many in the Toronto area) have bought the NFL Cool-aid. The NFL is over-hyped (IMHO) based on what I've seen on the television.
Throughout the world people watch their local league in various pro sports because it's their domestic league. The CFL is the 2nd best gridiron football league and IMO it is embarrassing as a G7 country we have to compare everything to the United States.
God Bless you Steve for advocating for the uniqueness of the CFL & it's rules as opposed to an embarrassment. I agree the last 3 minutes of a CFL game are usually the most thrilling, akin to the last minute in the NBA. As much as I also enjoy the NFL I'm tired of often watching 4 kneels in the final 2 min to end a game. Typical of Canada & especially snobby T.O.in not appreciating what we have & looking south of the border for approval & answers. If there is any solution to growing the CFL it lies in embracing & having pride in our differences. Happy Canada Day all !
Toronto, the largest potential market should be drawing at least 40,000 on average to a game. Season tickets should be more of a priority, even 3 game mini packs. I try to attend three games per year. Keep pushing for higher TV contracts and advertising sponsors to generate interest and revenue.
Bob was in a pissy mood.
Horrible, incredibly rude. Has no idea what he's talking about. Basically admits he doesn't know anything about the CFL but yet is sure 4 downs is the answer.
I'm surprised Steve put up with his bullshit and didn't just tell him stfu.
I actually don't have a problem with his approach because it forces guests to be direct. It's like a cross-examinaton.
A completely different Bob from his Sportsnet days.
The CFL on field product is excellent. Marketing and revenue is not as good but improving. Honestly, it was a bigger deal in the 1970s. People would actually flock to the airport to get a glimpse of the teams returning home after a road game. To answer the gentleman's question about why three downs? We Canadians invented football in North America in the 1860s. The USA copied us after they were done with their civil war and modified our game with 'an extra down', smaller field, one less player and some rule changes. One of the first sanctioned games was between McGill and Harvard in 1874 and is was mostly ivy league for a while. The Quebec Rugby Football Union was one of the first conferences including teams from Quebec, Ontario and New England. Commissioner Randy Ambrosie means well but some of his ideas are 'pie in the sky'. The CFL has to be run by people that know and love Canadian football and its history, that understand sports marketing, TV contracts, etc. In the past, the CFL competed head up with the NFL. Our season began in August and ended with the Grey Cup in December. Bye the 1990s, it had moved backwards starting in the first week of July and ending in the last week of November. Those in charge of the CFL business model failed to understand the nature of traditional football fans. They don't like certain kinds of changes. Now they have pushed the season back to mid June. The new stadiums in Hamilton and Toronto are embarrassingly small, B.C., Winnipeg, Regina stadiums are beautiful and Calgary and Edmonton have good sized stadiums. The CFL should recognize that alot of their fan base age is in their 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s. The key demographic is to develop fans between the ages of ten to seventeen, then they may be fans for life. Instead we see our CFL commissioner embarrassing us by wandering around Europe and the USA, hat in hand begging for interest from people who have never heard of the CFL nor care. Lastly, why an odd time number of teams? So that every week, one team will get a week off. Makes perfect sense.
Like every other domestic sports league in the world, the CFL would've benefitted from having at least two teams in at least one of their major markets. The CFL is strong in markets where the teams represent an identity (i.e. Saskatchewan, Hamilton) and having the Argos represent downtown Toronto or even white collar workers or recent immigrants and a team within the vicinity repping the opposite (i.e. where people live, work, go to school but support different teams based on identity) probably would've helped (though it's probably too late now). The Sydney Swans in the AFL used to suffer from poor membership levels but the introduction of the Greater Western Sydney Giants (the more working class/immigrant area of New South Wales) has helped the Swans to become one of the most popular teams.
The Argos represent an area (the GTA, which does not include Hamilton) similar to the same population of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba combined (which have four teams). The Argos represent "everyone" and in so doing represent "no one." If they were given a more defined identity (like being the downtown team/white collar team/immigrant team) people who have those identities would support them because of who they are regardless if they actually like the sport (as what happens in Scotland with Celtic/Rangers and in New York with Mets/Yankees/Giants/Jets).
I’ve been a season ticket holder for the Argos for over 20 years. It’s a great product. Too bad many don’t realize what their missing. Is it the NFL? No, but it stands on its own.
Bob needs to give it up. He has diminished as a sports broadcaster
I paddle solo and I assure you it goes where I want, Thanks Steve.
"why does the CFL have to be three downs" Because that's what the CFL is. It's literally a league for the sport of Canadian football. The rules are not the issue.
Bob is 100% completely wrong. I watch both leagues. The quirks between them hold my interest. IF the CFL adopted NFL rules, what's the point? I'd just watch NFL at that point. Bob, you are wrong.
My answer is to reintroduce Canadian football to a new audience, especially in Toronto.
So many newcomers to Canada who don't know the game. They're playing cricket in fields and abandoned tennis courts.
Also, what's the state of Toronto high school football?
Bettman's NHL sunbelt expansion has produced NHL players that come from homegrown programs, i.e, Austin Matthews.
The answer is somewhere in here. New Canadians have adopted hockey. Look at the Leafs and Canucks. Need that in the CFL.
If you don't have TSN the league doesn't exist.
If TSN didn't have the CFL, they wouldn't have any Canadian content on it's network. All you would get is more 'Merican programming like Poker and Pickleball
I hate the NFL. The CFL is one of the last enjoyable sport to watch because of the love of the game.
Great synopsis of the history of football & the CFL taking the lead ! The dynamic nature of pass 1st offence has been copied by the NFL over the past few decades. NFL of the 70's was a boring style of run up the middle for 2 downs & pass on 3rd only when necessary. We need to be more proud of our innovation & pedigree rather than always taking a back seat. Happy Canada Day all !
Bob's the man!!
The sport is dying in most CFL cities. The trend is attendance lower year after year, even in the traditional cities. They can’t even find a 10th franchise to balance out the schedule as the two most obvious places, Halifax or Quebec City, can’t find enough interest to get a team.
If you are watching this video in 2030 does the CFL even still exist? The trend right now says it might not by then.
If you ask a question Bob, let him answer. Very frustrating to listen to this.
Steve make an effort. You are in media for longer than 30 years. Maybe a microphone? Better camera angle? Respect Bobs show and show up like a professional.
I find the quarterbacking to be bad in the cfl. Without good qbs you just don’t have a good game. Maybe they need to raise the qb salary to attract better players from the states.
The QBs are fine. You want to see bad QBs, go see the turds in the UFL
Changing the CFL to four downs? Why don't we change Babe Ruth's number while we're at it? What a ridiculous take. McCown is off his meds again.
I love my Hamilton Tiger Cats put a good product on the field for any team I think more people will watch. Also I disagree with Bob just leave it has three down's but again put a good product on the field.
Steve should have just said he didn’t have an answer 😅
Overpriced tickets and concessions
Some nerd doesn't know how to paddle a canoe lol Long live the CFL!
Macowan has lost his mind. Screw the 4 downs.
What a bunch of muppets..lack of intrerest they say..go try to buy a ticket for next week's game Calgary at Montreal..they are few and far between. Winning football brings back the interest..not disgusting suspended quarterbacks that can't play for the argos.
The CFL lol
No he is not (CFL) I am ….
Argooooooooos
As a 42 year old born and raised Torontoian who is a major sports junky, the CFL has never been of any interest to me or anyone I know growing up. There was always some fringe guy who liked the Argo’s or Tiger cats but it was rare. Most people here just like the Bills plain and simple. This City is much more America like then people here would like to admit.
CFL football is far more entertaining than the NFL.
Too much "kick the ball"
Bob's about ready for another hospital stay . . .
Bob McCown should never speak about the CFL. He clearly doesnt know a damn thing but has the arrogance to act like he has answers.
NFL is popular has 4 downs, hurrr durrr CFL needs 4 downs then would be massive is such a clown argument.
To top it all off, he refuses to listen to Steve, asks him questions, then cuts him and says thats not an answer because its not my answer.
I love Bob,calls it the way it is!
Always like Bobs ideas 👍
Bob I am a month older than you and have been a long time listener to PTS. Now you are very hard to listen to due to your post stroke attitude. “Who cares!” and ”I could care less!” seem to be all you have to say. You can be very disrespectful of John and guests. You need an attitude adjustment if you expect people to continue to listen.
I live in Edmonton and Edmonton is a huge fan city . So 4 downs would be fine . Plus only people that might be considered concerned about having Canadian players is the ones who are dying off literally. Sports should be best players not the best players and percentage of best Canadian only players