Why not a true Canadian Football League?

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WARNING: This is a once-in-a-million times, thoughtful (Translation: unfunny as usual) article from a patriot (Yes, they do exist in Canada).

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I am one of those life-long, purist CFL fans who has watched the game since childhood. I get that it is not the glamorous NFL – Should be called the M(illionaires’) FL. Used to be – and I now date myself as a stegosaurus – that:

Players earned modest wages such that they needed regular jobs in the off-season (like the rest of us).
Players were recognizable for years as being on the same team without skipping across the border in search of the great American dream/dollar.
Arguably undervalued, they remained in the game for the sheer love of it all.
Show-boaters were virtually non-existent, and end zone theatrics were considered bad taste (If I want to see choreography I go to Las Vagas).

Back to the future. Why not even the playing field? Why not only Canadian players eligible to play in the CFL? Why not have a true Canadian Football League? Canadian university stars would be closely followed as they went on to the CFL. We could cheer our local heroes. They could have long careers playing the game they love so dearly.

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Laugh break: Why is it called lipstick if you can still move your lips?

Playing Canadian football in smaller stadiums would open the league up to expansion to medium sized cities like London and Quebec City – a true, grassroots arrangement for a grassroots national sport. The history is there. The tradition is solid. Now we just need to bring the families back into the stands with modestly priced tickets. Traditional, affordable family outings. And we could not afford Taylor Swift at the Grey Cup. (Yaaaay.)

Laugh break: When cheese has its picture take, what does it say?

I have no doubt that Canadian players, although not of NFL ranking, coming together under our unique rules will naturally settle into an even playing field with absolutely no loss in game excitement. Those who want to watch legends-in-their-own-minds can stick with the MFL. Those who prefer Hollywood-level grand-standing millionaires can stick with the MFL. There is no shortage of us other types of football die-hards – lovers of our own version of the sport. A different but good version.

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So, how about a 20-team league across Smalltown, Canada? Small venues. Cheap tickets. Heroes playing for the love of the game. Before long, who knows? – CFL trading cards will come back again. Personally, I’m tired of the present turnstile version of team rosters. If I turn my back on them for two years, I don’t know most of the players. That is not going to change unless we go all national and fly in the face of an administration that will only continue to marginalize Canadian content in the CFL.

It’s not a crazy idea. If we don’t make a concerted effort to go the other way, the league will continue to bleed revenue in Godzilapolises like Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver whose ownership wishes it was part of the Big Boys’ Club. On the contrary, we need the grassroots towns like those in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, and Ontario and Quebec and the Maritimes. Real Canadians want to root for real Canadians, local boys, not Americans who couldn’t make it back in their own country. A league with over 20 Canadian quarterbacks and a 100 Canadian receivers, etc? I would love to see that. I would be proud of our boys. I would be proud of my country.

Laugh break: When you lose your temper doesn’t that mean you get happy?

Have another day. (Back to Funny next week.)

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