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VIEWPOINT: SCOTT OAKEQ
& A
Each week, Sports Online will turn the tables on Scott Oake,
who's used to peppering others with questions.
First it appeared that Tom Wright would be fired
as CFL Commissioner. Now it looks like he may get an extension. What
is your opinion of the job he has done?
For a long time the CFL's biggest problem was general apathy
in Southern Ontario. To be taken seriously as a professional sport
you have to be successful in the country's most important market.
Things are looking up for the CFL because the Argos and Ticats have
been revitalized by new and responsible ownership.
This occurred during Tom Wright's tenure and I think this alone means
he's been a success.
The Ottawa franchise is not in dire straits. In fact, the Renegades
are a lot better off now than they were last year.
How can they not be with an owner who's worth anywhere from 100 million
to 200 million US? I know the Gliebermans' first run as Ottawa owners
wasn't exactly a success but look at it this way: They've had the
courage and the desire to come back a second time to try to get it
right.
And anyway, Lonie's too old now to hang around with the cheerleaders.
The point is Wright is not going to have the league step in to run
the franchise.
The salary cap is a problem but it points to how difficult it is to
administer any policy in the CFL.
Trying to get nine owners to agree on anything – let alone heavy
fines or loss of draft picks for exceeding a cap – is nearly
impossible.
If Wright was to make a stand on this issue he probably get support
from two or three teams and six would want him fired.
I don't know how he can fix it.
In fact, I wonder if Jesus Christ reincarnate could get CFL owners
to reach a consensus. The job of CFL commissioner is not easy and
I think Wright has been a success.
As CFL teams head into training camp, what are your predictions for the upcoming CFL season?
I'll predict a Montreal-Edmonton Grey Cup final.
But, I'd also recommend they go ahead and play the season just to be sure that's how it turns out.
There is a lot to like in the CFL currently: the Lions with Dickenson
or Printers at QB, the Stampeders will be much improved, the Eskimos
with Ricky Ray back, a buzz about the Argos and Ticats (see above)
and the Als are always strong.
Saskatchewan, Winnipeg and Ottawa face a few challenges but overall I like the league's competitive balance heading into this season.
If the NHL owners and players association come to an agreement before the start of the 2005-06 season, should they hold a lottery right away or wait until the end of the season?
The NHL has its teams on notice to be ready for a draft as soon as possible after a CBA is finalized.
The league has to do this because Sidney Crosby and company can't
be left in limbo for a year. That would result in a general fiasco
highlighted by bidding wars and legal challenges.
The NHL has no choice but to maintain order through a lottery-weighted
draft.
And now it appears the two sides are at least inching towards a settlement.
Chances are the draft will be held at some point this summer.
Lightning-round questions:
Ricky Ray, Khari Jones, or Jason Maas?
Ricky Ray
What has been the biggest surprise of the 2005 MLB season to this point?
Mets reliever Dae Sung Koo doubling off Randy Johnson in his second-ever at bat
Who would be the best interleague rival for Blue Jays?
The Washington Nationals
Tom Wright has done a good job as CFL Commissioner and I believe he deserves a contract extension. He has brought back secure ownership situations in both Hamilton and Toronto with local ownership groups and has also done a good job with Calgary and Ottawa and the new partnerships. Tom Wright is very much a visionary, something the CFL greatly needs. His upcoming Touchdown Atlantic Exhibition game between Hamilton and Toronto will only strengthen the need for a fifth CFL Eastern Division team in Halifax and make for more of a balanced league.
In regards to the salary cap, every commissioner has failed in the past to come to terms with the owners on a salary cap across the board; Tom Wright is not alone, as long as there is a Cup to compete for certain owners will want a piece of it and will be willing to pay for it, even if their team is profitable or not. If a cap is introduced, every owner must be willing to support it and be prepared to fine the teams that do not support the cap, or take away draft picks, or whatever works. The salary cap is supposed to bring a equalization to the entire league and allow smaller market teams an opportunity to compete on an equal playing field and stay away from the problem of runaway salaries, profit loss, teams folding, etc.
Get the owners working together, make the CFL a profitable business in each market, and develop a fair cap that works for each team in the league.
Garth Holding
Dundalk, Ontario
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Scott began his career by volunteering at the university radio station during three years of pre-med. studies at Memorial University in St. John's, Nfld. After two summers working at CBC-St. John's in radio and television, he was hired full-time in 1974. Since then, Oake has covered the Olympic Winter and Summer Games and the Commonwealth Games as a commentator for wrestling, hockey, alpine skiing, swimming, rowing, diving, boxing and athletics.
FULL
BIO
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