Single Point Links posted in January 2014

Regina Finalizes Stadium Financing

Published on January 28, 2014 9:17 PM

More interesting is that stadium design will be finalized in March when site prep work started last year.

Bowman More Than Football

Published on January 27, 2014 9:16 PM

I play football, but that’s not who I am.

More players need to learn early that they play football, but it is not who they are. Defining yourself by a sport and the constant comparisons and ratings of oneself against others is not good for anyone’s self-esteem. Be renaissance men, with a wide range of interests and abilities and be successful in your whole life, not a short playing career.

Sympathy for the Highest Paid

Published on January 18, 2014 3:54 PM

In this op-ed column widely picked up last week, Rob Vanstone lays out the argument that CFL players are deserving of a raise. This is obvious to anyone when comparing salaries to other professional sports. While Vanstone hopes the stars and “even the less-heralded grunters” receive increases, his focus is on the highest paid players in the league.

He lists off the stars that we pay to watch — “Durant, Sheets, Weston Dressler, John Chick, Travis Lulay, J.C. Sherritt, Jon Cornish, Ricky Ray, Chad Owens, et al.”, only one of which, Sheets, who has a salary anyway near the current league minimum. Sheets, like most unproven players, signed a standard 1 year + option year contract for his position. This is the affect of supply and demand, option year contracts, and import players that have aspirations in other leagues. Become a star in this league and you will get your reward after your first contract if you stick around dependent on the talent supply at your position. No, it won’t be millions of dollars.

Stars are not made on signing day. Talent comes into the league at lower salaries in their initial contracts until they prove themselves playing a different game. Raising that minimum salary for roster and practice roster players will do more to attract new talent than increasing the salaries of the stars so they can be more comfortable beside their hockey brethren.

Husky Stadium Demo Scheduled

Published on January 18, 2014 11:44 AM

Interestingly, it appears the plans for new facilities seems to have shifted a little since the first announcement of the decommission plans. Could there be discussions amongst the university, local and provincial governments and private partners over a stadium plan? Combining uses makes sense, though the Husky Stadium site is too crowded for a proper professional sized stadium. I would hope this opportunity isn’t ignored before money on facility improvements is spent.

Update: A call for elected leaders to get the parties together to at least talk about shared facilities.

TD Place at Lansdowne Park Site Launches

Published on January 17, 2014 10:19 AM

Well done.

TD Place at Lansdowne Park

Published on January 7, 2014 6:54 PM

The Ottawa stadium and arena complex at Lansdowne Park will be called TD Place, in a story first broke yesterday.

Nice that the will erect a monument in Frank Clair’s honour and get input from the family in the form of Mr. Clair’s daughter.