If you haven’t noticed, I’m very interested in anything anybody is saying about what the implications are of the Bills playing in Toronto.
Darrell Davis of The Leader-Post notes these recent comments from the late Bob Ackles who, before his fatal heart attack this past Sunday, was serving as President/CEO of the CFL’s B.C. Lions. He had also served in an administrative capacity for four NFL teams and Las Vegas of the XFL.
When asked about NFL Commisioner Roger Goodell’s vague sentiments about wanting to keep the Bills in Buffalo, Ackles remarked:
“My concern is still having a franchise in Toronto, not Buffalo, not Fort Erie or wherever,” said Ackles. “I’m trying to be as positive as I can about it. The league is as strong as it’s ever been. I read about things in Winnipeg and Saskatchewan, two teams that have done amazing jobs in coming back from serious trouble, and are now two of the CFL’s strongest teams. That’s great. I hope we can continue to do that throughout the league.
He goes on to express his doubts about the current Buffalo-Toronto deal:
“I read a quote in a National Post editorial by Phil Lind. He indicated in that column that there’s no move afoot, there’s no plan, to have a team in Toronto. Why would you invest $78 million and not have a plan? That’s my concern. Not Buffalo, because I think the people in Buffalo will keep the Bills there. If they were to split the games 50-50 between Toronto and Buffalo, that would be a problem. We still have not heard (Goodell) say, ‘There will not be a franchise in Canada.’ That’s what (former NFL commissioners Pete) Rozelle and (Paul) Tagliabue used to say.”
Bob Ackles is in the CFL Hall of Fame as a Builder for his contributions to the “development of football in Canada.” He obviously cared deeply about the health and future of the CFL. Losing an influential man such as Ackles who inadvertently was protecting Buffalo’s interests by simply looking out for his own feels akin to losing NFL small market defenders Lamar Hunt and Wellington Mara.
While the Bills continue to lose allies on both sides of the border the fans questions and prayers remain unanswered.
Patience, you are one hurtful virtue.
July 8, 2008 at 4:19 pm |
Heart attack, huh? Yeah, right. After speaking about against the NFL? Sounds like MURDER to me. Spread it from the mountains conspiracy theorists!
July 9, 2008 at 10:48 am |
Goodell will do whatever he wants and no one will stop him. I guarantee the players union will get weaker and weaker. Theres something about him that he is like a guy who doesn’t care what people think of him. He’ll just do whatever he feels will grow the NFL, no matter who he steps on.
July 9, 2008 at 11:32 am |
It’s scary to think that Goodell might be as uncaring as David Stern. He is so vague all the time which is evidenced by what Ackles mentioned; That Goodell never came out and said ‘there will not be a franchise in Canada’ like the other commissioners did.
Does he want to keep the Bills in Buffalo? Sure, he’ll say he does because it feels like the right thing to say at the moment. It’s probably way too early for anyone to make concrete statements but at the same time Goodell leaves himself plenty of wiggle room.
Smart for him, worrisome for me.
July 9, 2008 at 1:43 pm |
You can get into a lot of trouble saying what feels right at the moment…. Trust me.
July 9, 2008 at 3:18 pm |
I thought you telling that bartender you wanted to take her right there on top of the bar was perfectly acceptable.