Argofans

I know that Ambrosie isn't a popular person on here and there's ample reason to criticize him but his legacy will be having found strong ownership in two major markets - BC and Montreal - that have revitalized those franchises. He hopefully also found paydirt in Edmonton. That is not too shabby at all.

ArgoRavi wrote: ↑Sat Oct 26, 2024 11:27 pm I know that Ambrosie isn't a popular person on here and there's ample reason to criticize him but his legacy will be having found strong ownership in two major markets - BC and Montreal - that have revitalized those franchises. He hopefully also found paydirt in Edmonton. That is not too shabby at all.

For me his biggest failure will be not getting a 10th team, which was one of his major goals.

argolio wrote: ↑Sat Oct 26, 2024 11:44 pm

ArgoRavi wrote: ↑Sat Oct 26, 2024 11:27 pm I know that Ambrosie isn't a popular person on here and there's ample reason to criticize him but his legacy will be having found strong ownership in two major markets - BC and Montreal - that have revitalized those franchises. He hopefully also found paydirt in Edmonton. That is not too shabby at all.

For me his biggest failure will be not getting a 10th team, which was one of his major goals.

I agree with Argo Ravi and am not as hard on Ambrosie as some. Say what you want, but the league is in a stronger position IMO. You can fault him all you want for his CFL 2.0 and the "global initiative", but at least he tried to expand the league's reach and access beyond its current markets.

As for the failure to get a 10th team, how is the failure for that all on him? It's not like they didn't try hard to get it done, and if I am not mistaken, a deal was in the works for a team in Halifax, but then the pandemic hit, and of course threw everything in the world for a loop, killing that initiative in the process.

RB957 wrote: ↑Sun Oct 27, 2024 12:41 pmAs for the failure to get a 10th team, how is the failure for that all on him? It's not like they didn't try hard to get it done, and if I am not mistaken, a deal was in the works for a team in Halifax, but then the pandemic hit, and of course threw everything in the world for a loop, killing that initiative in the process.

Sports commissioners are the point-person on expansion, and Ambrosie publicly talked about a 10th team as recently as a year or two ago. I wouldn't be happy as an owner to see zero progress.

One positive thing during Randy's tenure is the CFL not joining forces with the then US Spring League known as the XFL.

argolio wrote: ↑Sun Oct 27, 2024 1:51 pm

RB957 wrote: ↑Sun Oct 27, 2024 12:41 pmAs for the failure to get a 10th team, how is the failure for that all on him? It's not like they didn't try hard to get it done, and if I am not mistaken, a deal was in the works for a team in Halifax, but then the pandemic hit, and of course threw everything in the world for a loop, killing that initiative in the process.

Sports commissioners are the point-person on expansion, and Ambrosie publicly talked about a 10th team as recently as a year or two ago. I wouldn't be happy as an owner to see zero progress.

Maybe so, but as commissioner there is only so much you can do. Beyond potential ownership, there is always the issue of a stadium, which was the killer issue in not getting a team out east. I think Ambrosie also said that they were only going to go down that path so long, and that perhaps they would need to look elsewhere, like potentially a second team in Quebec. Something the next commissioner can take on.

gilthethrill wrote: ↑Sun Oct 27, 2024 2:02 pm One positive thing during Randy's tenure is the CFL not joining forces with the then US Spring League known as the XFL.

Except that they talked about it = desperate, lack of faith in the league and Canadian football (IMO). He has no guts - a real Commish would have said "over my dead body" and threatened resignation.

Ambrosia's "Global initiative" is also a joke IMO - another excuse to add more American trained players to rosters that already feature a majority of Americans that the GOB club of mostly Americans making CFL personnel decisions clearly favor.

Love to see a CFL Commish who has the utmost respect for Canadian football - the league's history & rules (no American wannabe calls for 4 downs or getting rid of the rouge) AND the utmost respect for Canadian football talent getting to play in the pro league in their own country = make rosters feature a majority of Canadian/ Nationals and get rid of the moron DI, 49% subbing in garbage nonsense as excuses to allow more Americans getting handed playing time.

ARGO57 wrote: ↑Sat Oct 26, 2024 5:47 pm Mike Morreale would be an ideal candidate to replace Ambrosie IMO.

I will be stunned if they go with Morreale, or any "football guy." IMO the real power brokers in this league -- MLSE, Doman and Peladeau -- are going to insist on a top-notch exec along the lines of a Mark Cohon. They tried the football thing with Ambrosie (who also had exec experience in business) and it did not work. A guy who has run an even smaller (much smaller) league than the CFL makes no sense from a business standpoint.

OV Argo wrote: ↑Sun Oct 27, 2024 2:59 pmLove to see a CFL Commish who has the utmost respect for Canadian football - the league's history & rules (no American wannabe calls for 4 downs or getting rid of the rouge) AND the utmost respect for Canadian football talent getting to play in the pro league in their own country = make rosters feature a majority of Canadian/ Nationals and get rid of the moron DI, 49% subbing in garbage nonsense as excuses to allow more Americans getting handed playing time.

You do know that roster rules are configured the way they are because that's what the owners wanted, right? The commissioner does what his bosses tell him, at the bargaining table and everywhere else. There's zero chance someone is going to be hired as commissioner and then go against what the owners pushed for.

paulwoods13 wrote: ↑Sun Oct 27, 2024 4:40 pm

OV Argo wrote: ↑Sun Oct 27, 2024 2:59 pmLove to see a CFL Commish who has the utmost respect for Canadian football - the league's history & rules (no American wannabe calls for 4 downs or getting rid of the rouge) AND the utmost respect for Canadian football talent getting to play in the pro league in their own country = make rosters feature a majority of Canadian/ Nationals and get rid of the moron DI, 49% subbing in garbage nonsense as excuses to allow more Americans getting handed playing time.

You do know that roster rules are configured the way they are because that's what the owners wanted, right? The commissioner does what his bosses tell him, at the bargaining table and everywhere else. There's zero chance someone is going to be hired as commissioner and then go against what the owners pushed for.

Ya, agreed mostly; I just wouldn't use "zero chance"; a new Commish - big bizness experience or not - who comes in and does a nice job and helps lead the league to more succe$$, could possibly (if so inclined cause of deep seated respect for Canadian ball), stand up to clown-show BOG types who want to sell-out the Canadian game even more. Eg. - the BOGs want to reduce or eliminate the ratio in a few years (they would try for sure if a 10th team happens), and the Commish says: " F-u clowns, over my dead body" and threatens to quit AND go to a messy PR divorce for the league. They could fire him and go with some corporate yes man, but the damage would be severe IMO.

And these American favortism roster changes are not what the owners - who are mostly rich guys with zip understanding of the sport / league history - "wanted". It's what they were told is best by a clique of mostly Americans who run the CFL, and they're too dumb or gutless to tell them to F-off.