It’s tough hyping CFL when playoff teams are already decided

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A four-pack of mini-columns:

Number 1: There may yet be some jockeying in the standings as the CFL schedule winds down, but how much hype can there really be when all six (of nine) playoff teams clinched their berths with three weeks remaining in the regular season?

TSN is trying. Local radio broadcasters are trying. So are the print journalists and podcasters who cover the CFL, trying to build up the importance of the winding-down slate of games, even though last week featured an Edmonton/Calgary matchup and this week includes Calgary at Hamilton. Edmonton, Calgary and Hamilton fell out of playoff contention two weeks ago.

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“There are no meaningless games,” a CFL player said this week.

For players looking to keep their jobs that might be true. But other than some convoluted scenarios that could determine first place in the West (Winnipeg or Saskatchewan?) and second place in the East (Toronto or Ottawa?), this weekend and next weekend are merely buildups for the start of the playoffs on Nov. 2.

Although the CFL’s schedule-makers would be well-advised to not slate only three games during the final few weekends, there really is only one solution: Hamilton, Calgary and Edmonton need to get better.

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Number 2: Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni can taunt his NFL team’s fans whenever he wants. But seeing Sirianni — with a kid seated beside him — explaining his actions to the media is another reminder that pro athletes and executives should never, ever, EVER bring children into interview rooms.

Press conferences aren’t always friendly places. Even after Philadelphia’s 20-16 victory Sunday over the Cleveland Browns, there can be heated discussions. And just because Sirianni’s son was nearby, it should not prevent reporters from asking pointed questions. It can get ugly. Let the kids enjoy themselves someplace else. There’s seldom joy in an interview room.

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Number 3: While American TV networks are looking forward to a World Series featuring teams from the country’s two biggest cities, Canadian baseball fans are likely hoping for the Cleveland Guardians to rally from a 2-0 deficit in their best-of-seven ALCS against the New York Yankees.

The Guardians have four Canadians on their roster: pitchers Erik Sabrowski of Edmonton and Cade Smith of Vancouver plus first baseman Josh Naylor and his younger brother Bo Naylor of Mississauga, Ont.

Sabrowski made his MLB debut Sept. 4. Sabrowski didn’t surrender a run through eight regular-season appearances and, after earning a postseason roster spot, his first two playoff games against the Detroit Tigers. The New York Yankees have been tougher on Sabrowski through two games in the ALCS, scoring once in each of his two relief appearances.

The New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers are vying for the National League championship. It seems like a long time ago since Shohei Ohtani, the first player to make an average salary of $70 million per season before establishing the 50-50 club with 54 home runs and 59 stolen bases, signed with the Dodgers while in the middle of a gambling scandal. Whatever happened there?

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Number 4: Looking at the NHL’s four Western Canadian teams, who would have predicted the Calgary Flames and Winnipeg Jets each winning their first three games while the more highly-touted Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks lost their first three? On Tuesday, Vancouver lost its fourth straight game 4-1 to the Tampa Bay Lightning, Calgary beat the visiting Chicago Blackhawks 3-1 and Edmonton snapped its losing streak with a 4-3 overtime victory at home over the Philadelphia Flyers.

Tuesday was also a reminder that real life always takes precedent over sports.

The Lightning’s home opener was delayed three days because of the danger and cleanup caused by Hurricane Milton. And the Columbus Blue Jackets played their first regular-season home game since losing forward Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matt, who were killed during the off-season by a suspected drunk driver while riding bicycles one day before their sister’s wedding.

During emotional pregame tributes, the Blue Jackets and reigning Stanley Cup-champion Florida Panthers wore Number 13 “Gaudreau” jerseys for warmups — evidently dodging NHL mandates against commemorative sweaters — and played 13 seconds without anyone in Gaudreau’s left-wing spot. Without days like Tuesday, it sometimes gets too easy to forget there is humanity in pro sports.

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