November 13, 2007
Kamloops Daily News


Eye View

The B.C. Lions are on top of the Western Division of the
Canadian Football League. And all CFL players are better
because of their union.

The CFL Players' Association, like the Canadian game itself,
reflects the distinctive nature of Canada - - generous, big,
and caring. Simon Black praises the CFL in his article for
Canadian Dimension magazine: "If leagues fall across the
political spectrum, the Canadian Football League can be seen
as the social democracy of the sports world."

Compared to the NFL in the U.S., the wider, longer, football
field reflects Canada's open spaces. Where the
conservative American game grinds along in inches, the CFL
explodes in big plays. Americans may boast of an
entrepreneurial spirit but their National Football League is
stogy.

With only three downs instead of four, CFL plays are
inspired risk-taking that Americans can only talk about.
Canadian fans thrill as teams go the length of the field in
three plays. Americans, when they are being candid, admit
that our game is more exciting.

Our football game never was an imitation of the American
one. The Canadian Football League is the oldest
professional sports league in North America with a history
stretching back to the 1860s.

The CFL Players' Association has led in innovations equal to
those in the development of our unique game. If you thought
that football players are unlike ordinary workers in need of
protection, you would be wrong. Sure some big-name players
get multi-million dollar salaries but a player's career is
short and injury-plagued. Ordinary players need as much
protection from exploitive employers as much as any worker.

Before the players' association formed in 1965 most players
had very little benefits. Too often owners took advantage
of a player's youthful enthusiasm, athletic skill, and
dedication to the game.

Injured players were released while under contract, medical
benefits were poor, there was no pension plan, player
contracts were not standard across the CFL and pre-season
and post-season compensation was non-existent. Coaches and
management could virtually do what they wanted. Only the
"star" players had any power.

Like most work, football is not just a match of wits and
ability on the job. Excitement aside, players need stable
careers to feed families and pay the bills.

Players' rights off the field didn't come without team
effort. As a result, the Canadian Football Player's
Association made sporting history in 1974 when they became
the first group of professional athletes to go on strike in
North America.

The result of their collective effort was significant
benefits: off-season pay, minimum wages, pension plans,
moving and meal allowances, and free agency.

Free agency was a first for professional sports in North
America. No longer could players be treated as possessions
to be bought and sold. Players who played out their option
could now sign with any other team without that having to
pay compensation to former owners.

Although some players make more that others, the CFL set a
salary cap for each team. This reduces inequality between
teams and players across the league. No player is grossly
overpaid at the expense of others.

Players' wages must equal at least fifty per cent of the
league's gross revenue. If profits increase, so do the
rights of players to renegotiate wages. Consequently,
players have an incentive to improve the league and the
quality of the game.

The picture for the CFL wasn't always rosy. In the 1980s,
no team east of Manitoba was making money and the Ottawa
Rough Riders team disbanded. It looked like only a matter
of time before the plug would have to be pulled.

But in the intervening years players and owners worked
together to create an exciting league. Popularity is up
especially in Western Canada, where the league enjoys its
strongest community and cultural ties. Small franchises
like the Saskatchewan Roughriders are a source of pride.

Now a new threat to the CFL comes from an American invasion
as the NFL is threatens to expand into Canada. There is no
denying that what the American games lacks in excitement it
makes up for in marketing and flair. But it's still a dull
game.

Canadians should repel the U.S. invasion. B.C. Lions
president Bob Ackles said he is ready to fight a NFL
franchise in Toronto.

The CFL reflects our history, character and values.
Canadians need to defend our border from this dull, plodding
giant.


David Charbonneau is the owner of Trio Technical.
He can be reached at dcharbonneau13@shaw.ca

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