In Canada, CFL COO Jeff Giles, "who was credited
throughout the CFL for nursing the league through its near-
death stages during the past two seasons, has decided to
quit as COO after learning that he no longer is being
considered for the position of commissioner," according to
Marty York of the Toronto GLOBE & MAIL. CFL Dir of
Marketing, Geoff Fardy, "upset with the treatment of Giles,
also has given notice that he has had enough." When ex-
Commissioner Larry Smith resigned in December, the CFL
"decided it would like to hire his successor by the time the
1997 season kicked off." But York writes that with the
season opens tomorrow night, there is no full-time
commissioner. Giles: "I had a certain vision and a certain
direction in my mind for this league and I know my plans
would have succeeded. But it was obvious that I was not a
candidate to be the commissioner." Giles and Fardy will
stay until October 1, and will work with the new
commissioner through a transition period (GLOBE & MAIL,
6/24). In Toronto, Perry Lefko: "There is speculation
Giles' move may have been triggered to push the board of
governors to hire him as commissioner" (TORONTO SUN, 6/24).
