The CFL "has threatened to take some of its most ardent
fans to court if they don't stop producing official-looking"
Web sites on the Internet, according to Marty York of the
Toronto GLOBE & MAIL. CFL President Jeff Giles said the
league has noticed sites "that have come across as too
commercial or too official. We've made it clear that we
have a problem with these Web sites." Giles said that the
crackdown has "caused quite an uproar" and upset many of the
league's fans, and acknowledged that the CFL's official site
at www.cfl.ca "could stand some improvement." That site is
run by Sun newspapers affiliate Canoe: "We think we have one
of the better sites in pro sports, although I know some of
our fans think it isn't as up to date as it should be, and
perhaps Canoe will recognize that and meet the challenges to
improve." Giles called the action against the Web sites
part of a new league-wide emphasis on controlling licensing
and merchandise (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 4/22).
LEGISLATIVE ACTION: CFL Commissioner John Tory spoke
before Canada's House of Commons subcommittee on the study
of sport and touted the "economic benefits" of pro sports in
the country. Tory is one of a number of sports figures
discussing the relationship between sport and the economy.
Tory: "It's time to look at [teams] as no different from any
other industry leaving town." He "warned" that all Canadian
franchises, with the exception of the Canadiens and Maple
Leafs, "are in trouble." As far as the CFL, he said the
state of the league has improved and it is hoping to bring a
team to Atlantic Canada (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 4/22). Tory:
"Our ambition is to make the CFL cool again so our kids will
want to come out and see it" (TORONTO SUN, 4/22).
