The "defection" of CFL Lions coach Greg Mohns to a
management position with the XFL (see THE DAILY, 8/22)
"shouldn't be taken by itself as a sign that The End is
near," for the CFL, but Mohns' departure, "while a mere blip
in the big picture, still should send a message," according
to Stephen Brunt of the Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, who writes
that the XFL "is not just going to fade away." Brunt: "Even
if the XFL blows up in a year or two -- and don't bet that
it will -- the landscape of Canadian football will have
changed for the worse" (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 8/23). CFL
Eskimos GM Tom Higgins, on the XFL: "I'm not sure it's as
big a concern as some of my counterparts are making it out
to be, but it's definitely a wait-and-see situation." More
Higgins: "They [the XFL] might try some really stupid
things, but there might be one or two things that come up
that might be innovative enough that the NFL or the CFL
might take a look at" (Con Griwkowsky, EDMONTON SUN, 8/23).
CFL President Jeff Giles said, "I don't think we're going to
be losing our marquee players [to the XFL]. But there may
be some others who will go. It means we're going to have to
work harder to replace them with the available pool of
talent" (OTTAWA CITIZEN, 8/23). Miami native and Stampeders
QB Oteman Sampson, on possibly joining the XFL: "If I can
play down south and make more money, why not? Everyone who
plays football will lean toward getting the most for that
ability" (TORONTO STAR, 8/23). In Calgary, Jim Taylor
writes under the header, "XFL Could be Blessing For
Players": "It's just a whole new set of job opportunities in
one of the more unusual professions" (CALGARY SUN, 8/23).
CFL ATTENDANCE: The CFL has drawn 665,645 fans to 28
games this season, a 1.5% increase from the same period in
'99 and an 11.5% increase from '98 (CFL).
