CFL Governors May Oust Lysko For Decision To Cancel Games

Because of his decision to cancel last weekend's games after the BOG voted 8-0 to play, CFL Commissioner Michael Lysko's job "could be on the line" when the league's BOG meets Friday, according to Maki & Naylor of the Toronto GLOBE & MAIL. According to a letter sent Monday to the CFL by Winnipeg Blue Bombers Chair David Asper's attorney, Lysko "may also be open to legal action." The Blue Bombers are "livid" over the "unauthorized, uncondoned, unilateral and unlawful conduct of the league and its commissioner." Calgary Stampeders Owner Sig Gutsche sent a similar letter to the league "expressing anger" over Lysko's decision. Gutsche said, "We have a rogue commissioner who has disguised his corporate treachery behind the veil of a disaster and that's unacceptable." When asked if he thinks the BOG will call for Lysko's resignation, Gutsche said, "My initial response wouldn't be that, but I know there are others who feel more strongly than I do." But Bill Cortis, the attorney for the CFL, said, "The very essence of why you have a commissioner is to make these kinds of decisions in these kinds of situations" (GLOBE & MAIL, 9/19). Asper and his family are "among thousands" of Winnipeg people of Jewish faith "upset and offended" by the CFL's decision to reschedule to games for Monday night — during the eve of the Rosh Hashanah holiday — the second holiest day of the religious calendar. Asper, on the scheduling of the postponed games: "We had absolutely no choice and we were not consulted in the matter." Blue Bombers Dir of Marketing Jerry Maslowsky said that over $21,000 worth of tickets were refunded over the weekend (OTTAWA CITIZEN, 9/18). More Gutsche: "I can tell you my faith in the commissioner's efforts to at least even listen to the Calgary franchise's wishes is obviously gone. I'm not jumping up and down saying `Mike Lysko, resign.' I'm jumping up and down saying, `Mike Lysko, take our wishes into consideration and at least consult us when you make major decisions'" (CALGARY SUN, 9/19). Lysko said, "It has been an extraordinarily emotional week for everyone and this after-the-act nonsense does not put us in the best light. It's unfortunate this league is being torn apart by such a trivial issue (money)" (CP, 9/18). If the CFL had played last weekend, Lysko said, "In my opinion, I don't know that we would've ever recovered from that [PR] damage" (CP, 9/18).

NATURE OF THE BUSINESS: In Toronto, Stephen Brunt writes the members of the BOG "embarrassed themselves at a time of continental crisis" as a "result of the kind of small, insular thinking that has always been a CFL trademark. It's not what's good for the game, or the league or the country: It's what's good for Winnipeg, or Edmonton or Toronto, and the rest of you be damned. ... But in [the CFL] those moments when its time for everyone just to shut up and get in line, what's just happened will continue to happen" (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 9/19).