The CFL yesterday named Randy Ambrosie its 14th commissioner, and he needs to "push the league’s growth, expand its fan base" and work with the CFLPA on "how best to treat and reduce concussions," according to Allan Maki of the GLOBE & MAIL. The CFLPA "wasted little time welcoming Ambrosie to his new post by e-mailing a statement that outlined what needed to be addressed in the current collective agreement with the league." Concussions were the "topic that undid Jeffrey Orridge’s short two-year run as commissioner." At last November’s state-of-the-league address, Orridge’s "refusal to acknowledge any links between head injuries and CTE ... played a role in his departure." Ambrosie said that he was "neither a scientist nor a doctor but insisted player safety will be a prominent issue in his time in office." He also spent two years as secretary of the CFLPA, giving him the "instant credibility few of his predecessors were blessed with" (GLOBE & MAIL, 7/6). SPORTSNET.ca's Donnovan Bennett noted the Argonauts and CTE are "two things that are top of mind and top of the to-do list" for Ambrosie. He has to "formulate a plan to stave off the death of the oldest sports franchise in North America." Ambrosie said of the Argonauts situation, "The best solutions are made over time. There isn't a magic switch to reigniting the passion." Asked about CTE, Ambrosie said, "There are parts of that question that for a lay person would be impossible to answer." Ambrosie’s introductory press conference yesterday was a "stark contrast from Orridge’s." In "many ways, Ambrosie is the anti-Orridge" (SPORTSNET.ca, 7/5).
DIE HARD OR GO HOME: The NATIONAL POST's Scott Stinson notes Ambrosie is a "former player" with three CFL teams, a former exec with the CFLPA and a former investment exec. He "gushed about the league, and especially its players" during his presser. That the governors have "chosen such a passionate CFL guy to lead it is not an accident, and it stands in sharp contrast" to Orridge. Orridge's "abrupt departure after just two years cited 'differences' with the board, and it is apparent that in Ambrosie the governors decided on someone who sees the CFL’s unique elements as a feature, not a bug." One of the problems with trying to expand the fan base beyond the CFL die-hards is that they "don’t understand why others don’t share their passion." The CFL’s fan base "undeniably skews old, and Ambrosie will need to be more than a cheerleader for the league’s current strengths to change that trend" (NATIONAL POST, 7/6).
TURNING AROUND THE ARGOS: Ambrosie said he does not "believe there is a magic switch to re-igniting the passion for the Toronto Argonauts, but we’ve got an amazing ownership group in Toronto that are passionate" about the CFL. In Toronto, Ryan Wolstat notes Ambrosie "knows there is a lot of competition for sporting and entertainment dollars in Toronto." However, he said, “There is room for a fantastically successful Canadian Football League franchise in Toronto as well.” Ambrosie said that he "intends to build the Argonauts up 'brick by brick,' with a key being to find a way to get more people paying attention to the product." First of all, they "need to get butts in the seats" (TORONTO SUN, 7/6).
TWITTER REAX: Former CFL Commissioner Mark Cohon: "Congrats to @CFL for hiring an experienced leader & former player to be our 14th commish. @RandyAmbrosie you have my best wishes & support." Hamilton Spectator's Drew Edwards: "How did the #CFL pick Jeffrey Orridge over @RandyAmbrosie the last time around?" Regina Leader-Post's Murray McCormick: "Liking everything I'm reading about new commish @RandyAmbrosie. Former player has strong ties to #CFL. He is also following me. #goodhire." Toronto Sun's Steve Simmons noted, "A wake up call on Day 1 as CFL commissioner. The largest newspaper in the country ran a wire story on @RandyAmbrosie being named commish."
