What would Mark and Jake think?

The Buffalo Bills playing regular season games in Toronto? Former MP Mark Lalonde and former CFL Commissioner Jake Gaudaur would be horrified. When tycoon John Bassett announced his new Toronto franchise in the World Football League in 1973, Lalonde introduced legislation blocking the American invasion so quickly, it made Bassett's head spin. And Gaudaur was firmly in Lalonde's court, in seeking to preserve the Canadian game.

How times have changed.


PS: Here's another opinion on the matter

NFL's Foray Into Canada Will Doom CFL: Ackles
Ed Willes, Canwest News Service; Vancouver Province
Published: Friday, February 01, 2008

PHOENIX, Ariz. - When commissioner NFL Roger Goodell announces today that Toronto will play host to eight Buffalo Bills games over the next five years, he will present it as a positive development for both his league and the CFL.

B.C. Lions president Bob Ackles, on the other hand, has a different take on the matter.

Ackles believes this move is the toehold would-be NFL owners Ted Rogers and Larry Tanenbaum have been looking to secure in Toronto and, ultimately, it will lead to the demise of the CFL. Ackles, whose feelings on this subject are well known, has been silent on it for a while.

Lord of the Rings Bobby Ackles began his career with the B.C. Lions in 1953 as their lowly water boy.

Thursday he broke that silence in a big way.

"That's no CFL, no Grey Cup and, in the end, no minor football in Canada because kids will see they don't have a chance to play pro ball," Ackles said, reacting to the news which is expected to come out today at Goodell's Super Bowl press conference.

"(Goodell) will handle it very diplomatically but this is the tip of the berg. It might take some time but you can see where this is going."

Today's announcement has long been in the works and is expected to include some concessions for the CFL. The games - five regular-season contests, three in the pre-season over the five-year period - will be played in December after the Grey Cup. It's also thought that Toronto Argonauts' and Hamilton Tiger-Cats' season-ticket holders will get priority in the purchase of tickets.

But Ackles says that's just a flimsy attempt at spin control.

"I'm just one guy," Ackles said. "But I think it's just a matter of time. There are two guys (Rogers and Tananenbaum) with a lot of money and they usually get what they want.

"Why would anyone want to go to Toronto? No. 1, it's ego. No. 2, it's the money. It's a big foot in the door and they'll draw sponsorship money out of southern Ontario. And that means there won't be a national TV contract (for the CFL)."

Ralph Wilson, the Bills' owner, is 89 and has said his estate will likely sell the franchise to the highest bidder on his passing.

There is still no NFL team in Los Angeles but there's no ownership group, either.

"(Former NFL commissioners) Pete Rozelle and Paul Tagliabue wouldn't have handled it this way," Ackles said. "Goodell came out and said he wants to grow the game internationally. Well, it's failed in Europe so where does that leave?"

Vancouver Province
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© CanWest News Service 2008