The import rule was the one and only rule I didn't like about the CFL when we had the Stallions in Baltimore. No offense, but I thought it restricted the Canadian teams too much and gave the impression that Canadian players needed a special rule to coddle them or they wouldn't be able to compete for a spot on the roster. It also gave fans of the Canadian teams something to gripe about when the Stallions were competitive and eventually won the Grey Cup. I suppose it doesn't matter as much if the CFL never expands into the US again, but I still think it is overly restricive. [Of course, I look at the 'Canadian' in the name of the CFL as referring to the type of football and not the nationality of the players.]
Geoff, if you or another American team(s) get back in the league, you can play with all Americans if you want and we'll stick with our import rule for Canadian teams. We'll beat your butts enough that we won't mind playing with the different rules at all.
Are you saying minorities or women are not capable? No, they are just as talented as anyone, yet have been discriminated against, so the the playing field (no pun intended) needed to be leveled.
But are Canadian players as good as American players? They most certainly can be. The Sacramento Gold Miners were all American, but got whipped by the CFL teams with Canadians. So why not drop rules and let the best players compete? Racism and sexism need to be addressed in the work place as you say, but nationalism?
why don't we have a black / white / native canadian quota? or a French / English quota? I think its the same segregating concept as the import/non-import quota.
if you tried using a quota based on race - you'd probably be sued out of existence .. but making a quota based on nationality, is perfectly acceptable? i dont see how.
Sorry .. Canadian game or not .. i think the idea is fundamentally flawed .. and from a football fans perspective - this just waters down the potential talent level.
Racism and sexism need to be addressed in the work place as you say, but nationalism?
Why not nationalism if it leads to discrimination? Remember the Jamie Bone case way back?
Statik, flawed in your view or not, if I don't get hired because my nationality is getting in the way of people seeing I can do the job, then this to me is discrimination of sorts.
...its acceptable because our society has deemed it necessary to establish canadian content quotas and blocking laws in order to prevent certain aspects of our culture from being engulfed by american cultural values that might interfere...I'm not saying it's right, I'm just saying why....in the case of a distinctly different game from the american version the powers that be that controlled the CFL long ago set these laws in place and they hold until today....way it is man...
....then you're going to argue, 'well, it's stupid and that particular law should be changed'...but where do you stop?....should we get rid of three down only?....should we change the field dimensions?...get rid of that 12th man?....where do you stop?.....
Yes, a lot of people out there don't agree with Canadian content rules in all areas of Canadian life but of course these people are happy to stay in Canada and reap the benefits of national healthcare etc. If it bothers people so much the Canadian rules, then don't watch etc. And change the laws or the rules and let's all just have one big country between the US and Canada, if that is what you want. I'm not advocating that just anyone if they are Canadian gets a job if they aren't qualified but they shouldn't be discrimated agains't if they meet the criteria and discriminated agains't because of their nationality.
Why is the import ratio any worst than the American philosophy that you can not hire a non-American if that would cost an American from being hired. Don't the Americans want the best person for the job?
It is their rule and I have no problem with it. The import rule is our rule and I have no problem with it either!
Kill the import rule, Kill CIS football, Kill football in canada.... great idea.
Hockey has a good enough hold on canada now, if it was the only pro-sport with a significant amount of Canadians in it, it seems likely that is the sport canadians would play.
It's bad enough that a starting QB has not been canadian in a long time, but to remove most the other canadians because their not as developped as the amercs.
the Canadian players are often just as good, just have not had the same playing time, intense coaching in their CIS/Highschool careers.
Anyone remember when leagues thought black players couldn't be QB's, s topping top QB's Warren Moon went to the Esks for 6 years until the NFL finally figured out maybe this guy can play pro ball.
Well it seems that same sort of discrimination is happening now right here against Canadian players and it would likely happen if the Import rule was not put in.
Canadians would almost never get shots at playing pro ball if they were CIS grads.
There would be a few, but not many.
The import rule is to ensure canadians get a fair look, makes the league more interesting it is a good rule, it means the league can't go into the states ohwell, do I care? it's the CFL keep it in canada, get it up to 10-12 teams as that is as big as a football league should get anyways.
On a slightly similar note, the CRTC has a Canadian content play rule for radio stations. Although when it comes to radio stations, I have to agree with Statik, who wants to listen to Celine Dion when we could have ZZ Top!
I know, I know, someone is going to point out my double standard.
While I agree with the Celine Dion remark, I dont have a problem with Canadian content on the radio. It gives Canadian artists a chance to get some exposure and a shot at the US market.
Actually, I dont think Sandusky's idea is all that bad-- my reasons are far different than his are however. Why not reward guys, who have been in the league for a long time? Make something along the lines of say you are an import and have been in the league for 6 years and with one team for 3, you can be designated as a non-import. Canadians will still get their chance to play in the league, but then you can juggle the ratio to put the best possible team on the field.
Because the bottom line is that it would still keep Canadians off the field.....Not today but tomorrow.
Lets use a team of 2 players for simplicity
If you give non-import status to to player "A" because of the rule. You can now replace him with player "B" another import.
Seeing how you only have 2 spots on the roster you now cut player "C" who is a Canadian
How is this unfair? Player ‘C’ isn’t being cut because he/she is Canadian … he/she is being cut because player ‘C’ plays football like Celine Dion. I think thats fair. Keeping the non-import rule means chalking up a team full of Celine Dion’s for the sake of maintaining Canadian content … thats pretty lame - whether it be on radio, or a football field.
I didnt say it was unfair! I said the suggestion will undermine the rule.
I dont care that we will have a league of Celine Dions. Its the Canadian Football League and I want it to be for Canadians.
Like I mentioned before. Is it fair that a Canadian cannot get a job in the US?
Its their rule and I accept it.
I also doubt that if the NHL imposed a Quota for American players on American teams there would be any uproar by the American fans.
I see your point but it can also be reversed. If player A is Canadian, then his backup becomes a non-import, there is room somwhere else to an American player. It doesn’t necessarily mean that a Canadian is going to lose his job.
