Ticats owner Bob Young: commissioner has ‘too much respect for players’ to comment publicly

In the wake of the CFL players’ association announcing that they’re encouraging their membership not to show up to training camp, Hamilton Tiger-Cats owner Bob Young took to Twitter Wednesday night to say that fans were only getting one side of the story and that CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie “has too much respect for players” to comment publicly.

Negotiations are never easy. And you are getting only one side of the story. Commish @RandyAmbrosie has too much respect for the players and the process to comment publicly. @CFLPA @CFL https://t.co/7mm74mS5e0

— Bob Young (@CaretakerBob) April 18, 2019

Given that Ambrosie has kept in place a policy that denies players their off-season bonus money – essentially trying to starve them out for the sake of leverage – Young’s characterization of the commissioner rubbed a few people the wrong way. A sampling:

https://twitter.com/adambugs86/status/1118713821185679360

@RandyAmbrosie touring the globe all winter looks poor. Dictating periods where the @CFL will not be available to negotiate during a time when both sides should be dotting “i’s” and crossing “t’s” is brutal. Withholding bonuses, wrong! @TheAAF players, zero sympathy.

— Oiler fan (@oilerfan11) April 18, 2019

https://twitter.com/jimendy/status/1118688382165704705

You are correct. Negotiations are a tight rope walk. Yes, there are 2 sides. However, working for free is not acceptable. I respect you. I like you. I admire you greatly. I hope you do what is fair and right.

— Susan (@tbgfarms) April 18, 2019

also too busy with CFL 3.1 Vista

— Shawn Goldwater (@ShawnGoldwater) April 18, 2019

https://twitter.com/kathcupe/status/1118880329324843008

It’s certainly true that the CFL has kept a tight ship when it comes to public comments and given the reaction to Young’s statement, it’s not hard to see why.