SportsCage and TSN analyst Glen Suitor likes CFL commissioner Stewart Johnston's leadership style.
"I thought off the top of his address to the country, he gave you a great window into how he approaches leadership. I'm going to read the quote because I don't want to get it wrong, but he said fairly early in his address that this league, rich in history and tradition, has been a cornerstone of Canadian culture for over a century. I'm deeply humbled by the trust placed in me to lead this incredible organization into this next chapter," Suitor said on the SportsCage.
"To unquote, that is a great window into his leadership style. It's not I'm in charge now and it's not I want some kind of prize because I'm the commissioner. So right off the hop, I thought it was great that he gave anyone who was watching a chance to kind of get a window into who he is and how he leads."
Johnston's introductory press conference and first day on the job was April 24.
Suitor appreciates Johnston's view when it comes to CFL expansion.
"I call it the hamster wheel expansion question. I thought he handled it outstandingly," Suitor said. "If there's a team or a city that comes with an owner and all the backing and research and a stadium plan and all that, of course, he's going to listen to it, and of course, he wants to expand if it's the right time. In the meantime, we have such a great, exciting, fan-driven game that unites our country. So let's keep improving on that and then when you talk about expansion, you're not out seeking it. There are cities that are calling you, asking how we get part of this club and that's a longer-term vision, but he was clear that's what he wants to do with that."
Another aspect that Suitor thought was good from Stewart's introductory press conference was when he was asked how the CFL will collaborate with big events coming to Canada.
"Another little highlight that I liked was that he was asked a question by one of our guys at TSN in the press conference about what he's going to do to handle the World Cup when it arrives in a year. He talked about working with advertisers because there'll be more demand for that advertising dollar, and there'll be other avenues that they could go in the direction they could go. But he gave us a good idea," Suitor said.
"I thought at the end of that answer, and I'm paraphrasing here, but he talked about how we need to embrace big events and sports in our country and be part of them and collaborate with them rather than a competition.The World Cup will be great. Let's not cheer against it because we're protecting something. Let's collaborate, have fun, enjoy that, but also bring our league along with it."
