One of Canada’s major sports broadcasters has run afoul of CFL fans after ignoring this country’s two most famous green-clad teams.
On Friday, Sportsnet’s official Twitter account attempted to engage users on St. Patrick’s Day by asking what sports team has the best green jersey. The accompanying graphic included images of the NFL’s Green Bay Packers, NBA’s Boston Celtics, NHL’s Dallas Stars, MLB’s Oakland Athletics, and the Mexican national soccer team. However, online commenters were quick to point out that something was missing.
In honour of #StPatricksDay, what green jersey is your favourite? 🟢 pic.twitter.com/lCrAijQVpi
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 17, 2023
Absent from the image were the iconic green uniforms of the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Edmonton Elks, historically two of Canada’s most well-supported sports teams. In their stead was a box labelled “other.”
Edmonton’s franchise was founded in 1949 and has taken home 14 Grey Cups, including five straight during their legendary dynasty in the 1970s and 80s. The Riders have been around since 1910 and are notorious for their rabid fanbase, with their green jerseys often spotted at events across the globe.
The post was soon flooded with replies from fans angry at the omission, pointing out the irony of a Canadian network ignoring such prominent homegrown brands. The list of commenters included a number of notable names, with Hall of Fame sports columnist and media personality Steve Simmons, Canadian Senator Denise Batters, TSN play-by-play man Dustin Nielsen, and several prominent local media members in both markets weighing in.
Fans have long accused Sportsnet of a lack of coverage of the CFL, as the league’s broadcast rights are controlled exclusively by rival network TSN through 2025. However, the broadcaster does have some investment in the league, as their parent company Rogers Communications has a 37.5 percent stake in Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, owners of the Toronto Argonauts.
Nevertheless, an omission of this magnitude won’t endear them to CFL fans anytime soon. Whether or not the social media team was wearing green on St. Patrick’s Day, you can bet they got pinched.
