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MM18 Entry 2 | February 26, 2020 | People Power
February 26, 2020
CEBL Team
Time sure moves fast when you are blessed with a team of incredible people that share, and deliver, your vision in profound ways. That’s the feeling I currently have as I sit here to write my second blog post as the Commissioner of the CEBL.

Tip off for season 2 is right around the corner (May 7) as our newest team, the Ottawa BlackJacks , travel to Niagara to face the River Lions. That moment, like all moments we enjoy, is a culmination of five years of preparation (in essence, what it takes to start a new league, in new cities, across our vast country). 

I’m like a proud parent watching our league grow out of infancy, expanding its reach, growing up, making new friends and creating memories. We prepare ourselves for the future while always looking to change it for the better.

Free agency is in full swing. And, even though your favorite team may be seemingly quiet, I can tell you that I'm sitting on numerous contracts for players that our fan base will be overjoyed to see grace all our courts in 2020. If you thought that last year’s group of players were special, just wait until we announce some of our new joiners this year to go along with our CEBL vets.
Time just can't move quick enough but don’t tell that to my staff :) because for them it's a virtual whirlwind of planning, connecting, managing, storytelling, and most of all, smiling.

I say this because sport is a job that many people dream to be a part of but it's also demanding, time-consuming, often underpaid, and not always as glamorous as it sets out to be. Finding the right people, letting them be a part of the direction and the messaging while allowing them to reach for their potential, is crucial. I always emphasize that, within the business of sports, the two most important things are: people and finance. In that order, and never the other way around. We are only as good as our people, both on and off the court, and am I blessed with the best collection of people across all our seven teams. 

Stay tuned as we have lots to share over the next couple of months, including a very special announcement coming on March 10. This will be followed by our U SPORTS draft reveal on March 26. Along with that, we continue on with lots of other announcements around player signings, third jersey releases, and new national partnerships, just to name a few.

If you don’t believe Canadian basketball is here to stay, then we look forward to proving you wrong. And, to all our supporters and believers of #OurGame all across this great country, let's continue to enjoy this ride. It's been long overdue. There's plenty of room on this bandwagon, so be (damn) proud and wave the flag -- you deserve it!

FYI, want tickets to the CEBL experience? Click here! 

Thanks,
Mike
#OurGame
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