Here are a few tids and bits to chew on as we are past the halfway mark of August, believe it or not, while still feeling strange to see Stanley Cup and NBA Playoffs going on:

—- Sad to see that the Canadian Football League Monday has cancelled what would have been a shortened season, because that delays Nashua’s Paul LaPolice’s debut as the new head coach of the Ottawa Redblacks. Safety protocols the league came up with were praised, they had a plan for a shortened season in a bubble using Winnipeg’s stadium, and were on the reported verge of an agreement with the players union.

Then what was the top reason? Money. The league, which has been on shaky financial ground anyway, wasn’t going to have fans, so and ticket revenue is a huge part of its dollar base. Plus, a request for a low-cost loan from the Canadian government was reportedly nixed. It looks like the league just didn’t have the dollars to play under the current conditions necessary.

“Unfortunately, not all the necessary pieces came together, “ CFL Commissioner Randy Ambrosie said.

It’s the first time since 1919 the Grey Cup isn’t being awarded.

“Now the time has come to shift our focust to 2021 and beyond,” Ambrosie said. “And we will use this time to ensure the CFL comes back stronger than ever.”

Let’s hope the league can, so LaPolice gets that well-deserved second stint as a CFL head coach.

—– After heading to Brockton this past Sunday to see the Silver Knights-Rox playoff clincher, got an sense of what it must be like for the Major Leaguers who are playing in stadiums without fans, because there have been no fans allowed in the Massachusetts Futures Collegiate League ballparks. Players would occasionally yell out “Let’s go Knights!” Sunday at damp, chilly – and empty – Campanelli Stadium and at the main gate of the concourse a few fans watched from the outside.

—- Still on Brockton: Some things never change, and that’s a credit to former Nashua Pride and current Rox owner Chris English. English was there on Sunday, down near the field, watching with a keen eye how his team, which made a great run to get back into the playoff race was doing. He’s always been fully invested in the on-field makeup and results of whatever team he owns; it was that way here in Nashua as well. Good stuff.

—– The Tuukka Rask situation is tough not knowing all the particulars, but it was clear from his comments and demeanor that he was never really fully emotionally invested in the NHL bubble.

Look, Rask wouldn’t just up and leave for no good reason, and judging from his previous leave of absence two years ago, family is a strong, strong pull. It was an ongoing situation the Bruins were probably aware of anyway, and something triggered his need to return home.

— The Patriots began padded practices on Monday and the players from their comments couldn’t wait. One thing, while strange without fans, Patriots corner Stephon Gilmore thinks the practices may be more intense.

“I think there’s a little more energy this year because we’ve been without football because of everything that’s been going on in the world,” he said. “We’re just excited to be back out, be with our teammates, our coaches, and, you know, enjoy it. It’s been a while since we’ve all been together. Just trying to have fun and take it on each and every day.

“It’s different (without fans). But it’s the same way around the league. We just have to bring our own energy every day, that’s what it comes down to.”

Second year edge rusher Chase Winovich agreed. “I like that definition,” he said. “I think there was a lot of good energy out there on the field, a lot of excitement. Just the buildup from the coaches talking to us, we were definitely fired up to get back out there. … It was a great first day.”

Of course, there were a lot of media questions about Cam Newton. Winovich would only talk about the defense; Gilmore did offer a view:

“He has a strong arm, he’s a big guy everybody knows,” he said. “I haven’t been actually chasing him around yet, we just put on the pads; but he can extend plays. That’s one thing that’s going to be hard to prepare for. I think all of our quarterbacks are doing a good job giving us different looks and making it hard.”

— This past Friday, the St. Louis Cardinals called up a first baseman-outfielder named John Nogowski. If that name sounds familiar to a lot of longtime Nashua sports fans, he is indeed the son of former Telegraph sports editor John Nogowski (think 1970s-early 1980s). Nogowski the son grew up in Tallahassee , Fla., has played in the Oakland organization as well as independent baseball. He had a great spring training and on Sunday went 1 for 4 batting ninth and playing first in the Cards’ 7-2 loss to the White Sox.

Tom King can be reached at tking@nashuatelegraph.com, or on twitter @Telegraph _TomK.

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