This past month, the Ottawa Renegades almost made Jesse Palmer the best-paid player in the CFL. The plan was to recruit Palmer, not to play football, but to be the team’s pretty boy.
Media outlets reported the Renegades were planning to pay Palmer, an Ottawa native who is best known for his role in the television series The Bachelor, a salary of $500,000 plus a share of attendance revenue.
The deal would have made Palmer the highest paid player in the CFL, despite being a newcomer who hasn’t played the Canadian game in quite some time.
Palmer spent his four-year NFL career as a backup quarterback and played only eight games with the New York Giants. Palmer was released this fall from the Giants’ roster and turned to the CFL, where his rights are held by the Montreal Alouettes.
Palmer’s release inspired the Gliebermans, who hoped his good looks, celebrity status and hometown appeal would boost ticket sales and fan morale.
The idea of using Palmer’s sex appeal, instead of his athletic abilities, to draw crowds into Frank Clair Stadium is only the latest in a string of publicity stunts by the team’s owners to increase ticket sales.
It seems the Gliebermans, the majority owners of the Renegades, are always up for a little drama, especially if it will boost attendance.
The father and son duo have pulled out all the stops since their takeover of the team earlier this year – reducing the cost of season ticket packages, giving out Mardi Gras beads, and having toga and pajama parties. Now the Gliebermans want a poster boy for the team.
But outrageous schemes, like using Palmer’s sex appeal, don’t really come as a surprise –Lonie Glieberman and his dad, Bernie, have been down this road before.
In 1991, the Gliebermans made a name for themselves in Ottawa when they bought the troubled Ottawa Rough Riders from the CFL, pledging to spend whatever it took to keep the franchise afloat.
But just two years later – after scandals, publicity stunts and bad business decisions – they abruptly sold the team and retreated to the United States, failing as part of the now-defunct CFL expansion.
This time, they promised things would be different.
But so far, on their second time around, the Gliebermans have only been able to spotlight the team’s loss column, empty seats and exhibitionist Mardi Gras fans.
Before the pair is forced south once again, the Gliebermans will have to start thinking like their fans do. It’s not about beads and reality TV celebrities – it’s about football.
To succeed, the Gliebermans will first have to earn the respect of their fans before paying top dollar to pretty boys.
It is possible they’re right about Palmer, give it a few years and he could be a star with the Renegades – just not right away and not for the highest salary in the CFL.
Or, maybe they could convince Pamela Anderson to come to Ottawa and become a cheerleader – after all, she is Canadian.