By Jamie Nye

Alouettes, other team’s fans seeing green over Roughriders

Nov 26, 2010 | 12:43 PM

Commissioner Mark Cohon was under fire over not only Rider Nation being awarded the Commissioner's Award last night, but also the favourable hotel accomodations for the West Division Champion.

Cohon didn't hesitate to defend himself when asked why Rider Nation was singled out over the other fans of the league, “when you look at the seven of the 18 games on TSN that had over one-million viewers, the Riders were involved. When you look at visiting teams filling our stadiums, (Rider fans) fill our stadiums. They are about half of our licensing business, so they ooze pride.”

Cohon also took exception to the fact they alienated the other team's fans.

“In no way are we saying they are better than our other fans. The other fans are great. I love walking around out there and spending time with Lions fans or Als fans. (The award) is recognizing people who have had a profound impact on our game and celebrating that.”

The CFL commissioner also said, the 100th anniversary is also a good time to recognize 'Rider Nation'.

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Media also were all over the commissioner about the Alouettes critique of their hotel accomodations. Two members of the Alouettes went so far to say that the league has put the Alouettes in inferior hotels and dressing room facilities to help the Roughriders win Sunday's Grey Cup title.

Cohon said he didn't want to dignify those comments but added, “I spoke to (Alouettes Head Coach) Marc Trestman yesterday and in no way do I think (the accomodations) will impede their ability to perform on the field.”

“It seems like a slap in the face to me, I'd be crazy to think otherwise,” Alouettes Etienne Boulay told French radio station CKAC. “It's obvious that they've put Saskatchewan in the five-star hotel where they have a nice fitness room.

“They have proper meeting rooms. They put us in a little hotel with inadequate meeting rooms. There is no pool, no whirlpool, no way to have ice baths.”

Early in the season the Winnipeg Blue Bombers stayed at the same hotel and had no complaints.