Hall of Famer Tony Gabriel knows what striking CFL players are going through

Tony Gabriel can sympathize with striking CFL players.

The Hall of Fame tight end was involved in the league's first strike in 1974, which was staged during training camp but settled before the season began.

Players with seven of the CFL's nine teams didn't report for the start of training camp Sunday after contract talks between the CFL and CFL Players' Association broke down Saturday.

Edmonton Elks and Calgary Stampeders players reported to training camp because they're currently not in a legal strike position under Alberta labour laws.

"I definitely have sympathy for them," the 73-year-old Gabriel said in a telephone interview Monday. "I think the guys seem quite resolved to hang in there to get something that's fair."

In 1974, veterans boycotted training camp to back demands for an increased per diem ($10 a day from $3) and to be paid $150 per exhibition game (they were getting nothing at the time). Also that year, the Eastern Conference increased its regular season from 14 games to 16, something the Western Conference had been doing since 1952.

Once the strike ended, Gabriel returned to Hamilton and posted Ticats career highs in catches (61) and yards (795). But after also being forced to take a 10-per-cent pay cut in '72 (when Hamilton won the Grey Cup at home) because he was entering his option year, Gabriel had become disenchanted and asked then Ticats general manager Ralph Sazio to be traded and was sent to Ottawa.

"I said, "Ralph, you're unhappy, I'm unhappy, go ahead and trade me,'" Gabriel said. "It was kind of prophetic that I was traded to Ottawa because in the '74 playoffs (21-19 loss to the Riders in conference semifinals) I had 15 catches in that game.

"But on one of my last attempts I went up for the