Michael Lysko served as the tenth commissioner of the Canadian Football League from 2000 to 2002.
Hailing from Aylmer, Ontario and a graduate from the University of Waterloo,[1] Lysko served as vice president of The Gem Group for three years until November 1, 2000,[2] in which he signed a three-year contract worth $750,000,[3] replacing Jeff Giles.
On October 21, 2001, the Ottawa Renegades was formed, but instability in the franchise led to its folding in 2006.
[2] However, on March 20, 2002, Lysko was fired as commissioner after he made comments towards the Toronto Argonauts regarding their hiring of Garth Drabinsky as a consultant; the deal with Drabinsky, who had been under investigation for alleged fraud, was regarded by Lysko as a "deal with the devil."
However, Lysko left the position on July 20, 2007, citing his intentions to move close to his wife Kathryn's parents as among the reasons for his departure.