GA Russell

***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** In 1995, Gizmo Williams signed the program for my niece, "Happy Birthday Elizabeth"!!! She still has it. Fifteen years later, she married a guy from Edmonton, and naturally he was very impressed! *****

I've been pulling out albums I haven't heard in a number of years.

Eastern Preview https://doorfliesopen.com/2026/05/21/cfl-beat-260/ ***** BC analysis https://www.cfl.ca/2026/05/20/top-of-the-depth-chart-for-2026-bc-lions/ ***** Hamilton analysis, etc. https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/article/tiger-cats-itching-to-hit-someone-else-in-pre-season-opener-against-argonauts/ https://3downnation.com/2026/05/15/i-dont-care-how-good-you-run-it-scott-milanovich-puts-one-ability-above-rest-in-tiger-cats-rb-battle/ https://cflnewshub.com/cfl-news/watch-pre-season-game-1-toronto-argonauts-hamilton-tiger-cats ***** Power Rankings https://3downnation.com/2026/05/20/3downnation-cfl-power-rankings-how-teams-stack-up-entering-full-preseason-slate/ ***** The league has revealed the 34 regular season games to be carried in the US by the CBS Sports cable channel. Those games will not be available to the US for streaming on the league's website. Only three of the games are after Labor Day. https://3downnation.com/2026/05/21/cfl-unveils-broadcast-schedule-for-final-year-of-american-tv-deal-with-cbs-sports-network/ ***** 3 predictions for 2026 https://pifflespodcast.com/blog/piffles-picks-bold-2026-cfl-predictions/

Players pick the 3 most improved teams https://www.cfl.ca/2026/05/19/3-most-improved-teams-according-to-cfl-players/ ***** Edmonton analysis https://www.cfl.ca/2026/05/19/5-things-to-know-for-2026-edmonton-elks/ ***** Montreal analysis https://www.cfl.ca/2026/05/19/top-of-the-depth-chart-for-2026-montreal-alouettes/ ***** Sask-Calgary https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/article/stampeders-top-roughriders-in-cfl-pre-season-action/ https://3downnation.com/2026/05/19/calgary-stampeders-best-defending-grey-cup-champions-in-preseason-opener-five-other-thoughts/ https://cflnewshub.com/scores/cfl-scores-today-calgary-stampeders-20-saskatchewan-roughriders-15-philpots-70-yard-strike-powers-stamps-past-late-riders-rally ***** Winnipeg analysis https://cflnewshub.com/cfl-news/my-key-takeaways-training-camp ***** *****

Jovan Santos-Knox is out for the year. https://3downnation.com/2026/05/18/winnipeg-blue-bombers-rule-jovan-santos-knox-out-for-2026-season/ ***** Top 3 receivers https://www.cfl.ca/2026/05/18/mmqb-ranking-the-cfls-top-3-receivers-2/ ***** The league has created a chart to keep track of the quarterbacks' work during the pre-season. https://www.cfl.ca/2026/05/18/qb-tracker-breaking-down-preseason-playing-time-4/ ***** Sask-Calgary previews https://cflnewshub.com/cfl-news/cfl-preseason-today-18-saskatchewan-roughriders-vs-calgary-stampeders-tv-channels-live-stream-odds https://pifflespodcast.com/blog/game-day-roster-spots-up-for-grabs-in-riders-preseason-opener-in-calgary/

The first pre-season game is tomorrow with a 3:00 pm eastern kickoff. Riders vs. Stamps. You can watch it here. https://www.cfl.ca/2026/05/14/preseason-week-1-saskatchewan-roughriders-vs-calgary-stampeders/ ***** Tips on watching pre-season games. https://www.cfl.ca/2026/05/17/5-things-to-watch-during-cfl-preseason-games/ ***** Sask analysis https://pifflespodcast.com/blog/riderville-roundup-may-17-2026/ ***** ***** Sherman Lewis has died at 83. I had his bubble gum card in 1964. RIP. https://www.bing.com/search?q=Sherman+Lewis+dies&efirst=0&ecount=50&filters=tnTID%3a"PE_8EE931C1-1C86-48E9-9198-6E720783AD65"+tnVersion%3a"6683622"+Segment%3a"popularnow.carousel"+tnCol%3a"5"+tnOrder%3a"5c2bb640-ad62-4116-b0b7-7f2abd8fa6aa"&form=HPNN01

Caravan from May 2, 1980 free https://artpepper.bandcamp.com/track/may-2026-freebie-caravan

Edmonton analysis https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/article/will-elks-new-look-offensive-line-hold-up-in-2026/ ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** In my day (!) the Riders were Ottawa. Sask was the Roughies. ***** ***** By the way, I mentioned The Maestro Thursday. If you haven't already, I recommend you read his thoughts on the proposed rule changes. https://doorfliesopen.com/2026/05/14/cfl-beat-259/

A BMG Club item!

Inspired by BFrank's playing the Mosaic box...

Brad's Deals has two attractive discount codes for Cigar Page. 24 assorted Padilla fumas - $39. https://www.bradsdeals.com/deals/blt1c1cd31f263217a9 12 assorted Plan B by Oscar fumas - $23. https://www.bradsdeals.com/deals/bltd42a0ad8a564b96c

Jarret Doege has signed with BC. https://3downnation.com/2026/05/15/b-c-lions-sign-former-argos-elks-qb-jarret-doege-one-other/ ***** Toronto analysis https://www.cfl.ca/2026/05/15/5-things-to-know-for-2026-toronto-argonauts/ ***** BC analysis https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/article/can-the-lions-offence-remain-lethal-after-changes/ ***** Sask analysis https://pifflespodcast.com/blog/piffles-picks-predicting-the-most-impactful-first-year-roughriders/

not jazz Disc 4

I am happy to report that The Maestro at Door Flies Open is back for another year. He will again be hosting a pool. https://doorfliesopen.com/2026/05/14/cfl-beat-259/ ***** Matthew Shiltz has retired as a Ticat. https://www.cfl.ca/2026/05/14/matthew-shiltz-signs-one-day-contract-to-retire-as-a-ticat/ https://3downnation.com/2026/05/14/matthew-shiltz-inks-one-day-contract-to-retire-with-hamilton-tiger-cats/ https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/article/tiger-cats-sign-qb-shiltz-to-one-day-deal-to-retire-with-club/ https://cflnewshub.com/cfl-news/qb-matthew-shiltz-ends-cfl-career-hamilton-tiger-cat ***** Pre-Season games will be streamed on the league's website. https://www.cfl.ca/2026/05/14/where-to-watch-2026-cfl-preseason-games/ https://3downnation.com/2026/05/14/tsn-broadcasting-two-cfl-preseason-games-in-2026-remainder-available-to-stream/ ***** Sask analysis https://www.cfl.ca/2026/05/14/top-of-the-depth-chart-for-2026-saskatchewan-roughriders/ ***** Winnipeg analysis https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/article/can-injection-of-free-agent-talent-get-bombers-back-to-grey-cup/ ***** AJ Ouelette is #91? ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****

John Handy - Projections with Mike Nock and Michael White, soon to be half of The Fourth Way *****

CFL News Hub has a new offering this year - fans get to vote on the power rankings. https://cflnewshub.com ***** Hamilton training camp battles https://3downnation.com/2026/05/12/five-position-battles-to-watch-in-2026-hamilton-tiger-cats-cfl-training-camp/ ***** Training camp battles for each team https://www.cfl.ca/2026/05/12/9-training-camp-battles-to-watch-at-cfl-training-camp/ https://3downnation.com/2026/05/12/one-position-battle-for-each-cfl-training-camp/ ***** Highest-Paid player at each position https://3downnation.com/2026/05/12/highest-paid-cfl-players-at-every-position-for-2026/ ***** Cody Fajardo is talking big. He thinks the Elks can win the Grey Cup. https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/article/qb-fajardo-believes-elks-can-contend-for-grey-cup-after-years-of-futility/ https://3downnation.com/2026/05/13/cody-fajardo-edmonton-elks-have-grey-cup-winning-cfl-roster/ ***** The Board of Governors has approved the rules changes for 2026. https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/article/cfl-going-back-to-20-second-play-clock-in-last-three-minutes-of-halves/ https://www.cfl.ca/2026/05/12/2026-annual-off-season-rule-changes-approved-by-board-of-governors/ https://cflnewshub.com/cfl-news/cfl-press-2026-annual-offseason-rule-changes-approved-by-board-of-governors ***** Winnipeg analysis https://www.cfl.ca/2026/05/12/5-things-to-know-for-2026-winnipeg-blue-bombers/ ***** Ottawa analysis (I'm still not sold on Brown.) https://www.cfl.ca/2026/05/12/5-things-to-know-for-2026-ottawa-redblacks/ ***** Hamilton analyses https://www.cfl.ca/2026/05/13/top-of-the-depth-chart-2026-hamilton-tiger-cats/ https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/article/veteran-middle-linebacker-mcmanis-quickly-making-presence-felt-with-ticats/ ***** Edmonton and BC will be broadcasting their games in Punjabi again this year. https://www.cfl.ca/2026/05/13/7-tricks-of-the-trade-for-bringing-the-cfl-to-life-in-punjabi/ ***** Winnipeg analysis https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/article/bombers-return-star-vaval-pushing-for-starting-role-on-defence-in-second-cfl-season/ ***** Calgary analysis https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/article/can-the-stampeders-replace-talent-lost-to-the-nfl/ ***** Toronto analysis https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/article/veteran-argos-receiver-mital-paying-attention-to-detail-during-training-camp/

Cigars International's annual Father's Day deal is up. Same concept as in the past, with a new selection of cigars. Nowadays, all orders come with free shipping. https://www.cigarsinternational.com/category/popular-promotions/10-packs-free-20-ci-bucks/

The Stamps' Reggie Begelton and Folarin Orimolade are still injured from last year. https://3downnation.com/2026/05/11/dave-dickenson-provides-injury-update-on-reggie-begelton-folarin-orimolade/ ***** The league's Top 30 highest-paid players https://3downnation.com/2026/05/11/the-cfls-20-highest-paid-players-for-2026/ ***** Backup QB Max Duggan was let go by the Argos Saturday, and was immediately signed by Ryan Dinwiddie and the Redblacks. https://3downnation.com/2026/05/11/ottawa-redblacks-sign-qb-max-duggan-after-release-from-argonauts/ ***** Grey Cup tickets are now on sale. https://www.cfl.ca/2026/05/11/tickets-to-the-113th-grey-cup-now-on-sale/ ***** Top 3 cornerbacks https://www.cfl.ca/2026/05/11/mmqb-ranking-the-cfls-top-3-cornerbacks-2/ ***** League Preview https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/article/cfl-training-camps-open-sunday-as-teams-gear-up-for-june-4-season-start/ ***** The veterans' training camps opened yesterday. https://www.cfl.ca/2026/05/11/one-training-camp-wish-for-every-cfl-team/ https://www.cfl.ca/2026/05/11/the-road-to-the-113th-grey-cup-starts-now-with-cfl-training-camp-underway/ ***** 4 QB training camp battles https://www.cfl.ca/2026/05/11/4-backup-qb-battles-to-watch-in-training-camp/ ***** Calgary analysis https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/article/cfl-training-camps-open-sunday-as-teams-gear-up-for-june-4-season-start/ ***** BC analysis https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/article/lets-continue-to-build-lions-look-to-continue-growth-as-training-camp-opens/ ***** Sask analyses https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/article/can-the-roughriders-defence-remain-elite-following-free-agency-purge/ https://pifflespodcast.com/blog/riderville-roundup-may-10-2026/ ***** Television Deal consideration https://cflnewshub.com/cfl-news/cfls-broadcast-cliff-happens-league-2026-tsn-deal-expires ***** ***** Just to refresh your recollection... *****

Eric Burdon - 1941 I remember this. The Animals performed twice that show. The first was House of the Rising Sun. However, the show was interrupted/pre-empted by a brief speech by LBJ. So the kids of the eastern and central time zones missed it. The group returned in the show's second half-hour to perform this.

Highest-Paid DBs https://3downnation.com/2026/05/10/the-cfls-highest-paid-defensive-backs-in-2026/ ***** Davis Alexander says that he is 100% now. https://3downnation.com/2026/05/10/im-at-100-percent-davis-alexander-fully-healthy-for-montreal-alouettes-cfl-training-camp/ ***** The teams are reducing their rosters to 85 men, as required. https://www.cfl.ca/2026/05/09/cutdown-tracker-cfl-teams-make-their-first-rounds-of-cuts/ ***** The league has an Official YouTube channel. https://www.youtube.com/@cfl ***** Single-game tickets are now for sale. https://www.cfl.ca/tickets ***** Montreal analysis https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/article/can-the-alouettes-replace-veteran-contributors/

Highest-Paid linebackers https://3downnation.com/2026/05/09/the-cfls-highest-paid-linebackers-in-2026/ ***** Sask analysis https://3downnation.com/2026/05/09/position-battles-to-watch-in-saskatchewan-roughriders-2026-cfl-training-camp/ ***** Hamilton analysis https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/article/can-tiger-cats-defence-get-hamilton-over-grey-cup-hump/ ***** Toronto analysis https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/article/argos-miller-set-to-open-his-first-training-camp-as-a-head-coach/ *****