GA Russell

Week 1 Plays of the Week https://www.cfl.ca/videos/plays-of-the-week/ ***** Drew Willy has signed with the Alouettes. http://3downnation.com/2017/06/26/former-riders-bombers-and-argos-qb-drew-willy-signs-with-alouettes/#comments http://www.sportsnet.ca/football/cfl/alouettes-sign-veteran-qb-drew-willy-one-year-contract/ ***** The legal battle over the construction problems of Tim Hortons Field is escalating. http://3downnation.com/2017/06/26/former-riders-bombers-and-argos-qb-drew-willy-signs-with-alouettes/#comments ***** The league will use new statistics this year. http://3downnation.com/2017/06/28/ready-quar-cfl-numbers-game-change/#comments https://www.cfl.ca/2017/06/30/quar-cfls-new-quarterback-ranking-method/ https://www.cfl.ca/2017/06/29/steve-daniel-takes-us-inside-canadian-football-statistics/ ***** It looks like Randy Ambrosie will be the new commissioner. http://3downnation.com/2017/06/28/former-cfl-lineman-randy-ambrosie-named-new-commissioner-report/#comments http://www.sportsnet.ca/football/cfl/reports-randy-ambrosie-named-cfl-commissioner/ http://www.tsn.ca/ambrosie-to-be-named-cfl-commissioner-1.791833 ***** 6/28 checking down https://www.cfl.ca/2017/06/28/checking-down-week-2/ ***** Week 2 picks https://www.cfl.ca/2017/06/28/weekly-predictor-full-confidence-alberta/ ***** Randy Chevrier has retired. http://www.sportsnet.ca/football/cfl/16-year-vet-randy-chevrier-retires-calgary-stampeder/ http://www.tsn.ca/chevrier-retires-after-16-years-in-pro-football-1.790308 ***** Henoc Muamba hurt his knee, and will be out for a while. http://www.tsn.ca/roughriders-muamba-out-with-knee-injury-1.793547

This morning's Wall Street Journal says that Sony will begin pressing vinyl for the first time since 1989. The plant will be in central Japan. So I wonder: Does that mean these albums will be 180g? The article also says that last year in the UK, vinyl outsold downloads. I'm surprised. https://www.wsj.com/articles/groovin-sony-to-press-its-first-vinyl-records-since-1989-1498731044 http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2017/06/30/sony-is-restarting-production-vinyl-records.html

June 30 Born... 1939 - Tony Hatch 1943 - Florence Ballard 1951 - Stanley Clarke 1963 - Yngwie Malmsteen 1984 - Fantasia ***** 1995 - Phyllis Hyman dies. 2001 - Chet Atkins dies. 2001 - Al Jardine sues The Beach Boys. 2004 - Dave Davies suffers a stroke.

Happy Birthday 2017 Face!

Happy Birthday 2017 Late!

Week 1 results... Als 17....Riders 16 Tylor Crapigna missed a 45 yard field goal on the last play of the game. https://www.cfl.ca/games/2371/saskatchewan-roughriders-vs-montreal-alouettes/ http://3downnation.com/2017/06/22/tsn-panel-slams-cfl-officiating-disgusting-replay-call/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/06/23/cfl-issues-explanation-replay-call/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/06/22/durant-celebrates-downing-riders-credits-football-gods/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/06/23/reasons-optimism-following-riders-loss-montreal/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/06/23/rider-faithful-turn-darian-durant-win-celebration/#comments http://www.3downnation.com/2017/06/23/cfl-season-opener-watched-since-2013/#comments ***** Redblacks 31....Stampeders 31 Brett Maher kicked a 30 yard field goal on the last play of the second OT to tie it. Rene Paredes missed a 37 yard field goal on the last play f the first OT which would have won it. https://www.cfl.ca/games/2372/calgary-stampeders-vs-ottawa-redblacks/#preview http://3downnation.com/2017/06/23/replay-controversy-spoils-grey-cup-re-match-ends-tie/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/06/24/bo-levi-mitchell-tells-redblacks-lb-shut-twitter/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/06/24/14-thoughts-redblackss-wild-opener/#comments ***** Eskimos 30....Lions 27 Sean Whyte kicked a 9 yard field goal on the last play of the game to win it. https://www.cfl.ca/games/2373/edmonton-eskimos-vs-bc-lions/#preview http://3downnation.com/2017/06/25/mike-reilly-throws-for-315-yards-eskimos-beat-lions-30-27/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/06/25/three-things-learned-lions-opening-night-loss/#comments JC Sherritt injured his Achilles, and is gone for the yeaar. http://3downnation.com/2017/06/24/esks-j-c-sherritt-goes-achilles-injury/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/06/26/esks-lb-j-c-sherritt-done-year-torn-achilles/#comments ***** Argos 32....Ticats 15 Ricky Ray threw for a personal best 506 yards. It looks like SJ Green is back! https://www.cfl.ca/games/2374/hamilton-tiger-cats-vs-toronto-argonauts/#playbyplay http://3downnation.com/2017/06/25/ricky-ray-sets-career-high-passing-yards-argos-throttle-ticats/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/06/25/edwards-ticats-look-terrible-loss-argos/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/06/26/learned-hamiltons-embarrassing-loss-argos/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/06/26/even-victories-argos-brand-rebuild-will-take-time/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/06/26/argos-sj-green-miraculous-one-handed-grab/#comments Terrence Toliver tore his ACL, and is gone for the year. http://3downnation.com/2017/06/26/ticats-terrence-toliver-year-torn-acl/#comments ***** Top 3 Canucks http://3downnation.com/2017/06/27/introducing-3down-top-3-canucks-week/#comments ***** power rankings http://3downnation.com/2017/06/26/3down-power-rankings-snakes-ladders-week-1/#comments http://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/cfl/cfl-power-rankings-1.4179589 https://www.cfl.ca/2017/06/27/argos-sailing-nissan-titan-power-rankings/ http://www.tsn.ca/stampeders-remain-at-no-1-in-cfl-power-rankings-1.790191

Happy Birthday 2017 Stefan!

June 29 1945 - Little Eva born 1979 - Lowell George dies. 2000 - Eminem's mother sues him for defamation. 2002 - Rosemary Clooney dies.

ECM Stephan Micus Inland Sea Stephan Micus: nyckelharpa, voice, shakuhachi, balanzikom, genbri, guitars, zithers U.S. Release date: July 14, 2017 ECM 2569 B0026947-02 UPC: 6025 575 6547 8 There are inland seas like the Caspian or Lake Baikal which are vast lakes with their own microclimates in the Eurasian steppe. Several of Stephan Micus’ instruments come from these regions and beyond. But for Micus, the Inland Sea is also something within - a state of mind and a very personal landscape. This is Stephan Micus’ 22nd solo album for ECM. He’s a musician like no other, taking his audience on musical journeys to far-flung places and sound worlds that are totally unique. Micus is the master of his own musical landscapes, a one-man universe of sound. For the past 48 years he has been travelling, collecting and studying musical instruments from all over the world and creating new music for them. He often combines instruments from different cultures and continents that would never normally be played together. In each album he focuses on a particular cast of characters, his instruments, and creates his musical journeys with them. At the heart of this album is the nyckelharpa - a keyed fiddle which is the Swedish national instrument. David Harrington of Kronos Quartet describes it as a ‘dinosaur’, partly because it is so extraordinary looking, but also because it has strange archaic elements like sympathetic strings underneath the four playing strings. The strings are stopped by a set of wooden keys, so it’s an impressive piece of engineering as well as craftsmanship. “With most instruments I spend years studying how to play them and then try to forget everything I’ve learned,” says Micus. “I look at it as if it just arrived from Mars, without any preconceptions. Then I experiment and try to find all the possibilities inherent in the instrument and try going to the borders of what it can do”. This is the first time Stephan Micus has used the nyckelharpa. As with most of his instruments, he’s customized the instrument to suit his particular ideas and needs. Traditionally, the nyckelharpa is predominantly used for polkas and other dance tunes so it has a short bow, more suited to rhythmic music. Micus uses a much longer bow enabling him to play more sustained notes. Micus never even attempted to play the nyckelharpa in the conventional manner, slung round the neck like a guitar. Instead he plays it like a cello, holding it upright between his legs. This is closer to the other bowed instruments he plays, the Indian dilruba and the sattar from Xinjiang in China. “Until now I’ve only played bowed instruments from Asia,” Micus explains, “and I like the nyckelharpa because it carries a European spirit which I was keen to bring into the music.” So the opening track, Haze, sounds almost Baroque with its clean textures, plangent string counterpoint and curling ornamentations. Accompaniment comes from the plucked strings of a balanzikom, a rare instrument which Micus brought back from the Wakhan valley on the borders of Tajikistan and Afghanistan. “It’s one of the most enchanting places I’ve seen in my life with mountains of over 7000 metres on each side of the river - which is the border - and small villages on either side. They use the balanzikom for Sufi ceremonies, but I heard it being played only briefly by a farmer.” As with the nyckelharpa, Micus is using the balanzikom for the first time. Sowing Wind introduces the second melodic instrument on the album, the Japanese shakuhachi flute, a favorite of Stephan Micus. He started to learn it 43 years ago when he visited Japan for the first time. Its richly textured, breathy sound has a soulful profundity. It features on three of the tracks of Inland Sea and seems to offer a voice of spiritual wisdom. The third melodic voice is that of Stephan Micus himself singing in an invented language. In Flor del Sur he’s singing over the robust plucking of the balanzikom. “When I bought it,” Micus explains, “it had very cheap nylon strings and I thought I’d replace them with high-quality nylon or gut strings so it would sound even better. But actually it then lost the character that was attracting me. I investigated all the fishing shops I could find and tried different types of fishing line. In the end I learned that the Japanese made the best-sounding fishing nylon. It’s interesting how it’s not always the best quality things that produce a desired result. Sometimes something much cruder has exactly the quality you’re looking for. The balanzikom has a special sound no other instrument has”. The emotional center of the album is probably Virgen de la Mar - the goddess, perhaps, of that inland sea. As well as playing instruments from around the world, Micus has studied polyphonic singing in Georgia and Bulgaria - both of which inform this track which seems like a hymn full of unusual and surprising harmonies. Accompanying the melodic voices on this album is the sound of plucked strings - the balanzikom, the Moroccan genbri, associated with Gnawa musicians and which Micus used for the first time on his last album Nomad Songs. There are also guitars, a chord zither and a vast bass zither with strings 1.7 meters long. The latter two designed by Micus himself. “As on the bandoneon, the keys of the nyckelharpa are quite noisy, which for some people might be irritating. But I tried to make a vice into a virtue and used this ‘noise’ to make separate percussive tracks which are integral to the sound of Dancing Clouds and Nuria. Actually on the whole album no percussion instruments were used. Just different sounds coming from the nyckelharpa”. So over 10 compositions, the nyckelharpa is bowed, plucked, struck and stroked, multitracked and misused in many glorious ways. Rarely has it been played so high or so low or had its sympathetic strings strummed like a sitar as at the beginning of Dancing Clouds, where it also becomes a throbbing percussive orchestra behind the plucked and bowed strings. In the foot tapping finale, Nuria, the nyckelharpa becomes a deliciously irregular rhythm section behind Micus’ shakuhachi and voice to create a satisfying apotheosis. “When I play,” says Micus, “I am listening to the instrument and telling the stories it has inside it. It’s like a human being and each of us has unique stories to tell. Similarly, if I try a tune I composed for one shakuhachi on another one it somehow doesn’t sound right. The melody was really made for, and with, that particular instrument. A composer is like a guide taking you on a walk. He will take you from where you are, lead you into unknown territory and bring you back.”

Yes, Michael. It was in Dallas. He died the next day of a heroin and morphine overdose.

June 28 1975 - Tim Buckley performs his last concert. 1986 - Kellie Peckler born. 2016 - Scotty Moore dies.

June 27 Born... 1935 - Doc Pomus 1944 - Bruce Johnson ***** 1968 - NBC broadcasts Elvis's Comeback Special. 2002 - John Entwistle dies.

Focus - Hocus Pocus Box (13 CDs) - $59.99 prime pre-order https://www.amazon.com/Hocus-Pocus-Box-Focus/dp/B072R3QQ8K/ ***** Miles - The Last Word - $18.89 + $3.99 https://www.amazon.com/Last-Word-Warner-Bros-Boxset/dp/B016E29ZIK/

Miles - OAS - $14.39 prime https://www.amazon.com/Amandla-Dingo-Doo-Bop-Siesta-Tutu/dp/B008MMFBS4/

June 26 Born... 1910 - Col. Tom Parker 1956 - Chris Isaak ***** 1974 - Sonny and Cher divorce 1977 - Elvis makes his last stage appearance

Happy Birthday 2017 Peter!

Before we get ahead of ourselves, let's quickly go through the pre-season games. Calgary 23....BC 18 https://www.cfl.ca/games/2362/bc-lions-vs-calgary-stampeders/ http://3downnation.com/2017/06/07/stampeders-hold-off-b-c-lions-pre-season-win/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/06/07/three-things-learned-b-c-lions-pre-season-opener/#comments Toronto 24....Montreal 20 https://www.cfl.ca/games/2363/montreal-alouettes-vs-toronto-argonauts/ http://3downnation.com/2017/06/08/sparse-crowd-watches-argos-pre-season-win-als/#comments Ottawa 30....Hamilton 29 https://www.cfl.ca/games/2364/hamilton-tiger-cats-vs-ottawa-redblacks/ http://3downnation.com/2017/06/08/seven-reasons-care-ticats-pre-season-game/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/06/08/teachable-moment-ticats-rookies-pre-season-loss-redblacks/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/06/09/nine-thing-learned-ticats-pre-season-loss-ottawa/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/06/09/dozen-thoughts-redblacks-pre-season-opener/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/06/11/ticats-quarterback-depth-hit-hard-injury/#comments Sask 25....Winnipeg 25 https://www.cfl.ca/games/2365/winnipeg-blue-bombers-vs-saskatchewan-roughriders/ http://3downnation.com/2017/06/11/bombers-back-qbs-shine-preseason-tie-16-thoughts/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/06/11/canadian-qb-brandon-bridge-shines-riders-tie-bombers/#comments https://outlook.live.com/owa/?realm=hotmail.com&path=/mail/search/rp Calgary 36....Edmonton 35 https://www.cfl.ca/games/2366/calgary-stampeders-vs-edmonton-eskimos/ http://3downnation.com/2017/06/12/calgary-finishes-pre-season-2-0-another-canadian-qb-shines/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/06/12/buckley-takes-control-stampeders-backup-job/#comments Montreal 38....Ottawa 5 https://www.cfl.ca/games/2368/ottawa-redblacks-vs-montreal-alouettes/ http://3downnation.com/2017/06/13/nine-new-alouettes-watch-thursdays-preseason-finale/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/06/15/four-things-watch-redblacks-pre-season-finale/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/06/15/darian-durant-shines-dress-rehearsal-alouettes/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/06/15/darian-durant-throws-two-tds-alouettes-down-redblacks-38-5/#comments Winnipeg 38....Edmonton 38 https://www.cfl.ca/games/2367/edmonton-eskimos-vs-winnipeg-blue-bombers/ http://3downnation.com/2017/06/16/bombers-defence-bends-breaks-preseason-tie-12-thoughts/#comments http://www.3downnation.com/2017/06/16/second-sister-kisser-bombers-tie-pre-season-games/#comments Toronto 23....Hamilton 16 https://www.cfl.ca/games/2369/toronto-argonauts-vs-hamilton-tiger-cats/ http://3downnation.com/2017/06/16/ticats-blow-early-lead-pre-season-loss-argos/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/06/16/eight-things-learned-ticats-loss-argos/#comments BC 42....Sask 10 https://www.cfl.ca/games/2370/saskatchewan-roughriders-vs-bc-lions/ http://3downnation.com/2017/06/17/trouble-riderville-saskatchewan-crushed-pre-season-finale/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/06/17/three-things-learned-lions-pre-season-win/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/06/17/riders-pre-season-finale-leaves-plenty-desired/#comments ***** Ham preview http://3downnation.com/2017/06/17/learned-hamiltons-pre-season-games/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/06/22/ticats-ratio-issues-updates-practice/#comments Ott preview http://3downnation.com/2017/06/23/redblacks-road-repeating/#comments Cal preview http://3downnation.com/2017/06/23/stampeders-season-preview-time-now-shed-choker-label/#comments BC preview http://3downnation.com/2017/06/24/lions-better-not-yet/#comments

This Sunday’s NY Times will feature articles about two towering musicians with new recordings out on ECM: Craig Taborn is profiled in the New York Times Magazine in a long and superb article by Adam Shatz: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/22/magazine/the-ethereal-genius-of-craig-taborn.html?_r=0 Roscoe Mitchell did a great Q&A with Seth Colter Walls for the Sunday ARTS section: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/23/arts/music/a-pioneering-black-composer-roscoe-mitchell-keeps-pushing.html?_r=0

Week 1 picks 3Down fantasy http://3downnation.com/2017/06/22/cfl-fantasy-podcast-week-1-dfs-matchups/#comments 3Down http://3downnation.com/2017/06/22/week-one-cfl-picks-gets-revenge/#comments Justin Dunk http://3downnation.com/2017/06/22/dunk-against-the-lines-where-to-put-your-money-as-cfl-season-opens/#comments cfl.ca (also awards picks) https://www.cfl.ca/2017/06/21/prediction-time-writers-make-mop-grey-cup-week-1-picks/ ***** Josh Smith further ruminates on TSN's Top 50 Players list. http://3downnation.com/2017/06/21/ten-players-shouldnt-tsn-top-50-list/#comments ***** Chad Owens is out for six games. http://3downnation.com/2017/06/20/riders-put-chad-owens-on-injured-list/#comments http://www.tsn.ca/riders-wr-owens-on-six-game-injured-list-1.785112 ***** Netflix has a show called The Ranch. The actor Ashton Kutcher wears a Redblacks t-shirt in it. http://3downnation.com/2017/06/17/ashton-kutcher-sports-redblacks-t-shirt-netflix-series/#comments ***** 6/21 checking down https://www.cfl.ca/2017/06/21/checking-getting-ready-kickoff/ ***** podcasts https://www.cfl.ca/2017/06/20/cfl-earballs-season-long-cfl-podcast-everyone/

More previews... league https://www.cfl.ca/kickoff2017/ http://3downnation.com/2017/06/21/3downnations-fearless-predictions-2017-cfl-season/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/06/22/3down-podcast-picking-overunder-win-totals-every-cfl-team/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/06/22/breaking-bodogs-2017-regular-season-win-prop-bets/#comments https://www.cfl.ca/2017/06/21/steinberg-close-call-wild-wild-west/ https://www.cfl.ca/2017/06/21/landry-changes-personnel-lead-intrigue-east/ https://www.cfl.ca/thewaggle/ https://www.cfl.ca/2017/06/19/berg-vs-ferg-will-win-grey-cup/ https://www.cfl.ca/2017/06/19/cauz-why-your-team-will-in-2017/ Montreal http://3downnation.com/2017/06/22/biggest-questions-surrounding-alouettes-2017/#comments https://www.cfl.ca/2017/06/22/turn-page-durant-ready-usher-new-era-montreal/ Ottawa https://www.cfl.ca/2017/06/21/passing-torch-can-harris-continue-ottawas-success/ Hamilton https://www.cfl.ca/2017/06/21/oleary-can-collaros-retain-mop-status/ Toronto https://www.cfl.ca/2017/06/20/trestman-ready-captain-new-ship-toronto/ BC https://www.cfl.ca/2017/06/20/bc-lions-window-wide-open-long/ Edmonton https://www.cfl.ca/2017/06/21/reilly-eyes-passing-alberta-rivals-top-spot-west/ Sask https://www.cfl.ca/2017/06/21/return-trip-mixed-emotions-await-carter-montreal/ ***** Malcolm Kelly power rankings http://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/cfl/cfl-power-rankings-preseason-2017-1.4172282 ***** TSN ranks last year's top ten plays. http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/video/top-10-top-cfl-plays-from-2016~1150920

Happy Birthday 2017 paps!

Happy Birthday 2017 CJ!

league http://3downnation.com/2017/06/12/stamps-favourite-riders-long-shot-win-grey-cup/#comments Winnipeg http://3downnation.com/2017/06/12/bombers-release-11-players-including-experienced-cover-man/#comments Ottawa http://3downnation.com/2017/06/15/marcel-desjardins-approach-not-changing-despite-redblacks-grey-cup-victory/#comments BC http://3downnation.com/2017/06/17/lions-release-seven-two-canadian-among/#comments Sask http://3downnation.com/2017/06/17/riders-cut-quarterback-bryan-bennett/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/06/21/six-predictions-riders-2017/#comments Hamilton http://3downnation.com/2017/06/17/sergio-castillo-won-ticats-kicking-job/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/06/18/cuts-made-heres-ticats-might-look-like/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/06/20/ticats-look-converts-build-offensive-line/#comments Winnipeg http://3downnation.com/2017/06/18/breaking-bombers-final-cuts-teams-new-depth-chart/#comments Ottawa http://3downnation.com/2017/06/18/five-thoughts-state-redblacks/#comments ***** fantasy http://3downnation.com/2017/06/13/cfl-fantasy-preseason-week-1-weve-learned/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/06/21/cfl-fantasy-dont-sleep-weeks-sleepers/#comments ***** podcast http://3downnation.com/2017/06/13/podskee-wee-wee-episode-75/#comments ***** power rankings 3Down http://3downnation.com/2017/06/20/introducing-3downnation-power-rankings/#comments ***** Josh Smith second guesses TSN's list of the 50 best players. http://3downnation.com/2017/06/21/10-biggest-snubs-tsns-top-50-players-list/#comments

I am going to spend today and tomorrow looking for previews. league http://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/cfl/cfl-2017-season-preview-quarterbacks-1.4163134 http://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/cfl/cfl-offseason-player-movement-1.4163089 https://www.cfl.ca/2017/06/20/crystal-ball-nye-predicts-future-every-cfl-team/ Ottawa http://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/cfl/cfl-redblacks-defending-champions-1.4162993 http://www.sportsnet.ca/football/cfl/cfl-kickoff-preview-ottawa-redblacks/ http://www.tsn.ca/harris-ready-to-shoulder-offensive-load-for-redblacks-1.783273 Edmonton http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/edmonton-eskimos-2017-season-offence-defence-penalty-woes-1.4169591 http://www.tsn.ca/eskimos-enter-2017-with-high-flying-offence-suspect-defence-1.784200 Toronto http://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/cfl/cfl-offseason-player-movement-1.4163089 https://www.cfl.ca/2017/06/20/trestman-ready-captain-new-ship-toronto/ Calgary http://www.sportsnet.ca/football/cfl/stampeders-intend-close-door-grey-cup-disappointment/ http://www.sportsnet.ca/football/cfl/stampeders-among-three-western-teams-leading-2017-grey-cup-odds/ http://www.tsn.ca/stamps-the-favourites-to-lead-cfl-in-wins-1.784306 http://www.tsn.ca/last-year-s-disappointments-could-fuel-this-year-s-stampeders-1.783015 https://www.cfl.ca/2017/06/19/cold-winter-messam-stamps-done-consolation-prizes/ Winnipeg http://www.sportsnet.ca/football/cfl/bombers-enter-cfl-season-explosive-offence-uncertain-defence/ https://www.cfl.ca/2017/06/20/off-edge-westerman-looks-set-tone-ferocious-bombers-pass-rush/ Hamilton http://www.sportsnet.ca/football/cfl/cfl-kickoff-preview-hamilton-tiger-cats/ Montreal http://www.sportsnet.ca/football/cfl/cfl-kickoff-preview-montreal-allouettes/ BC http://www.tsn.ca/lions-happy-to-see-arakgi-go-out-on-his-own-terms-1.782009 http://www.tsn.ca/lions-looking-to-unseat-stampeders-in-2017-1.784217 https://www.cfl.ca/2017/06/20/bc-lions-window-wide-open-long/ Sask http://www.tsn.ca/young-experiment-failed-but-riders-still-expect-better-offence-1.783938 ***** TSN ranks the league's 50 best players. http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/video/2017-cfl-top-50-players~1150526 https://www.cfl.ca/2017/06/20/last-seasons-mop-headlines-tsns-top-50-players-2017/ ***** Week 1 picks Jamie Nye https://www.cfl.ca/2017/06/21/weekly-predictor-nye-makes-week-1-picks/ ***** power rankings cfl.ca https://www.cfl.ca/2017/06/20/stamps-headline-kickoff-edition-nissan-titan-power-rankings/ Scott Cullen http://www.tsn.ca/stampeders-open-on-top-of-cfl-power-rankings-1.784189 ***** ESPN's CFL schedule through August. You will recall that ESPN in the past has shown very few CFL games after Labor Day, but they carry TSN's feeds on ESPN3.com. https://www.cfl.ca/2017/06/20/cfl-espn-unveil-2017-u-s-broadcast-schedule/

Opening Day is Thursday! As I say every year at this time, the week before Opening Day is one of my favorite times of the year because of the many season and team previews. When I get a chance, I will post the recaps of the pre-season games. In the meantime, let's consider the roster moves from yesterday's cut-down day. Vince Young hurt his hamstring, and was lost for 4 to 6 weeks. So the Riders cut him. http://3downnation.com/2017/06/06/qb-vince-young-injured-riders-training-camp/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/06/12/vince-young-tears-hamstring-riders-chris-jones-confirms/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/06/14/3downnation-podcast-riders-cut-vince-young-yes/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/06/14/time-riders-move-vince-young/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/06/17/vince-young-headed-back-to-texas/#comments http://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/cfl/vince-young-riders-torn-hamstring-1.4157266 http://www.tsn.ca/roughriders-release-quarterback-young-1.782047 https://www.cfl.ca/2017/06/17/vince-youngs-time-riderville/ ***** Jason Arakgi has retired. http://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/cfl/bc-lions-arakgi-retires-1.4165900 https://www.cfl.ca/2017/06/17/arakgi-i-cant-thank-this-organization-enough/ ***** Josh Bourke has retired. http://www.tsn.ca/long-time-alouettes-offensive-lineman-bourke-retires-1.782311 ***** Jovan Johnson was cut by the Alouettes, and promptly signed by the Riders. http://www.tsn.ca/roughriders-sign-veteran-db-johnson-to-practice-roster-1.783120 https://www.cfl.ca/2017/06/19/riders-pick-veteran-db-jovon-johnson/ ***** The Argos cut Drew Willy. http://www.tsn.ca/argonauts-release-qb-willy-1.782235 http://3downnation.com/2017/06/17/argos-part-ways-quarterback-drew-willy/#comments https://www.cfl.ca/2017/06/17/argos-release-quarterback-drew-willy/ ***** Kenny Stafford was cut by the Bombers, and promptly signed by the Eskimos. http://3downnation.com/2017/06/17/kenny-staffords-release-means-bombers/#comments https://www.cfl.ca/2017/06/17/released-bombers-kenny-stafford-promptly-added-esks-pr/ ***** Calgary cut Mitchell Gale. http://3downnation.com/2017/06/17/stampeders-cut-former-riders-qb-mitchell-gale-and-others/#comments ***** Ottawa cut Shakir Bell. http://3downnation.com/2017/06/17/redblacks-release-running-back-shakir-bell/#comments ***** The Eskimos cut Kendial Lawrence. http://3downnation.com/2017/06/17/eskimos-running-back-return-man-kendial-lawrence-released-report/#comments ***** The Riders cut Anthony Allen. http://3downnation.com/2017/06/17/anthony-allen-slams-riders-release/#comments ***** The Ticats cut Dominique Ellis. http://3downnation.com/2017/06/17/ticats-veteran-db-dominique-ellis-among-cuts/#comments ***** Here are league-wide reports about cut-down day. http://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/cfl/cfl-final-cuts-vince-young-drew-willy-1.4166235 https://www.cfl.ca/2017/06/17/making-moves-tracking-final-cuts-around-cfl/#OTT http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/video/cfl-cut-down-day-claims-some-big-names~1141833 http://3downnation.com/2017/06/17/significant-cfl-cuts-far/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/06/17/official-cfl-cuts-tracker/#comments https://www.cfl.ca/2017/06/17/making-moves-tracking-final-cuts-around-cfl/ ***** Former Tampa Bay first round pick Josh Freeman worked out with the Als. It looked like they would sign him. Then the Redblacks put him on their neg list!!! http://3downnation.com/2017/06/13/alouettes-workout-former-nfl-quarterback-josh-freeman-report/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/06/15/former-first-round-nfl-pick-qb-josh-freeman-still-in-montreal/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/06/17/redblacks-stick-it-to-als-by-adding-qb-josh-freeman-to-negotiation-list/#comments ***** Jeffrey Orridge's last day on the job was the 15th. http://3downnation.com/2017/06/15/final-day-jeffrey-orridge-cfl-commissioner/#comments ***** Brett Maher has signed with Ottawa. http://3downnation.com/2017/06/09/former-ticats-kicker-brett-maher-signs-redblacks-sources/#comments ***** Jim Popp has a contract dispute with the Als. http://3downnation.com/2017/06/09/popp-alouettes-embroiled-contract-dispute-reports/#comments ***** Ronnie Pfeffer was cut by the Redblacks, and promptly signed with the Argos. http://3downnation.com/2017/06/11/canadian-kicker-ronnie-pfeffer-signs-argos-sources/#comments ***** The Ticats signed former Argo Logan Kilgore. http://3downnation.com/2017/06/12/ticats-sign-former-argo-logan-kilgore-shore-qb-depth/#comments ***** And here are the Opening Week rosters! https://www.cfl.ca/transactions/ ***** More next time!