GA Russell

Western Final: Edmonton Eskimos 45....Calgary Stampeders 31 (final score)

After three quarters, Edmonton is clobbering Calgary 31-15.

Eastern Final: Ottawa Redblacks 35....Hamilton Tiger-Cats 28 (final score)

Happy Birthday 2015 Don!

John Hodge picks the two home teams. http://3downnation.com/2015/11/22/east-and-west-final-picks/#comments ***** The Eastern Final has been a see-saw battle so far, with Ottawa leading 25-20 with 10:50 to go in the fourth.

Finals picks... Dan Ralph http://www.thespec.com/sports-story/6128693-cfl-picks-division-finals/ Justin Dunk http://www.sportsnet.ca/football/cfl/cfl-playoff-picks-depleted-stamps-can-shock-esks/ ***** I had the pleasure of meeting Warren Moon at the 1978 and 1979 Grey Cups. Here he discusses the '78 game and the Eskimos' chances this year. http://cfl.ca/article/qa-warren-moon-talks-esks-qbs-hank-and-more ***** Finals preview http://cfl.ca/article/cflca-game-notes-a-look-at-the-division-finals ***** Finals rosters updates http://cfl.ca/article/status-report-whos-in-out-for-sundays-division-finals

It says here that nobody watches TV shows when they air anymore, except ballgames and awards shows. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/fox-abandons-same-day-ratings-842498 http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-11-20/fox-to-stop-issuing-live-ratings-for-most-shows-on-its-network

Bon voyage Dan! Your new home looks lovely.

The seven contributors to the league's website makes their picks for the finals. I'm shocked that none picked the Stampeders. http://cfl.ca/article/prediction-time-cflca-writers-make-finals-picks ***** Mark Fulton analyzes Hank's past performance in the playoffs. http://3downnation.com/2015/11/20/post-season-burris-good-henry-vs-bad-hank-by-the-numbers/#comments ***** Tony Champion has joined the Ticats' staff to help out. http://3downnation.com/2015/11/13/milton-champion-the-hero-of-the-past-can-help-with-present/#comments ***** Here are more articles about the CFL Awards nominations. http://3downnation.com/2015/11/12/ticats-lawrence-banks-win-east-division-awards-an-update-on-the-qb-situation/#comments http://3downnation.com/2015/11/12/burris-mitchell-lead-cfl-player-award-nominees/#comments http://3downnation.com/2015/11/12/mitchell-paredes-set-to-represent-stampeders-at-cfl-awards-in-winnipeg/#comments http://3downnation.com/2015/11/13/red-black-are-the-colours-of-cfl-awards-season/#comments

The CFL Awards will be distributed Thursday. The league announced the finalists last Thursday. http://cfl.ca/article/mitchell-and-burris-headline-shaw-cfl-awards Most Outstanding Player - Henry Burris (OTT), Bo Levi Mitchell (CGY) Most Outstanding Defensive Player - Simoni Lawrence (HAM), Adam Bighill (BC) Most Outstanding Canadian - Brad Sinopoli (OTT), Jamaal Westerman (WPG) Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman - SirVincent Rogers (OTT), Jovan Olafioye (BC) Most Outstanding Special Teams Player - Brandon Banks (HAM), Rene Paredes (CGY) Most Outstanding Rookie - Vidal Hazelton (TOR), Derel Walker (EDM) My predictions: Burris Lawrence Sinopoli Rogers Paredes Walker

More on Andrew Harris http://3downnation.com/2015/11/16/andrew-harris-sounds-like-a-man-on-his-way-out/#comments ***** Mark Fulton last Friday analyzed the penalties called throughout the season. http://3downnation.com/2015/11/13/flag-on-the-play-cfl-penalties-by-the-numbers/#comments ***** Drew Edwards discusses the Ticats set for free agency. http://3downnation.com/2015/11/17/key-ticat-contributors-on-track-to-hit-free-agency/#comments ***** And here Edwards lists all of the players headed for free agency. http://3downnation.com/2015/11/19/an-unofficial-team-by-team-list-of-potential-cfl-free-agents/#comments ***** John Hodge picks this week's two home teams. http://3downnation.com/2015/11/19/east-and-west-final-picks/#comments ***** Santino Filoso interviews Russ Jackson, whom I had the pleasure of meeting in 1978. http://3downnation.com/2015/11/19/looking-back-with-russ-jackson/#comments ***** John Hodge believes the players' contracts should be made public. http://3downnation.com/2015/11/19/cfl-must-publicize-player-contracts/#comments ***** Curtis Rush recalls the Argos' 10 best moments of 2015. http://3downnation.com/2015/11/19/my-10-best-argonaut-moments-of-2015/#comments ***** The league this morning announced the nominees for the Jake Gaudaur Award. http://cfl.ca/article/team-nominees-for-jake-gaudaur-veterans-award http://www.tsn.ca/bombers-lb-westerman-leads-nominees-for-gaudaur-veteran-s-award-1.396072 ***** Gary Lawless today gave his own look at the upcoming free agents. http://www.tsn.ca/a-look-at-the-top-2016-cfl-free-agents-1.396314

Happy Birthday Bill!

More on the Fluties. http://3downnation.com/2015/11/18/fluties-lose-mother-and-father-on-the-same-day/#comments ***** 11/18 Checking Down http://cfl.ca/article/checking-down-norwood-could-have-torn-acl ***** The league lists the 20 players most likely to determine the outcomes of the two Finals games Sunday. http://cfl.ca/article/into-the-spotlight-20-players-to-watch-in-the-finals ***** Again this week, the league is collecting articles about the Finals games. Eastern Final http://cfl.ca/article/2015ef Western Final http://cfl.ca/article/2015wf ***** It looks like Austin will start Masoli again this week. It also looks like Eric Norwood has a torn ACL. http://www.tsn.ca/masoli-to-start-eastern-final-for-ticats-1.394201 http://www.tsn.ca/report-ticats-norwood-out-with-torn-acl-1.395148 http://www.tsn.ca/ticats-de-norwood-unlikely-to-play-in-east-final-1.395812 ***** Seattle released Chris Williams yesterday. http://www.tsn.ca/seahawks-release-ex-cfl-wr-matthews-1.395379 ***** Andrew Harris will be a free agent, and he made a comment the other day that he may be looking elsewhere. http://www.tsn.ca/futures-of-harris-lulay-the-biggest-off-season-questions-for-lions-1.394996 http://www.tsn.ca/lions-gm-buono-harris-comments-will-have-negative-effect-1.396068 ***** Darrell Davis says that the Riders have 31(!) guys headed to free agency. Of course, I suppose the cynic would say that they should all be welcome to leave. http://3downnation.com/2015/11/18/lots-of-work-remaining-for-woeful-riders-who-have-35-potential-free-agents/#comments ***** Mark Fulton has fun with stats regarding past Finals. http://3downnation.com/2015/11/18/cfl-divisional-playoffs-history-by-the-numbers/#comments

Doug and Darren Flutie's parents died this morning, within an hour of each other, both of heart attacks. http://www.tsn.ca/parents-of-ex-qb-flutie-die-of-heart-attacks-within-an-hour-1.395956

Here's the New York Times obit. And speaking of the devil, it mentions that his sister gave him the nickname Flip. But it fails to mention The Fantastic Baggys. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/18/arts/music/p-f-sloan-60s-songwriter-dies-at-70.html?_r=0

The posting on this thread sure has slowed down, hasn't it? Maybe some good deals will be had before Christmas. Here are the current prices of some OAS's and OAC's. Each is less than $12.00 + $3.99 shipping. Joe Farrell - $11.96 http://www.amazon.com/Original-Album-Classics-JOE-FARRELL/dp/B00RVD8DBM Keith Jarrett - $11.67 http://www.amazon.com/Original-Album-Series-KEITH-JARRETT/dp/B00SIESH1Y Robert Palmer - $11.67 http://www.amazon.com/Original-Album-Series-ROBERT-PALMER/dp/B011Q9HIOE Django Reinhardt - $10.33 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KNSLI6Y/ Charles Aznavour - $11.69 http://www.amazon.com/Original-Album-Series-CHARLES-AZNAVOUR/dp/B00KN15OQQ

Paul, I remember Skip and Flip, but we're not talking about them! Phil was also called Flip, short for Philip. It is my impression that at that time nobody he worked with called him "PF." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0GQAWlr3_0

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51xgcBkv1pL.jpg

PF Sloan, aka Phil or Flip, died yesterday of pancreatic cancer. RIP. He and Steve Barri wrote many hits of the '60s, my favorite being Secret Agent Man. They were also known as The Fantastic Baggys. https://www.bing.com/search?q=P.F.+Sloan&filters=tnTID%3a%22C8E19099-19A0-4615-8624-39D716449C9C%22+tnVersion%3a%221162721%22+segment%3a%22popularnow.carousel%22+tnCol%3a%228%22+tnOrder%3a%22228379cf-1a67-426b-ba4f-cfd484e69bd4%22&FORM=BSPN01&crslsl=0

John Hodge Semi-Finals picks http://3downnation.com/2015/11/15/semi-final-cfl-picks/#comments ***** Eastern Semi-Final Hamilton 25....Toronto 22 http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/game/toronto-argonauts-hamilton-tiger-cats-20151115/Stats http://cfl.ca/article/masoli-rallies-ticats-to-last-second-win-over-argos http://cfl.ca/video/index/id/119865 http://www.tsn.ca/ticats-get-past-argos-in-eastern-semi-1.394130 http://3downnation.com/2015/11/15/ticats-advance-to-east-final-on-medlocks-last-second-game-winner/#comments http://3downnation.com/2015/11/15/milton-justin-medlock-delivers-a-kick-for-the-ages/#comments http://3downnation.com/2015/11/15/arthur-argonauts-hit-end-of-long-lonely-road/#comments http://3downnation.com/2015/11/16/medlock-kicks-ticats-back-into-east-final/#comments Justin Medlock kicked a 47-yard field goal on the last play of the game to win it. The Argos led 18-6 with three minutes left in the third quarter. Swayze Waters missed two field goals which I think he would have made before his injury. ***** Western Semi-Final Calgary 35....BC 9 http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/game/bc-lions-calgary-stampeders-20151115/Stats http://cfl.ca/article/off-to-the-races-stamps-handle-lions-in-western-semi http://www.tsn.ca/stampeders-top-lions-in-western-semifinal-1.394286 http://3downnation.com/2015/11/15/west-semifinal-win-could-be-costly-to-stamps-as-they-knock-out-b-c/#comments The Stampeders' offense started a little slow, but Calgary controlled the game from the end of the first quarter on. ***** I forgot to post the Week 20 Plays of the Week http://cfl.ca/video/index/id/119499 I urge you to watch this, because the #1 play was Rico Murray scoring a touchdown on an onside punt. ***** Semi-Finals Plays of the Week http://cfl.ca/video/index/id/119939

Thanks for the tip, Mike! I see that that box is much less expensive on amazon.uk than on amazon.com Have you found the cheapest price on the net?

This reminds me of SMERSH or SPECTRE. In regard to ISIS, they control territory. The failure of everyone to recognize them as a legitimate government should not make Hollande's statement erroneous, I think. PS - I read somewhere that military experts believe that a war is not over until one side agrees to stop fighting.

Scott, does anyone else share your view?

The league's website has two good collections of articles regarding the semi-final games. East http://cfl.ca/article/2015esf West http://cfl.ca/article/2015wsf ***** The league has picked 30 players to keep an eye on in the playoffs. I take it that if some of these people have a bad game, their teams are going to lose. http://cfl.ca/article/into-the-spotlight-30-players-to-watch-in-the-playoffs ***** Jamie Nye Semi-Finals picks http://cfl.ca/article/weekly-predictor-whos-playoff-journey-continues ***** The league has a new format for the Coach of the Year Award - each division has one nominee. This year it will be Ottawa's Rick Campbell against Edmonton's Chris Jones. I'm very confident that Campbell will win. But I'm sorry that Toronto's Scott Milanovich is not in the running. I would have voted for him because the Argos had a good year despite playing only 5 games at home, 12 on the road and 1 game at a neutral site. http://cfl.ca/article/jones-campbell-named-finalists-for-agf-coach-of-the-year ***** Here Santino Filoso reviews his pre-season predictions. http://3downnation.com/2015/11/12/reviewing-training-camp-predictions/#comments ***** Let me say now that the Ticats have had a great year, but I can't see them beating the Argos with their 3rd and 4th string quarterbacks. http://3downnation.com/2015/11/14/the-day-before-ticats-v-argos-news-notes-and-a-preview-vid/#comments http://3downnation.com/2015/11/13/the-matchups-the-argonauts-vs-the-tiger-cats/#comments http://3downnation.com/2015/11/13/ready-or-not-its-the-playoffs-and-masoli/#comments In the Western game, I can see the Stampeders winning the Grey Cup, but it looks like they won't have Jon Cornish tomorrow. However, Jerome Messam ought to be enough to beat the Lions. http://3downnation.com/2015/11/14/stampeders-primed-to-start-title-defence/#comments

CNN reported earlier that the French President declared it to be an act of war. I guess we'll know soon what response, if any, will be made.