GA Russell

The Stampeders have announced a new concept - The Stampede Bowl. The plan is for it to occur every year the day before the start of the Calgary Stampede. This year's opponent will be the Bombers. Apparently, the plan is for the game every year to be the Winnipeg at Calgary game. Halftime music this year will be provided by Bret Michaels, former lead singer of Poison. https://3downnation.com/2025/04/07/calgary-stampeders-unveil-stampede-bowl-details-bret-michaels-to-play-halftime/ ***** The Lions have also agreed to donate big bucks to amateur football. https://3downnation.com/2025/04/08/b-c-lions-donate-over-500000-to-amateur-football/ ***** Jon Ryan has been elected to the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame. https://3downnation.com/2025/04/08/jon-ryan-to-be-inducted-into-saskatchewan-sports-hall-of-fame/ ***** The Bombers made a profit of C$7 million last year. That's a lot. https://3downnation.com/2025/04/09/winnipeg-blue-bombers-post-7-million-operating-profit-for-2024/ ***** Sports Tourism Canada has announced that November's Grey Cup in Vancouver generated C$121.9 million economic impact. https://3downnation.com/2025/04/09/111th-grey-cup-generates-121-9-million-economic-impact-study/ https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/vancouver-earns-121-9-million-in-economic-impact-from-grey-cup-game-festival-1.2285910 https://www.cfl.ca/2025/04/09/111th-grey-cup-game-festival-generated-nearly-122-million-dollars-in-economic-impact/ ***** Trevor Harris played last year with a knee much more injured than the public knew. https://3downnation.com/2025/04/09/saskatchewan-roughriders-qb-trevor-harris-reveals-he-played-with-partially-torn-acl-in-2024/ ***** Draft analyses https://www.cfl.ca/2025/04/08/cfl-draft-stock-assessment-running-backs-and-linebackers/ ***** BC analysis https://www.cfl.ca/2025/04/08/5-things-to-know-for-2025-bc-lions/ ***** Argos analysis https://www.cfl.ca/2025/04/09/top-of-the-depth-chart-toronto-argonauts-3/ ***** Ticat news https://cflnewshub.com/cfl-news/hamilton-tiger-cats/its-knight-time-in-the-hammer-tiger-cats-sign-db-qwuantrezz-knight/ https://cflnewshub.com/cfl-news/hamilton-tiger-cats/new-blood-in-town-tiger-cats-sign-de-tramel-walthour/ https://cflnewshub.com/cfl-news/hamilton-tiger-cats/lb-chris-russell-jr-brings-texas-flair-to-the-tiger-cats/ *****

Recommended. Jerry Clower said, "I don't tell funny stories. I tell stories funny." The author fits that bill.

Thanks, Cootie! Great story!

Michael, thanks for pointing out the Bob Porter Soul Jazz book. I've been meaning to pick that one up.

Amazon has a number of jazz eBooks on sale today. Two that appeal to me are... The Miles Davis Lost Quintet and Other Revolutionary Ensembles - $2.99 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01AD6PXL6 and Composing for the Jazz Orchestra by Bill Russo - $3.99 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01EZ8OKQW

Top 3 linebackers https://www.cfl.ca/2025/04/07/mmqb-ranking-the-cfls-top-3-linebackers/ ***** Draft analyses https://www.cfl.ca/2025/04/07/cfl-draft-stock-assessment-defensive-line-and-offensive-line/ https://pifflespodcast.com/blog/ranking-the-cfls-last-11-1-overall-canadian-draft-picks/ ***** Sask news https://pifflespodcast.com/blog/riderville-roundup-april-6-2025/ ***** It has been so long since the Ticats have won the Grey Cup (1999), none of Alexander Ovechkin's 895 goals were scored when they were the reigning champs.

In Pittsburgh, the natives are restless. MLB: 'Sell the Team' Chants Echo Through Stadium During Team's Home Opener

The average salary is now $5 million. I wonder how that compares to the other leagues. MLB’s average salary tops $5 million for first time

The Riders and Bombers have donated big bucks to amateur football. https://3downnation.com/2025/04/03/roughrider-foundation-invests-1-8m-in-saskatchewan-amateur-football/ https://3downnation.com/2025/04/04/winnipeg-blue-bombers-contributed-930000-to-amateur-football-in-2024/ ***** Draft analyses https://3downnation.com/2025/04/04/2025-canadian-qb-class-could-be-the-best-in-history/ https://www.cfl.ca/2025/04/04/10-under-the-radar-cfl-draft-prospects/ https://www.cfl.ca/2025/04/04/5-cfl-draft-hidden-gems/ ***** *****

Thanks hopkins! George's solo there reminds me of Sonny Sharrock of that same period.

Bob Dyce's contract has been extended through next year. https://3downnation.com/2025/04/03/ottawa-redblacks-sign-bob-dyce-to-contract-extension-through-2026/ https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/ottawa-redblacks-extend-head-coach-bob-dyce-through-2026-1.2281557 https://www.cfl.ca/2025/04/03/redblacks-extend-head-coach-bob-dyce-through-2026/ ***** The oddsmakers currently have the Argos as the favorites to win the Grey Cup, with the Stampeders as the long shot. https://3downnation.com/2025/04/03/toronto-argonauts-still-favoured-to-win-2025-grey-cup-despite-free-agent-losses/ ***** More on Stewart Johnston. It looks like his primary task will be to boost the television revenue. https://3downnation.com/2025/04/03/tsn-personalities-past-and-present-praise-hiring-of-ex-boss-stewart-johnston-as-cfl-commissioner/ https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/former-toronto-argonauts-president-brian-cooper-feels-johnston-brings-a-lot-to-cfl-s-head-job-1.2281782 https://cflnewshub.com/cfl-news/stewart-johnston-appointed-15th-commissioner-of-the-canadian-football-league/ ***** Draft news https://www.cfl.ca/2025/04/03/cfl-reveals-2025-cfl-draft-and-global-draft-order/ https://www.cfl.ca/2025/04/03/where-9-of-the-cfls-top-canadians-were-drafted/ https://www.cfl.ca/2025/04/03/a-look-at-the-last-10-first-overall-cfl-draft-picks/

The league has announced that TSN president Stewart Johnston will be its next commissioner. https://www.cfl.ca/2025/04/02/stewart-johnston-appointed-15th-commissioner-of-the-canadian-football-league/ https://3downnation.com/2025/04/01/stewart-johnston-top-candidate-to-become-cfl-commissioner-reports/ https://3downnation.com/2025/04/02/official-cfl-appoints-stewart-johnston-leagues-15th-commissioner/ https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/dave-naylor-tsn-president-stewart-johnston-named-commissioner-of-the-cfl-1.2280948 ***** Josh Banks has retired. https://www.cfl.ca/2025/04/02/lions-defensive-lineman-josh-banks-announces-retirement/ https://3downnation.com/2025/04/02/dl-josh-banks-retires-after-four-seasons-with-b-c-lions/ *****

We're getting old, John! April 3 Dooley Wilson - 1886 Zez Confrey - 1895 Bubber Miley - 1903 Bill Finegan - 1917 Doris Day - 1922 Don Gibson - 1928 Jimmy McGriff - 1936 Scott LaFaro - 1936 Jeff Barry - 1938 Jan Berry - 1941 Billy Joe Royal - 1942 Herb Greene - 1942 Wayne Newton - 1942 Richard Manuel - 1943 Barry Pritchard - 1944 Tony Orlando - 1944 Eric Kloss - 1949 Richard Thompson - 1949 ***** Wally Moon - 1930 Doreen Tracy - 1943

RIP. I picked up this Groove Holmes album when it first came out. Is that Freeman on the cover?

Top 3 running backs https://www.cfl.ca/2025/03/31/mmqb-ranking-the-cfls-top-3-running-backs/ ***** Combine news https://pifflespodcast.com/blog/cfl-combine-chronicles-cjfl-rider-training-camp-conditioned-connor-klassen-for-cfl-draft/ ***** The Ticats have been adding a number of new linemen. https://cflnewshub.com/cfl-news/hamilton-tiger-cats/new-york-jets-to-hamilton-tiger-cats-add-dl-maalik-hall/ https://cflnewshub.com/cfl-news/hamilton-tiger-cats/more-bricks-in-the-wall-tiger-cats-sign-two-offensive-lineman/ https://cflnewshub.com/cfl-news/hamilton-tiger-cats/defensive-line-reinforcement-tiger-cats-welcome-tyshun-render-to-the-team/ ***** Mark Liegghio is playing pro soccer in the off-season. ***** *****

Cigar Page has a new deal similar to the last. 10 good cigars for $19.99 with free shipping. Add a lighter for $5.00. All ten appear to have Connecticut wrappers. https://www.cigarpage.com/prime-mellow-10-cigar-selection-ks-notthebee0331.html

I have seen many advertisements for an internet retailer called Brad's. Most of the ads promise athletic shoes for 80% off. However, when I go to the website, they will not let me enter and take a look at the merchandise until I first give them my personal information. I don't want to do that without seeing something first. Has anyone shopped at Brad's, or know someone who has? Do you recommend it? Thanks!

What should have been Disc Two of a 3-CD box. Disc Two

April 1 Alberta Hunter - 1895 Eddy Duchin - 1909 Harry Carney - 1910 Art Lund - 1915 Duke Jordan - 1922 Amos Milburn - 1927 Alan Blakley - 1942 John Barbata - 1945 Ronnie Lane - 1946 Jeff Porcaro - 1954 Susan Boyle - 1961 ***** Rusty Staub - 1944

Thanks, Dan!

Was there a problem with this tweet about Will Clark?

A man has been told he has inoperable cancer and is lying in bed in his home , knowing he is on his deathbed. He’s thinking about his life with his loving wife and family, when a breeze blows through his room carrying the wonderful smell of fresh chocolate chip cookies from the kitchen. A tear comes to his eye because his wife knows how much he loves chocolate chip cookies and he realizes she has baked them for him. He gathers his strength and decides to take one final trip down the stairs. He slowly goes down the stairs and when he gets to the kitchen, he sees a big plate of chocolate chip cookies on the counter. He has beautiful memories running through his mind, and with a shaky hand reaches for a cookie. His wife comes up behind him, hits his hand with a spatula, and says, “Leave those cookies alone, they’re for the funeral!”

Pulp fiction. Only a little better than average.

https://3downnation.com/2025/03/28/b-c-lions-exceed-cfl-salary-cap-by-almost-350000-lose-first-and-second-round-picks/ https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/bc-lions-fined-lose-draft-picks-for-exceeding-cfl-s-2024-salary-expenditure-cap-1.2278301 https://www.cfl.ca/2025/03/28/bc-toronto-saskatchewan-ottawa-exceed-2024-salary-expenditure-cap/ https://pifflespodcast.com/blog/issues-with-forfeited-draft-picks/ ***** Mike Benson has been elected the union's 3rd V-P. https://3downnation.com/2025/03/28/winnipeg-blue-bombers-ls-mike-benson-elected-as-cflpas-third-vice-president/ ***** Combine news https://www.cfl.ca/2025/03/28/player-comparisons-for-7-cfl-draft-prospects/ https://www.cfl.ca/2025/03/28/3-cfl-combine-prospects-for-every-team/