GA Russell

The Washington Post posted a half hour ago that the DEA thinks that NFL teams are illegally dispensing prescription drugs to the players, and raids were conducted today. http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/redskins/federal-drug-agents-launch-surprise-inspections-of-nfl-teams-following-games/2014/11/16/5545c84e-6da5-11e4-8808-afaa1e3a33ef_story.html

Dave Holland Monterey Quartet - Live at the 2007 Monterey Jazz Festival - $2.71 + 3.99 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001UE27WY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 (with Rubalcaba, Potter and Harland) ***** Chet Baker Prestige Quintet - Stairway to the Stars - $5.12 + 3.99 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000000ZF8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 ***** Chet Baker Prestige Quintet - On a Misty Night - $4.95 + 3.99 http://www.amazon.com/On-Misty-Night-Chet-Baker/dp/B000000ZF9/ref=pd_bxgy_m_text_z

cfl.ca Semi-Finals preview http://cfl.ca/article/2014-cflca-game-notes-a-look-at-the-semi-finals ***** Semi-Finals status report re injuries http://cfl.ca/article/status-report-whos-in-and-whos-out-for-sundays-semis ***** The Globe is saying that the Grey Cup tickets aren't moving well. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/football/lacklustre-cfl-season-makes-grey-cup-tickets-a-tough-sell/article21550310/ ***** Rachel Brady interviews Marc Cohon ahead of his last Grey Cup. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/football/as-mark-cohon-prepares-departure-question-mark-above-the-argos-lingers/article21603388/

Ticket sales for tomorrow's game in Montreal are not going well. The Als failed to sell out a single game this year. This article does not discuss the prices, which may be a factor. http://www.tsn.ca/alouettes-disappointed-at-ticket-sales-for-cfl-east-division-semifinal-1.135438 ***** The Riders have scratched Darian Durant for tomorrow's game. Maybe next week. http://www.tsn.ca/roughriders-qb-durant-not-on-46-man-roster-for-playoff-game-vs-eskimos-1.135932 ***** As you may know, there has been controversy in the Triangle throughout this calendar year because a tutor at UNC Chapel Hill (Darian Durant's alma mater) blew the whistle and reported that athletes are receiving college credit for courses which don't exist. The University has responded by calling her names, and publicly treating badly a player named Michael McAdoo. This week McAdoo sued the school for various reasons. And I learned this week that last year he played for the Bombers. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_McAdoo

Amazon UK has a number of OAS boxes for less than 10 pounds. The Pretenders - 9.02 http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0030HG3LK/ref=pe_208251_57797351_pe_epc__1p_4_ti Little Feat - 9.99 http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B003097B64/ref=pe_208251_57797351_pe_epc__1p_2_lm Linda Ronstadt - 9.58 http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B008M4HBEO/ref=pe_208251_57797351_pe_epc__1p_6_lm Emmylou Harris, vol. 2 - 9.99 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Original-Album-Series-Vol-2/dp/B00DDVPXTG/ref=pd_bxgy_m_h__text_z The Dooby Brothers, vol. 2 - 9.99 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Original-Album-Series-Vol-2/dp/B00DDVPXNW/ref=pd_sim_m_h__27?ie=UTF8&refRID=09J0ZKD199BC0QH93YH3 America - 9.99 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Original-Album-Series-America/dp/B007WOFXAO/ref=pd_bxgy_m_h__text_z Bread - 9.25 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Original-Album-Series-5-Pack/dp/B003097B5K/ref=pd_bxgy_m_h__text_y The Monkees - 9.04 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Original-Album-Series-The-Monkees/dp/B003097AAQ/ref=pd_sim_m_h__6?ie=UTF8&refRID=174T93S9EK6TR96XBHP7 Fleetwood Mac - 9.99 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Original-Album-Series-Fleetwood-Mac/dp/B008MMFBQ6/ref=pd_sim_m_h__7?ie=UTF8&refRID=1QVTPK4TW6WQZZKWTN5Z ELO - OAC - 9.00 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Original-Album-Classics-Electric-Orchestra/dp/B004097KHI/ref=pd_sim_m_h__18?ie=UTF8&refRID=0YK4B9984E95AS7TTZ8C ZZ Top - 9.00 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Original-Album-Series-5-Pack-Top/dp/B007WOFXB8/ref=pd_sim_m_h__15?ie=UTF8&refRID=1KNVEW32CH0T5R8KZC33 Yes - 9.99 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Original-Album-Series-5-Pack/dp/B0056JO1EQ/ref=pd_sim_m_h__36?ie=UTF8&refRID=0GH1F8T478XK8T01D7W2

cfl.ca Semi-Finals picks http://cfl.ca/article/semi-final-predictions-cflca-writers-make-their-picks ***** The Eastern Final is sold out. http://cfl.ca/article/tim-hortons-field-sold-out-for-eastern-final ***** BC will start Glenn, but Lulay will dress. http://www.tsn.ca/lions-qb-lulay-will-dress-as-glenn-s-backup-against-alouettes-1.135202

Here are all of this year's Most Outstanding Player nominees: PLAYER Solomon Elimimian (BC) Ricky Ray (TOR) DEFENSIVE Solomon Elimimian (BC) Bear Woods (MTL) CANADIAN Jon Cornish (CGY) Ted Laurent (HAM) OFFENSIVE LINEMAN Brett Jones (CGY) Jeff Perrett (MTL) SPECIAL TEAMS Lirim Hajrullahu (WPG) Swayze Waters (TOR) ROOKIE Dexter McCoil (EDM) Tristan Okpalaugo (TOR) In the past few years I've found it fairly easy to pick the winners, but not this year. I'll go with... Ricky Ray Solomon Elimimian Jon Cornish Brett Jones Swayze Waters Dexter McCoil It can definitely be argued that Elimimian had a better year than Ray, but for most of the year people thought that John Chick would be named the league's best defensive player. I don't think that the voters have been watching Elimimian throughout the year like they have Ray. Cornish had a crazy year. He was one of the best players in league history the games that he played, but he missed half the schedule with injuries. I think that the voters will name him Best Canadian as a consolation prize. Offensive Lineman is always a tough call. McCoil made some highlight videos throughout the year, so I think that he will get the nod. Swayze Waters was not only good with the field goals, but he was magical punting the ball out of bounds inside the ten-yard line. For me, he and Elimimian (for Best Defensive Player) are the easiest picks.

Happy Birthday 2014 Eric!

Cal Tjader - Mambo Sangria - $3.99 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0006B655C/ref=ox_ya_os_product_refresh_T1 This is two Skye albums on one CD - Solar Heat and Plugs In. Highly recommended for the few Tjader fans who don't already have them.

I tell you what. If I were NESN, I would fire that announcer who takes away the joy of the play of the year, and says that it was all the goalie's fault.

That's news to me! I thought that my wishlist was long, but now I see that it is "only" 1,266 items.

It is very rare that I ever see something in the News & Observer about the Canadian league that I hadn't seen earlier on the internet. So imagine my surprise this morning when I learned that... In another indication that Reilly might not be ready to play Sunday, the Eskimos yesterday signed Justin Goltz. http://www.edmontonsun.com/2014/11/12/eskimos-beef-up-qb-position-by-signing-former-blue-bomber-justin-goltz ***** The Western Semi-Final will be on ESPN2 live Sunday at 4:30 pm eastern. http://cfl.ca/page/2014-us-broadcast-schedule ***** The league today announced the finalists for the CFL Awards. For the first time ever, a defensive player (Solomon Elimimian) has been selected his division's Most Outstanding Player. http://cfl.ca/article/2014-awards-finalists http://www.tsn.ca/ray-elimimian-finalists-for-cfl-outstanding-player-honour-1.134003 I'll get back later with my picks. ***** The Riders announced today that Darian Durant isn't ready, and that Kerry Joseph will start Sunday. http://cfl.ca/article/riders-announce-that-joseph-will-start-wsf-vs-esks http://www.tsn.ca/roughriders-qb-joseph-will-get-the-start-against-eskimos-in-western-semifinal-1.134275

Semi-Finals picks... Chris Schultz http://www.tsn.ca/risky-business-division-semifinal-predictions-in-the-cfl-1.132560 Gregg Xenakes http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=cfl/news/news.aspx?id=4737208 Dan Ralph http://www.thestar.com/sports/football/2014/11/12/cfl_picks_playoffs_qb_questions_saddle_riders_eskimos.html

Here are the final 2014 season standings. http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/standings ***** ...the final 2014 team stats http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/team-stats ***** ... the final 2014 player stats http://cfl.ca/statistics/list/year/2014 ***** The Redblacks have let go their offensive coordinator Mike Gibson. http://www.tsn.ca/redblacks-fire-offensive-coordinator-gibson-after-one-season-1.133454 http://cfl.ca/article/redblacks-relieve-mike-gibson-of-his-coaching-duties ***** Various articles about... the Eastern Semi-Final http://cfl.ca/article/2014esf the Western Semi-Final http://cfl.ca/article/2014wsf ***** The league today announced the Eastern and Western All-Stars. http://cfl.ca/article/shooting-stars-divisional-all-stars-announced http://www.tsn.ca/carter-among-11-alouettes-named-to-east-all-star-squad-1.133348 ***** Edmonton announced today that Matt Nichols will start Sunday, but Mike Reilly will practice this week and be available to play. I'm skeptical that Reilly will be ready if they are going to start Nichols. http://cfl.ca/article/esks-announce-nichols-to-start-reilly-available http://www.tsn.ca/eskimos-to-start-qb-nichols-against-roughriders-reilly-available-to-play-1.133243

Congratulations ornette!

So as we now head into the playoffs, there's a lot of news. First, we'll start with last weekend's games. Usually the last weekend of the season is a waste of time, with teams mostly trying to avoid injuries. But this year, every game was relevant to the final standings. Toronto 23....Ottawa 5 http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=cfl/news/news.aspx?id=4736335 The Argos needed to win, or they were out. With Ricky Ray out, Trevor Harris started his first game as a pro, and he did fine. ***** Calgary 33....BC 16 http://cfl.ca/article/stamped-season-stamps-head-into-playoffs-with-momentum Drew Tate started for the Stamps, but Bo Levi Mitchell replaced him in the second quarter. Both looked good, so I don't know why Tate was removed. This was only Tate's 12th start in an 8-year career! Since Mitchell is young and apparently the Stamps' man of the future, I have to think that Tate will be playing somewhere else next year. I think that if the Lions had won, they would have clinched third place. ***** Hamilton 29....Montreal 15 http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=cfl/news/news.aspx?id=4736530 The Ticats were in an extraordinary position. If they won by more than seven, they would clinch first. If they won by less than eight, the Als would clinch first, and the Ticats would finish second. If the Ticats lost, they would finish third behind the Argos, and out of the playoffs. This was the Ticats' sixth consecutive home win. (They have never lost at Tim Horton Field.) That is their best home winning streak since 1966. The last time the Ticats finished first was 1998! ***** Saskatchewan 24....Edmonton 17 http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=cfl/news/news.aspx?id=4736595 With the win, the Riders clinched third place, and will visit Edmonton next week. The Lions will therefore finish fourth, and cross over to the East to play the Als. No cross-over team has won yet. This was an odd game. The Riders, by design, didn't play most of their starters in the second half. The Eskimos nearly pulled it out in the fourth quarter, after trailing 24-7 after three. Mike Reilly was out, and Matt Nichols got his first pro start. You may recall that in training camp last year, Nichols won the starting job, and then was injured in the last pre-season game and was out for the year. Reilly did so well last year that Nichols never had a chance this year. Maybe Nichols will be another one to move on this off-season. I don't know. This was the Riders' first win since Darian Durant got hurt. ***** cfl.ca Week 20 review http://cfl.ca/article/cfl-replay-a-look-back-at-week-20 ***** Week 20 Top Ten Plays of the Week http://cfl.ca/video/index/id/105993 ***** cfl.ca power rankings http://cfl.ca/article/pintys-power-rankings-ticats-claw-right-back ***** Malcolm Kelly power rankings http://www.cbc.ca/sports-content/football/opinion/2014/11/cfl-power-rankings-week-20.html

The Kinks - Muswell Hillbillies - $13.98 http://www.amazon.com/Muswell-Hillbillies-Legacy-Edition-Kinks/dp/B00NF4PNXM/ref=pd_sim_m_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=02K874V76PRENA4ETA2E CD - original album plus nine bonus tracks DVD - twelve previously-unreleased-in-the-US live performances

Spotify's CEO says today that if Taylor Swift (and of course her label, distributed by Universal) won't let her music be on Spotify, the kids will just go to the pirate sites to get it. http://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/spotify-ceo-to-taylor-swift-the-pirates-are-going-to-get-you/ar-AA7DCyz?ocid=ansWrap11

Bruins rookie Seth Griffith scores a goal! (not really looking/facing the wrong way/between his legs) http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/bruins-seth-griffith-scores-between-the-legs-goal-1.2830761

Happy Birthday! Hope you enjoy a good beer!

And now Jason Aldean has pulled his new album (which hit #1 on the country chart) from Spotify. http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2014/11/10/jason-aldean-follows-taylor-swift-pulls-new-album-off-spotify/?intcmp=obmod_ffo&intcmp=obnetwork

Happy belated Birthday 2014 Conn!

Happy Birthday, Jeff!

Craig, that's exactly what I was going to say! Thanks Billy!

Michael, I've never bought anything from Crutchfield before, but for some reason I got on their mailing list many years ago. As I recall, don't/didn't they also sell car radios? Anyway, if Amazon doesn't get the platter, since you recommend them I'll go with Crutchfield.