GA Russell

RCA issued a cd and double LP ca. '87 called Short Stops which is a favorite of mine. I think that it is long out of print.

I like some of his radio shows, such as Pat Novak for Hire. They were all hard-boiled. The Dragnet radio shows were terrific too!

Happy Birthday Paul!

The liner notes of the If album I got yesterday for my birthday (Europe '72) say that Futterman was If's manager, and that the name of the band was his idea.

Happy Birthday ISBY!

Happy Birthday Porcy!

Happy Birthday GS!

I read a few years ago in our Raleigh paper's celebrity birthday list that Reginald Veal (bass) was born Nov. 5, I think 1961, but I can't find any reference to it on the internet.

Calgary Stampeders 35....Winnipeg Blue Bombers 32 http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/football/stamps-send-bombers-packing/article1788423/ Entertaining meaningless game. Both Joey Elliott and Drew Tate played well enough to expect them to be invited to somebody's training camp next year. Justin Palardy went 6 for 6 in FGs. The Bombers extended their league record to losing nine games by four points or less. To play nine four-point games will probably not happen again in our lifetimes, and to lose all nine of them is truly a mark for the ages! ***** Tomorrow's two games: BC plays in Hamilton first. If BC loses, they are out of the playoffs. Then Edmonton plays in Regina. If BC wins, Edmonton must win or they will be out of the playoffs.

Many thanks again this year, my friends! History was made this year. For the first time, I celebrated my birthday in Daylight Savings Time! I got a nice haul of music - four CDs! One of my favorite bands when I was in college was Dick Morrisey's jazz-rock group called If. They put out four albums in four years and called it a day. In 1997 a German label called Repertoire issued a CD of concert tapes called Europe '72. It doesn't break any new ground, but it's great to hear, as this is my first If album since getting their fourth in 1973. For the past twenty years I have wanted a copy of Henry Mancini's soundtrack of the movie Charade. I'm not sure that a CD has ever been released in the US. This appears to be German. The music is coupled with a second album, Mancini's soundtrack of the movie Experiment in Terror, which I understand to be good. I also received two promos that I am looking forward to hearing: The first is Paquito D'Rivera's Panamericana. The second is The Either Orchestra's Mood Music for Time Travellers. Now for some cake!

Allan Maki Week 19 picks http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/football/cfl-picks/article1786423/

RIP. I had his bubble gum card in 1960, when he was known as George Anderson, outfielder for the Phillies. Not only did he enjoy success as a manager, but he was more well-spoken than most managers are. He was good for a quote.

Matt Flowers East report http://64.246.64.33/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=cfl/news/news.aspx?id=4353376

Matt Flowers West report http://64.246.64.33/...aspx?id=4353165 ***** Gregg Xenakes Week 19 picks http://64.246.64.33/...aspx?id=4353143 ***** TSN polled all of the players, over half (218) of whom responded, regarding Who is the most...respected, under-rated, dirty, biggest trash talker, etc. Their vote for Outstanding Player goes to Anthony Calvillo. http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=339603

Each team's nominees for the CFL Awards were announced today. http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=339742

The news reports of Charlie O'Donnell's passing talk about his many years as the announcer of Wheel of Fortune. This is news to me, as I had not recognized his voice from my youth. I remember him as Dick Clark's sidekick on American Bandstand. Clark would host the music, and then pass off to "Charlie" the commercials, such as for Dentyne. I thought it odd that the guy who did the commercials would be treated by Clark like he was a somebody, but he was a part of the show nonetheless. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_O%27Donnell

I didn't know that. It's great to hear that about someone!

The reporter at the end of the interview behaved as if he was hearing in his earphone that they were out of time for more. Yet the anchor behaved as if there was all the time in the world. Isn't there a director of the newscast who should make that decision?

I forgot to mention that late in the game the Stamps put Jesse Lumsden in, and he scored a touchdown.

Jack, I didn't know you played!

Before it's too late, go see Rifftides, dated 10/23, for a number of quotes on trombone players. Free should enjoy this! http://www.artsjournal.com/rifftides/

Dave Brubeck's Take Five b/w Blue Rondo a la Turk was a two-sided hit 45, so I don't know if that would qualify as a one hit wonder.

I find it hard to be interested in late-season games in which one of the teams has its final place in the standings already determined. You never know just how hard they are playing. Unfortunately, all four games this weekend had one team like that - Montreal, Calgary, Saskatchewan and Winnipeg. Montreal Alouettes 37....Toronto Argonauts 30 http://scoreboards.canoe.ca/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=canoe&page=cfl/scores/final/recap.aspx?id=896 The Als scored TDs on their first two possessions, and it looked like it would be a blowout. But the Argos fought back, and led 30-20 after three. Montreal came back to tie it at 30, and on the last play of the game, Damon Duval attempted a 36 yard FG to win it. He missed, and the Argos kicked it out of the end zone. The Als kicked it back in. The Argos couldn't get a handle on the ball, and the Als fell on it to win the game. ***** Calgary Stampeders 55....Hamilton Tiger-Cats 24 http://scoreboards.canoe.ca/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=canoe&page=cfl/scores/final/recap.aspx?id=897 The game was never in doubt. ***** Edmonton Eskimos 16....Winnipeg Blue Bombers 13 http://scoreboards.canoe.ca/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=canoe&page=cfl/scores/final/recap.aspx?id=898 This was an interesting game because it featured Jared Zabransky (who has played little) going against Joey Elliott (who first played last week). The score was tied at 10 at the end of regulation. The Bombers set the league record by losing their eighth game of the season by four points or less. This is the Eskimos' first three-game winning streak since 2005. ***** British Columbia Lions 23....Saskatchewan Roughriders 17 http://scoreboards.canoe.ca/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=canoe&page=cfl/scores/final/recap.aspx?id=899 A loss would have eliminated BC from the playoffs. As it is, they need to win next week and Edmonton needs to lose for the Lions to get in. This was the Riders' fourth straight loss. Travis Lulay is looking better and better each week.

This will be the last time I post saying that I heard Jimmy Smith Goes to Washington on Sirius. I heard it today about 1:40 pm. Honest to Goodness, I haven't heard a song so often on Sirius ever! Second place would be Blossom from Sonny Rollins' last album.

Stan Getz - Desafinado and The Girl from Ipanema. Ramsey Lewis - The In Crowd, A Hard Day's Night and Wade in the Water. Young-Holt Trio/Unlimited - Wack, Wack and Soulful Strut. I won't count Al Hirt's 1964 hits. I shouldn't count Soulful Strut! Cannonball Adderley - Mercy, Mercy, Mercy and Why (Am I Treated so Bad?)