GA Russell

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/

The Ontario universities have released their schedules. https://3downnation.com/2025/03/26/ontario-university-athletics-unveils-2025-football-schedule/ ***** Stampeders draft analysis https://3downnation.com/2025/03/26/calgary-stampeders-to-avoid-futures-picks-in-2025-cfl-draft/ ***** After two years, Als president Mark Weightman has resigned. He will not be replaced. https://3downnation.com/2025/03/26/montreal-alouettes-president-mark-weightman-stepping-down/ https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/mark-weightman-steps-down-as-president-and-ceo-of-montreal-alouettes-1.2277276 https://www.cfl.ca/2025/03/26/mark-weightman-steps-down-as-als-president-and-ceo/ https://3downnation.com/2025/03/27/danny-maciocia-has-no-answers-on-changing-mandate-to-make-montreal-alouettes-profitable/ ***** 2025 salary cap analysis https://3downnation.com/2025/03/27/cfl-salary-cap-increase-not-set-in-stone-cflpa-still-working-through-revenue-share-allocation/ ***** *****

I hope he is in good health. I remember when Fred Gwynn and Al Jarreau announced their retirements, they both died a week later.

You may recall that after the season, the union gave each team a report card, and the Stampeders players complained about the food. Today the Stamps announced their plan to improve things. https://3downnation.com/2025/03/25/calgary-stampeders-partner-with-flames-to-upgrade-food-service-after-player-complaints/ ***** Yesterday the union officially objected to Ed Hervey's comment of last week that there are no superstars in the league. I enjoyed a friendly back-and-forth with Rick Zamperin on Twitter/X about it. https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/cflpa-sends-letter-to-league-edmonton-elks-regarding-comments-from-elks-gm-ed-hervey-1.2276359 ***** Combine news https://www.cfl.ca/2025/03/25/10-cfl-prospects-who-stood-out-at-the-cfl-combine/ https://www.cfl.ca/2025/03/25/3-players-that-translated-cfl-combine-results-to-the-field/ ***** Sask draft analysis https://pifflespodcast.com/blog/combine-szn-canadian-draft-needs-for-roughriders-defense/

My first thought is that the stones would be unhygenic. Maybe they soak them in alcohol first to disinfect them. Maybe the liquor would kill the germs too. I get the idea, but I'm not aware of any trend to use pebbles instead of ice. Why not?