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I had a couple of things happen this week that show how great the fans of the CFL are and how special it is for all of us to be part of this league. First and foremost it was great to see how quickly the ALS challenge has and will continue to help bring awareness and donations to help fight the disease. The players and people of the league are always eager to help whenever possible. I have a few interesting stories about interactions with fans and although it is a little weird for me to be recognized at times it is usually a nice thing meeting the many fans of this league. I was at a restaurant by the airport in Toronto after the Argo game Sunday night having a late dinner before I checked into the Airport hotel. I was at the bar and a young guy came over and said he was from Winnipeg and he wanted to say hi. He was a season ticket holder for the Bombers and was very complimentary and said that he was disappointed in what had happened to me when I was released. I told him I appreciated the kind words and I have been doing fine since that day. As he and his friend were leaving they said goodbye and asked about the new regime for the Bombers. I said he should be excited in the guys who are running the team now, I would call them all friends of mine and I have great respect for them. He was excited about continuing to see the season unfold. A while later I went to pay my bill and the bartender told me the two guys who left had picked up my entire bill! When they asked to buy me a beer, I said I was fine and I appreciated the offer but they didnt listen and paid for the whole thing! It didnt need to be done, but the gesture was and is appreciated. I still live in the City of Winnipeg and the people are very positive and great to interact with then and now. I remember after my first year in 2010 we had a CFL-record nine losses by four points or less. I was outside the house the day after the season and an elderly gentleman walked by and said, "you the Bomber Coach?" I said "yes" and he said "tough season" to me and I replied "yes, I was expecting a lot more." He didnt miss a beat as he kept walking by and said "SO WAS I". The same day I picked my daughter up from day care and a father with his kids said "nice season coach" positively and I said "you and I got different ideas of what good is". He stopped me and said "it will take time and you will get it turned around I believe". Both are examples of great CFL fans. I received a note and a Bomber jersey with my name on it and green numbers with 82 on it this year. This baffled me until I read the note. It was from a woman from Quebec who told me in the note that she was a big football fan and had her ninth (yes, ninth) child at the start of the 2011 season. She would PVR the games and watch them during the long nights with the baby. The Bombers became her favourite team and I (along with Marc Trestman) became one of her favourite coaches. She had a great time during those sleepless nights with the baby watching the Bombers season, winning first place and advancing to the Grey Cup. In 2012, she actually went out of her way and contacted Plymouth State College - my alma mater - and asked them to find my number in their archives. She actually got herself a Bomber jersey before the season and added green numbers (which were my college colours) to the Bomber jersey with my name on it. She said she was sorry to see that I had been released and had some kind words of encouragement as well as the jersey she had made up. These type of letters and E-mails and correspondence with people are amazing and mean a lot to all the players and coaches in the league. This letter and gesture meant a lot to me and shows how connected the fans are to the game we all love. My last story happened this past Tuesday night. I was helping with the ALS challenge at a friends house and I met an individual who is a big Bomber and CFL fan. But instead of talking about the season or about TSN, he wanted to tell me about when Matt Dunigan came to a fundraising breakfast when he played in Winnipeg years ago. He went on and on about the function and how great it was that Matt came and how well Matt did at the breakfast. Its safe to say that Matt only met this person once and it was years ago but he remembers it still and Matt made such a great impression on him for helping with the cause. A Hall of Fame QB who had the time for a charity breakfast to help out - that is what makes the CFL a great league, how approachable all the players are. Well to the guys who paid for dinner the other night, "thank you, you didnt have to" and to Anne Catherine, "thanks for the kind words, my head is up, I love the jersey and God bless you for raising nine kids!" Salomon Shoes Sale Clearance . But qualifying for her first Scotties Tournament of Hearts after years of falling short in tough Manitoba provincial championships is as good as consolation prizes get for the 29-year-old from Winnipegs Fort Rouge Curling Club. Salomon Shoes Outlet Australia . Henry, who missed three games with a knee injury, was charged with a handball in the penalty area in the 82nd minute as he went to block a strike from Patrick Mullins. On the ensuing penalty kick, Lee Nguyen picked up his fourth goal of the season, giving the Revolution a 2-1 win Saturday afternoon. http://www.cheapsalomonaustralia.com/ . -- The Florida Gators are first yet again this season. Buy Salomon Shoes Australia . This week, they discuss the NCAAs revenue sharing, Don Zimmer, soccer language and Super Bowl 50. Cheap Salomon Shoes Australia .J. -- New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning is going to start the off-season training program with a surgically repaired left ankle.If Greg Carey were a college free agent 20 years ago, his phone would have been ringing off the hook with NHL teams calling about signing him. Modern technology gave him a different problem. "I ran out of my phone minutes on my AT&T calling plan for the first time," Carey said in a phone interview, after getting some more minutes. "Its been a little overwhelming at times, but its been fun. Its kind of a good problem to have." A handful of teams showed interest in Carey before the Phoenix Coyotes signed the Hamilton native to a one-year entry-level contract Wednesday. The 23-year-old St. Lawrence University forward was so sought-after because hes again a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award as the top NCAA mens hockey player. Carey, who led the NCAA with 39 assists and was second with 58 points in 38 games, picked the Coyotes because he believes they offer a good chance to make an impact on offence. "Ive kind of prided myself in my college career in my ability to contribute offensively to kind of put pucks in the back of the net and create plays and make chances," Carey said. "Theyre kind of happy with my style of play and excited to have me to add my little offensive flare to their system." The Coyotes, a middle-of-the-pack offensive team this season, dealt young forward prospect Chris Brown to the Washington Capitals in a trade that got them veteran Martin Erat. Carey is set to report to tthe same Portland Pirates AHL team that Brown had 35 points for this season.dddddddddddd Carey would obviously love to be able to play for the soon-to-be-renamed Arizona Coyotes next season but said hell do "whatever I need to do" there or in Portland. Assistant general manager Brad Treliving told the team website that Carey has been a point-producer and goal-scorer at every level but also that its a big step into the world of pro hockey. Signing a one-year contract also makes 2014-15 a big risk-reward season for Carey, who wasnt drafted out of minor midget and played tier-2 junior A hockey with the Burlington Cougars before going to St. Lawrence University in upstate New York. "You get a year to come in and prove yourself and kind of show what youve got and kind of put everything on the line," Carey said. "Its a terrific opportunity for college players after were done. ... Its a challenge that you kind of look forward to." Carey looks forward to brother Matt joining him, if the St. Lawrence junior forward opts to make that move. Nothing was done on that front by mid-day Thursday to make sure Greg and Matt would continue to be teammates. "Hes dealing with his advisers and looking for what the best fit is for him," Greg Carey said. "I loved playing with him in college. Its all opportunity and I know hes looking for his best opportunity. And well see what happens here with him." ' ' '