Joey Crabb (F) signed a 1 year deal
Daryl Boyce (F) signed a 1 year deal
John-Michael Liles (D) arrived in Toronto and spoke with the media. According to the reports he feels right at home
Chris Osgood, the Detroit Goalie and NHL Icon retired his career. but remains active with the Red Wings hockey club
Tampa Bay Lightning Star Steve Stamkos signed a 5 year contract with the Bolts
Awesome goals here and Sherbatov’s beauty is here

George Clooney is an old assassin wanting to get out of the job, but several people want him dead. His contractor sends him to a small Italian village where he just needs to deliver a package and stay low. But that’s easier said then done.

Not a lot of action, but it’s tried (and done) pretty realistic. But the plot and the actor imply lots of action. Don’t go in this movie thinking it’s another “Shoot ‘Em Up” (which sucked Godzilla cock). It’s an intelligent drama with an unfortunately predictable plot, but the a surprising ending nonetheless.

The F1re Scale: 3,5 / 5

The story of this movie is what got me to want to watch it. Yeah it’s labeled a “comedy” (although IMDb has also the “drama” mentioned second), but there is not really any funny scenes in it. The story is about a marketing company that finances top salesmen and -women. They run around with the coolest shit pretending to be a real family, so that everyone around them wants what they have. But, they’re all still human, and where people live together, there is friction. And where there is jealousy, well you can do the math yourself. Basically their idyllic life isn’t so great after all ..

The F1re Scale: 3/5

Epic Meal Time: Bunch of degenerate hillbilly’s creating the most insane meals. And they eat it, too.

NOW: These two Internet hero’s meet HERE.

Argo’s beat the Stampeders 23-21 on their turf to go 1-0. Last second heroics were needed from much criticized player Noel Prefontaine, who kicked the field goal winner with just 17 seconds left. The win marked the end of a five year losing streak in Calgary. Cory Boyd and Brandon Rideau scored touchdowns for the Argos, who had last beaten the Stamps at home 22-16 on July 1, 2005. Prefontaine also made field goals from 25 and 24 yards.

Argos receiver Chad Owens, winner of the CFL’s outstanding special teams player award last season, appeared dazed and left the field with assistance after a hard hit in the second quarter. He had his head driven into the turf by Jon Cornish on a punt return and did not return to the game.

Without Owens the Argo’s fell to the Winnipeg BlueBombers in game 2 of their 2011 season in that same city with 16-22. QB Cleo Lemons of the Toronto Argonauts was sacked a whopping 7 times (come on guys..?). The last time Winnipeg defeated Toronto was Sept. 26, 2009 with a score of 29-24. The Argos won all three matches against the Bombers last season. The Blue & White are now 1-1 and visits Montreal this saturday before heading back to Toronto to receive the Blue Bombers. Cory Boyd reported a sprained knee, but it is unclear how much it will affect him in the next few games.

• The 2011 Prospect Camp is at an end. Three guys will be moving up to the pro’s
• The first week of the 2011 Maple Leafs Hockey School ended last week. Prospects Biggs, Percy and Brenner were just a few of the Leafs who stopped by this week. Clarke MacArthur, Luca Caputi, Jonas Gustavsson and Leafs legend Wendel Clark all spent time at the camp.
• Mike Zigomanis has been signed for a one year deal. Zigomanis spent a lot of time with the Marlies the last few seasons, with occasional games in the NHL with the Maple Leafs. His stats can be found here.
• Matt Lashoff (D) and Philipe Dupuis (F) have been signed for one year (stats of both are here)
• Tyler Bozak signed a two-year contract
• “For now, we’re done” said Burke. His full speech and his explanation as to why we didn’t end up with Doughty, Stamkos or Richards, read all of his words here

This is a very impressive book. It’s an historic account with facts and eye witness accounts that read as a novel. Braithwaite style of writing makes you not want to put this book down, and the views, facts, insights and questions he proposes are food for thought. At no point does he force his opinions or views upon the reader, but makes the reader draw his or her own conclusions of what is known to be true. Of course he offers his views and insights, but in no way are these portrayed as the “one and only truth” (as no good historian ever should). Reading this masterpiece I came to the conclusion and realization of many new and interesting facts and events. I can say without a doubt that thanks to this book I now have a better and more clearer view on the war in the East.

There is General Rokossovski, General Zjoekov and Panfilov, people I had only heard of by name, not by what they have done. After reading this I am convinced that Rokossovski is just as great, if not a greater General, then Montgomery, Guderian (the german tank commander), or Eisenhower. Not only as a professional but also as a person this man changed the course of history during the war that Russia fought.

There is the fact that the battle for Moscow in 1941 is the largest battle our planet has ever seen. Not Stalingrad, not Berlin, nor D-Day, but Moscow. More then seven million soldiers fought and died on both sides in those six months of the battle. The battle that changed the tide of the war, for it was the very first definitive defeat the Germans suffered. Whether it was their own fault or not (in my opinion it was, because Guderian was sent North with his Panzers instead of aiding the attack), this had been the turning point.

In 1944 when the Allied Forces unleashed Operation Overlord (better known as D-Day), two-third of the entire German warmachine was active in Russia. Had there not been a war, or had they taken Moscow in 1941, that force would be in France, and there never would have been a D-Day.
For every British and American soldier that died, there were:

- 7 Japanese
- 20 Germans
- 85 Russians

I can no longer criticize or speculate that the war might have gone the same but it would only lasted longer, had the Russians not been involved. The claim of Russia that they won the war is in my mind partially justified. They sure suffered the most. And without them, the world would look quite different today.

The F1re Scale: 4/5

For all the facts and stories in Braithwaite provides in his book Moscow: 1941, it’s highly recommended that you read this. It will change your views on this part of history.

Forward Clark MacArthur signed a two year contract.

Matthew Lombardi (F) and Cody Franson (D) have been acquired in a trade with Nashville in exchange for defenceman Brett Lebda and forward Robert Slaney. The trade also includes a conditional fourth-round pick in the 2013 Entry Draft.

Tim Connolly
From the Toronto Maple Leafs Press News:
Brian Burke, President and General Manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, announced Saturday that the hockey club has signed unrestricted free agent centreman Tim Connolly to a two year contract.

Connolly was the first-round selection, taken fifth overall by the Islanders, in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft.

Scriven
From the Toronto Maple Leafs Press News:
The team has signed goaltender Ben Scrivens to a one-year contract.
Scrivens, 24, played 33 games for the AHL’s Toronto Marlies this past season posting a record of 13-12-5, a goals against average of 2.33, a save percentage of .924 and two shutouts. The 6-2, 183-pound goaltender ranked first among Marlies’ goaltenders in wins and save percentage. He also played 13 games for the Reading Royals of the ECHL where he earned a record of 10-3-0, a 2.23 goals against average and a .938 save percentage. The native of Spruce Grove, Alberta was selected to represent Reading at the 2011 ECHL All-Star Game.

The Leafs originally signed Scrivens as a free agent on April 28, 2010. Prior to joining the Leafs organization he played four seasons at Cornell University. In his final season at Cornell he lead the NCAA in shutouts and save percentage, and was named a First Team All-American.

Smaller news: Connolly will be a first line center with kessel and phaneuf. Prospect Camp will start tomorrow, featuring the Leafs’ draft picks including first rounders Tyler Biggs and Stuart Percy.