Don Wittman passes away

I planned to do a different topic today,but as I worked last night,a note came over the ESPN bottom line that Don Wittman passed away yesterday at the age of 71.
Who is Don Wittman?
Well,if you are Canadian,a hockey fan or a CFL fan,you would not need to ask that question.
The Winnipeg native was the voice of the CFL for years as well as Hockey Night in Canada and ranks right up with the more known American announcers in my opinion as the best in the profession.
As good as Wittman was at hockey,I think he was even better doing the 3 down game of Canadian Football.
Wittman was taken off the broadcasts of the Grey Cup in 1996 for Mark Lee and even though I like Lee's work,it always seemed to miss the voice of Wittman.
For myself and many Canadian Football fans,Don Wittman was "the voice of the CFL"as when you heard his voice of a CFL on CBC broadcast-the right mood was set and instantly put you ready to enjoy the game.
Wittman had suffered with lymphoma for most of the last year and the illness had taken him away from hockey broadcasting.
A fond farewell to Don Wittman,who will always be remembered as the ultimate professional....

Bullpen Notes

Roy Jones pounded out a unanimous win over Felix Trinidad in New York.
Jones scored knockdowns in the 7th and 10th rounds and called out various opponents after the bout and claimed to "fight anyone".
Where was this attitude years ago when his skills could have been tested?
I hope now that Jones needs some of these guys more now than they need him that they tell him to take a flying leap....

The Pirates look to be making a move to get more past Pirates involved with the team and will be making bobbleheads for giveaway nights of players from the 1970's Lumber Company teams.
Al Oliver is a must have for me!

Battlin Bob sends word of the death of Allan Melvin at the age of 84.
Melvin is most noted for his roles as "Sam the butcher" in the Brady Bunch and as "Barney Hefner" in All in the Family.
Melvin also is known to several generations of kids as the voice of Magilla Gorilla in the old Hanna Barbers cartoons.
Condolences to his family.

Picks for today's chilly conference title games are the home teams of Green Bay and New England,although we are rooting for the Packers and Chargers..

Thanks again to any new readers as yesterday we tied the hit record for a day that we set last week!

On the signing front
Former WHA star Michel Goulet,Kings winger Dave Taylor and journeyman of several teams Peter Zezel all signed by mail....

Photo Credits
Wittman-CBC
Boxing-Don Emmert-Getty Images