As The Maestro has pointed out in his excellent CFL Beat, this Friday is a Canadian holiday – specifically, Canada Day, a reminder that true independence is an arduous 118-year process. And, I’m given to believe the US is engaging in a weekend of car & mattress sales in advance of July 4th. So if we don’t see you until after Iceland has devastated France, have a nice weekend. I plan on both selling (Friday & Saturday night) and drinking beer (Sunday).

NFL Notes:

• Doug Baldwin signed a 4-year extension worth $46 million. There’s also several stories about his long road to the NFL, included seemingly as puff to validate the Hawks decision. Because they’ve had such terrible luck with undersized receivers before.
• Not to be outdone, HODOR managed to get himself $140 million over 6 years from Jim Irsay. That’s gonna cut into his Vicodin supply a tad.
• Jake Plummer’s got some interesting things to say about “billionaire a-hole” Jerry Jones. I’m sure we can all support that.
  • I’d turn into a mary jane activist too if I wasn’t as fondly remembered as noted successes Tim Tebow or Jay Cutler.
• Jim Kelly is two years cancer free. Yay!
• Run DMC’s broken elbow gets clarified. Turns out, much like during the regular season, it was the result of a fumble.
• The Fridge is having a rough time of things. The story is an excellent read, and the kid of stuff SI used to do more often.
• The Seahawks have lost another backup QB to assault charges. One more, and they qualify for a free Tebow rumour.
• Former Colts RB Zurlon Tipton died after accidentally shooting himself when one of the guns in his bag o’ guns went off.

Finally, not an NFL story, but it’s about a first-rate douchebag, so it’s allowed. During A-Rod’s rookie year Ken Griffey Junior hazed him with a story about becoming high-class sperm donors, going so far as to bring in a fake doctor to sell the point. Fortunately for A-Rod, Griffey ended the gag before he was expected to pony up his first deposit. Unfortunately for the famously thin-skinned A-Rod, the story is in this week’s SI.

Random musings on other sports:

• The other big deal this Friday is that the NHL free agency window opens at noon. Much like the NFL date, big deals are expected out of the gate, but there’s relatively little actual big-name talent available once you get past Steve Stamkos.
• Maria Sharapova has enrolled at Harvard business school. Expect “Sharapova schoolgirl” searches on google to go way up.
• Zlatan is expected to sign with ManU by the end of the week.

Tonight’s sports:

• ESPN – College World Series: Finals Game 3: Arizona vs. Coastal Carolina – 8:00
  • series tied 1-1; winner-take-all
• NBC – U.S. Olympic Trials: Swimming finals
  • women’s 200m IM and 200m free, and the men’s 200m fly.

I was a competitive swimmer in high school, and roomed with a future rowing (Men’s 8s) Olympian, so that’s why it’s been included every night this week.

Sorry it’s rather short today. Once I start teaching summer school, I don’t have as much free time to put things together. Plus, I decided to take a break in the day and go hiking with my 20-month-old Berner named Riga. I’m sure you’ll agree,

WORTH IT!