While standing on the field, the sense of history is palpable. The natural grass of old Varsity Stadium may have been replaced by the artificial surface of the current configuration, but the pre-season game between the Toronto Argonauts and the Montreal Alouettes will be played on the closest thing the CFL has to sacred ground. Before the brick facade of the old structure succumbed to the wreckers ball in 2002, the venerable facility hosted 30 Grey Cup games, more than any other host venue, the final one coming in 1957. Ghosts of the legends that played at the stadium simply known as Varsity may be eager to peek through the wrought iron fences on the north or west side of the facility on Thursday to see how players like Calvillo, Ray and Owens would stack up against Etcheverry, Krol and Copeland. The horseshoe stands are gone, replaced by one set of bleachers on the east side. Passersby on Bloor Street West will be able to look down to the playing field to see what all the fuss is about. Kids will try to figure a way to sneak in and join the fans who will assemble on the track surrounding the field, much as they did in the stadiums heyday. Someone standing there may try to trip a player whos running down the sideline, a feat that remains another part of Varsitys history. Technology ensures that another famous game of days gone by will not be replayed, the Mud Bowl Grey Cup final of 1950. There will, however, be one constant between that soggy battle and the pre-season game that will be played there 63 years later; Nick Volpe. Volpe was a defensive halfback and place kicker for the Argos that November day and remains with the Argos as a consultant to football operations. He also played at Varsity Stadium for four seasons as a member of the University of Toronto Blues and still scouts the OUA for the double blue. Hes thrilled about Thursdays game. "I thought it was great but I wondered where the fans would sit" Volpe joked with TSN.ca "I go and watch U of T play all the time and its a great field. The sight lines are great. The seats are high enough that you get a beautiful view." Somewhat amazingly, Volpe kicked a pair of field goals and also made a touchdown saving tackle in the Argos 13-0 win over Winnipeg in the Mud Bowl and was presented with the game ball by Head coach Frank Clair. It remains the most cherished memento of his lengthy football life. Volpe left the Argos for several seasons, but stayed close to the game as an isolation director for CTV Sports when it covered the CFL. His talent as a player and scout been rewarded handsomely over the years and after last Novembers victory over Calgary he collected his seventh Grey Cup ring; two as a player, five in personnel. Does he think he may be in for number eight this season? "I like what we have. We lost a lot of good defensive players, but boy Ill tell you the guys that theyve brought in certainly look terrific. As long as we give Ricky Ray time to throw the ball and let (Chad) Kackert run with it, the receivers look so much better this year that I have a feeling we could win it again". Ray, Owens and the ghosts of Krol and Copeland all hope that hes right. Notes: All-star cornerback Patrick Watkins rejoined the team on Wednesday. He had been in the States dealing with what has been described as "personal issues." He says the timing was right to come back. "Sometimes when you play football life gets in the way." He says that when he decided to come back the first call he made was to Defensive Coordinator Chris Jones. He said the coachs first words to him were "When are you getting up here? When? When? When? When?" Watkins says he doesnt know when hell be game ready...Trent Guy is hopeful that he can follow in a new teammates footsteps. When Chad Owens arrived in Toronto from Montreal he was looked upon as an undersized returner who had to prove himself as a receiver. We know what happened there. Can lightning strike twice for the Argos? Guy hopes so. "I have to be a well-rounded receiver as well as a good returner. Chad was looked at as one of those guys, just a returner, and hes done great things in this league. I can learn a lot from him." Guy caught four passes for 47 yards and a touchdown in the first pre-season game in Winnipeg...Andre Duries job is safe after a 71 catch, 845 yard season. The local product spent a few days with the Grey Cup at several off-season functions, but one stop was particularly special to him, a visit to his alma mater, York University. "The people there were such a help in my recovery from my knee injury, so just bringing it back to all of the doctors and therapists who helped me out through everything (felt great)"...When asked by TSN.ca how many veterans are on the bubble Scott Milanovich replied "Seven or eight." He was quick to follow up by saying that cutting a veteran is never easy. "Guys that you have relationships with and that you care about, its always hard with anybody, but when youve accomplished some of the things weve accomplished together, its tougher." Thursdays game can be heard on TSN 1050 or TSN1050.ca at 7:00pm with Mike Hogan and Sandy Annunziata. Air Max Plus Clearance . John Lucas, signed as a mentor for rookie Trey Burke, showed he can score if required, scoring 12 points of his 16 points in the second quarter as Utah built an 18-point lead. Air Max Plus Online . Miikka Kiprusoff had just announced his retirement after a decade-long run in Calgary and it would be up to Berra and Ramo to fill the void. http://www.cheapairmaxplus.com/ . Its the second straight game Bell has scored in extra time for Kelowna, which beat the Brandon Wheat Kings 6-5 on Friday, and he now has four game-winning goals on the season. Nike Air Max Plus Wholesale . 10 Texas Rangers jersey for one last time. Young formally announced his retirement Friday after returning to Rangers Ballpark, his baseball home for all but the last of his 13 major league seasons. Cheap Air Max Plus Shoes . Uniteds eighth defeat of a wretched campaign means Liverpool, which currently occupies the fourth and final Champions League place, could go nine points clear of its fierce rival by beating West Bromwich Albion on Sunday. Charlie Adam scored both of Stokes goals at Britannia Stadium either side of Robin van Persies equalizer, with a miserable day for seventh-place United capped by first-half injuries to centre halves Jonny Evans and Phil Jones that forced them off. RIO DE JANEIRO -- The Japanese arrived in Rio beaming with confidence and a very simple goal: Win the countrys first Olympic medal in womens basketball.That hasnt changed. Not even facing the daunting task of having to pull off one of the greatest Olympic upsets ever and beat the U.S. womens team to keep that dream alive.Outside of our team, nobody believes we can do that, but we still believe we can, Japan assistant coach Tom Hovasse said. If we play our basketball, were a tough out. If were shooting like we are ... were a tough team to beat.The Japanese were banned by FIBA in November 2014 for allowing two basketball leagues to operate in the country, a violation of the world governing bodys statutes. But they rebounded and played their way into their first Olympics since 2004 and fourth overall as the FIBA Asian champs in 2015. So they arent backing down from any challenge.Everybody, all the reporters and everybodys watching, theyre probably surprised at what Japan has done, 5-foot-9 forward Mika Kurihara said with Hovasse translating. Were not. ... We want to do more, and thats the feeling I think for everybody.The team, filled with speedy shooters unafraid to drive into the lane, already has matched its three victories in 1996 in Atlanta for the most wins in any games. And they even and have a win against the U.S. -- in the 1976 Olympics. It was one of the rare losses for the Americans, who are 63-3 all-time in the Olympics, have won 46 straight and looking for a sixth consecutive gold medal.ddddddddddddThe Japanese, however, nearly stunned the worlds No. 2 team during group play, jumping out to a 16-point lead in the fourth quarter over Australia on Aug. 11. But their legs gave out, and it took 37 points from Liz Cambage to help the Opals pull out the win.I hate playing Japan, Cambage said. I respect the girls. What they lack in height, they make up for in speed and quicks.Japans top player, Ramu Tokashiki, plays on WNBA Seattle Storm where she is teammate of Sue Bird and Breanna Stewart.Geno Auriemma has been impressed with how Japan has competed.I dont think theres another team in the world that plays the way they do, the U.S. coach said. Play as quickly as they do, as crisp together as they play and do as many things as Japan does, I think they are unique in the world in that respect.China coach Thomas Maher has seen more than enough of Japan not to be surprised at how the Asian nation is playing in these games. The Australian native said Japan sticks to its defensive plan and uses its speed to move the ball well offensively.Well, nobodys going to match USA, lets face it, Maher said. But you know I think Japan have been great for a couple of years now. Theyre a great team. They play great basketball.---Online:AP Summer Games website: http://summergames.ap.org/ cheap falcons jerseys cheap ravens jerseys cheap bills jerseys cheap bears jerseys cheap bengals jerseys cheap cowboys jerseys cheap lions jerseys cheap texans jerseys cheap colts jerseys cheap jaguars jerseys cheap chiefs jerseys cheap rams jerseys cheap dolphins jerseys cheap vikings jerseys cheap saints jerseys cheap giants jerseys cheap jets jerseys cheap eagles jerseys cheap steelers jerseys cheap 49ers jerseys ' ' '