Football

In the specially outfitted Grey Cup Festival caravan, the Grey Cup Festival Tour of B.C., powered by LiUNA Local 1611, will make its way through the province, beginning May 31. Photo courtesy 2024 Grey Cup Festival

Grey Cup Festival Tour of B.C. is coming to a town near you

Summer-long tour kicks off May 31; Grey Cup tickets on sale June 4

  • May 27, 2024

 

Jim Otto, former center for the Oakland Raiders, poses with his bust after enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, Aug. 2, 1980. Otto, the Hall of Fame center known as “Mr. Raider” for his durability through a litany of injuries, has died, the team confirmed Sunday night, May 19, 2024. He was 86. (AP Photo, File)

Jim Otto, ‘Mr. Raider’ and Pro Football Hall of Famer, dies at 86

Otto joined the Raiders for their first ever season in the American Football League in 1960

 

Detroit Lions offensive lineman Giovanni Manu is seen during an NFL rookie football practice, Friday, May 10, 2024, in Allen Park, Mich. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

B.C.’s Giovanni Manu can’t wait to share NFL dream with his family

Manu left Tonga at 11 to live in B.C. with his aunt, shed ‘tears of joy’ after draft by Detroit

 

Offensive lineman Giovanni Manu (right) was selected by the Detroit Lions in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft and by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the fifth round of the 2024 CFL Draft. (Darren Hove Photo)

Pitt Meadows football star drafted twice in 3 days by both NFL and CFL

Giovanni Manu was selected by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Detroit Lions

Offensive lineman Giovanni Manu (right) was selected by the Detroit Lions in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft and by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the fifth round of the 2024 CFL Draft. (Darren Hove Photo)
UBC offensive linemen Giovanni Manu (left) and Theo Benedet (right) are both up for the NFL Draft which takes place this weekend. The pair is shown here during Hardy Cup Finals action in Vancouver, Nov. 11, 2024. (Rich Lam/UBC Athletics Photo)

THE MOJ: B.C. linemen drawing eyes south of border ahead of NFL draft

UBC’s Giovanni Manu and Theo Benedet are massive human beings attracting attention

UBC offensive linemen Giovanni Manu (left) and Theo Benedet (right) are both up for the NFL Draft which takes place this weekend. The pair is shown here during Hardy Cup Finals action in Vancouver, Nov. 11, 2024. (Rich Lam/UBC Athletics Photo)
FILE - Former NFL football star O.J. Simpson appears via video for his parole hearing at the Lovelock Correctional Center in Lovelock, Nev., on July 20, 2017. (Jason Bean/The Reno Gazette-Journal via AP, Pool, File)

Disgraced former football star OJ Simpson dead at 76

Fallen football hero acquitted of murder in ‘trial of the century’ in the ’90s

FILE - Former NFL football star O.J. Simpson appears via video for his parole hearing at the Lovelock Correctional Center in Lovelock, Nev., on July 20, 2017. (Jason Bean/The Reno Gazette-Journal via AP, Pool, File)
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) waves after the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game against the San Francisco 49ers Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)

Travis Kelce brings back music festival in Kansas City with Lil Wayne, 2 Chainz, Diplo as headliners

Travis Kelce is keeping himself busy: On the heels of winning his…

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) waves after the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game against the San Francisco 49ers Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) lifts the Vince Lombardi Trophy after the team’s victory over the San Francisco 49ers in the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

At least 1 dead, 15 injured in shooting at Chiefs Super Bowl parade

2 people detained, fans urged to exit the area as quickly as possible

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) lifts the Vince Lombardi Trophy after the team’s victory over the San Francisco 49ers in the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
A worker carries a crate of avocados at a plant in Uruapan, Michoacan state, Mexico, Friday, Feb. 9, 2024. A lack of rain and warmer temperatures has resulted in fewer avocados being shipped from Mexico to the United States. (AP Photo/Armando Solis)

Game-time guacamole for Super Bowl threatened by fewer shipments from Mexico

Hotter, drier climate means avocado orchards are short on water and struggling to grow

A worker carries a crate of avocados at a plant in Uruapan, Michoacan state, Mexico, Friday, Feb. 9, 2024. A lack of rain and warmer temperatures has resulted in fewer avocados being shipped from Mexico to the United States. (AP Photo/Armando Solis)
Canadian brands advertising during the Super Bowl are hoping to score with fans of Taylor Swift, who has boosted NFL audiences since she started cheering on her Kansas City-playing boyfriend Travis Kelce at his games. Kelce walks with Swift following the AFC Championship NFL football game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024, in Baltimore. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Julio Cortez

Canadian advertisers hope to ride a Swift wave to Super Bowl attention

Swift fans represent a lucrative opportunity for brands to branch out beyond their typical targets

Canadian brands advertising during the Super Bowl are hoping to score with fans of Taylor Swift, who has boosted NFL audiences since she started cheering on her Kansas City-playing boyfriend Travis Kelce at his games. Kelce walks with Swift following the AFC Championship NFL football game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024, in Baltimore. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Julio Cortez
Taylor Swift speaks with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce after the AFC Championship NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024, in Baltimore. The Kansas City Chiefs won 17-10 to advance to Super Bowl LVIII. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

A Super Bowl love story?: B.C. can bet on Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce

Will there be a Taylor Swift half-time performance? Will Travis Kelce propose at Super Bowl LVIII?

Taylor Swift speaks with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce after the AFC Championship NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024, in Baltimore. The Kansas City Chiefs won 17-10 to advance to Super Bowl LVIII. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Eric Falkenberg created a larger-than-life display to help people get excited about the upcoming Superbowl.(Jacqueline Gelineau/Capital News)

Super silly sculptures for Super Bowl at Kelowna Save-On-Foods

8 sculptures celebrate the spirit of the Super Bowl at Kelowna’s Save-On-Foods

Eric Falkenberg created a larger-than-life display to help people get excited about the upcoming Superbowl.(Jacqueline Gelineau/Capital News)
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell speaks at a news conference after the NFC Championship NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)

THE MOJ: Can’t praise Detroit Lion courage in wins, criticize it in losses

Coach Dan Campbell’s team stuck with what had worked for them

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell speaks at a news conference after the NFC Championship NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
Theo Benedet wins the J.P. Metras Trophy at the 2023 USports Football Awards in Kingston, Ont., on Thursday, November 23, 2023. The towering six-foot-seven, 305-pound offensive lineman from the University of British Columbia moved up one spot to No. 2 on the CFL Scouting Bureau’s winter edition of the top-20 prospects for the 2024 draft. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Reuben Polansky-Shapiro

Big UBC lineman from Lower Mainland catching the eyes of CFL scouts

Theo Benedet top-ranked Canadian university player on CFL winter scouting list

Theo Benedet wins the J.P. Metras Trophy at the 2023 USports Football Awards in Kingston, Ont., on Thursday, November 23, 2023. The towering six-foot-seven, 305-pound offensive lineman from the University of British Columbia moved up one spot to No. 2 on the CFL Scouting Bureau’s winter edition of the top-20 prospects for the 2024 draft. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Reuben Polansky-Shapiro
Alabama head coach Nick Saban reacts after running back Jase McClellan (2) scored a touchdown during the second half of the Rose Bowl CFP NCAA semifinal college football game against Michigan Monday, Jan. 1, 2024, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)

Nick Saban steps down in Alabama after 7 national college titles

Coach retiring after 17 seasons of making the Crimson Tide a college football powerhouse

Alabama head coach Nick Saban reacts after running back Jase McClellan (2) scored a touchdown during the second half of the Rose Bowl CFP NCAA semifinal college football game against Michigan Monday, Jan. 1, 2024, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Michigan running back Blake Corum scores against Washington during the second half of the national championship NCAA College Football Playoff game Monday, Jan. 8, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Michigan overpowers Washington 34-13 to win college football title

Blake Corum runs for 134 yards and two TDs for champs

Michigan running back Blake Corum scores against Washington during the second half of the national championship NCAA College Football Playoff game Monday, Jan. 8, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
B.C. Lions wide receiver Terry Williams (87) runs with the ball during first half of CFL football action against the Saskatchewan Roughriders, in Vancouver, B.C., Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. The Lions have signed returner and wide receiver Terry Williams to a two-year extension through the 2025 CFL season. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns

Lions sign CFL-leading kick returner Terry Williams to 2-year extension

Returner was eligible to become a free agent in February

B.C. Lions wide receiver Terry Williams (87) runs with the ball during first half of CFL football action against the Saskatchewan Roughriders, in Vancouver, B.C., Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. The Lions have signed returner and wide receiver Terry Williams to a two-year extension through the 2025 CFL season. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns
Washington wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk (2) makes the catch for a touchdown against Texas during the first half of the Sugar Bowl CFP NCAA semifinal college football game, Monday, Jan. 1, 2024, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Penix Jr. leads Huskies to 37-31 win over Texas and spot in national title game

Washington will meet Michigan in championship contest

Washington wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk (2) makes the catch for a touchdown against Texas during the first half of the Sugar Bowl CFP NCAA semifinal college football game, Monday, Jan. 1, 2024, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto speaks at the Victoria Conference Centre on Wednesday (Nov. 29) about the B.C. Lions playing the Ottawa Redblacks in Victoria on Aug. 31. (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)

BC Lions to play Redblacks during regular season game in Victoria

The game will take place Aug. 31

Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto speaks at the Victoria Conference Centre on Wednesday (Nov. 29) about the B.C. Lions playing the Ottawa Redblacks in Victoria on Aug. 31. (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)
Winnipeg Blue Bombers running back Brady Oliveira (20) participates in a drill during practice in Hamilton on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023. Oliveira will be a key figure Sunday. The five-foot-10, 222-pound running back ran for a league-best 1,534 yards in capturing the CFL’s top Canadian award. He accumulated 238 of those yards in leading the Blue Bombers to a 2-0 regular-season sweep of the Montreal Alouettes. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nick Iwanyshyn

Bombers running back Oliveira cherishes his 3rd straight Grey Cup appearance

Despite its recent Grey Cup success, Winnipeg is 12-15 overall in the CFL championship game

Winnipeg Blue Bombers running back Brady Oliveira (20) participates in a drill during practice in Hamilton on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023. Oliveira will be a key figure Sunday. The five-foot-10, 222-pound running back ran for a league-best 1,534 yards in capturing the CFL’s top Canadian award. He accumulated 238 of those yards in leading the Blue Bombers to a 2-0 regular-season sweep of the Montreal Alouettes. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nick Iwanyshyn