Former Canadian Football League player passes away at the age of 33

Orlando Bobo, a former offensive lineman with Winnipeg Blue Bombers, died this week. He was 33.Bobo died of heart and liver failure at a Dallas hospital Monday, the CFL team announced Friday."We are all extremely saddened at the news of Orlando Bobo's passing," Bombers president and CEO Lyle Bauer said in a release. "Orlando was an outstanding football player, and more importantly, an outstanding person."Bobo, who also spent time in the NFL, played 16 games for the Bombers in 2004."I was really shocked," said Bombers linebacker Barrin Simpson said. "He was only 33. My heart really goes out to his family. He was a swell guy from what I knew."Bombers GM Brendan Taman, who signed Bobo, said he made his presence felt on and off the field."Our condolences go out to his family," Taman said. "It's a tremendous loss for them and everyone who knew Orlando."Funeral services will be held Monday in Starkville, Miss.

Probation modified to allow Cam Hall to tryout in Canadian Football League

BOISE -- A former Boise State football player involved in a fatal accident that killed an Eagle family gets his sentence changed so he can play football.
A judge modified Cam Hall's probation so he can try out for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League.
Hall was placed on probation after leaving the scene of the crash in May of 2006.
If Hall makes the team, he'll be allowed to stay in Canada for the football season, then have to return to Boise.

Canadian Football League Hall of Famer joins old team as ambassador

- The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are excited to announce that former Ticats great and CFL Hall Of Famer Angelo Mosca has joined the team as a community ambassador.
"Having one the Ticats most popular icons officially onboard with our team is very exciting for all of us," said president Scott Mitchell. "Angelo's passion for the Ticats was always evident on the field and even after his playing days were over he stilled embraced the team and the community. His dedication never wavered and will of course continue in his new role with our team."
Mosca who was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1987, had a storied CFL career playing 15 seasons, 12 of which (1958-59, 1964-72) were with the Ticats. He played in an astonishing nine Grey Cup games, emerging victorious five times. He was selected as a CFL All-Star in 1963 and 1970 and was an Eastern All-Star defensive tackle five times.
"The year 2007 is probably one of the most positive I've seen in over 35 years with regards to the Ticats," said Mosca. "From Bob Young, to the new president Scott Mitchell to general manager Marcel Desjardins all the way to head coach Charlie Taaffe, the team looks like it is set up for long-term success. I am really looking forward to doing my part with the team and hope that I can be a positive role model in the Hamilton community."

Canadian Football League player attacked

A former Saskatchewan Huskies' football player who is now with the CFL's Winnipeg Blue Bombers is in hospital with a serious head injury after an assault outside a Saskatoon restaurant and bar early Saturday.
Graeme Bell, and three other Saskatoon men, were taken to hospital after being assaulted by a man with a baseball bat, police said.
Staff Sgt. John Middleton said police officers arrived within two minutes of receiving the 2:20 a.m. call to attend outside the Athena restaurant in the Sutherland area.
The suspect had already left the scene.
Police have interviewed several witnesses and have a suspect -- a Saskatoon man, who they are attempting to locate.
"This is a really hard time for the family because we don't know the outcome yet for Graeme," Jennifer Bell, Graeme's sister, said Sunday at Royal University Hospital.
"This was a tragic, isolated event. We still think Saskatoon is a great place to live. Our thoughts go out to all the other people who had injuries in this."
Bell, who rushed back from Calgary after hearing the news, said her brother is in stable condition.
She said witnesses have told her family that Graeme had left the Athena to get a taxi when the perpetrator surprised him with a blow to the head. He was at the restaurant visiting with a friend from out of town, Jennifer Bell said. The family believes the event was random.
Mike Letendre, general manager of the nearby Sutherland Hotel and Bar and a friend of Bell's, says he rushed to the scene from the Sutherland off-sale after it happened. He described the scene as "chaos," and said there were more than 20 witnesses.
He said the Sutherland has had problems with the suspect before. He heard several witnesses confirm the suspect's identity to police.
One of the other victims is a Huskies' football player. He was not with Bell at the time.
He said he didn't see the blow coming when an attacker blind-sided him with a bat and knocked him unconscious.
The man, who did not want to be identified, spent the night in hospital and is recovering from a concussion at home.
Bell, 25, was a standout player for the Saskatoon Huskies, the Saskatoon Hilltops and the Walter Murray Marauders. He signed with the Blue Bombers as a free agent in 2005 after attending training camp with the Montreal Alouettes. He was a key member of the Huskies' Vanier Cup runs in 2002 and 2004.
Bell works in the off-season doing promotions work for Saskatoon's Senator Hotel and helps out with several local football programs.