THE Franchise Radio.NET

Allard-Caméus joins the Alouettes

Montreal, July 14, 2009 – Montreal Alouettes’ Vice President and General Manager Jim Popp announced today that Quebec-born running back Guillaume Allard-Caméus has been added to the team’s practice roster.

USL's Future Uncertain As Teams Look For Options

The Team Owners Association, a self governing board of USL team owners, has been until now, trying to negotiate with the USL parent company USISL Inc., a way to make the USL run and owned by its teams.

Negotiations have now come to a head as Nike Inc., the USISL’s parent company, has announced that the USL has been sold to NuRock Soccer Holdings which does not presently have a team in the USL Division-1 League.

The TOA, which includes the Montreal Impact, are now looking at all options that will allow for them to be part of a league that allows for self governing as FIFA regulations warrant.

Please read on for the full release from the TOA.

Impact Settle for 1-1 Tie Vs Railhawks

The Montreal Impact managed a 1-1 tie against the 2^nd place Carolina Railhawks yesterday afternoon and maintained their 6^th place position in the USL Division 1 standings.

While

Montreal

was able to take the lead on a Tony Donatelli header off a Adam Braz cross at the 33^rd minute of play, it was as if déjà vu had set in after the first half. 

The Franchise August 30th Podcasts

The Swan Song, The Grand Finale, The Final Curtain, The Last Show..... on CJLO 1690 AM!

Weekly HABit: They have finally signed! Find out what Gary and Nick think about where Tanguay and Schneider have landed. Murdocco apologizes for jumping the gun on an outdoor NHL game being played at the Olympic Stadium.

Franchise Weigh In: We invite Mitch "The Manager" Mayberger to help us break down Saturday night's UFC 102.

Deep Impact: Nick Murdocco and Gary Whittaker break down what Montreal's last win does for their playoff chances, as well as the week to come.

Alouettes Weekly Review: It may be a bye-week for the Als, but the Franchise is hard at work breaking down their next game.

The Franchise FULL SHOW: Only on the full show can you get all the above, and the wrap up of the 1st ever Napa Rally 5000 with guest Adam Reid. We also review what's been happening with the Montreal Juniors pre-season. We run down the long list of people who have helped us get to where we are today. We also need to thank you, our fans, for generating the kind of buzz about us that has led to us taking the next step!

Als Legend Sam Etcheverry Passes Away At 79

The Montreal Alouettes and the Etcheverry family announced the passing of legendary quarterback and coach Sam "The Rifle" Etcheverry. Sam passed away Saturday morning  at the age of 79 following a long battle with cancer.

The Alouettes will communicate the details of the funeral and how people may pay tribute to Sam Etcheverry over the course of the next week.

Juniors Unable to Make it Two Wins Vs Gatineau in Preseason Play

The Montreal Juniors were back at it against the Gatineau Olympiques in a back to back pre-season stint that saw the Juniors win 3-2 Friday night, but Gatineau answering in kind with a 5-2 victory on Saturday. With only a few cuts remaining before the Juniors announce their final roster, every remaining pre-season game is vital for the players suiting up.

Please read on for the Juniors' post game recap.

UFC 102 Results and Bonus info

Main Bouts:
-Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira def. Randy Couture by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)*
-Thiago Silva def. Keith Jardine by KO (Punch) at 1:35, R1
-Jake Rosholt def. Chris Leben by Submission (Arm Triangle Choke) at 1:30, R3***
-Nate Marquardt def. Demian Maia by KO at :21, R1**
-Brandon Vera def. Krzystztof Soszynski by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Boxing and MMA card in the works in Moncton for September 12th

By Derek LeBlanc

In the last year and a half the idea of putting on a card with boxing and mixed martial arts has gotten mixed messages from promoters and journalists.  It has had success with most notably Roy Jones Jr co promotion of March Badness earlier this year.   For the first time in Atlantic Canada the idea will be tested on September 12th in Moncton, New Brunswick.  The fights will be on the next great heavyweight boxing tournament. The idea additionally came after a historic event in mixed martial arts.

"The idea came a little bit after I watched UFC 100," says promoter Dwayne Storey    

"I wasn't really a big UFC fan, but i can fell for it immediately after seeing Georges St-Pierre and saw one of the most extraordinary athletics in the world. I watched UFC 101 after that and realized there was more to it and I thought nobody that I knew is doing a hybrid event of MMA and boxing. The concept is a little ground breaking in Eastern Canada."

Storey was a former boxer who has now become a promoter this year with his wife to start the next great heavyweight boxing tournament back in June.  The 2nd round of this event will take place as well as a cursierweight tournament beginning on the same night.  The idea for mma on the card is to do the same tournament style setting for different weight classes.  The idea is to try and give newer athletics a chance to get there career started.

"We are working with some of the regional fighters and promoters to put an mma component to the show as well," says Storey.

"We set up a website the recruit fighters that we called eastcoastmma.ca.  We have received a lot of applications and calls.  There are a good supply of fighters around that are willing to be part of it.  Right now we are just trying to pull something together that makes sense and works."

While Storey has had a number of fighters wanting to do the event there still has been a small obstacle or two.  While the event is taking place on the Unservite of Moncton campus, he still trying to work out to see if they can have mma on the card.  His idea for this card is to have two mma matches and have another card in the late fall.  Until he gets the full details on what he can do, he says that he does have one match just waiting to be signed.  If it doesn't work for this card it will be added on to future events his company puts on.  The idea is to get fans of both sports who would not normally check out an mma event or vice versa.  You can find all the information on this event at www.thenextgreatheavyweight.com

Juniors Handle Olympiques In Pre-season Action

The Montreal Juniors were in Pointe-Claire last night where they played their 3rd pre-season game of the season against the Gatineau Olympiques. With all three Montreal goaltenders seeing some action and Guillaume Asselin potting two goals in the game, the Juniors won the game 3-2 despite a third period that saw them lose their 3-0 lead due to penalty trouble.

Please read on for the official Juniors post-game report.

Impact Face Carolina in First of Two At Saputo Stadium, Sunday

The Montreal Impact (9-10-5), fresh off a two game winning streak are looking to not only make it 3 in a row, but also attain a .500 record in the process. In a scheduling oddity, they will meet, for the first time this season and play the first of two home matches against the Carolina RailHawks (14-5-6) this Sunday at Saputo Stadium, at 3:30 pm (Radio-Canada,CKAC Sports, THE TEAM 990, USLlive.com).