Once again Don Matthews is making the news. And no this time it has nothing to do with another spy story. This time it has to do with his personal life, which is usually something he keeps intensely private unless he wants it in public.

The winningest coach in CFL history -- and easily one of its most controversial -- will sign the documentation and swear allegiance to become a Canadian citizen.

He will do it prior to the Montreal Alouettes' home game today at the Big Owe against the Ottawa Renegades. We're not sure if there will be any spies watching.

After all, Matthews had a member of the Als videotape department secretly film the Renegades' coaching staff twice this year. Matthews claimed he did not break any rules because there were no rules to prevent it. Whether it worked or not, the Als clinched first place in the East and the Renegades are dead last in the division and out of the playoff race.

The Als are expecting a crowd of some 52,000, almost triple the capacity of their regular venue at Molson Stadium. But this being the last game of the regular season, the Als made the switch a long time in advance parently without any conflict with the Wiggles -- to give more people a chance to see the team.

ONE WIN AWAY

And there will be tremendous interest in the Als -- and not because of Matthews' imminent switch in citizenship.

The Als have lost three consecutive games for only the second time since Matthews took over the team in 2002. He won the Cup his first year, lost in the championship game last season and is one win away from making it to the Holy Grail this year.

The Als play host to the winner of the East Division semi-final at the Big Owe on Nov. 14. The opposing coach will either be a naturalized Canadian -- Greg Marshall of Hamilton -- or soon-to-be Canadian Pinball Clemons of the Argos. Clemons and his wife, Diane, are landed immigrants from the U.S. who plan on becoming Canadians next year.

That The Don -- who is not to be confused with The Donald -- has decided to become a Canadian is not entirely surprising. He indicated last year plans to retire at some point in South America and pursue shrimp farming. In the absence of that Forest Gump dream, he has purchased some land in B.C.

Asked yesterday by the CBC's Brian Williams if his retirement is imminent, Matthews replied it will happen after the game. Ha-cha-cha.

Both of Matthews' parents were born in Canada, although he was born in the U.S. Matthews has worked in Canada off and on for almost 40 years.

CONTROVERSY

He arrived in 1977 when his football mentor, then Edmonton head coach Hugh Campbell, hired him to coach the Eskimos' linebackers. It caused quite a controversy in Edmonton, where such things matter because Matthews was plucked out of the high-school ranks.

A year later Campbell promoted him to defensive co-ordinator and the team won five straight Grey Cups.

Beginning in 1983 with B.C., Matthews became a head coach and made it to the Cup in the first year, losing to the Argos. Two years later, Matthews returned to the Cup and won. He has been the head coach of four more Cups -- one with Baltimore, two with Toronto and one with Montreal.

Anything short of a Grey Cup win will be a disappointment, as Matthews often says, but if he fails there will likely be little sympathy among the media. There's no love lost there.

Matthews' run-ins with the print and electronic media are legendary.

It will be interesting to see how much time CBC devotes to Matthews' Canadian citizenship. The bigger story is the losing streak -- and the possibility Matthews will retire at some point. Nah, never happen.