Every year that passes is only further testimony to the Toronto legend that is Leo Cahill. Every year a new group of Canadian Football League Hall of Fame inductees, every year the slight of Cahill grows older and more grim.

The category is builder, and if you understand anything about Toronto football -- then and now -- you will understand how alive it was when Cahill was either coaching or managing the Argos.

And how it may never be that way again.

Don't add up the victories, the way the statisticians do. And don't add up the Grey Cups, there aren't any.

Take count, instead, of all the stories, all the headlines, and the legendary moments and memories and then take stock of what has happened in all the years since.

In the largest and most cynical market in Canada, Cahill made people care. The times were different and so was he but what he did, more than anything, was build interest in the Argos and in the league.

For that, he deserves a place in the CFL Hall of Fame.

Not the annual passing of time and passing over of his name.

THIS AND THAT

Okay, I could handle the one-day Japanese baseball strike. I can handle the NHL lockout, for now. But please, what are the National Lacrosse League people fighting over -- leftovers? ... The difference between the Chicago Cubs and Perdita Felicien: The Cubs lasted longer than 13 metres before knocking themselves out of the race ... Now we know why the Blue Jays were nowhere to be found this season: It was pitching coach Gil Patterson's fault. For the record, though, Patterson didn't invest in Terry Adams, Kerry Light-em-up, Pat Hentgen or Justin Speier ... Only in today's world could six lawyers argue before a Superior Court in California to determine who exactly is the rightful owner of the baseball hit by Barry Bonds for his 700th home run ... It's two weeks in to Making The Cut, the reality hockey TV series, and the Todd Harkins story is growing really old already. Almost as old as the former Calgary Flames' draft pick happens to be.

HEAR AND THERE

Under the department of a fight waiting to happen: If NHL player contracts don't kick in until after the lockout ends, what happens to the contracts of those who are paid because of injury during the lockout? ... Four things that mysteriously disappear -- socks in dryers, golf balls, practice pucks and the Cubs in a pennant race ... All the Blue Jays need to compete next year is a new first baseman, third baseman, shortstop, one outfielder, half a pitching staff and a clue. Other than that, they're just fine ... The WHA is now for sale. Apparently, Paul Newman knows of some mystery Florida investors who have interest ... Best Expos names in history: Coco Laboy, Pepe Frias, John Boccabella and Archi Cianfrocco. Best player: Andre Dawson. My favourite: Ellis Valentine ... The move of the Expos to Washington is the 13th franchise transfer in major-league history but the first since 1971. The NHL, NFL and NBA have moved several teams in that time.

SCENE AND HEARD

This is Larry David-esque. Like, how do you explain to someone that Cleveland pitcher Kyle Denney got shot in Kansas City while sitting on a team bus while wearing cheerleader boots? ... Good for Shannon Stewart. Two years out of Toronto, two years in the post-season in Minnesota ... If you don't like baseball this week, you'll never like it ... Wasn't there just a little piece of all of us, wishing it was us playing wide receiver at South Carolina instead of the 39-year-old father of six named Tim Frisby? ... Hating the Yankees is easy. Hating them because Mike Mussina pitches there is comfortable ... Word around says pumped-up heavyweight Joe Mesi, undefeated and big in Buffalo, will soon announce his retirement because of a brain bleed ... Another problem with the lockout, no Aki Berg material ... What made less sense? Winnipeg signing quarterback Khari Jones to an over-the-top CFL contract or Matt Dunigan trading for the contract in Calgary?

AND ANOTHER THING

Is Vince Carter softening on his "I want out" stance out of loyalty to Raptors chairman Larry Tanenbaum or because he realizes there is little out there for him in the world of trade ... J.P. Ricciardi does have one point: Seven of the top-10 payroll teams in baseball keep playing this week, while none of the bottom 11 in spending move on ... Where he doesn't have a point: Of the 10 teams that spent less than the Blue Jays, only one had a worse record .. Apparently, the new playbook of the Detroit Lions is one page long. All they do is throw to rookie wide receiver Roy Williams ... Never has a player put up numbers year after year the way Carlos Delgado has and because his teams never contended, he was never fully appreciated in Toronto ... And this item on the heckling of an NBA official from the final column written by Tom Fitzgerald of the San Francisco Chronicle: "Hey Earl," a woman yelled at referee Earl Strom, "if you were my husband, I'd feed you rat poison." Responded Strom: "If you were my wife, I'd eat it." ... And hey, whatever became of Jim Clancy?