James Fraser (University of Guelph)
@jamesefraser.bsky.social
history professor • Canadian football history • finishing book on Toronto Argonauts, 1873-1956 • member, Canadian Football Research Soc, Pro Football Researchers Assoc, Argonauts historical committee • tempora mutantur, nos et mutamur in illis
I recoil from Madani's gleeful schadenfreude when reporting on the CFL. But I'm glad somebody is doing some rapping on the Good Ship Argo. If there's something rotten somewhere, the fans deserve to know what it is, and my fellow season ticket members deserve to know what they're investing in.
November 27, 2025 at 1:51 AM
I recoil from Madani's gleeful schadenfreude when reporting on the CFL. But I'm glad somebody is doing some rapping on the Good Ship Argo. If there's something rotten somewhere, the fans deserve to know what it is, and my fellow season ticket members deserve to know what they're investing in.
Fascinating to watch this issue roll out, knowing the history of how and why Canadian rugby/football rid itself of the scrum in the 1880s, and later ditched it's watered-down successor, the 3-man scrimmage, in favour of the American snapback (now "snap").
November 26, 2025 at 6:50 AM
Fascinating to watch this issue roll out, knowing the history of how and why Canadian rugby/football rid itself of the scrum in the 1880s, and later ditched it's watered-down successor, the 3-man scrimmage, in favour of the American snapback (now "snap").
You have to work pretty hard to make it seem like Farrell "accepted" anything of the kind. In his public comments, he protected his players. Full stop.
November 26, 2025 at 12:52 AM
You have to work pretty hard to make it seem like Farrell "accepted" anything of the kind. In his public comments, he protected his players. Full stop.
Stumbled on this report from 1964.
I have a feeling "Miss Post" is going to have a pretty fine career.
I have a feeling "Miss Post" is going to have a pretty fine career.
November 25, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Stumbled on this report from 1964.
I have a feeling "Miss Post" is going to have a pretty fine career.
I have a feeling "Miss Post" is going to have a pretty fine career.
I defer to Johan from Cardiff.
November 22, 2025 at 7:03 PM
I defer to Johan from Cardiff.
At the height of Pictish power/influence (c.820) Scotland was home to 6 languages, 4 writing systems and 2 religions. It's possible to overdo the desire to convey visually our uncertainties about Pictish racial characteristics. But early medieval Scotland's rich cultural diversity is beyond question
November 17, 2025 at 3:46 AM
At the height of Pictish power/influence (c.820) Scotland was home to 6 languages, 4 writing systems and 2 religions. It's possible to overdo the desire to convey visually our uncertainties about Pictish racial characteristics. But early medieval Scotland's rich cultural diversity is beyond question
Nice pitch, Argos!
November 14, 2025 at 10:57 PM
Nice pitch, Argos!
Aye. And if it's "fresh" outside, your tauntaun will freeze before you reach the first marker.
November 7, 2025 at 10:49 PM
Aye. And if it's "fresh" outside, your tauntaun will freeze before you reach the first marker.
I came across this cartoon today, from the November 7, 1963, edition of the Toronto Daily Star. A bewildering blend of cultural attitudes in one image.
November 7, 2025 at 7:02 PM
I came across this cartoon today, from the November 7, 1963, edition of the Toronto Daily Star. A bewildering blend of cultural attitudes in one image.
Wholly unconstitutional. Checking the exercise of executive power is a fundamental role (and duty) of Congress (and vice versa).
November 4, 2025 at 2:17 AM
Wholly unconstitutional. Checking the exercise of executive power is a fundamental role (and duty) of Congress (and vice versa).
The 1909 fire started in an amusement park theatre. Three Argonauts - Pud Kent, Doug Patterson & Glad Murphy - rowed across the bay to help evacuate the Hanlan Hotel. "Pat" and Murphy (below) even rescued buoyant luggage trunks by swimming them across to Muggs Island. Argos history = Toronto history
October 19, 2025 at 9:49 PM
The 1909 fire started in an amusement park theatre. Three Argonauts - Pud Kent, Doug Patterson & Glad Murphy - rowed across the bay to help evacuate the Hanlan Hotel. "Pat" and Murphy (below) even rescued buoyant luggage trunks by swimming them across to Muggs Island. Argos history = Toronto history
The sequence of revolutionary ideas in Canada that have been normal in the UK for generations continues.
October 18, 2025 at 4:20 PM
The sequence of revolutionary ideas in Canada that have been normal in the UK for generations continues.
Oh, there's just one more thing, Mr. Hlushchenko. I know you must be hungry and frazzled; but could you just analyze Shakespeare's use of dramatic and stylistic techniques in the conversation between Roderigo, Iago and Brabantio in Act 1, Scene 1 of Othello? There's a good chap. You have two hours.
October 15, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Oh, there's just one more thing, Mr. Hlushchenko. I know you must be hungry and frazzled; but could you just analyze Shakespeare's use of dramatic and stylistic techniques in the conversation between Roderigo, Iago and Brabantio in Act 1, Scene 1 of Othello? There's a good chap. You have two hours.
Rory McIlroy speaking earlier today about golf and growth. As I listened, I thought, "well, this sounds a little familiar". Those glibly seeking "major change" in the name of growth in Canadian football pay lip service to "tradition"; but you never hear them address what the game represents.
October 15, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Rory McIlroy speaking earlier today about golf and growth. As I listened, I thought, "well, this sounds a little familiar". Those glibly seeking "major change" in the name of growth in Canadian football pay lip service to "tradition"; but you never hear them address what the game represents.
A fun photograph of Casa Loma (or "Casa Lorna"!) under construction, from a 1912 Star Weekly.
October 10, 2025 at 6:54 PM
A fun photograph of Casa Loma (or "Casa Lorna"!) under construction, from a 1912 Star Weekly.
"We took freedom of speech away because the courts said you had freedom of speech."
How many clauses of the constitution are violated by that single autocratic utterance?
How many clauses of the constitution are violated by that single autocratic utterance?
October 9, 2025 at 8:45 PM
"We took freedom of speech away because the courts said you had freedom of speech."
How many clauses of the constitution are violated by that single autocratic utterance?
How many clauses of the constitution are violated by that single autocratic utterance?
Somewhere in Georgia, there's a retired marine telling his grandkids about how the Canadians almost got him court martialled for flying the flag upside down at a World Series game; and his grandkids are saying, "Sure they did, Grandpa: did you remember to take your medicine?"
October 8, 2025 at 2:33 AM
Somewhere in Georgia, there's a retired marine telling his grandkids about how the Canadians almost got him court martialled for flying the flag upside down at a World Series game; and his grandkids are saying, "Sure they did, Grandpa: did you remember to take your medicine?"
TODAY IN ARGOS HISTORY
OCT 7, 1933 = Star kicking halfback Ab Box suffered neck injuries and facial fractures in the Argos' home opener against Montreal. The damage was pronounced season-ending and career-threatening, but Box returned to action for the playoffs wearing custom-made head protection.
OCT 7, 1933 = Star kicking halfback Ab Box suffered neck injuries and facial fractures in the Argos' home opener against Montreal. The damage was pronounced season-ending and career-threatening, but Box returned to action for the playoffs wearing custom-made head protection.
October 7, 2025 at 7:31 PM
TODAY IN ARGOS HISTORY
OCT 7, 1933 = Star kicking halfback Ab Box suffered neck injuries and facial fractures in the Argos' home opener against Montreal. The damage was pronounced season-ending and career-threatening, but Box returned to action for the playoffs wearing custom-made head protection.
OCT 7, 1933 = Star kicking halfback Ab Box suffered neck injuries and facial fractures in the Argos' home opener against Montreal. The damage was pronounced season-ending and career-threatening, but Box returned to action for the playoffs wearing custom-made head protection.
TODAY IN ARGOS HISTORY
OCT 7, 1922 = Backup QB Allan Arless (L) of the Montreal Winged Wheelers suffered fatal neck injuries during a 16-7 loss to the Argos at the MAAA Grounds. Much to Lionel Conacher's dismay, the false story that Arless was injured tackling him became part of Conacher lore.
OCT 7, 1922 = Backup QB Allan Arless (L) of the Montreal Winged Wheelers suffered fatal neck injuries during a 16-7 loss to the Argos at the MAAA Grounds. Much to Lionel Conacher's dismay, the false story that Arless was injured tackling him became part of Conacher lore.
October 7, 2025 at 7:22 PM
TODAY IN ARGOS HISTORY
OCT 7, 1922 = Backup QB Allan Arless (L) of the Montreal Winged Wheelers suffered fatal neck injuries during a 16-7 loss to the Argos at the MAAA Grounds. Much to Lionel Conacher's dismay, the false story that Arless was injured tackling him became part of Conacher lore.
OCT 7, 1922 = Backup QB Allan Arless (L) of the Montreal Winged Wheelers suffered fatal neck injuries during a 16-7 loss to the Argos at the MAAA Grounds. Much to Lionel Conacher's dismay, the false story that Arless was injured tackling him became part of Conacher lore.
TODAY IN ARGOS HISTORY
OCT 7, 1899 = D'Arcy McGee (older brother of hockey's famous Frank) and Pud Kent (pictured) scored second-half touchdowns to pace the Argonauts to an W 11-7 win over the Hamilton Tigers at Toronto's Rosedale Field, the very first league win in the club's history.
OCT 7, 1899 = D'Arcy McGee (older brother of hockey's famous Frank) and Pud Kent (pictured) scored second-half touchdowns to pace the Argonauts to an W 11-7 win over the Hamilton Tigers at Toronto's Rosedale Field, the very first league win in the club's history.
October 7, 2025 at 7:12 PM
TODAY IN ARGOS HISTORY
OCT 7, 1899 = D'Arcy McGee (older brother of hockey's famous Frank) and Pud Kent (pictured) scored second-half touchdowns to pace the Argonauts to an W 11-7 win over the Hamilton Tigers at Toronto's Rosedale Field, the very first league win in the club's history.
OCT 7, 1899 = D'Arcy McGee (older brother of hockey's famous Frank) and Pud Kent (pictured) scored second-half touchdowns to pace the Argonauts to an W 11-7 win over the Hamilton Tigers at Toronto's Rosedale Field, the very first league win in the club's history.
The blue below the pink line (Hwy 7) is the University of Guelph. The blue above the line is a sprawling maze of uninhabited industrial subdivisions. Commuters want to live in the south end; students want to live near the university. So almost all new housing goes there.
October 6, 2025 at 5:58 PM
The blue below the pink line (Hwy 7) is the University of Guelph. The blue above the line is a sprawling maze of uninhabited industrial subdivisions. Commuters want to live in the south end; students want to live near the university. So almost all new housing goes there.
This slogan is brought to you by Donald J. Trump.
October 4, 2025 at 12:09 PM
This slogan is brought to you by Donald J. Trump.
Join the club. Guelph devoted decades to crafting a body of planning and permit rules and bylaws seeking to strike the delicate balance between preservation and expansion. Then Ford gave the mayor the power and a huge financial incentive to ignore all the rules and bylaws, and now the carnage ensues
September 30, 2025 at 1:17 AM
Join the club. Guelph devoted decades to crafting a body of planning and permit rules and bylaws seeking to strike the delicate balance between preservation and expansion. Then Ford gave the mayor the power and a huge financial incentive to ignore all the rules and bylaws, and now the carnage ensues
I'm looking forward to reading this op-ed if I can find a copy of TGAM today. Loving the concept of a "covenant with the country" and interested in where Adam Radwanski goes with it.
September 27, 2025 at 12:17 PM
I'm looking forward to reading this op-ed if I can find a copy of TGAM today. Loving the concept of a "covenant with the country" and interested in where Adam Radwanski goes with it.
