UP AT 6: JULIO FRANCO IS STILL DEAD

• Sheldon Souray signs with the Oilers, whom between him and Joni Pitkanen have made two guys who were a combined minus-53 last season their two highest-paid defenceman. Hey, at least there's a big name who wants to play in Edmonton.
  
  Souray is back with his SO Angelica Bridges, but the Oilers will be SOL in the defensive zone once again.
• Julio Franco, age 48, designated for assignment by the Nye Mets. Carlos Delgado is apparently sucking so badly that the Mets cut Franco out of fear he might actually have to start some games.
  
  All bets against Julio Franco playing in the majors at age 50 are off, though, if Dusty Baker ever gets another managing job.
  
  Dusty knows that a 50-year-old ballplayer won't make those "young player mistakes." (Oh, and Rickey Henderson, who hasn't played in the majors since '03 but is still younger than Franco, has joined the Mets coaching staff.)
• It's hard to imagine the New Jersey Devils being more colourless, but with Brent Sutter taking over as coach, they're sure going to try.
• CFL: Argos 48, Stampeders 15. Akili Smith threw three interceptions in 10 attempts, which was pretty much his NFL career in a nutshell. It wouldn't be the CFL, though, if the team who won by 33 points didn't come out with greater issues on offence. Toronto pivot Michael Bishop suffered something worse than a sprain to his right wrist.
  
  The Argos running game is still in absentia. Our sentimental favourite Andre Durie needed just two garbage-time carries to be Toronto's leading rusher for the game.

• Earl McRae reports Lonie Glieberman, two-time ruiner of CFL teams, is settling down and getting married. Here's hoping that union is more enduring than Lonie's relationship with Ottawa CFL fans.
  
  Gliebergal-to-be Lindsey Bobay -- who's 16 years Lonie's junior -- was a competitive swimmer in university. Marrying a jockette is a wise move by Lonie, since he'll have someone who can actually teach his kids how to throw or catch a ball.
• Last, but not least: The family of former CIS footballer and doctor Strachan Hartley, who died last week after a 21-month battle with lymphoma, is asking for tax-deductible donations to be made to a charitable foundation established in his name. The address, if anyone's interested, is Tides Foundation, c/o Strachan Hartley Legacy Foundation, 468 Arbutus Ave., Duncan, B.C., V9L 5X6.

Note to readers: Up at Five will be an experiment over the new few weeks. It's intended for follow-ups and various items which might not rate an entire post, but certainly rate a mention. It's meant to be totally superficial. Reader submissions are certainly encouraged and if they could be the lifeblood of it, so much the better.

That's all for now. Send your thoughts to neatesager@yahoo.ca.