THE HERBAL MAGIC WEIGHT LOSS CUP: CFL LEGENDS WIN BY LOSING

Canada's best Choice for Weight Loss Teams up with Canada's League to inspire Canadians

Toronto, ON - (July 8, 2010) - Eight Canadian Football League alumni are competing in the Weight Loss Cup presented by Herbal Magic to look and feel healthier and inspire fans to do the same.

And they will likely take a few shots at each other along the way.

"All of the players that are in the Herbal Magic Program are some of the toughest guys I have ever come across," said nine-time CFL All-Star Chris Walby, one of the toughest CFLers of all-time, with a good natured laugh. "But sometimes being tough isn't enough as we all get older, and yes, heavier. I am, however, out to whip these gentlemen fair and square!

"But the most important thing is that we, by trying to get into better shape ourselves, can encourage others to do the same thing."

The Weight Loss Cup (www.weightlosscup.ca) presented by Herbal Magic is a challenge amongst eight CFL Alumni who are battling to lose weight and adopt a healthier lifestyle.

They will achieve this through the Herbal Magic weight loss program which consists of eating real food (no pre-packaged meals), using natural health products and getting advice from a personal health coach, who will support them and give some tough love when needed.

They will compete against each other but also against themselves to achieve their weekly goals. The challenge will last 20 weeks with the player achieving the most points being crowned the Weight Loss Cup Champion.

Long-time CFL offensive lineman and former Blue Bomber Walby is competing against fellow CFL alumni Gerald Roper (representing the  B.C. Lions), Eric Upton (Edmonton Eskimos), Gerry Datillio (Calgary Stampeders), Andrew Greene (Saskatchewan Roughriders), Ralph Scholz (Hamilton Tiger-Cats), Doug Smith (Montreal Alouettes), and Paul Markle (Toronto Argonauts).

Like football, weight loss can be challenging. However, it is a lot easier when you have a good coach and fans to cheer you on throughout the process.   To that end, fans will have the opportunity to cheer on their favourite alumni and let them know that they are supporting them as they work towards their healthy goal weight.  Fans can give their favourite contestant, playing for their favourite team, a boost by voting for him at www.weightlosscup.ca, where they can also win great prizes, including a trip for two to the sold-out 98th Grey Cup this November in Edmonton.

Who knows, as it gets further into both the CFL season and the results of the Weight Loss Cup, we may start to see a correlation between the winning team in the weight loss cup, and the potential winning team of the Grey Cup!

"We're thrilled to team up with the Canadian Football League," said Fraser Clarke President of Herbal Magic Canada.

"It's a Canadian institution whose teams and players are all about setting and achieving goals, with the right approach and great coaching, and that's what Herbal Magic is all about for our clients."

Canadian Football League Commissioner Mark Cohon welcomed Herbal Magic to the CFL's growing list of national partners.

"The Herbal Magic Weight Loss Cup is a great way to encourage Canadians to strive towards a healthier lifestyle, and a healthy weight, and celebrate our alumni at the same time," he said. "It gives our fans a chance to cheer on some great players once again, and learn about Herbal Magic's track record of success."

Each Herbal Magic weight loss program combines real food, a personal coach, and natural products. It is the combination of these important program elements, along with your personal motivation, that delivers lasting results.

All programs are customized to meet your specific needs, and give you the information and tools necessary to help you lose weight and keep it off.

Former Argo tight end Paul Markle joked he's never shied away from taking on a Blue Bomber, but at this point in his life, he's content to face a tough guy like Walby on the weight scales instead of a football field.

"When I was a kid catching passes for the Argos, some of the coaches were after me to put on weight," said Markle, Vice-President of the Canadian Football League Alumni Association.

"Now, of course, it's a whole different ball game for people our age. In fact, losing weight can be a challenge for people of all ages, so we're all excited to work with Herbal Magic."

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Jamie Dykstra

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Canadian Football League

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NEW COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT A MAJOR STEP FORWARD FOR THE CFL AND CFLPA

Four-year-deal revamps business model, increases player compensation, and introduces drug policy

TORONTO  (June 29, 2010) --  The Canadian Football League charges into the 2010 season under a new four-year Collective Bargaining Agreement that revamps the league’s business model, increases player compensation and introduces year- round testing for performance enhancing drugs.

Now ratified by the league’s players and its Board of Governors, the terms of the agreement were revealed today at a joint news conference hosted by representatives of the CFL and the Canadian Football League Players’ Association.

More details on the agreement and the drug testing policy are available at CFL.ca and cflpa.ca. Please click on the links provided.

 

“This CBA represents a major step forward for our league, and it is a testament to the spirit of partnership that exists between the CFL and the CFLPA, a partnership that flows out of a shared passion for our game and commitment to our fans,” said Mark Cohon, Commissioner of the CFL.

CFLPA President Stu Laird said the agreement represents progress for both sides and a renewed spirit of co-operation.

“We’re moving forward together under an agreement that helps our players and helps our league,” Laird said.

The agreement replaces the provision that had required the league to devote at least 56 per cent of defined gross revenue to players’ salaries with negotiated minimum team salary and annual increases in the salary cap.

This change allows CFL teams to retain incremental revenues as they build their franchises, and it ensures players that the salary cap will grow, at a minimum, from $4.2 million in 2009 to $4.4 million in 2013. Teams will continue to share audited financial statements with the players’ association.

As well, the minimum player salary grows from $41,000 in 2009 to $45,000 in 2013 and the teams’ annual pension contribution grows from $3,200 per player in 2009 to $3,600 in 2013. There are also improvements to insurance benefits for players.

“This agreement provides for increases in salary and benefits for our players, while replacing the model for player compensation with one that establishes reasonable, fixed costs,” said Michael Copeland, Chief Operating Officer of the CFL and a member of the league’s bargaining committee.

“That represents a much stronger business model for our teams, one that lays a very strong foundation.”

For the first time, the Canadian Football League has a drug testing policy. The agreement introduces year round testing that targets performance enhancing drugs, tests blood as well as urine to capture a wider range of drugs with increased accuracy, and assigns sample collection and testing to an independent agency, the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport, that uses an independent lab employing the latest techniques and equipment compliant with standards set by the World Anti-Doping Agency.

The drug testing policy strives to do the right things in the right order: it starts with an education program for all players in 2010, designed to prevent the use of performance enhancing drugs in the first place.

Random testing begins in 2011, with 25 per cent of all players tested that year, and 35 per cent to be tested in 2012 and 2013.

Upon a first offence, a player is automatically subjected to mandatory testing and an assessment, followed by counselling, with the goal of working with the player to change his behaviour.

 A second offence triggers a three game suspension, a third offence a one year suspension, and a fourth offence a lifetime ban.

Independent of the drug policy contained in the CBA, the CFL has also entered into a separate agreement with the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport to help fund the testing of the top 80 Canadian Interuniversity Sport prospects for that year’s CFL Evaluation Camp and CFL Canadian Draft.

The new CBA includes provisions to give CFL teams a head start on pre-season preparations.  It allows for voluntary, non-contact, off-season workouts lasting up to three days in duration between February 1 and April 30, and an opportunity for all quarterbacks to voluntarily report to training camp on the Monday before the commencement of camp for all players.

The agreement phases out, over the next two years, the so-called NFL option window. But the Canadian Football League will continue to be one of the only professional sports leagues with true free agency when a player has played out his full contract.

There is no change to the designated import rule. Nor does the CBA include any provision that reduces the league’s Canadian content. In fact, it includes a provision for two additional undrafted, non-import players and non-import quarterbacks to attend training camp without counting towards teams’ roster limits.

The agreement does expand the definition of a non-import to include Canadian citizens who were resident in Canada for an aggregate period of five years prior to the age of 18, in addition to non-Canadian citizens who were resident in Canada for an aggregate period of seven years prior to the age of 15.

 “On behalf of our fans across Canada, I want to thank the members of the bargaining committees on both sides, as well as our players and league governors , for treating this important process with a great deal of respect and integrity,” Cohon said.

“I know for our fans, the best news of all is the 2010 CFL Regular season will start as scheduled this Thursday, Canada Day. And I know our teams and our players join them in saying: ‘We can’t wait for kickoff.’”

More details are available in the backgrounders attached to this release and at CFL.ca and cflpa.ca.