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Geroy Simon is leaving the CFL a changed man. Zach LaVine Jersey . In 1999, he joined the Winnipeg Blue Bombers feeling individual success would get him back into the NFL. On Wednesday, Simon retired as the most prolific receiver in CFL history, but he says the three Grey Cup championship titles he shared with his teammates are the crowning achievements of his illustrious 15-year CFL career. "Hands down, those are the three most important times in my career and my most cherished accomplishments," Simon said. "When I first got here, winning wasnt that important to me, it was my individual success. "I think the maturity of being here and evolving as a person, as a player with a few great organizations switched my thinking to where it stopped being about my individual success as opposed to winning games and winning Grey Cups." Simon, 38, twice played for teams that won Grey Cups at home -- the 2011 B.C. Lions and last year with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. "Its an amazing feeling to win a Grey Cup at a neutral site," Simon said. "But to win at home twice, not too many people can come close to that. "I feel very privileged to have done it." Then again, being the most prolific receiver in CFL history isnt shabby, either. "No, not at all," Simon said with a chuckle. "Thats a close second." Simon shouldnt be out of football long. Hes talking with the Riders about a front-office job as a club ambassador. The six-foot, 198-pound Simon accumulated 1,029 career catches for 16,352 yards and 103 TDs with Winnipeg (1999-2000), B.C. (01-12) and Saskatchewan (2013). He was the CFLs outstanding player in 06 with 105 catches for 1,856 yards and 15 TDs, capping that campaign with his first Grey Cup title. Simon, who spent part of the 97 season on the Pittsburgh Steelers practice roster, spent two seasons with Winnipeg before signing as a free agent with B.C. It was with the Lions that Simon -- nicknamed Superman for the pose hed strike after scoring TDs -- became a CFL star. But the Lions dealt Simon to Saskatchewan on Jan. 24, 2013 for receiver Justin Harper and a 2014 third-round pick. After missing the Riders first three regular-season games due to injury, Simon finished with 40 catches for 565 yards and three TDs and surpassed Ben Cahoon (1,017) as the CFLs all-time receptions leader. Simon ended the season -- and ultimately his career -- scoring two TDs in Saskatchewans 45-23 Grey Cup win over Hamilton at Mosaic Stadium. However, that Grey Cup win was much different than Simons first two. With B.C., he was a focal point of the offence whereas with Saskatchewan he was a mentor for the youthful Riders. "I still believe I made a huge contribution (with Riders) but it wasnt stats," Simon said. "It was more in the background, in the locker-room helping mentor guys, helping them get to the right spots and get better. "You cant measure those by stats. But to have the opportunity to catch two touchdown passes and win the game in that manner, it was really special to me." Simon was prepared to return for a 16th season before noticing some subtle hints it was time to retire. "Even though I wanted to play, my preparation was quite different than any other year because I was busy doing many other things," Simon said. "Id miss a workout here and there and thered be times where instead of going my normal two hours in the gym Id go for an hour. It was just different. "Now, I wouldve been able to get to training camp and play at a high level, but I think karma has a way of working its way out. Things happen for a reason and I think I was just prepared physically and mentally to move on." Simon finalized the decision to retire about two weeks ago while visiting Rome with his wife. "We talked and I said, Maybe its just time to move on," he said. "She was more concerned than I was. "I didnt want to get to a certain point where I tarnished my legacy on the field with mediocre play or frustration at the end of my career because that would leave a sour taste in my mouth. I left a place that was so good to me for a number of years and went somewhere that was a heated rival. To win a Grey Cup in that place, I felt vindicated, like my career had come full circle and it was time." Simon admitted leaving B.C. was difficult. He and the Lions had mutually agreed to the trade to Saskatchewan after the Lions indicated Simons role would change in 2013. However, Simon said his longtime association with B.C. GM Wally Buono made his transition easier. "In the end its all about business," Simon said. "The B.C. Lions made a business decision so I had to do that for my business, the Simon business. "It was easy for me to move on because I didnt take it personally. I learned from the best in Wally. He takes all the emotion out of it, thats a learned skill. I was around him enough to know its not personal, its just business." B.C. defensive co-ordinator Mark Washington applauded his former teammate deciding to retire on top. "Very proud, very proud of him," Washington said. "A kid from Johnstown, Pa., goes to the University of Maryland and now is the all-time leading everything in the CFL when it comes to receiving. "He had an awesome career -- a storybook-type career. For him to go out as a champion, its fitting." Lions defensive back Ryan Phillips also paid tribute to Simon. "He was just a perfect professional in my opinion," Phillips said. "He taught me the ropes and helped me become a better DB. "Hes definitely a true Hall of Famer in every aspect, not just football-wise, but as a person. Its sad to see him go because of how much he brought to the game and how much he brought to the CFL. He went out in the right fashion." Simon will be eligible for selection into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2017. So will former Montreal quarterback Anthony Calvillo, who retired earlier this off-season as pro footballs all-time passing leader. It would only be fitting if the CFLs all-time leading passer and top receiver were inducted together. "Thats actually awesome, I never thought about that," Simon said. "Anthony Calvillo is a legend in this league, a great example not only for myself but also younger players in this league to aspire to be. "He was a consummate professional throughout his career. Hed be very deserving of going into the Hall of Fame and if we have that opportunity to go together, Id definitely be honoured." --- With files from CP reporter Joshua Clipperton in Vancouver. Michael Jordan Jersey . MLS Commissioner Don Garber and Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez also will attend the session, which was announced Monday. The league has discussed placing its next two expansion teams in Miami and Atlanta. Bobby Portis Jersey . For the Athletics, hes extremely important at the top of the order, especially with Coco Crisp hurting. Jaso drove in three runs Sunday night, helping Scott Kazmir and Oakland beat the Texas Rangers 9-3. http://www.authenticbullsauthority.com/customized-c-4/ . According to TSN Edmonton reporter Ryan Rishaug, agent Rick Valette met with Oilers senior VP of hockey operations Scott Howson and general manager Craig MacTavish on Monday to kick off the talks.J.P. Parise, a member of Canadas 1972 Summit Series team who played for the Minnesota North Stars and New York Islanders over his NHL career, has died from lung cancer. He was 73. The Minnesota Wild said that Parise died Wednesday night at his home in the Minneapolis suburb of Prior Lake. Son and Wild star Zach Parise informed the team of his fathers death. We appreciate the outpouring of support we have received from family, friends and the entire hockey community during this difficult time, the Parise family said Thursday in a statement. J.P. was a great husband, father and grandpa and will be greatly missed by all of us. During his playing career, Parise is most remembered for skating on a line with Phil Esposito and Wayne Cashman during the Summit Series and getting ejected in the eighth game, which Canada won on Paul Hendersons famous goal. Parise played in six of the eight games during the legendary series against the Soviet Union. Friend and longtime teammate Tom Reid said he has a photo of Parise going after the referee in that game hanging in his pub. I think that kind of turned things around, Reid told reporters in St. Paul, Minn. The referee didnt call any more penalties against Canada. He was a big part of the success of that. Hockey Canada chief operating officer Scott Smith credits that team for the growth of the game across Canada. I think that group of 1972 players contributed greatly to both things: the interest in international hockey and the significance of any Canada-Russia game but also for the development of coaches at the grassroots level, Smith said in a phone interview. Sidney Crosby, who played for Parise at Shattuck-St. Marys prep school, said during Canadas 2014 Olympic orientation camp that some of what he knows of the Canada-Russia rivalry came from his coach. Parise, a native of Smooth Rock Falls, Ont., spent most of his NHL career with the North Stars and was a two-time all-star. He had 594 points (238 goals, 356 assists) in 890 games from 1965-79 with the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, North Stars, Islanders and Cleveland Barons. The National Hockey League family mourns the passing and cherishes the memory of J.P. Parise, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement. Especially in his adopted home state of Minnesota, J.P. was a consummate player, teacher and administrator in the game. The Parise name has been prominent in Minnesota hockey since the 1960s, and J.P.ss commitment and passion for the NHL lives on through his son, Zach. Dennis Rodman Jersey. The NHL sends heartfelt condolences to J.P.s family, to his friends, to the Minnesota Wild organization and to all the organizations J.P. represented with such passion. After retirement, Parise spent nine seasons as a North Stars assistant coach. He later ran the hockey program at Shattuck-St. Marys school in Faribault, one of the top prep hockey schools in the U.S. Parise helped oversee the growth of NHL stars such as Crosby and Jonathan Toews. He was the director when they were here and was a big part of those guys, Shattuck-St. Marys hockey director Tom Ward said. I know both those guys spent some weekends at the Parises house and he let them come over and stay in Zach and Jordans bedroom a couple weekends and helped those kids along when they were a long way from home and young kids and was a mentor to a lot of kids here. In an interview last year with the Star Tribune, Parise was philosophical about his cancer. Thats life, he said. If someone was to tell you today that youre going to be going at 77, 78, youd say, Boy, thats not bad. I never think of this shortening my life, this shortening anything Im going to do. Im still going to travel, Im still going to watch hockey. Over the weekend, Zach Parise talked about the impending loss of his father with the Star Tribune. Its the hardest thing Ive ever had to deal with in my life, he told the newspaper. You try and find that separation, you try to come here and be around the guys and not think about it, and Yeozie (coach Mike Yeo) has been really good and the teams been really good giving me the day off, saying basically, Just show up for games. Theyve been really supportive about it, but the hard part about it is you try to go to the rink and forget about stuff, but the hard part is, this was kind of our thing. Hockey was our thing, Parise added, fighting back tears. Him coming to every game or watching every game and talking to him after every game and talking hockey, thats not there anymore. Zach Parise also went to Shattuck and is now in his 10th NHL season and third with the Wild. Former Stars forward Mike Modano posted a note on Twitter after hearing the news. Our Thoughts and prayers go out to Zach Parise and his family on the passing of J.P. All our best, Modano tweeted. Funeral arrangements were pending. ——— With files from The Associated Press. 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