One of figure skatings brightest stars and most colourful characters is gone. LeSean McCoy Jersey . Toller Cranston, a larger-than-life star on and off the ice who helped revolutionize the sport, died at his home in Mexico from an apparent heart attack, a Skate Canada spokesperson said Saturday.He was 65.Cranston, a six-time Canadian senior mens champion who won bronze at the 1974 world championships and 1976 Olympics, was known for his dramatic showmanship on the ice. While he never won an Olympic or world title, his unique artistic vision forever changed the sport.There was a moment of silence in his honour between the mens event and the ice dance Saturday night at the Canadian figure skating championships in Kingston, Ont.In a sport that later became full of high-flyers replete with arsenals of quad jumps, Cranston was all about the artistry.He is his own work of art, the Globe and Mail wrote in 2003.When he hung up his skates, Cranston kept on creating with a paintbrush. He was one of a kind, said Brian Orser, a former Canadian and world champion, Olympic silver medallist and now in-demand coach. Nobody will ever be like him. And such a great contribution to figure skating but me, personally, (it was) just his sense of humour and his outlook on life and (his) free spirit ... (he was) somewhat of a rebel. Always spoke his mind, wasnt always so accurate but he spoke his mind.A member of Canadas Sports Hall of Fame since 1977, Cranston was always one of a kind.A skater with a painter’s eye, his original artistry and dramatic showmanship on ice broke new ground in figure skating and thrilled audiences, said Skate Canada.Cranston was born in Hamilton, grew up in Kirkland Lake, Ont., and Montreal before settling in Mexico once his skating days were done.He was also an avid artist and his work was exhibited in galleries and museums around the world.He lived a unique life, cycling in and out of the public eye after his skating career. In his 2000 book When Hell Freezes Over, Should I Bring My Skates? Cranston wrote of knocking hockey star Wayne Gretzky off a bicycle, chasing jazz singer Nina Simone down a Montreal street trying to recover a fur coat, of his costume sticking to the ice on the Rideau Canal during an outdoor show in Ottawa, and much, much more.Within the skating world, Ive been privileged to have had a textured and multifaceted career, he told The Canadian Press in an interview at the time.Im not blowing my own horn. Im just making a point. With all the other things that surround my skating career, what skater in Canada or in the world has done those things? Nobody.When Hell Freezes Over, Should I Bring My Skates? was a sequel to his 1997 autobiography Zero Tolerance.Olympic pairs silver medallist Debbi Wilkes trained with Cranston in the later years of her career, when Cranstons career was just getting going.He was a crazy person, but absolutely mesmerizing, an artistic genius even then, she said.Wilkes recalls one particular practice when the two were standing along the boards.He had tears in his eyes and he said Nobody understands, I have these ideas, things I want to do, but everybody just laughs at me, Wilkes said.Cranston won national titles from 1971 to 76 and placed second at the 1971 North American championships in Peterborough, Ont. He won Skate Canada International events in 1973 and 75.He finished fourth at the 1975 world championships in Colorado Springs, and was fourth again a year later in Goteborg, Sweden.Cranston was 26 when he reached the Olympic podium at the 1976 Winter Games in Innsbruck.He was inducted into the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame in 1976 and was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1977.Toller Cranston was a stellar athlete and a trailblazer for sport in our country, Marcel Aubut, the president of the Canadian Olympic Committee said in a statement. His creative performances and artistry on the ice helped revitalize the world of figure skating, and his contributions helped inspire future generations of Canadian skaters.Toller was a passionate competitor and an icon to many in his sport. He will be truly missed and our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time.In 1995, Cranston received a Special Olympic Order from the Canadian Olympic Committee. He was also an illustrator, author, designer, choreographer and sports commentator.While Cranston had worked in the past with some skaters on their routines, later on in life he called himself estranged from the skating world. He washed his hands of the sport, in part because of the new judging system implemented following the 2002 Salt Lake Olympics that he believed had killed the skatings popularity and stifled its creativity.But he had no shortage of opinions about the Canadian champions who followed him.He called Elvis Stojko a great competitor, one dimensional. He applauded Orsers combination of art and sport and liked the dramatic element Kurt Browning brought to the table.And he marvelled at Patrick Chan.Im on another planet watching Patrick Chan with binoculars and applauding along with the rest of the world, Cranston said from his Mexican hideaway in 2012.I dont think I could watch him skate live, Id commit suicide out of depression at how good he is, Cranston added, erupting in loud laughter.Chan met Cranston once when he was a young boy training at the Toronto Cricket Club with his late coach Osborne Colson.You could tell he was special, Chan said of Cranston. Hes a unique individual and he only said good things about me, and of course Mr. Colson raved about me to him. (Cranston) was always complimentary and optimistic about me, which was so nice.Cranston did not shy away from confrontation, taking on the CBC after he was let go as a commentator. And his relationship with Canadian figure skating officials was stormy at times.Cranston returned to the public eye briefly in 2010 when he was a guest judge on CBC TVs Battle of the Blades. The judging panel eliminated defending champion Jamie Sale and former NHL star Theo Fleury.Cranston found a home in Mexicos San Miguel de Allende, savouring its history, perfect weather and interesting inhabitants.The people are as international as any town can be: London, Paris, Rome, New York and San Miguel. I have seven neighbours — six come from different countries, he said in 2012.San Miguel seduced me, he added.Wilkes last saw Cranston at the 2013 world championships in London, Ont.Nobody could enter a room or a rink the way he could. He loved being the centre of attention, she said. Autopsy results were pending. There was no immediate word on funeral plans. TreDavious White Womens Jersey . -- Kurt Buschs Sunday at Martinsville Speedway, in some ways, was like his career wrapped into one afternoon. Matt Milano Jersey . - Henrik Samuelsson and Curtis Lazar each had two goals and two assists as the Edmonton Oil Kings secured top spot in the Eastern Conference by defeating the host Red Deer Rebels 7-4 on Saturday in Western Hockey League action. http://www.authenticbillsfanaticfootball.com/authentic-devin-singletary-bills-jersey/ . Helwani said that Weidman has been dealing with recurring swelling and pain in his knees related to torn meniscus he suffered as a teenager and the problems came to a head last week when he suffered prolonged swelling and pain in his left knee, resulting in the decision to undergo an arthroscopic scope procedure to clean up the tear in both knees.For the third time in UFC history, the promotion will feature an event in cooperation with a U.S. military base for UFC: Fight for the Troops 3. This fight card, which takes place in Fort Campbell, Kentucky, has had a number of changes, including headliner Lyoto Machida replaced by fellow Brazilian Rafael Natal. Once again Jordan Cieciwa (@FitCityJordan) and I (@LynchOnSports) go head to head in our picks for this mid-week event. Last weekend at Bellator 106, my #TeamLynch went a decent 8-3, but a miserable 1-4 on the main card. #TeamJC went 7-4 but was had was better on the main card going 3-2. Let us know which side youre on this week. Either tweet #TeamLynch or #TeamJC. Also feel free to leave your opinions in the comment section below. Tim Kennedy vs. Rafael Natal James Lynch TSN.ca (@LynchOnSports) Crowd favorite and U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Kennedy aims for his second UFC victory, when he is paired with the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Natal. The former Strikeforce title challenger is on a two-fight win streak, including a successful UFC debut against Roger Gracie. Looking for his third straight win, hell face a stiff test in Natal, who has currently won five of his last six fights. The Gracie Fusion fighter is coming off a "Fight of the Night" performance in a victory over Tor Troeng at UFC Fight Night 28 and looks for his first four-fight win streak inside the octagon. Its no secret the Brazilian has the superior ground game, but will he be able to handle the wresting of Kennedy? The 34-year old Jackson/Winklejohn product showed in his losses to Luke Rockhold and Jacare Souza that hes extremely durable and difficult to finish. With no submission losses on his resume, its unlikely Natal will force the tap in this fight. Expect Kennedy to turn this into a dog fight in front of the military crowd and pull of a unanimous decision victory. Kennedy via unanimous decision Jordan Cieciwa – TSN 1290 Host (@FitCityJordan) I will say about this fight, its not an easy victory for Tim Kennedy. Rafael Natal is an accomplished athlete with a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. If they wanted a main event to ensure the ex-US Army Staff Sergeant would win, this is not the one. At 5 1, Tim Kennedy is no stranger to tough fights and some great stand up battles. He has been vocal about pay scales and time off in the industry. Other than that, there are few as focused as Kennedy. He is always ready to go when he steps in the octagon. His opponent is riding a three-fight win streak. Rafaels last fight in September was an all-out war and fight of the night honors went to the battle with Tor Troeng. It will be interesting to see if he has had enough time to recover and put in a solid camp. That fight was 10 weeks ago. A full three round fight like that needs a good three or four weeks of rest. That leaves six weeks to prepare for Kennedy. That lack of rest a preparation is the reason I am giving the nod to Kennedy. Kennedy via unanimous decision Liz Carmouche vs. Alexis Davis Lynch Port Colborne native Davis looks to pull off the upset on Wednesday, when she battles former womens title challenger Carmouche. The 29-year old will be heading into enemy territory as "Girl-Rilla" is an Iraq military veteran and will no doubt have the crowd on her side. A winner of three-straight fights since her loss to fellow Canuck Sarah Kaufman last year, a win over the highly touted Carmouche would certainly propel her into the title picture. Meanwhile the 29-year old San Diego native bounced back from her loss to Ronda Rousey, with an impressive victory over Jessica Andrade at UFC on FOX 8. Both fighters are well versed in all areas of this fight, with Carmouche having the advantage on the feet and Davis having the edge on the mat. No doubt this will be competitive, but Carmouche should outwork the Canadian over three rounds, landing the better shots on route to a unanimous decision victory. Carmouche via unanimous decision JC Id love to see a Canadian win a fight against a Marine at the "Fight for the Troops" I am pretty sure nothing more "un-American" than that could ever happen. With that said, Liz Carmouche gave Ronda Rousey her first scare inside the cage, and she has had a very impressive career so far. Alexis Davis is an impressive fighter, but from what fans have seen from her this far, I dont think her striking or wrestling will match Carmouche. Liz should be able to over power, and out gun Davis. This will be an exciting fight with a lot of pace. Davis always brings a solid fight and her time with Cesar Gracie team will be perfecting her ground game. Davis is a contender in the division, but it will be Carmouches night. Carmouche via unanimous decision Ronny Markes vs. Yoel Romero Lynch The 14-1 Brazilian Markes looks for his eighth straight victory when he battles Cuban Olympic medalist Romero. The 25-year old was originally scheduled to compete on the UFC on FUEL 10 card back in June, but a car accident a day before the fight as he was scheduled to face Derek Brunson. Thurman Thomas Jersey. Romero is coming off a "Knockout of the Night" performance against Clifford Starks at UFC on FOX 7 and looks for his sixth win in his last seven fights. The 36-year old American Top Team fighter should be able to avoid the mat with his wrestling and use his exceptional standup to knockout the Nova Uniao fighter, sometime in the second round. Romero via second round knockout JC Im excited to watch this fight. Im actually expecting a fight of the night out of this one. Ronny Markes has looked fantastic in his career to date. At 14-1 he has faced some top tier talent including Paulo Filho and Aaron Simpson. His opponent across the cage is Yoel Romero. His flashy knee KO over Clifford Starks raised some eyebrows. In my opinion its not enough to make the case to beat Ronny Markes. I expect this to be a great fist fight with someone getting tagged early and in exciting style. Markes via second round TKO Rustam Khabilov vs. Jorge Masvidal Lynch In a matchup that could very well take home "Fight of the Night" honors, 16-1 Russian Sambo specialist Khabilov battles former Strikeforce title challenger Masvidal. The 26-year old Jackson/Winklejohn member has made quite the impression since his UFC debut last December. Through two fights, Khabilov has earned two first round finishes over Vinc Pichel and Yancy Mediros. His superior Sambo background has served him well thus far in the octagon, bullying opponents and looking completely dominant while doing so. Facing a 32-fight veteran in Masvidal however, is a big step up in competition. Currently riding a three-fight win streak, the American Top Team product Masvidal has faced his fair share of top talent including Gilbert Melendez, Paul Daley and Raphael Assuncao. Despite the fact all of those were losses, none of those fighters were able to finish the gritty Miami native. Aside from having superior standup, the 28-year old also holds a two inch reach advantage that should serve him well if he is able to neutralize the Russians clinch game. No doubt many pundits will be favoring the decorated Russian in this fight, but Masvidal will prove his critics wrong by pulling off the upset. Masvidal should be able to keep his opponent at bay, and pick away with his shots on route to a unanimous decision victory. Masvidal via unanimous decision. JC How do you bet against Jorge Masvidal in this contest? With 25 wins, 10 by knockout its hard to give anyone else the nod. Hes been in the cage with the champion and has looked excellent in all of his fights. Rustam Khabilov has less than five minutes of cage time in two fights. He debuted in the UFC with an impressive slam/ground and pound win. The fact remains, his level of competition has not been the same as Masvidal. Look for Jorge to use his total arsenal as a veteran to get this win. The reach advantage goes to Masvidal, and Im sure he will use that to stay out of harms way and secure a KO win. Watch for a young, frustrated Khabilov to make a mistake early in the second and get knocked out. Masvidal via second round KO Michael Chiesa vs. Colton Smith Lynch Two Ultimate Fighter winners open up the main card in the lightweight division, as active U.S. Army member Smith battles Team Alpha Male fighter Chiesa. The TUF 16 winner Smith is coming off hard fought loss to TUF: Smashes winner Robert Whittaker at UFC 160. As a result, Smith will be making his debut at lightweight on Wednesday night for a better result. Similarly TUF 15 winner Chiesa is coming off his first pro defeat at UFC on FOX 8, when he was submitted by Jorge Masvidal in the second round. Both fighters have proved to be very durable, but Chiesa will have both a one inch height and five inch reach advantage. In addition, Chiesa has fought half as many fights as Smith, who has only competed five times in the cage. While this fight will be competitive, expect Chiesa to catch Smith sometime in the third round and land in the submission for the win. Chiesa via third round submission JC I dont like Colton Smith. There I said it. The Ultimate Fighter winner gave a glove touch cheap shot to get into the house and that still has left a sour taste in my mouth. Its the reason Im excited to see Michael Chiesa step in and work his submission game. Chiesa had his first big test when he fought Jorge Masvidal; Masvidal won that fight with one second remaining in the second round. This match up favors Chiesa who finishes fights. Hes got two decisions in nine wins. Thats a fantastic record, and one that has me believing hes got a win coming in front of the troops. Chiesa via second round submission Undercard Picks: Lynch: Green, Roop, Bermudez, Nunes, Larkin, Edwards, Baczynski, Brunson JC: Krause, Roop, Bermudez, Nunes, Camozzi, Edwards, Baczynski, Brunson Also be sure to tune into the "Weigh-In" on TSN Radio 1290 Winnipeg every Saturday as myself, Jordan and "Big Marv" Timog go toe to toe discussing the hottest topics in MMA. ' ' '