Sports Oakville Beaver AN ALL-TIME GREAT: Long-time Oakville resident Michael (Pinball) Clemons, pictured carrying the football for the Toronto Argonauts in Canadian Football League action 11 years ago, was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame earlier this week. Clemons owns the pro football record for allpurpose yards (25,438) and is the only player ever to gain more than 5,000 yards each in rushing, receiving, kickoff returns and punt returns. PHOTO COURTESY TORONTO ARGONAUTS FOOTBALL CLUB MEN'S · WOMEN'S · YOUTH BALL HOCKEY REGISTRATION 21st Season www.burlingtonballhockey.com 905-637-8118 41 SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 255) Fax 905-337-5567 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2008 Pinball a Hall of Famer for many reasons M ike Clemons has already been answering questions for three hours and is just 10 feet from the exit when a reporter stops and asks for a few more minutes of his time. "Sure, no problem," he says. The man simply known as Pinball could probably make the Hall of Fame for being one of the most popular athletes in Toronto history (his number 31 is one of only four ever retired in the 135-year history of the Toronto Argonauts). Or for his numerous charitable works. Or for being one of the most genuine people you will ever meet. Instead, Wednesday morning, Clemons was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in Hamilton for being one of the best players in CFL history. Eight years after he retired, he holds the pro football record for all-purpose yards, with 25,438, and is the only player ever to gain more than 5,000 yards each in rushing, receiving, kickoff returns and punt returns. He won three Grey Cups as a player and was the CFL's most outstanding player in 1990, his second year in the league. He still holds more than a dozen Argos records. All that is even more remarkable when you consider the 5-foot-5, 170-pound Clemons was repeatedly told he was too small to play pro football. As if the long-time Oakville resident hadn't done enough to win over the Argonaut faithful, upon retiring, he became the team's coach and led them to the 2004 Grey Cup. He ranks second all-time among former Argos coaches in victories behind Bob O'Billovich, the man who dubbed him Pinball. But because of his charitable work and his perma-positive outlook, Clemons' influence extended beyond football. He has always made himself available for charitable initiatives by schools, churches and community groups, and last year he launched the Michael `Pinball' Clemons Foundation to help disadvantaged youths. In 2001, he was named to the Order of Ontario. Wednesday, Clemons, now 43 and the Argos' CEO, sat amongst the busts in See Clemons page 42 www.oakvillesoccer.ca 2008 OUTDOOR SEASON ADULT DIVISION REGISTRATION STILL AVAILABLE MEN'S OPEN DIVI S OPEN DIV (1 (1989 - ) WEDNESDAY NIGHTS NESDAY ESDA T REGIS REGISTRATI N F REG STRATION FEE: $210.00 TION FE T 00 CLUDE UD UD FULL UNIFORM INCLUDING JERSEY/SHORTS/SOCKS IFORM FORM ORM NG JERSEY/SHORTS/SOCK JERS SHORTS/SOC JERSE SHORTS/SOCK JER H HORTS/S OAKVILLE CUP COMPETITIO AKVILLE COMPETITI COMPET T WILL ACCEPT FULL ROSTERS UP TO 20PP LL CEPT EPT R 2 MEN'S 35+ DIVISION (1973 - ) FRIDAY NIGHTS 7PM/9PM REGISTRATION FEE: $210.00 INCLUDES: FULL UNIFORM INCLUDING JERSEY/SHORTS/SOCKS OAKVILLE CUP COMPETITION WILL ACCEPT FULL ROSTERS UP TO 20PP LADIES 35+ DIVISION (19 SUNDAY NIGHTS 7PM/9PM REGISTRATION FEE: $210.00 INCLUDES FULL UNIFORM INCLUDING JERSEY/SHORTS/SOCKS SEASON ENDING TOURNAMENT WILL ACCEPT ROSTERS UP TO 2 SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES STILL AVAILABLE CONTACT: JOY @ jneefs@oakville-soccer.on.ca or online under "Sponsor" Link REGISTER IN PERSON AT THE OAKVILLE SOCCER CLUB NON RESIDENT FEE $10.00 APPLIES TO ALL FEES 504 Iroquois Shore Rd., Unit #11, Oakville, ON L6H 3K4 The Oakville Beaver Tel: 905-849-4436 Fax: 905-849-3677 A Proud Sponsor of Oakville Soccer Club