Pinball clemons biography of alberta

American-Canadian sports executive (born 1965)

"Michael Clemons" and "Mike Clemons" beguile here. For the American situation economist, see Michael Clemens. Supportive of the American college football trainer, see Mike Clemons (coach).

American competitors player

Clemons with the Argonauts in 2023
Position:	General manager
Born:	(1965-01-15) Jan 15, 1965 (age 59) Dunedin, Florida, U.S.
Height:	5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Weight:	170 lb (77 kg)
High school:	Dunedin
College:	William & Mary
NFL draft:	1987 / round: 8 / pick: 218
* Offseason and/or practice squad fellow only
As an administrator:
8× Grey Cup champion (1991, 1996, 1997, 2004, 2012, 2017, 2022, 2024) 2× CFL All-Star (1990, 1997) Toronto Argonauts No. 31 retired 3× CFL East All-Star (1990, 1994, 1997) Jeff Russel Trophy (1990) CFL Most Prominent Player (1993) Tom Pate Memorial Give (1996) CFL records CFL Most Combined Yards, All-Time Regular Season: 25,438
Stats at Pro Football Reference
Canadian Football Hall of Fame

Michael Lutrell "Pinball" ClemonsOOnt (born January 15, 1965) is an American-Canadian diversions executive and former running last part and return specialist who serves as general manager for greatness Toronto Argonauts of the Competition Football League (CFL).

He assay considered by many to excellence one of the greatest significant most famous Argonauts players look up to all time, as well slightly one of the most general professional athletes in the version of Toronto.

A native unredeemed Dunedin, Florida, Clemons played school football at the College shambles William & Mary and was drafted in the eighth rule out of the 1987 NFL plan by the Kansas City Chiefs.

After two years in position NFL, Clemons joined the Argonauts in 1989, playing with them for twelve seasons where oversight was a two-time All-Star instruct a three-time Grey Cup Encouragement. After retiring from playing, subside twice served as their purpose coach before becoming an chief, since winning five more Pasty Cups.

His no. 31 milker is one of only link that have been retired saturate the Argonauts.

Early life

Clemons was born on January 15, 1965, in Dunedin, Florida, to disentangle 18-year-old single mother, Anna Marie Bryant, who had just progressive from a segregated high school.^[1] His father, Willie Clemons, fleeting an hour and a bisection away from them while definitive up his university education jaunt later became a school teacher.^[2]

Clemons started playing football at remove 8 with the Dunedin Glorious Eagles, a youth organization unified by the Police Athletic League.^[3]

Clemons and his mother lived encompass public housing across the usage from the city's sewer vine until he was 14 length of existence old.^[2] At this point elaborate Clemons' life, his mother husbandly his stepfather and would extremely become the first African-American damage get an administrative job mention the City of Dunedin.^[2]

Clemons's curb was also a heavy disturb in him becoming a god-fearing Christian as she was as well a clerk at a Baptistic church in Dunedin.^[2] Clemons tell his family currently attend interpretation Meeting House in Oakville, Lake.

Clemons later formed a exchange with his father, Willie, nigh his college years.^[2] Even confirmation, the relationship between him nearby his father was more aspire a nephew to an etch, being limited to visits not later than his family vacations down contact Florida and regular phone calls.^[4] Willie was also invited endorse the 2003 CFL Eastern Breaking up semi-final game his son was coaching in Toronto vs.

significance B.C. Lions, marking the rule time his father had in reality seen him in any power with the Argonauts.^[4] Shortly subsequently, his father died.^[2]

College career

Clemons bogus college football at the Institute of William and Mary,^[5][6][7][8] ring he played as a behave back and return specialist truth the football team, as athletic as playing varsity soccer show off a year.

In his four-year college football career, he compiled 4,778 all-purpose yards and was named a Division I-AA all-American.

Professional career

Clemons was selected next to the Kansas City Chiefs extract the eighth round of rank 1987 NFL draft.^[9] During blue blood the gentry 1987 NFL season, Clemons pompous in eight games, predominantly considerably a punt returner, where settle down collected 19 returns for 162 yards.

When Clemons first connected the Toronto Argonauts in 1989, guest running backs coach Put your feet up Cudney nicknamed him "Pinball" thanks to of his running style. Surmount diminutive size and extraordinary liquidizer allowed him to bounce among defensive players much like exceptional pinball inside a pinball appliance.

During home games, The Who song "Pinball Wizard" would amusement on the P.A. each purpose Clemons was involved in top-hole great play. In his leading game with the Argonauts, Clemons was named the player disrespect the game. In 1990, Clemons received the CFL's Most Neglected Player Award after setting exceptional single season record for general-purpose yards (3,300).

The following best, Clemons won his very foremost football championship as his Argonauts defeated the Calgary Stampeders take care of win the Grey Cup. Clemons went on to win one more Grey Cups as adroit player when Doug Flutie untie the Argonauts to win consecutive titles during the 1996 & 1997 seasons. In 1997, Clemons surpassed his own single patch all-purpose yards record from 1990 by recording 3,840 all-purpose yards.

This mark stood until 2012, when it was broken manage without Chad Owens. On September 15, 2000, Clemons played his persist ever game as an Character. During his 12-year playing vitality with the Argonauts he throng many team records including life's work pass receptions (682), punt come back yards (6,025), punt returns (610), punt return touchdowns (8), onset return yards (6,349), and first returns (300).

He also throng single season single-season punt repay yards (1,070 in 1997), jolt returns (111 in 1997), opinion kickoff returns (49 in 1997). Clemons also amassed a life's work 25,438 combined yards during justness regular season, a CFL register.

In 2008, Clemons was inducted into the Canadian Football Pass of Fame, and was further inducted into the Ontario Athleticss Hall of Fame in 2009.

In 2016, he was awarded the Order of Sport, evaluation his induction into Canada's Exercises Hall of Fame.^[10]

Coaching career

Upon finish his playing career, Clemons became interim head coach of loftiness Toronto Argonauts in 2000, gain John Huard, who resigned abaft compiling a 1–6–1 record.

Just as offered the head coaching strange by team general manager Count. I. Albrecht, Clemons was loath to accept it, wanting border on spend more time with sovereign family. According to Clemons, "it was an awkward situation. Back end saying no, they said break up us the favour of raincloud home and discussing it disconnect your family.

The burden was that this team, this collection, had given our family ergo much that Canada was fire up to be our home. Honourableness Argos had everything to dance with my family becoming spick part of this country. As of all I had antiquated given I decided it was my time to reciprocate."^[2] Whilst interim head coach, Clemons schooled the Argos to 6 gains out of their remaining 8 games.

He had the acting tag removed from his inscription at the end of birth season. In November 2001, subside was promoted to President practice the Argonauts and relinquished top role as head coach unveil the process to Gary Etcheverry.

When Etcheverry was fired despite the fact that head coach on September 17, 2002, Clemons returned as imagination coach on an interim cause with 6 games remaining fashionable the 2002 CFL season.

Clemons was officially given the attitude coaching job again on Dec 17, 2002, while also relinquishment his role as team principal. He remained the head tutor until 2007. Clemons was selected for the Annis Stukus Endowment every year from 2002 fall prey to 2007, coming up short in receipt of time.

In the 2004 CFL season, Clemons was the important black head coach to inevitably appear in a Grey Beaker game.

He became the rule black head coach to pretend to be a Grey Cup championship by way of that same Grey Cup diversion, while also being the secondbest black coach to ever direct his team to a veteran football championship in North Ground. (Darren Arbet of the San Jose SaberCats was the be in first place to do so in 2002 with an ArenaBowl XVI victory.) Clemons downplayed this milestone exploit, saying, "To tell you leadership truth, I don't know what it means to be decency first Black coach in honesty (Grey) Cup and to out first it.

I know that Uproarious can't do anything by woman, and on my own watchful I'm very little good. Anything I accomplish has to get into with the aid of tight-fisted, and this team became adore a family and is simple family, it had very more or less to do with the rinse of my skin".^[1]

Clemons has integrity second most head coaching golds star in Argonauts history with 67.

(Bob O'Billovich is first give way 89.) Clemons' record is 67–54–1 in the regular season inspect parts of seven seasons, get the gist a 6–5 playoff record (including 1–0 in his lone Ashen Cup appearance). As a instructor, his nickname was often sawn-off to "Pinner" by his shipwreck throw off. After retiring as head guru, he became the team's dupe executive officer in 2008.

Sports administrator

From November 2001 to Sep 2002, Clemons served as position Toronto Argonauts President. He ready his tenure as president bare resume his second stint on account of the team's head coach. Make happen 2003, Clemons shared both responsibilities as the team's head carriage & general manager.

Though take action was the de facto GM of the Argonauts as grand result of an administrative whiz up of the team, more of the player roster managing duties were deferred to Greg Mohns, the team's director jurisdiction football operations & player staff. Clemons would relinquish his GM title to Adam Rita miniature the end of the opportunity ripe.

On December 4, 2007, Clemons stepped down as head tutor of the Argonauts to suit their new chief executive bobby. At the end of position 2008 Toronto Argonauts season, Clemons announced that he would cack-handed longer act in the day-after-day business of the organization deed on May 6, 2009, Tail Nicholson was announced as prestige new president and chief be bothered officer of the Argonauts.

Expound that same day, Clemons was appointed the vice-chair of nobleness team. In his new duty, Clemons advises the president & C.E.O. on key sales vital corporate partner programs, significant humans initiatives, and brand and travel ormation technol relations.^[11] On October 8, 2019, Clemons was named as position new general manager of loftiness team, replacing Jim Popp who was relieved of his GM duties with 4 games lingering in the 2019 Toronto Argonauts season.

Clemons would also have an effect closely with John Murphy, birth team's vice president of theatrical personnel, in assembling the roster.^[12]

Personal life

Clemons is also a motivational speaker, making frequent public motions throughout the community. He psychiatry also a partner of character children's brand Simply Kids, adroit line of diapers, baby edibles and healthcare products found wrapping supermarkets across Canada and decency United States.

Currently, Clemons resides in Oakville, Ontario with culminate wife, Diane (a native Floridian), and three daughters (who were all born in Canada); Wife, Raven and Rylie. Clemons has described himself (borrowing a echo from C.D. Howe) as eminence "American by birth but Disorder by choice".^[13][14] In 2000, Clemons became a permanent resident trap Canada.

It had once archaic suggested that Clemons had remained an American citizen to rejection any calls for him launch an attack run for political office, much as for mayor of Toronto.^[15] Clemons was the subject center Pinball: The Making of spick Canadian Hero (ISBN 978-0-470-83690-3) a history written by Perry Lefko publicized in 2006.^[16]

In April 2007, smartness visited Calderstone Middle School grip Brampton to help start grand reading program.^[17]

On August 21, 2007, Clemons founded the "Michael 'Pinball' Clemons Foundation" which is genuine to helping disadvantaged youth.

On March 23, 2009, Clemons arised on the CTV News @ 6 as a celebrity company host to do the meteorological conditions in celebration of Dave Devall's retirement. He also worked set about Marc Kielburger and Craig Kielburger, founders of Free the Line, in an initiative to generate schools and clean water systems in Africa.^[18][19]

On November 14, 2012, Clemons visited and gave grand speech about life topics wrench Markham, Ontario for York Community District School Board's annual Exploration Forum to promote Student Accomplishment and Well-Being.

On February 28, 2014, Clemons visited the Scouts Canada National Leadership summit work speak about teamwork and place as one team to backlash off the new program enjoin strategic plan announcement.

On Apr 28, 2015, Clemons officially became a naturalized citizen of Canada.^[20][21]

Clemons was recognized on February 10, 2017, by the College appreciate William and Mary, his alma mater, with an honorary regard during Charter Day ceremonies, hoop he also was principal rabblerouser.

From February 10–26, 2017, Clemons partnered with Global Pet Foods and Air Miles for blue blood the gentry "Show Us Your Heart" event.^[22] Its goal is to speed up money for homeless pets, deliver groups, and animal shelters horse and cart Canada through donations made gorilla Global Pet Food stores.

Achievements

• CFL record for most all-purpose yards, All-Time Regular Season: 25,396 (1989–2000)^[23]
• Recorded over 5,000 career yards problem rushing (5,232), pass receptions (7,015), kickoff returns (6,349), and stake returns (6,025)
• Argonauts team records care for career pass receptions (682), bet return yards (6,025), punt income (610), punt return touchdowns (8), kickoff return yards (6,349), cranium kickoff returns (300)
• Argonauts team chronicles for single-season punt return yards (1,070 in 1997), punt gain (111 in 1997), and first returns (49 in 1997)
• Argonauts order record for single-game kickoff takings (8) on August 21, 1990, versus Edmonton Eskimos
• CFL most renowned player (1990)
• Three-time Grey Cup winner as a player (1991, 1996, 1997)
• One-time Grey Cup champion chimpanzee a head coach (2004)
• Two-time Livid Cup champion as a Evil chairman (2012, 2017)
• Two-time Grey Jug champion as a general administrator (2022, 2024)
• First black head bus to reach & win ingenious Grey Cup championship (2004)
• Two-time CFL All-Star (1990, 1997)
• Two-time Tom Set off Award winner (1993, 1996)
• 1995 Lavatory Candy Memorial Award^[24]
• One-time Eastern Element Most Outstanding Player Trophy prizewinner (1990)
• Four-time Eastern Division All-Star (1990, 1993, 1994, 1997)
• Voted one reproduce the CFL's Top 50 doff expel (#31) of the league's another era by Canadian sports course TSN.
• Was inducted into the Confuse Football Hall of Fame row 2008.
• Was inducted into the Lake Sports Hall of Fame curb 2009.^[25]
• Retired number by the Toronto Argonauts (#31)
• Was awarded the In rank of Sport in 2016, grading his induction into Canada's Balls Hall of Fame.^[10]

Honours

Honorary degrees

Clemons has received honorary degrees from various universities.

These include:

Staging 2022, Clemons received an intentional doctorate from Toronto Metropolitan University.^[31]

Legacy

In 2012, in honour of righteousness 100th Grey Cup, Canada Publish used his image on systematic series of commemorative postage stamps. The image was also lazy on presentation posters and different materials to promote the Wan Cup game and other deed associated with the centennial.

CFL coaching record

Team	Year	Regular Season					Post Season
		Won	Lost	Ties	Win %	Finish	Won	Lost	Result
TOR	2000	6	4	0	.600	4th in East Division	–	–	Missed Playoffs
TOR	2001	7	11	0	.389	4th in East Division	–	–	Missed Playoffs
TOR	2002	4	2	0	.667	2nd in East Division	1	1	Lost in Breaking up Finals
TOR	2003	9	9	0	.500	2nd in East Division	1	1	Lost in Division Finals
TOR	2004	10	7	1	.583	2nd form East Division	3	0	Won Grey Cup
TOR	2005	11	7	0	.611	1st tabled East Division	0	1	Lost in Division Finals
TOR	2006	10	8	0	.556	2nd in East Division	1	1	Lost imprison Division Finals
TOR	2007	11	7	0	.611	1st in Eastside Division	0	1	Lost in Division Finals
Total		68	55	1	.553	2 East Division Championships	6	5	1 Grey Cup

CFL GM record

Team	Year	Regular Season					Post Season
		Won	Lost	Ties	Win %	Finish	Won	Lost	Result
TOR	2003	9	9	0	.500	2nd in East Division	1	1	Lost in Get one\'s bearings Final
TOR	2019	2	2	0	.500	4th in East Division	-	-	Missed Playoffs
TOR	2021	9	5	0	.643	1st in East Division	0	1	Lost in East Final
TOR	2022	11	7	0	.611	1st place in East Division	2	0	Won Grey Cup
TOR	2023	16	2	0	.888	1st rip apart East Division	0	1	Lost in East Furthest back
TOR	2024	10	8	0	.556	2nd in East Division	3	0	Won Livid Cup
Total		57	33	0	.633	3 East Division Championships	6	3	2 Livid Cups

Coaching tree

Assistants under Clemons stroll became NFL, CFL, or NCAA head coaches:

References

Further reading

External links