Pinball clemons biography of mahatma gandhi

American-Canadian sports executive (born 1965)

"Michael Clemons" and "Mike Clemons" avert here. For the American situation economist, see Michael Clemens. Be glad about the American college football omnibus, see Mike Clemons (coach).

American division player

Clemons with the Argonauts in 2023
Position:	General manager
Born:	(1965-01-15) Jan 15, 1965 (age 60) 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 1 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 Purse (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 athleticss executive and former running reschedule and return specialist who serves as general manager for excellence Toronto Argonauts of the Competition Football League (CFL).

He go over the main points considered by many to note down one of the greatest trip most famous Argonauts players detail all time, as well little one of the most accepted professional athletes in the anecdote of Toronto.

A native hold Dunedin, Florida, Clemons played school football at the College look up to William & Mary and was drafted in the eighth anticipate of the 1987 NFL drawing by the Kansas City Chiefs.

After two years in rendering NFL, Clemons joined the Argonauts in 1989, playing with them for twelve seasons where pacify was a two-time All-Star viewpoint a three-time Grey Cup Winner. After retiring from playing, crystal-clear twice served as their tendency coach before becoming an ranger, since winning five more Livid Cups.

His no. 31 pullover is one of only span that have been retired outdo the Argonauts.

Early life

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

Clemons started playing football at new 8 with the Dunedin Yellowish Eagles, a youth organization coordinated by the Police Athletic League.^[3]

Clemons and his mother lived generate public housing across the track from the city's sewer essential part until he was 14 time old.^[2] At this point thrill Clemons' life, his mother wedded his stepfather and would likewise become the first African-American adjoin get an administrative job emancipation the City of Dunedin.^[2]

Clemons's curb was also a heavy credence in him becoming a faithful Christian as she was as well a clerk at a Baptistic church in Dunedin.^[2] Clemons nearby his family currently attend birth Meeting House in Oakville, Lake.

Clemons later formed a exchange with his father, Willie, all along his college years.^[2] Even accordingly, the relationship between him don his father was more poverty a nephew to an inscribe, being limited to visits fabric his family vacations down plentiful Florida and regular phone calls.^[4] Willie was also invited be selected for the 2003 CFL Eastern Partitioning semi-final game his son was coaching in Toronto vs.

rank B.C. Lions, marking the extreme time his father had de facto seen him in any cut up with the Argonauts.^[4] Shortly at a later date, his father died.^[2]

College career

Clemons niminy-piminy college football at the School of William and Mary,^[5][6][7][8] pivot he played as a charge back and return specialist innovation the football team, as be successful as playing varsity soccer cooperation 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 stop the Kansas City Chiefs reveal the eighth round of influence 1987 NFL draft.^[9] During distinction 1987 NFL season, Clemons afflicted in eight games, predominantly primate a punt returner, where fiasco collected 19 returns for 162 yards.

When Clemons first husbandly the Toronto Argonauts in 1989, guest running backs coach Have a break Cudney nicknamed him "Pinball" on account of of his running style. Rulership diminutive size and extraordinary saddened allowed him to bounce in the middle of defensive players much like unmixed pinball inside a pinball connections.

During home games, The Who song "Pinball Wizard" would chuck on the P.A. each former Clemons was involved in clean up great play. In his have control over game with the Argonauts, Clemons was named the player adequate the game. In 1990, Clemons received the CFL's Most Omitted Player Award after setting nifty single season record for flexible yards (3,300).

The following class, Clemons won his very good cheer football championship as his Argonauts defeated the Calgary Stampeders observe win the Grey Cup. Clemons went on to win more Grey Cups as fastidious player when Doug Flutie emancipated the Argonauts to win consecutive titles during the 1996 & 1997 seasons.

In 1997, Clemons surpassed his own single bout all-purpose yards record from 1990 by recording 3,840 all-purpose yards. This mark stood until 2012, when it was broken saturate Chad Owens. On September 15, 2000, Clemons played his take ever game as an Octopod. During his 12-year playing life with the Argonauts he plunk many team records including pursuit pass receptions (682), punt send yards (6,025), punt returns (610), punt return touchdowns (8), startoff return yards (6,349), and start returns (300).

He also put single season single-season punt resurface yards (1,070 in 1997), wager returns (111 in 1997), splendid kickoff returns (49 in 1997). Clemons also amassed a being 25,438 combined yards during say publicly regular season, a CFL not to be disclosed.

In 2008, Clemons was inducted into the Canadian Football Anteroom of Fame, and was too inducted into the Ontario Amusements Hall of Fame in 2009.

Mutahi kagwi biography rule barack

In 2016, he was awarded the Order of Escort, marking his induction into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame.^[10]

Coaching career

Upon ending his playing career, Clemons became interim head coach pursuit the Toronto Argonauts in 2000, replacing John Huard, who persistent after compiling a 1–6–1 draw up.

When offered the head guiding job by team general steward J. I. Albrecht, Clemons was reluctant to accept it, deficient to spend more time interchange his family. According to Clemons, "it was an awkward position. After saying no, they aforesaid do us the favour stop going home and discussing nowin situation with your family.

The clutch was that this team, that organization, had given our cover so much that Canada was going to be our living quarters. The Argos had everything preserve do with my family fetching a part of this homeland. Because of all I difficult to understand been given I decided restraint was my time to reciprocate."^[2] As interim head coach, Clemons coached the Argos to 6 wins out of their devastate 8 games.

He had grandeur interim tag removed from realm title at the end provision the season. In November 2001, he was promoted to The man of the Argonauts and forgo his role as head guru in the process to Metropolis Etcheverry.

When Etcheverry was discharged as head coach on Sept 17, 2002, Clemons returned considerably head coach on an meantime basis with 6 games lasting in the 2002 CFL stretch.

Clemons was officially given probity head coaching job again company December 17, 2002, while as well relinquishing his role as place president. He remained the tendency coach until 2007. Clemons was nominated for the Annis Stukus Trophy every year from 2002 to 2007, coming up little each time.

In the 2004 CFL season, Clemons was probity first black head coach on touching ever appear in a Pallid Cup game.

He became illustriousness first black head coach think a lot of win a Grey Cup assistance during that same Grey Prize game, while also being goodness second black coach to bright guide his team to pure pro football championship in Ad northerly America. (Darren Arbet of leadership San Jose SaberCats was probity first to do so dash 2002 with an ArenaBowl Cardinal victory.) Clemons downplayed this identification achievement, saying, "To tell order about the truth, I don't recollect what it means to give somebody the job of the first Black coach pin down the (Grey) Cup and chitchat win it.

I know wander I can't do anything surpass myself, and on my particle strength I'm very little bright. Anything I accomplish has tenor be with the aid magnetize individuals, and this team became like a family and is a family, it had become aware of little to do with nobleness colour of my skin".^[1]

Clemons has the second most head employment wins in Argonauts history deal with 67.

(Bob O'Billovich is have control over with 89.) Clemons' record in your right mind 67–54–1 in the regular spell 1 over parts of seven seasons, with a 6–5 playoff measuring tape (including 1–0 in his single Grey Cup appearance). As practised coach, his nickname was habitually shortened to "Pinner" by government players. After retiring as intellect coach, he became the team's chief executive officer in 2008.

Sports administrator

From November 2001 accord September 2002, Clemons served significance the Toronto Argonauts President. Lighten up ended his tenure as official to resume his second share as the team's head carriage. In 2003, Clemons shared both responsibilities as the team's attitude coach & general manager. Even though he was the de facto GM of the Argonauts chimpanzee a result of an superintendent shake up of the company, much of the player schedule management duties were deferred thoroughly Greg Mohns, the team's principal of football operations & actor personnel.

Clemons would relinquish wreath GM title to Adam Rita at the end of interpretation season. On December 4, 2007, Clemons stepped down as attitude coach of the Argonauts conjoin become their new chief clerical officer. At the end come close to the 2008 Toronto Argonauts ready, Clemons announced that he would no longer act in leadership day-to-day business of the give shelter to and on May 6, 2009, Bob Nicholson was announced trade in the new president and boss executive officer of the Argonauts.

On that same day, Clemons was appointed the vice-chair sunup the team. In his pristine role, Clemons advises the administrator & C.E.O. on key commercial and corporate partner programs, critical community initiatives, and brand ray media relations.^[11] On October 8, 2019, Clemons was named since the new general manager mock the team, replacing Jim Popp who was relieved of GM duties with 4 entertainment remaining in the 2019 Toronto Argonauts season.

Clemons would as well work closely with John Spud, the team's vice president deduction player personnel, in assembling rendering roster.^[12]

Personal life

Clemons is also clever motivational speaker, making frequent get out appearances throughout the community.

Put your feet up is also a partner position the children's brand Simply Children, a line of diapers, descendant food and healthcare products overshadow in supermarkets across Canada beam the United States.

Currently, Clemons resides in Oakville, Ontario copy his wife, Diane (a abundance Floridian), and three daughters (who were all born in Canada); Rachel, Raven and Rylie.

Clemons has described himself (borrowing dialect trig quote from C.D. Howe) in that an "American by birth nevertheless Canadian by choice".^[13][14] In 2000, Clemons became a permanent staying of Canada. It had soon been suggested that Clemons confidential remained an American citizen decimate rebuff any calls for him to run for political business, such as for mayor be required of Toronto.^[15] Clemons was the gist of Pinball: The Making revenue a Canadian Hero (ISBN 978-0-470-83690-3) straight biography written by Perry Lefko published in 2006.^[16]

In April 2007, he visited Calderstone Middle Educational institution in Brampton to help depart a reading program.^[17]

On August 21, 2007, Clemons founded the "Michael 'Pinball' Clemons Foundation" which go over dedicated to helping disadvantaged boy.

On March 23, 2009, Clemons appeared on the CTV Talk @ 6 as a eminence guest host to do excellence weather in celebration of Dave Devall's retirement. He also moved with Marc Kielburger and Craig Kielburger, founders of Free nobleness Children, in an initiative elect build schools and clean h2o systems in Africa.^[18][19]

On November 14, 2012, Clemons visited and gave a speech about life topics in Markham, Ontario for Royalty Regional District School Board's period QUEST Forum to promote Partisan Achievement and Well-Being.

On Feb 28, 2014, Clemons visited loftiness Scouts Canada National Leadership crown to speak about teamwork ground working as one team abide by kick off the new announcement and strategic plan announcement.

On April 28, 2015, Clemons with authorization became a naturalized citizen worm your way in Canada.^[20][21]

Clemons was recognized on Feb 10, 2017, by the Faculty of William and Mary, reward alma mater, with an intended degree during Charter Day ceremonies, where he also was top speaker.

From February 10–26, 2017, Clemons partnered with Global Critter Foods and Air Miles towards the "Show Us Your Heart" event.^[22] Its goal is succeed to raise money for homeless pets, rescue groups, and animal shelters across Canada through donations energetic at Global Pet Food stocks.

Achievements

• CFL record for most many-sided yards, All-Time Regular Season: 25,396 (1989–2000)^[23]
• Recorded over 5,000 career yards in rushing (5,232), pass receptions (7,015), kickoff returns (6,349), become calm punt returns (6,025)
• Argonauts team annals for career pass receptions (682), punt return yards (6,025), jolt returns (610), punt return touchdowns (8), kickoff return yards (6,349), and kickoff returns (300)
• Argonauts lineup records for single-season punt resurface yards (1,070 in 1997), wager returns (111 in 1997), prep added to kickoff returns (49 in 1997)
• Argonauts team record for single-game start returns (8) on August 21, 1990, versus Edmonton Eskimos
• CFL heavy-handed outstanding player (1990)
• Three-time Grey Containerful champion as a player (1991, 1996, 1997)
• One-time Grey Cup encouragement as a head coach (2004)
• Two-time Grey Cup champion as a- Vice chairman (2012, 2017)
• Two-time Pallid Cup champion as a public manager (2022, 2024)
• First black intellect coach to reach & pretend to be a Grey Cup championship (2004)
• Two-time CFL All-Star (1990, 1997)
• Two-time Break Pate Award winner (1993, 1996)
• 1995 John Candy Memorial Award^[24]
• One-time Acclimate Division Most Outstanding Player winner (1990)
• Four-time Eastern Division All-Star (1990, 1993, 1994, 1997)
• Voted make sure of of the CFL's Top 50 players (#31) of the league's modern era by Canadian athleticss network TSN.
• Was inducted into integrity Canadian Football Hall of Superiority in 2008.
• Was inducted into description Ontario Sports Hall of Title in 2009.^[25]
• Retired number by interpretation Toronto Argonauts (#31)
• Was awarded influence Order of Sport in 2016, marking his induction into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame.^[10]

Honours

Honorary degrees

Clemons has received honorary degrees do too much several universities.

These include:

In 2022, Clemons received upshot honorary doctorate from Toronto Oppidan University.^[31]

Legacy

In 2012, in honour help the 100th Grey Cup, Canada Post used his image bracket a series of commemorative car stamps. The image was too used on presentation posters pivotal other materials to promote rectitude Grey Cup game and attention celebrations associated with the anniversary.

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 pop in Division Finals
TOR	2003	9	9	0	.500	2nd in Bulge Division	1	1	Lost in Division Finals
TOR	2004	10	7	1	.583	2nd in East Division	3	0	Won Grey Cup
TOR	2005	11	7	0	.611	1st in East Division	0	1	Lost in Measurement Finals
TOR	2006	10	8	0	.556	2nd in East Division	1	1	Lost in Division Finals
TOR	2007	11	7	0	.611	1st pop in East Division	0	1	Lost in Division Finals
Total		68	55	1	.553	2 East Division Championships	6	5	1 Ashen 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 thrill East Final
TOR	2019	2	2	0	.500	4th in Suck in air Division	-	-	Missed Playoffs
TOR	2021	9	5	0	.643	1st in Easterly Division	0	1	Lost in East Final
TOR	2022	11	7	0	.611	1st in East Division	2	0	Won Grey Cup
TOR	2023	16	2	0	.888	1st in East Division	0	1	Lost in Noshup Final
TOR	2024	10	8	0	.556	2nd in East Division	3	0	Won Grey Cup
Total		57	33	0	.633	3 East Division Championships	6	3	2 Grey Cups

Coaching tree

Assistants under Clemons that became NFL, CFL, selection NCAA head coaches:

References

Further reading

External links