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2008 CFL Hall of Fame Announced
This news clip was written by Josh Bell-Webster, Online Editor, CFL.ca
HAMILTON -- Doug Flutie and Michael "Pinball" Clemons are teammates once again.
The iconic members of the 1996 and 1997 Grey Cup champion Toronto Argonauts were named to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame on Wednesday. Joining the legendary duo are longtime divisional rival Mike Pringle, Canadian great John Bonk as well as Tom Shepherd in the builder's category.
"The Hall of Fame deserves our support in recognizing these men’s accomplishments, and these inductees deserve our admiration and gratitude," said CFL Commissioner Mark Cohon. "They are Canadian football: tough, exciting and a credit to the communities in which they thrilled us all."
Flutie and Clemons played only two seasons together on what many consider to be one of the greatest teams in CFL history. Flutie was a six-time winner of the CFL's Most Outstanding Player award as well as a six-time CFL All-Star, and completed his eight-year CFL career with 41,355 passing yards and 270 touchdowns.
Flutie began his CFL career with the British Columbia Lions in 1990, and the following season threw for a CFL record 6,619 yards on 499 completions. Flutie joined the Calgary Stampeders in 1992, winning the Grey Cup that season. In 1994, Flutie threw for a record 48 touchdowns.
"Those were the most enjoyable football playing days in my life," admitted Flutie. "I wouldn't have traded a minute of playing in the CFL for anything."
Clemons was a winner of the CFL's Most Outstanding Player award in 1990 and was a two-time CFL All-Star. In 12 seasons with the Argos, Clemons became the only player in pro-football history to surpass 5,000 yards in four different categories; rushing (5,232), receiving (7,015), kickoff returns (6,349), and punt returns (6,025). Along with Flutie, Clemons was a three-time winner of the Grey Cup as a player, adding another as a head coach in 2004.
"I was just a guy who loved the game," said an emotional Clemons. "I just loved to play. Loved it. That's all that was."
"I just loved to play."
Clemons holds the pro-football record for both regular season combined yards (3,840), set during the 1997 season, and all-time career combined yards (25,438). Pinball couldn't help but think about his mom, and an incident when he was a youngster in Florida and was visibly upset on the bench after his coach pulled him from a game in an effort to give his other teammates some playing time.
"She came down on the field, she grabbed me by the arm, she escorted me over to the stands and said 'this is where you will be every week if I ever see you have that kind of display of sportsmanship again,'" said Clemons.
"This game has been my life. It has taught me about life."
"My mom is the greatest part of that."
Pringle's Montreal Alouettes lost to the Argos in both the 1996 and 1997 East Finals, but tasted victory with the Baltimore Stallions against the Flutie-led Stampeders in the 1995 Grey Cup. Pringle was named the CFL's Most Outstanding Player that year, and added another to his trophy case in 1998 when he rushed for a CFL-record 2,065 yards. Pringle is also a three-time Grey Cup champion, and retired as the CFL leader in all-time rushing yards with 16,425. He also shared the all-time touchdown mark of 137, a record which was surpassed by Winnipeg Blue Bombers slotback Milt Stegall last season. Pringle also played with the Edmonton Eskimos and Sacramento Gold Miners and was a seven-time CFL All-Star.
Bonk played for 13 seasons in the CFL, mostly with Winnipeg. Acquired in a trade with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in October, 1973, the Blue Bombers converted Bonk from linebacker to center where he enjoyed most of his success. He did not miss a regular season game between 1973 and 1985, a span of 202 games. Bonk was a four-time CFL All-Star, and won the Schenley Award for Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman in 1984, the same year he won his only Grey Cup.
Bonk grew up seven blocks from Ivor Wynne Stadium in Hamilton, and daydreamed of one day wearing the black and gold of the Ticats while selling hot dogs as a 12-year-old at the stadium.
"During that time I know there are lots of people who probably got too many hot dogs, not enough hot dogs, too much change, not enough change, because to tell you the truth, I was really not interested in selling the hot dogs," joked Bonk.
"I think the first time I stepped on that field as a Hamilton Tiger-Cat wearing that proud black and gold uniform, I purposely looked up into the stadium during a game to try and find those hot dog vendors that perhaps would have that same dream I had 10 years ago."
Shepherd was a member of the Saskatchewan Roughriders from 1966 to 2005. He served as a club director from 1980 to 2005, and was a member of the management/executive committee for 22 years and treasurer for 20 years. During Shepherd’s tenure as club president and CFL governor from 1987 to 1989, the Roughriders won their second the Grey Cup. He was also director of 1995 Grey Cup Inc. and 2003 Grey Cup Inc.
"I became a nut in 1951 when Glenn Dobbs transformed our province into Dobberville," admitted Shepherd. "I was a fan all my life and always will be, primarily of my beloved Saskatchewan Roughriders but obviously of the CFL."
