Pinball Clemons facts for kids
Clemons with the Argonauts in 2023
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| Toronto Argonauts | |
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| Position: | General manager |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | January 15, 1965 Dunedin, Florida, U.S. |
| Height: | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) |
| Weight: | 170 lb (77 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Dunedin |
| College: | William & Mary |
| NFL Draft: | 1987 / Round: 8 / Pick: 218 |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
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| As coach: | |
As an administrator:
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| Career highlights and awards | |
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Canadian Football Hall of Fame
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Michael Lutrell "Pinball" Clemons (born January 15, 1965) is an American-Canadian sports leader. He used to be a running back and return specialist in football. Now, he is the general manager for the Toronto Argonauts team in the Canadian Football League (CFL). Many people think he is one of the greatest and most famous Argonauts players ever. He is also one of the most popular athletes in Toronto's history.
Michael Clemons was born in Dunedin, Florida. He played college football at the College of William & Mary. The Kansas City Chiefs picked him in the 1987 NFL draft. After two years in the NFL, Clemons joined the Argonauts in 1989. He played with them for twelve seasons. During this time, he was a two-time All-Star and won three Grey Cup championships. After he stopped playing, he became their head coach twice. Later, he became a team leader (administrator) and won five more Grey Cups. His jersey number 31 is one of only four numbers the Argonauts have ever retired.
Contents
Early Life and Football Start
Clemons was born on January 15, 1965, in Dunedin, Florida. His mother, Anna Marie Bryant, was 18 years old and had just finished high school. His father, Willie Clemons, was a university student and later became a teacher.
Clemons started playing football when he was 8 years old. He played for the Dunedin Golden Eagles, a youth team. He and his mother lived in public housing until he was 14. At that time, his mother married his stepfather. She also became the first African-American to get an important job for the City of Dunedin.
Clemons's mother was a strong influence on his Christian faith. She worked at a Baptist church. Clemons and his family now go to the Meeting House church in Oakville, Ontario.
Clemons later built a relationship with his father, Willie, during his college years. Their bond grew stronger over time. His father even came to see him coach a game in Toronto in 2003. This was the first time his father had seen him with the Argonauts. His father passed away shortly after that visit.
College Football Career
Clemons played college football at the College of William and Mary. He was a running back and a return specialist for the football team. He also played varsity soccer for one year. In his four years of college football, he gained 4,778 all-purpose yards. He was named an all-American player in Division I-AA.
Professional Playing Career
The Kansas City Chiefs picked Clemons in the eighth round of the 1987 NFL draft. In the 1987 NFL season, Clemons played in eight games. He mostly returned punts, gaining 162 yards from 19 returns.
When Clemons joined the Toronto Argonauts in 1989, a coach named Tom Cudney gave him the nickname "Pinball." This was because of how he ran. He was small but had amazing balance. He would bounce between defensive players like a pinball in a pinball machine. At home games, the song "Pinball Wizard" would play when he made a great play. In his first game with the Argonauts, Clemons was named the best player.
In 1990, Clemons won the CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award. He set a record for all-purpose yards in one season (3,300). The next year, Clemons won his first football championship. His Argonauts team beat the Calgary Stampeders to win the Grey Cup. Clemons won two more Grey Cups as a player in 1996 and 1997. In 1997, he broke his own record for all-purpose yards, gaining 3,840 yards. This record stood until 2012.
On September 15, 2000, Clemons played his last game as an Argonaut. During his 12 years playing for the Argonauts, he set many team records. He had the most career pass receptions (682), punt return yards (6,025), and kickoff return yards (6,349). He also set a CFL record with 25,438 combined yards in his regular season career.
In 2008, Clemons was added to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame. He was also inducted into the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 2009. In 2016, he received the Order of Sport. This meant he was inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame.
Coaching the Argonauts
After he stopped playing, Clemons became the interim head coach of the Toronto Argonauts in 2000. He took over when the previous coach resigned. Clemons was not sure about taking the job at first. He wanted to spend more time with his family. But he felt he owed it to the team that had given his family so much. He coached the Argos to 6 wins in their last 8 games that season. He then became the official head coach.
In November 2001, he became the President of the Argonauts. He stopped being head coach for a short time. But when the next coach was fired in 2002, Clemons returned as head coach. He stayed in this role until 2007.
In the 2004 CFL season, Clemons made history. He was the first black head coach to lead a team to a Grey Cup game. He then became the first black head coach to win a Grey Cup championship in that same game. He said that his team became like a family, and their success had little to do with the color of his skin.
Clemons has the second most head coaching wins in Argonauts history, with 67 wins. His record as a coach was 67 wins, 54 losses, and 1 tie in the regular season. He had a 6-5 record in the playoffs, including winning his only Grey Cup appearance. His players sometimes called him "Pinner." After stopping as head coach, he became the team's chief executive officer in 2008.
Sports Leadership Roles
From 2001 to 2002, Clemons was the President of the Toronto Argonauts. He left this role to become head coach again. In 2003, he was both the head coach and general manager. He later gave up the general manager title.
On December 4, 2007, Clemons stepped down as head coach. He became the team's new chief executive officer. In 2009, he became the vice-chair of the team. In this role, he helps with sales, community projects, and media relations. On October 8, 2019, Clemons was named the new general manager of the team. He works with other leaders to build the team's roster.
Personal Life and Community Work
Clemons is also a popular motivational speaker. He often gives talks in the community. He is also involved with Simply Kids, a brand that makes products for children.
Clemons lives in Oakville, Ontario, with his wife, Diane, and their three daughters. His daughters were all born in Canada. Clemons has said he is "American by birth but Canadian by choice." In 2000, he became a permanent resident of Canada. In 2015, he officially became a Canadian citizen.
In April 2007, he visited Calderstone Middle School to help start a reading program. On August 21, 2007, Clemons started the "Michael 'Pinball' Clemons Foundation." This foundation helps young people who are facing challenges. He has also worked with Marc Kielburger and Craig Kielburger, who founded Free the Children. They worked together to build schools and clean water systems in Africa.
In 2012, Clemons gave a speech in Markham, Ontario, about life topics. In 2014, he spoke at the Scouts Canada National Leadership summit about teamwork. In 2017, his old college, William and Mary, gave him an honorary degree. He also partnered with Global Pet Foods and Air Miles to raise money for homeless pets.
Achievements and Honours
Pinball Clemons holds the CFL record for most all-purpose yards in regular season history, with 25,396 yards. He gained over 5,000 career yards in rushing, pass receptions, kickoff returns, and punt returns. He also holds many Argonauts team records for returns and receptions.
Some of his major achievements include:
- Winning the CFL's Outstanding Player Award in 1990.
- Winning three Grey Cups as a player (1991, 1996, 1997).
- Winning one Grey Cup as a head coach (2004).
- Winning two Grey Cups as a Vice Chairman (2012, 2017).
- Winning two Grey Cups as a General Manager (2022, 2024).
- Being the first black head coach to reach and win a Grey Cup championship (2004).
- Being a two-time CFL All-Star (1990, 1997).
- Winning the Tom Pate Memorial Award twice (1993, 1996).
- Being inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2008.
- Being inducted into the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 2009.
- Having his number 31 jersey retired by the Toronto Argonauts.
- Being awarded the Order of Sport in 2016, which means he was inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame.
Special Honours
In 2001, he was made a Member of the Order of Ontario. This is a special honour in Ontario, Canada. In 2011, he was named one of the Top 25 Canadian Immigrants.
Honorary Degrees
Clemons has received special degrees from several universities to honor his achievements.
| Location | Date | School | Degree |
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| Ontario, Canada | Fall 2000 | York University | Doctor of Laws (LL.D) |
| Ontario, Canada | June 2013 | Humber College | |
| Virginia, United States | February 10, 2017 | College of William & Mary | Doctor of Humane Letters (DHL) |
In 2022, Clemons also received an honorary doctorate from Toronto Metropolitan University.
Legacy and Recognition
In 2012, to celebrate the 100th Grey Cup, Canada Post put his image on a series of special postage stamps. His image was also used on posters and other materials to promote the Grey Cup game and its celebrations.
Images for kids
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Clemons with the Argonauts in 2023
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Clemons pictured in 2008.
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Clemons speaking at We Day Waterloo 2010, a Free the Children event
