Pinball bounces into Sports Hall of Fame

Michael ‘Pinball’ Clemons
Michael ‘Pinball’ Clemons

Four-time Grey Cup champion with the Toronto Argos and perennial man about town Michael ‘Pinball’ Clemons is among the 2016 Canadian Sports Hall of Fame inductees.

He’s joined by Stephanie Dixon, 19-time Paralympic medallist and world record holder for para-swimming, Dr. Frank Hayden, creator of the worldwide Special Olympics Movement as a Builder, Sue Holloway, four-time Olympian, and the first woman to represent Canada at both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games in the same year, for Kayaking and Cross Country Skiing, Colleen Jones, two-time World Champion and youngest skip to ever win a Canadian Women’s Championship for Curling, Annie Perreault, three-time Olympian and double Olympic Gold medallist for Speed Skating and Bryan Trottier, seven-time Stanley Cup winner for Hockey.

Clemons, inducted into the hall of fame for Football, played briefly in the National Football League before bringing his 5-foot-5, 166 lb. bundle of energy to the Canadian Football League, where he never looked back, both on and off the field.

He earned the nickname Pinball for his ability to literally bounce off opposing players while dodging and darting down the football field with the ball.

Now retired from playing pro sport, Clemons is frequently seen in and around Toronto through his involvement with charity events, schools and the community.

Born in the U.S. and now a Canadian citizen, he also devotes significant time and effort to the Michael ‘Pinball’ Clemons Foundation which helps local youth and builds schools in Africa.

The Class of 2016 will be officially inducted during Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame 2016 Induction Celebrations, presented by Canadian Tire, on Nov. 1 at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.