Michael "Pinball" Clemons is best known for football, winning Grey Cups with the Toronto Argonauts both as a player and a coach. Clemons is also widely known as a motivational speaker and was in Yorkton last week as part of the Big Brothers Big Sister's 100th anniversary celebrations and Centennial Gala.
Involved in the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization since the early '90s, Clemons says he became involved before he could officially become a Big Brother, because he was involved before he had permanent residency. He was the spokesperson for the Bowl for Millions campaigns, as well as he participated in golf tournaments as well as giving opportunities for people involved to come to games and doing other activities. He says mentoring is something important to kids, and while he did not have an official big brother, he did have many unofficial ones growing up that made a difference in his life.
"I grew up with a single parent, and I was an only child for the first 14 years... I had so many big brothers... there was a guy named David Holmes who could play everything... he taught me how to swim... I had big brothers in my community, it seemed like everyone was my big brother, they looked after me as one of the few only childs... It's what I know, it is what has helped to give me a better life," he says.
Clemons also spoke to students at YRHS during the day, and he says speaking to kids is a pleasure because they are an open book. He talked with students about making the right choices, and about taking the opportunities to help others in the community.
"The real special thing about talking with kids is their minds aren't made up already. They're young, they're impressionable, they take things in and they think about what they have to say. You don't come in having to breaking down all of their pre-judgements," Clemons says.
He says that having the courage to put someone else before yourself and help in the community is an important thing for anyone who has had some success, and he feels it is important to be able to contribute to the lives of others.
Coming to Saskatchewan is something that Clemons says is always a great experience. He says that he's continually impressed by the energy of the people in the province.
"I'm jealous, every time I come here the energy, the enthusiasm, the excitement, the loyalty, the patriotism, the fervor, it really is infectious. I wish I could gather up as much as I can and deposit it in the Greater Toronto Area."
