Life Stories

Michael Pinball Clemons

Michael is known not only for his football achievements, but also for his cheerful personality and positive outlook on life - an outlook that is rooted in Scripture.

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Florida-born Mike Clemons was told that he was too small to play football. But he had a knack for overcoming obstacles (many of them 6'6" - 260 lbs) and against all odds, he persevered through an impressive four-year college football career in which he compiled 4,778 all-purpose yards and was named a Division 1-AA all-American. The next year he was drafted by the National Football League's Kansas City Chiefs.

"I had achieved my lifelong dream, which was to play professional football," Mike says, "in doing so, though, I was released at the beginning of the next year."

For many people, this kind of disappointment would be a crushing blow, but not for the man they call Pinball. "I had such a wonderful peace about that situation," he says. "Romans 8:28 says 'All things work together for the good of those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose.' And so at that time I had such a wonderful peace that God was in control."

And God was. Mike made his way to the Canadian Football League and Toronto, a city that loves him. He played twelve years for the Argonauts, including three Grey Cup-winning seasons, before hanging up his cleats in favour of a clipboard. Now, he shows the same passion in coaching that he once showed on the field.

Mike holds the world record for all-purpose yardage by a professional football player (NFL and CFL) with 25,396 yards. He is the only player in CFL history to go over 5,000 yards in four categories - rushing yards, receiving yards, kick return yards and punt return yards. And he holds twelve all-time Argonaut team records.

Yet his most impressive work may be off the field. He works tirelessly with organizations like Athletes in Action and Power to Change, and the Argonauts are working to 'tackle bullying' in schools. "The neatest thing that I'm involved with right now from a ministry standpoint is a home church," he says. "It's very relational and discipleship-oriented... Being able to go to that group on a weekly basis, sharing one another's burdens, and growing together is certainly the most interesting ministry that I'm in right now... This is something that I'm really excited about."

Romans 8:28 continues to resonate with Mike today. "To know that God is in control... gives me a wonderful feeling about life, that there is order even amidst disorder, and that ultimately God is working it out towards His good. That's a wonderful peace, and (it) gives me a great approach to life."

Mike lives year-round in Ontario with his wife Diane, and their three daughters.