Nik Lewis catching on in Montreal
Whatever mild contretemps there may be over continuing availability of the number do not extend to the man himself.
“I remember my first year in Calgary,’’ Nik Lewis is reminiscing, long distance from Montreal. “I’m at a mall. Foot Locker, Champ Sports … can’t remember what store, exactly, but I’m passing by and I see an 82 jersey hanging there. And it’s a Don Blair jersey.
“I had no idea at the time who Donnie Blair was. All I knew is that 82 was my number now.
“And I start to yell, in the store, ‘ Hey, y’all need to change the name on the back of these jerseys. There’s a new man in town wearing 82 and his name’s Nik Lewis. You need to take these Don Blair jerseys down. Right now.’
“I was joking, laughing. And they were laughing along with me. It was a fun thing.
“But that’s the way it goes, y’know?
“Things change. There are only so many numbers. You can’t be greedy.
“Just like Donnie Blair sacrificed, bled, did everything he could in his years as a Stampeder, that’s what I tried to do, too.’’
For the first time in a dozen years at training- camp time, there is no Nik Lewis to be found, jawing at teammates, catching footballs, filling voice- recorder files and notepads after seeing his name scribbled ( inevitably) on the interview white board.
There is an 82 on site, just not the familiar 82.
Making McMahon Stadium, for one thing, a somewhat quieter place.
A few days into his new gig as a Montreal Alouette, Nik Lewis seems content.
“My mindset, my focus,’’ he emphasizes, “is to get back to the level I’m used to. I’m proud of where I’m at, I’ve done some good things already, but there’s a way to go.’’
The No. 2, by the way, has been already shorn from the equation. Slick Nik wears 8 alone now, perhaps a doff of the helmet to this fresh opportunity in a foreign land ( former U of C receiver Jerod Zaleski models 82 at Percival Molson Memorial Stadium).
“I’ve actually fit in pretty well, I think,’’ Lewis reckons. “With a lot of the new guys here, like Steph Logan, Kalif Mitchell, as well as some of the guys I know, like Fred Stamps, it’s been a fairly easy transition.
“It’s fun, a breath of fresh air, to be on the field with S. J. ( Green) and Fred, with that calibre of receiver, guys who’ve put up multiple 1,000yard seasons. S. J. and I have won Grey Cups. Fred never has. So I think that’ll be a driving force for everyone this year.
“The new guys I just mentioned, here to mix with the Chip Coxes and John Bowmans, Brandon Whitakers and S. J. Greens, it’s a very deep, veteran team with some solid younger guys.’’
Out there in the limitless nothingness of Twitter- verse, an idea has been broached that No. 82 in red and white should be put aside in honour of its previous owner’s accomplishments, shelved until he retires and it can be given a proper send- off.
“That they would want the number retired speaks volumes to what I’ve done in the community and on the field the last 11 years,” says Lewis. “I think it’s awesome. In all reality, it never happens, to do something like that right now.
“But it’s awesome for people to think that.’’
At the moment, 82 is the property of Bo Levi Mitchell’s older brother, Corey.
“I like Bo’s brother,’’ Lewis says. “I had the opportunity to spend some time with him at the Grey Cup last year. And I couple of times before that. He seems like a great person.
“Hopefully, he represents the number well.’’
By any criteria, and irrespective of the occasional bouts of controversy, Nik Lewis ranks as a Stampeders’ all- timer. Nine of 11 years over 1,000 yards, 805 regularseason catches for 11,250 yards, 65 TDs and — most decisively — two Grey Cup rings. And on the subject of rings, the 2014 edition received theirs at a ceremony Friday night. Lewis, of course, understandably missed out on the festivities, unavoidably detailed by commitments due east.
“I talked to coach ( Pete) Costanza and he asked if I wanted them to ship it. And I told him, ‘ No, I want you or Dave ( Dickenson) or somebody to present it to me when ( the Stamps) come out here in July.’
“That would be very special for me. Not just to put it in the mail. That’s what I want, that’s what I talked to them about. When training camp is over, I’ll put in a few more calls and we’ll see.’’
He doesn’t have to wait long to start flashing his bling. Calgary travels to Montreal on July 3 for the second regular- season game.
“I left on a great note, a Grey Cup victory. I have no animosity toward Calgary, towards the situation,” Lewis says.
“If they’d brought me into training camp and cut me … I was at the training camp where they cut Alondra Johnson in 2004.
“There are a lot of things that could’ve happened that would’ve made the situation different for me.
“But they allowed me to make a choice. I made my choice. And I respect them for that because they didn’t have to do it.’’
All the ongoing warm and fuzzies aside, the Stamps best be aware of that familiar- looking guy with the unfamiliar number come July 3. Lose track of him and the old feller — he turns 33 on Wednesday — can still burn ya.
“I have a great relationship with Huff, Dave, all those guys,’’ Lewis says.
“Marquay. Keon. Charleston. Simp. So many people in that lockerroom. We’re friends. Brothers.
“I think it’s gonna be an incredible experience. The only time I’ve gone ‘ live’ against them was on Day 3s in the no- huddle drill. But even then, no contact, really.
“So I’m looking forward to it. It’s gonna feel like a pickup game in the back yard. When you’re playing against your friends, you’re always very competitive. ’ Cause there’s bragging rights involved.
“You go hard but at the same time it’s fun because, like I said, they’re your friends.’’
I left on a great note, a Grey Cup victory. I have no animosity toward Calgary, towards the situation.