VANSTONE:
Not all Rider fan favourites enjoyed lengthy careers.
The other day, while displacing water at Wascana Pool, the cluttered mind began to wander.
For reasons that remain unexplained, I started thinking about Saskatchewan Roughriders players who I enjoyed watching and/or meeting even though their credentials are not Plaza of Honour worthy.
Before too long, I had an expansive list and a waistline to match. So I got out of the pool — lowering the water level by several centimetres — and typed the names into my indispensable iPhone6.
All that remained was to add some details ...
Tron Armstrong: The ElecTron! He had a sensational debut with the Roughriders, catching five passes for 144 yards and two touchdowns in the 1986 regular-season finale. The following year, he had 31 receptions for 411 yards and three touchdowns in 10 games. And that was it. I thought he would be a Hall of Famer.
Graeme Bell: Always a favourite. In 2011, Bell was part of the “Huddle For Haiti” relief mission that included several CFL players. I travelled to Haiti to provide coverage. By Day 3, I was absolutely craving a Coke, and there wasn’t exactly a 7-Eleven on every corner in Port-aux-Prince. Memorably, Bell returned from one shopping excursion with a giant bottle of Coke. I treated it like vintage champagne.
Dalton Bell: A backup quarterback for the 2009 Roughriders, Bell is mostly memorable for his good nature. I sat next to him on a flight to Regina following the 2009 Grey Cup game in Calgary. We had a wonderful chat. Great guy.
Charles Bennett: One fine day in the mid-1980s, I was shooting/ missing baskets at the University of Regina gym. It was a busy day, so a very nice person approached me and asked if he, too, could take shots at my basket of choice. No problem. He took a shot. Swish. Another shot. Nothing but net. Then he effortlessly dunked the ball. Impressive. I eventually discovered that he was Charles Bennett, a defensive tackle who played one game with the 1985 Riders. It was awesome to meet him.
Darcy Dahlem: An alumnus of the LeBoldus Golden Suns, Dahlem had a 100-per-cent accuracy rate on field-goal attempts with the 1996 Roughriders. He was 2-for-2. I met him early in my career while covering high school sports. I am glad that he got a chance to play in the CFL.
Rick Eber: In 1973, Eber quickly developed a rapport with Ron Lancaster, catching 46 passes for 730 yards and seven TDs. His style was reminiscent of future Plaza of Honour receiver Rhett Dawson.
Moody Jackson: The unrivalled greatest Moody in Roughriders history. He caught four passes for 65 yards and one touchdown in four games with the 1977 Roughriders. I was fascinated with his distinctive running style and big-play potential. I wish he had played here for a longer duration.
Eddie Johnson: I will always, always, always, always miss dealing with the personable punter — the coolest guy ever to play for the Roughriders. He was comical, quotable and apt to launch high, arching punts that resembled moonshots.
Joel Lipinski: I stumbled into a cool story while Lipinski was quarterbacking the Campbell Tartans. He played most of a high school football game with what turned out to be a broken leg. While Lipinski was at Campbell, he also job-shadowed me for a day. As luck would have it, I had some urgent personal business to conduct that day, so I kindly invited Joel to join me at the Passport Canada office. I took a number (52) at the time they were calling 26. Or something like that. Joel played for the 2009 Roughriders and it was great to see him in green and white.
Ivan MacMillan: The diminutive placekicker was with the Roughriders for one game in 1975, his last of six CFL seasons. I always liked him because he jumped up and down after making a field goal. Sure enough, he was 3-for-3 in his debut/ finale with Saskatchewan, and acted like he had won the lottery after each successful kick.
Tommy Reamon: As a 13-yearold football nerd, I was elated when Reamon arrived in Regina during the 1977 season. After all, he led the World Football League in rushing with the 1974 Florida Blazers, gaining 1,576 yards along the ground. Reamon was also an electrifying runner for the Roughriders — albeit for two games. And that was it. But he was fun to watch, even while wearing his trademark baseball cap on the sidelines. Post-football, Reamon went into acting — appearing in the movie North Dallas Forty and in several episodes of Charlie’s Angels (TV version; long live Cheryl Ladd). As a high school football coach in Newport News, Va., Reamon mentored future NFL quarterbacks Michael Vick and Aaron Brooks.
Scott Virkus: The 6-foot-6, 285-pound defensive end had six quarterback sacks in only eight games with the 1986 Roughriders. He is best remembered as an aweinspiring slugger with the Steele’s Sports Company slo-pitch team.