LEWIS WANTED EVERYBODY TO KNOW HIS NAME, AND THEY DO
King of aliases is looking for his next spotlight, which he will undoubtedly find
The transformation of Nik Lewis continues.
The former Stampeders receiver, who changed his aliases annually, is in the nation’s capital with an eye on making his next career move.
Although he has one year left on his contract with the Montreal Alouettes, the 35-year-old was injured and used sparingly this year as part of what many saw as his farewell tour of a league in which he recently became the all-time leader in career receptions.
While his plan is to sit down with whomever the Alouettes hire as their head coach to discuss his future, in all likelihood he’ll move on to the media, coaching or, heck, maybe even acting.
“I grew up wanting to be a coach, not play professional football — this football life has been extra,” the colourful Texan said.
“All this has helped me become a better coach.”
As an accredited media member this week, hosting podcasts for 3DownNation, Lewis showed up Friday at the commissioner’s annual state of the league press conference where he pressed Randy Ambrosie on the health of players’ brains.
“I’d do media — I’ve talked to TSN as I’ve always been interested in doing different things,” said Lewis, who defied odds to dominate as a five-foot-10, 240-pound receiver.
“Anything to expand the portfolio and keep your options open is a good thing.”
The shockingly durable Lewis demonstrated his versatility throughout his 14-year career played largely in Calgary, where he became a household name by design.
“An old coach in Texas told me, ‘ You just want everybody to know your name, good or bad — if everybody knows your name you have time to change it if you’re good enough,’” said Lewis, whose bombast early in his career was on display in the local papers weekly.
“I don’t care if you love me or hate me, just know my name.
“That was my focus my first three or four years. I’m going to be loud and talking and I’m going to ruffle feathers, and it became good. If you look at the transformation I’m not really that different now — I just handle myself differently.
“I respect people a lot more than I used to.”
The nonsense that used to come out of his mouth on and off the field is now much more tempered, befitting a player who went from novelty to superstar.
“I went from being one of the most hated people in this league to one of the most loved,” said Lewis with that ever-present grin.
“It was conscious. I don’t think you plan to go as far as you do sometimes. I crossed the line a few times, but it’s the nature of the beast.”
Lewis points to a handful of players around the league who should be recognized as elite players, but aren’t because they go about their business quietly.
That wasn’t Lewis, who gave himself a new nickname almost every year.
“That’s from growing up watching WWE,” he chuckled.
“How does Hulk Hogan go from what he was to Hollywood Hogan? Every off-season I wanted to recreate myself and show something different in my game and attitude.”
Showing up one time in a cape and other times in comical garb, he played the part of every alias he changed to.
“In 2007 I went to Simon Sleepwalker because me and ( head coach Tom) Higgins were bumping heads so much and he wanted me to calm down, so it felt like I was sleepwalking because I couldn’t be me,” Lewis said.
“Geronimo Jones — when you even hear the name you think of people running around and jumping off stuff and being crazy all the time.
“I was Lewis Mangenious when I first tore my knee because I had to out-think people instead of just beat them with my talent. Everything had something to do with what was going on at the time.”
Recently he went by Master Yunique.
“This year,” he said with a laugh, “was Hans SloMo.”
What or who Mr. Versatility will be next is anyone’s guess, but you can bet you’ll be hearing about it plenty once it has been decided.
I went from being one of the most hated people in this league to one of the most loved. It was conscious