“Tricky” Dick Thornton

[ArgoGabe22]

Just learned that Tricky is battling lung cancer.

https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/cf...164607708.html

He even has his own website and is crrently writing his autobiography. Some great stories he shares on his ramblings.

http://www.coachthornton.com/

[gilthethrill]

Whenever I see a thread with a former players name I fear the worst....

[argolio]

Whenever I see a thread with a former players name I fear the worst....

I was thinking the same thing.

Wishing all the best for him.

[Argo]

Just learned that Tricky is battling lung cancer.

https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/cf...164607708.html

He even has his own website and is crrently writing his autobiography. Some great stories he shares on his ramblings.

http://www.coachthornton.com/

"Tricky" Dick Thornton: what a mensch !

[jerrym]

To say that Tricky Dick Thornton was versatile is an understatement. However, he was even more of a character. The following article does a great job of highlighting both but I've focused on the character side of his character in these selected comments. He played cornerback, quarterback, running back, receiver and punted.

The Canadian Football League has had its share of unique and fascinating characters, though none had the impact, both on and off the field more than "Tricky" Dick Thornton. In this modern day arena of pro specialists, Dick's brilliance on both sides of the ball may never be matched. He also had the uncanny ability to mix well with the media ultimately resulting in hundreds of columns, articles, features, pictures and magazine front covers throughout his career. ...In 1961, he was a high draft choice of the Cleveland Browns of the NFL who then immediately traded his rights to the St. Louis Cardinals. He was also selected by the Dallas Texans of the AFL and made the negotiation list of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. That winter, Thornton dealt extensively with all three teams but finally decided that Canada, with its wider field and different rules, would be the best fit for his versatile abilities. ...
The Bombers had been blown out that first game in Calgary and were huge overall underdogs in the series. Trailing 3-0 late in the second quarter, Kenny Ploen had to come out of the game with a mild concussion so Thornton received instructions from Coach Bud Grant to run out the clock. Disagreeing with that strategy, he replied, "We'll be leading 7-3 at halftime. Trust me, because you have no choice anyway. I'm your only backup." With time running out, he quickly passed over the middle to tight end Farrell Funston for a 22-yard gain to midfield. He then called an inside reverse to Dave Raimey who shot through the middle for another 12-yards. Dick then called the identical play but this time, kept the ball...took off around the right side and scampered untouched, 38-yards into the end zone. Calgary never recovered and the Bombers won 15-11. In the decider back in McMahon Stadium, early in the contest Thornton made a spectacular diving tackle at the Bomber goal line on Stampeders running back Lovell Coleman, knocking the ball loose, recovering the fumble in the process. Winnipeg went on to win that ballgame by a slim margin and ended up having to borrow the champagne from the Calgary dressing room for post game celebrations. ...
Dick had not only established his notoriety as a superb athlete, he was also well known as an outspoken and controversial "free spirit." However, he always had time for people in the community, the corporate business world, youngsters, fans and of course, the media.He had this to say about his reputation:"I was often misunderstood, but did nothing more than market and merchandise MYSELF." I ranted and raved about not playing quarterback, had my own fan club, gave all my girlfriends gold #14 pendants, even changed my jersey number from 14 to 28 for a couple of games...called a press conference to explain why...and the answer was I had to play twice as good during that stretch! But it was all smoke and mirrors." He went on to say, "Remember, those were crazy times; the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Bay of Pigs invasion, John, Bobby and Martin get assassinated, there was a sexual revolution when the birth control pill got invented, we were fighting the Vietnam War, players became hippies with long hair and weird clothes, there were protests and massive demonstrations...it was all happening around us. I had to think 'outside the box' and keep doing things differently in order to keep my sanity."
Being a journalism graduate, Tricky was naturally intrigued by sportswriters and he used them to his advantage throughout his tenure in the CFL. Dick Beddoes of the Globe & Mail once said, "When a team goes on the road for an away game, most players call their girlfriends. Richard Quincy Thornton always called the local sportswriters and broadcasters." ...
In 1966, the glory days of the Blue Bombers abruptly came to an end. ... That off-season, he jokingly made a statement on the radio one day; "The best thing about Winnipeg is the road leading out of town." That turned out to be the final straw that got him traded to the Toronto Argonauts. The Argos prior to 1967 were not just a lousy team, they were the laughing stock of the CFL. ...
Dick described that game to the author in the following way; "Knew I made the right choice in getting traded because when Winnipeg came into CNE Stadium the following season we blew them away, 53-0. I blocked a punt for a TD, intercepted two passes, and just for laughs, Leo put me in at QB and I threw for a touchdown and ran 50 yards on a sweep to the left for another score. Was going for 60 points on the last play of the game and tossed a perfect strike to Mel Profit in the end-zone, but he dropped it. In the locker room afterwards, Mel said he was so shocked that it was a perfect spiral, he took his eye off the ball." ...
Dick was "Mr. Everything" for Toronto the next two years and the Argos continued to improve. In 1968, with Dick making the defensive backfield a "black-hole" for any opposing quarterback to throw into, as well as playing running back, wide receiver and returning punts. ...
1969 was one of Dick's finest seasons. He was outstanding at the cornerback position, intercepting 7 passes, returning two of them for touchdowns. He replaced the injured Dave Mann at punter for part of the year and when star runner Dave Raimey went down with a season ending injury, Trix did double duty on offense and defense. ...
Leo Cahill went to work rebuilding the team for 1971, signing such high profile rookies as Joe Theismann, Jim Stillwagon, Leon McQuay, and Gene Mack plus adding a QB from the Detroit Lion named Greg Barton. To keep things really interesting, Thornton was again embroiled in controversy over a book he was commissioned to write by a local publishing company. Titled, "Get It While Your Hot, Cause Baby, You're Going To Be Cold For A Long Long Time," it portrayed the real world of professional football from a player's point of view during the turbulent times of the 60's. However, since it was somewhat anti-establishment, Argo management put enormous pressure on the publisher, till the project finally got cancelled.
But the damage had been done to Thornton's image and he entered training camp hanging onto his roster position by the slimmest of threads. It was a foregone conclusion he wouldn't even make the team. However, never short of an exciting challenge and just to prove what a great athlete he was, he not only made the squad but flat out earned the starting job at a brand new position, wide receiver. It turned out to be his finest season in professional football, yet he got little recognition for it. Dick played the first 7 games of the regular season at flanker. When Jim Tomlin got traded to British Columbia, Leo asked Tricky to move back to defense. No problem; in the following 7 games, he intercepted 7 passes, returning two of for touchdowns, which tied him briefly for the lead in all of professional football within that statistical category. The Argos finished in first place with a record of 10-4, won the total point series against the Tiger-Cats 40-25 and were finally on their way to the Grey Cup!
In the 1971 Championship Final the score 14-11 was. I knew I had to make something happen, so jumped right up on, Jon Henderson, the wide receiver and baited Jerry Keeling, the Stampeder QB, into calling a 'fly pattern' audible in an attempt to put the contest away." ... Dick intercepted that pass at the Toronto 42-yard line and headed up field, his blockers doing a tremendous job of clearing a path towards the goal line. He himself made a couple of brilliant moves to avoid would be tacklers and returned it 54-yards before being tripped up from behind at the Calgary 11. Thornton went on to say, "I have replayed that situation a thousand times in my mind. I had one guy to beat, Jerry Keeling, a former great defensive back himself. Jim Stillwagon was trying to chop Keeling down, but Jerry did a good job of kept his footing, thus forcing me to slow down. I would have much preferred facing Jerry 'one on one' in the open field going full speed. I decided to cut inside left because the sideline was fairly close to the right and didn't want to get knocked out of bounds. But because of my lost acceleration...just as I cut, someone from behind dove, caught my heel and I began to stumble. Keeling then spun around and brought me down at the 11 yard line."
The scenario was now the Argos score and they are Grey Cup champions. A chip shot field goal ties the game and Toronto, with the momentum, most likely wins in overtime. Dick Thornton had played a solid, all round game and was sure to be selected the MVP with the victory. But it was not to be! Thornton recalled the nightmare, "I went to Leo on the sidelines and told him to put me back in at wide receiver. Calgary would be playing the run and I could easily beat the corner on an out and up. All Joe had to do was float it into my hands, but he just looked at me and never said a word." Leo had decided to keep the ball on the ground. Leon McQuay carried the ball to the Calgary 7 but on the next play, he fumbled, the Stampeders recovered and it was game over. ...

http://www.cfl.ca/page/his_legends_thornton

[1argoholic]

For once I'd love to see a good story about a former Argo great. Wishing nothing but the best for him. He was a blast to watch.

[paulwoods13]

What a great attitude he has about this. He really deserves to be in the Cdn Football Hall of Fame, which has him on a fan "ballot" here http://www.cfhof.ca/the-hall/eligble-candidates/ but has, sadly, misspelled his name.

(Love the Argo unis in that picture, except for the boring helmet.)

[jerrym]

What a great attitude he has about this. He really deserves to be in the Cdn Football Hall of Fame, which has him on a fan "ballot" here http://www.cfhof.ca/the-hall/eligble-candidates/ but has, sadly, misspelled his name.

(Love the Argo unis in that picture, except for the boring helmet.)

Thanks for letting us know about the Hall of Fame vote Paul. I voted for Dick Thornton. Actually I'm surprised at who is not in the Hall of Fame including Mike O'shea, Orlando Steinauer, Mookie, Terry Greer, Jim Rountree, Mike Eben and Hank Ilesic (no Argo bias here).

[ArgoGabe22]

Greer and Roundtree are at least All-Time Argos. Thornton isn't even an All-Time Argo! I say it's about time we all make a request for him to be at least honoured by the Argos.

[paulwoods13]

Greer and Roundtree are at least All-Time Argos. Thornton isn't even an All-Time Argo! I say it's about time we all make a request for him to be at least honoured by the Argos.

GREAT idea.

[jerrym]

Greer and Roundtree are at least All-Time Argos. Thornton isn't even an All-Time Argo! I say it's about time we all make a request for him to be at least honoured by the Argos.

Lets do it while he's still alive!

[ArgoGabe22]

Sign the petition. Hopefully a good number will respond and I will forward the idea to Argos management. http://www.thepetitionsite.com/919/8...all-time-argo/

[jerrym]

I signed the petition to make Tricky Dick an All-Time Argo.

[Rich]

Sign the petition. Hopefully a good number will respond and I will forward the idea to Argos management. http://www.thepetitionsite.com/919/8...all-time-argo/

I took the liberty of forwarding this link to Steve Simmons, who's written many times about Tricky Dick needing to be in the H of F.

[ArgoGabe22]

Thanks everyone.

If you don't want to use your real name, just use a fake name like Argo Fan #1 or something. I have received word that Dick is thrilled about the petition and I believe it has been forwarded to his friends in the Philippines, since so many have signed. I don't think a petition is needed since it's a no brainer but it adds validity to the cause. The Bombers even honoured him in 1988 even though he said the best thing about Winnipeg are the roads leaving. Not sure what the Argos are waiting for.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/919/8...all-time-argo/

[Bleeds Double Blue]

That "road out of town" line certainly infuriated the local 'Peggers however it should be noted that none of them ever disputed his facts.

[Argo]

Notice the cigarette package in Tricky's breast pocket in two or three of his pictures.
You still see smokers lighting up (young women are apparently well-represented in this category). Shudder.

[Rich]

Notice the cigarette package in Tricky's breast pocket in two or three of his pictures.
You still see smokers lighting up (young women are apparently well-represented in this category). Shudder.

Gee, I wish I lived a perfect life like you so that I could pass such sweeping judgements about others.

[argos1873]

One of the last, if not THE last of the old time football greats who could run, pass, catch, tackle and kick. What a pleasure it must have been to watch him play.

[Argo]

Gee, I wish I lived a perfect life like you so that I could pass such sweeping judgements about others.

Thank-you for your sweeping judgement!
I see my observations about photo content, cause and effect, and the tragic repetition of tragedy struck a prissy nerve.