What if? John Candy as owner of the Argos

[rdavies]

While we wait for the Argos to BMO saga to play out (because apparently the Toronto media are too busy retweeting and blogging crap) to break any news, let's distract ourselves by playing the speculation game.

What if John Candy bought the Argos?

Think MLSE is bad? A look at 10 of the worst team owners in Canadian sports history
Sean Fitz-Gerald National Post February 6, 2015

6. Bruce McNall
Team: Toronto Argonauts (1991-1994)

In 1991, they arrived with bright lights and loud noises, the Hollywood-inspired group of McNall, Wayne Gretzky and actor John Candy. They bought the Argos and they signed a bona fide star prospect for an unprecedented sum, a four-year contract worth $18-million to Notre Dame standout Raghib (The Rocket) Ismail. The Argos won the Grey Cup that year, but interest and attendance waned. In 1994, McNall pleaded guilty to fraud — the total of which exceeded US$230-million — in a U.S. court. The team was left in another uncertain position.

Postscript: Candy, the Toronto native, died of a heart attack that same year. “John was — I know for a fact because I had the conversation with him — he was looking at buying the Argos just before he died,” former Argos lineman Don Moen has said. “Whether he was going to be able to do it, I don’t know. But he loved it.”

5. Sherwood Schwarz
Team: Toronto Argonauts (CFL, 1999-2003)

An insurance executive from New York, Schwarz oversaw some of the most outrageous storylines in recent CFL history, which is saying something. One of his executives tried to stage a pre-game wet T-shirt contest featuring exotic dancers, an idea shot down with both speed and anger from the league’s head office. He hired a prickly general manager who hired a coach (John Huard) who wanted players to eat popsicles after practice as a means of physical therapy. Schwarz, who reportedly bought the team for only $100,000, stopped paying the bills in 2003, and the Argos descended into bankruptcy. Some players lost bonus money. Deep layoffs were made in the front office. There was some question whether the Argos might not end up folding. “I’m sorry I failed the fans,” he said.

Postscript: They won the Grey Cup in their first year after he left, and added another one in 2012, but the Argos are still on shaky ground, facing homelessness when their lease at Rogers Centre expires in 2017.

[ArgoRavi]

I recall at the time of Candy's death that there were reports that he was trying to put together a group to buy the team from McNall and Gretzky. There is no question that Candy's heart was fully with the Argos unlike his co-owners. It sounded from the documentary that was done a couple of years ago by TSN about Candy's involvement with the Argos that McNall really broke his heart just prior to Candy's death when he informed Candy that he would be selling the Argos. My dislike of McNall only increased when I heard that.

[Argo57]

I recall at the time of Candy's death that there were reports that he was trying to put together a group to buy the team from McNall and Gretzky. There is no question that Candy's heart was fully with the Argos unlike his co-owners. It sounded from the documentary that was done a couple of years ago by TSN about Candy's involvement with the Argos that McNall really broke his heart just prior to Candy's death when he informed Candy that he would be selling the Argos. My dislike of McNall only increased when I heard that.

True Ravi, Candy was in it for all the right reasons!
Toronto guy that went to Hollywood but never forgot his roots and his love for the Argonauts, one of the many endearing qualities we all saw in him and probably why he is still sorely missed.

[R.J]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4HzYF67B6U

[Neely2005]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4HzYF67B6U

Thank you for posting that. I hadn't seen it. I've always been a big fan of John Candy. He always seemed like a genuine down to earth great guy.

[jerrym]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4HzYF67B6U

Thanks Snow Rouge. John Candy was my favourite comedian by miles BEFORE he owned the Argos. I loved how, unlike most comedians, he didn't make fun of others but got us in touch with our own foibles by making fun of himself. Of course, when he became an Argo owner, it was like a dream team had been created for me. I loved his unapologetic passion for the CFL and Canada. All through the video, except at the end when his death is discussed, I had a smile on my face as watched John, the Argos and the city fall in love again as they marched to the Grey Cup. It makes the current mess for the orphaned Argos even sadder.

[rdavies]

If someone had some foresight they would find every piece of Candy (pardon the expression) on video, cheering the Argos on, and make him the Kate Smith of the Argos. Johnny Toronto rides again.

[shayman]

I remember seeing a pre-movie Argos commercial at a Cineplex in Mississauga in about 1993. John Candy asking people to come to the game. "Why not come on down to the Skydome to see the Argos - enjoy an eight dollar hot dog and a six dollar Coke, and maybe Bruce McNall will give you a rare coin worth a million dollars."

Loved that. It's what got me thinking about starting a band. Wish I'd done that a couple of years earlier when he was still around, I think he would have enjoyed it.

[ArgoGabe22]

What if? I don't think I have ever seen Braley promote the team. He rarely does interviews I hear. Here's Candy trying to promote some game and even signs an autograph.

[Will]

The Argonauts ownership after Candy's death was mostly absentee with Labatt's and especially with Interbrew. We don't know who Candy's investors might have been but at least the Argonauts would have had a public face of the franchise when the team sucked in 1994 and 1995. Perhaps, his presence would've been really appreciated in 1996-1997 when the on-field product took care of itself. He would have been good to have.

[Double Dare]

If someone had some foresight they would find every piece of Candy (pardon the expression) on video, cheering the Argos on, and make him the Kate Smith of the Argos. Johnny Toronto rides again.

Kate Smith ... ha, ha! He did dress as a woman periodically on SCTV!

[Neely2005]

21 years ago today.

[T-Bone]

21 years ago today.

?

Bruce McNall, Wayne Gretzky and John Candy buy the Toronto Argonauts (1991) #OTD #TOhistory #TOsports #Argos #CFL pic.twitter.com/J2naw3ii2j

— TodayTorontoHistory (@TodayTOHistory) February 25, 2015

[Neely2005]

?

Bruce McNall, Wayne Gretzky and John Candy buy the Toronto Argonauts (1991) #OTD #TOhistory #TOsports #Argos #CFL pic.twitter.com/J2naw3ii2j

— TodayTorontoHistory (@TodayTOHistory) February 25, 2015

John Candy died 21 years ago today.

[OV Argo]

John Candy = an all-time great !

When he was an Argo owner, I saw him in the stands (North side) at Lansdowne when the Argos were in town to play Ottawa - so he wasn't in the press box or team box, just like a regular fan sitting in the stands. I wanted to yell out to him, by calling him one of his SCTV character names (Mr. Messenger or Tommy Shanks or Johnny LaRue, or ...) and also to see if he would answer the Arrrrrrrrrrgoooos ! chant, but he was like a section away ... I wish I had tried or went over and brought him a beer or something like that ... that might have blowed up real good . ;o)

[paulwoods13]

?

Bruce McNall, Wayne Gretzky and John Candy buy the Toronto Argonauts (1991) #OTD #TOhistory #TOsports #Argos #CFL pic.twitter.com/J2naw3ii2j

— TodayTorontoHistory (@TodayTOHistory) February 25, 2015

Oh, those horrendous sweaters with that grade-school-quality logo and the red (red!) piping.

[rdavies]

Kate Smith ... ha, ha! He did dress as a woman periodically on SCTV!

Ok then, he could be the Julia Child of the Argos.

By the way, that is a great clip of him encouraging people to come to the games. He is well missed, especially right now.

[Wobbler]

Oh, those horrendous sweaters with that grade-school-quality logo and the red (red!) piping.

The logo is peculiar indeed. It's almost as though the designer mistakenly thought they were working for the English grocery chain:

[jerrym]

The logo is peculiar indeed. It's almost as though the designer mistakenly thought they were working for the English grocery chain:

You're too kind.

[rdavies]

Just watched Candy's interview with Brian Linehan and Candy revealed a real business sense (5:54). What an opportunity lost.