MBT project

[paulwoods13]

Some of you may have seen on Twitter and Facebook that I'm writing a book about McLeod Bethel-Thompson. I've been working on it for more than a year, and although the final chapter has yet to be written because his remarkable journey is continuing south of the border, I can tell you it's a fascinating story about his entire life in football, with tons of Argo content, of course. I don't know when it will be published but I'm anticipating he will still be active in football throughout 2023 (in the USFL and, I expect, an NFL camp, at least) so likely looking at late 2024 at the earliest.

In the meantime, I had the pleasure of spending three days last week in Birmingham doing research that led to this feature piece for the Sun papers:

https://torontosun.com/sports/footba...-with-the-usfl

[OV Argo]

Great stuff Paul !

Be interesting to see how MBT's pro football QB journey continues. Wonder if he's be interested in any of my vintage Argo caps? (they're not for sale though) ;o)

[paulwoods13]

Wonder if he's be interested in any of my vintage Argo caps? (they're not for sale though) ;o)

He would have been when he was up here. The one we saw him wearing on the Labour Day telecast (1990-vintage corduroy number, which sparked some discussion on this forum) came out of my collection. He gave it back after it "helped" produce a win in Hamilton, but later had second thoughts. I gifted it to him, and he gave me a couple of thrift-store pickups in exchange. Now he's sourcing out original 1984 USFL Breakers merch.

[OV Argo]

He would have been when he was up here. The one we saw him wearing on the Labour Day telecast (1990-vintage corduroy number, which sparked some discussion on this forum) came out of my collection. He gave it back after it "helped" produce a win in Hamilton, but later had second thoughts. I gifted it to him, and he gave me a couple of thrift-store pickups in exchange. Now he's sourcing out original 1984 USFL Breakers merch.

Ha ! - you gave him that 1990 corduroy cap he was wearing ? - I have the same one, and we did discuss his interest in the vintage gear on here a bit. My oldest Argo cap that I recall, got lost / left behind in a Carleton U classroom back circa early 80s - i think it had the cartoon boat logo ?

Funny enough - I have a couple of old USFL hats in my collection - Houston & San Antonio if i recall - would have to dig them out from a storage bin.

The Winnipeg, River City Sports site used to have some old CFL - USA expansion team gear still in stock.

["Issues"Mcgee]

Great article, Paul.

Yes I chuckled at the bit about MBT showing up in vintage gear.

Keep up the good work!!

[Stevoman]

Looking forward to reading it as MBT has always been an interesting guy. I loved that he was rocking that hat from 1990. It was also the first one that I ever owned as an Argos fan.

[Rich]

Congratulations Paul, and best of luck for the project! McBeth’s story might still unspool more over the next couple of years, you never know, you may have to write a sequel :-)

But even if it ends soon it’s a great story, maybe even a hollywood story. This unique character, after all those years of travels and trials and tribulations, begins to play the best football of his life at 34 and wins a championship. AND THEN (and this is the hollywood 2023 part) he gives up the money and the peaking career to help raise a child, which I think is one of the more honourable (and useful) things a man can do.

What a story. Make sure you keep the film rights. Just imagine what Will Ferrell could do as MBT!

["Issues"Mcgee]

Congratulations Paul, and best of luck for the project! McBeth’s story might still unspool more over the next couple of years, you never know, you may have to write a sequel :-)

But even if it ends soon it’s a great story, maybe even a hollywood story. This unique character, after all those years of travels and trials and tribulations, begins to play the best football of his life at 34 and wins a championship. AND THEN (and this is the hollywood 2023 part) he gives up the money and the peaking career to help raise a child, which I think is one of the more honourable (and useful) things a man can do.

What a story. Make sure you keep the film rights. Just imagine what Will Ferrell could do as MBT!

I'd prefer a grittier version where MBT is played by a strung out Christian Bale.

[paulwoods13]

MBT and the Breakers scrimmaged today against their city/stadium/hotel-mates, the Stallions. MBT was, characteristically, hard on himself.

https://adamsonmedia.com/alternative...-high-spirits/

[Will]

MBT and the Breakers scrimmaged today against their city/stadium/hotel-mates, the Stallions. MBT was, characteristically, hard on himself.

https://adamsonmedia.com/alternative...-high-spirits/

Not much context though.

[paulwoods13]

Not much context though.

I spoke to both the writer and MBT. The author, Scott Adamson, was allowed in only for the last five minutes of the scrimmage so saw nothing other than MBT firing with more velocity than the other QBs. MBT told me he was mad at himself for dropping a snap.

[Smallz38]

Thanks for the update on your book Paul! It's super heartwarming to hear how well things are working out for him, with balancing the football workload and being there for his wife and daughter. I think it's proving itself with him being the best USFL quarterback 3 weeks in.

Do you know if he will head to Toronto for an Argos game this year? I hope he does because I know it would mean a lot to give him the recognition he deserves for winning the Grey Cup this past season.

[paulwoods13]

Thanks for the update on your book Paul! It's super heartwarming to hear how well things are working out for him, with balancing the football workload and being there for his wife and daughter. I think it's proving itself with him being the best USFL quarterback 3 weeks in.

Do you know if he will head to Toronto for an Argos game this year? I hope he does because I know it would mean a lot to give him the recognition he deserves for winning the Grey Cup this past season.

Thanks for the kind words, Smallz38. I doubt he will be up here in 2023. The USFL season runs to mid-June, followed by two weeks of playoffs. If Breakers get to the championship game, he will be busy until July 2. By then the CFL season will already be underway. Even if he does not get invited to an NFL camp and is free and clear, I can't see him wanting to become a distraction during the season.

[jerrym]

In case anyone is wondering MBT is currently first in passing yardage and second in QB rating in the USFL.

https://www.footballdb.com/statistic...more%20rows%20

[ArgoZ]

Thanks for the kind words, Smallz38. I doubt he will be up here in 2023. The USFL season runs to mid-June, followed by two weeks of playoffs. If Breakers get to the championship game, he will be busy until July 2. By then the CFL season will already be underway. Even if he does not get invited to an NFL camp and is free and clear, I can't see him wanting to become a distraction during the season.

I would agree with this. Even if it’s a harmless come see the guys or the fans, the media (yes there are some) and fans alike would start all sorts of rumours should Kelly not be performing well, maybe even if he was performing just fine. It would seriously hurt the club for no needed reason.

[jerrym]

MBT took a massive pay cut to go to the USFL, knowing the chances of making it to the NFL were small at his age, in order to be with his wife more often, so I have very little expectation of seeing him in the CFL again.

McLeod Bethel-Thompson took a massive pay-cut to play in the @USFL
. Per @TheTorontoSun
, MBT was paid $400k CAD (equivalent to $292k USD) during the 2022 CFL season. He is now set to make $53k USD in the #USFL in 2023. MBT is betting on himself to perform for the @USFLBreakers
.

https://twitter.com/JamesLarsenPFN/s...88480676278272

[paulwoods13]

MBT took a massive pay cut to go to the USFL, knowing the chances of making it to the NFL were small at his age, in order to be with his wife more often, so I have very little expectation of seeing him in the CFL again.

https://twitter.com/JamesLarsenPFN/s...88480676278272

FYI, that seven-week-old tweet was based on this story I wrote for the Toronto Sun:
https://torontosun.com/sports/footba...-with-the-usfl