Nicest Argo player you've met

[Will]

The answer for many will be #31 so let's try and go in another direction.

For me, it was Franklin King who was at the 2013 reunion for the 1983 Grey Cup team. Just seemed like a really nice guy who took time to talk during the autograph session.

[ArgoGabe22]

Adriano Belli has to be up there. Can't say I have ever had a bad encounter with any CFL player.

[bluto]

Adriano Belli has to be up there. Can't say I have ever had a bad encounter with any CFL player.

I mean... he's the only one who has kissed me...

[ArgoZ]

Admittedly, I’m not as close to the actual players as I used to be in my younger days. I’ll have to go back to the times of post game Joe Badali’s or the team charity hockey games, where I used to know quite a few players. Unfortunately, I could list a few not so nice players too! Some noticeable guys that come to my mind that were just really approachable or great dudes were Norm Casola, Schultzy, Brian Warren, Duane Ford, Mike Morreale, but if I had to pick one guy not named Pinball, it would be Clifford Ivory. He made time for so many fans, sometimes whole families. He was special.

[Argo57]

I’ve met a few players and they’ve all been very nice to talk to including, Jason Pottinger, Chris Van Zeyl, Chris Schultz, Earl “Bubba” Wilson, Kevin Eiben and of course Pinball.
Mike Bradwell and several CFL players came out to visit the kids playing in the Burlington Minor Football League when I was coaching there, all wonderful ambassadors for the league.

[AngeloV]

Al MacLean was an o-lineman in the late 70’s. I got to know him about 10 years ago. Super good guy.

[Topshelf]

Once took golf lessons from Dave Mann.
But my vote goes to Ernie Carnegie

[ArgofanIan]

Damon Allan helped out a lot at Kids help phone.. one of my friends helps out there and mentioned a lot of respect for Damon.

[shayman]

When Argonotes snuck onto the field at the end of the 2012 Grey Cup, I was fumbling around with my phone trying to take a picture of the band in the midst of the on field celebration. Marcus Ball stepped away from celebrating with this teammates, came up and said "Here, give me your phone, you go get in the picture." I'll always remember that amazingly nice gesture.

the picture's here (https://blog.hayman.net/blog/2021/11/26/tuning-up-in-victory-formation-at-the-100th-grey-cup-and-the-best-picture-ever/). Along with a picture of him taking the picture.

[AngeloV]

When Argonotes snuck onto the field at the end of the 2012 Grey Cup, I was fumbling around with my phone trying to take a picture of the band in the midst of the on field celebration. Marcus Ball stepped away from celebrating with this teammates, came up and said "Here, give me your phone, you go get in the picture." I'll always remember that amazingly nice gesture.

the picture's here (https://blog.hayman.net/blog/2021/11/26/tuning-up-in-victory-formation-at-the-100th-grey-cup-and-the-best-picture-ever/). Along with a picture of him taking the picture.

that's really cool.

[ArgoGabe22]

During the '71 reunion, Joe Theismann had media obligations to get to so he left the signing table and met everyone and signed anything for those waiting in line. A true pro.

Similar to the 96-97 Reunion, those at the end of line missed out so a couple players stayed behind despite being told to leave for the on field presentation. Whiltshire, Drummond, a receiver that has slipped my mind and at least two others.

[paulwoods13]

He's not necessarily the nicest guy (I have no idea about that, actually) but my favourite encounter with an Argo was probably 40 or so years ago when I encountered Rusty Brown walking along King Street outside my office building. I said hello and he seemed pleasantly shocked to have been recognized. I'm pretty confident it was the first (and maybe the only) time he was ever recognized, considering he was an extremely marginal backup o-lineman for only a year or two.

[OV Argo]

Glenn Kulka; got to talk to him briefly at a Super Bowl event held at the Casino/racetrack here, during the off-season where the Argos had hired Bart Andrus as HC - asked him how he liked my Argo cap and Glenn was asking me what i thought of that Andrus move, but then got called up on stage to speak as part of the media stuff going on. Always liked listening to Kulka when he was on local sports/jock radio - well spoken, but funny, which sort of contrasted with his tough, mean play on the field and muscle man build. Wish we could have chatted a bit longer - wanted to ask which Argo D he felt was better - 87 vs. 88 - he played on both.

[ArgofanIan]

Lots of ARRGO's have been on CFTO and CP24 recently for their Huddle UP efforts. Team is doing a great job to get the word out and help the community IMO. #PullTogether

[Golden Fleece]

Love the picture of Ball taking a photo of the Argonotes. What a nice gesture.

I met Greg Van Roten on the field after the fan day practice in Oshawa a few years ago. He was generous with his time and we had a good conversation about his time with the Packers and the travel issues of the up coming season (remember the home game in Fort McMurray?).

I took a picture of him with my son and got a chuckle when he hid his hot dog behind his back because he thought it might ruin the picture!

[ArgoGabe22]

Gene Mack was selling at Sports Card Show btw. Nice guy

[ArgoRavi]

Love the picture of Ball taking a photo of the Argonotes. What a nice gesture.

I met Greg Van Roten on the field after the fan day practice in Oshawa a few years ago. He was generous with his time and we had a good conversation about his time with the Packers and the travel issues of the up coming season (remember the home game in Fort McMurray?).

I took a picture of him with my son and got a chuckle when he hid his hot dog behind his back because he thought it might ruin the picture!

Van Roten has gone on to have a solid NFL career since 2017.

[Will]

Gene Mack was selling at Sports Card Show btw. Nice guy

I went on Saturday, the show was terrible.

[ArgoGabe22]

I went on Saturday, the show was terrible.

I don’t know what people expect but it’s getting boring. Same vendors, who have the same items every year plus guys just selling hockey cards and new unopened boxes of cards. Hard for a CFL collector. Managed to find a 70’s Argos pennant, showed to Mr. Mack who signed it for me plus added two bonus pictures.

[Golden Fleece]

Van Roten has gone on to have a solid NFL career since 2017.

Yes, indeed. Not many get a second act in the NFL.

[Smallz38]

Noel Prefontaine is up there for me. He let me try on his Grey Cup rings last time I saw him and he always signs under the brim of anyone's cap so it lasts longer. I have some really fond memories of him being clutch in key moments and had a lengthy career in both Toronto and Edmonton. Nowadays it's weird for me because I went to school with some of the players on the team now. I've never had a bad experience with anyone on the current roster and true to the CFL they're always down to chat when I approach them. The best by far was when they were boarding the bus back after the Labour Day win. Spoke to McBeth, Bede, Kurleigh, Cassar and Pinball. Truly an awesome weekend!

As for the subtopic about the card show, I went with my dad for the first time in at least 5 years (In my Joe Krol Jersey), but went many times previously when I was younger. CFL content is sadly super hard to find but I've always had a good time and met some super nice people. managed to pick up 1961 cards of Ron Lancaster and Dick Shatto which are in really nice condition. I never participate in the UD giveaways or the autographs because they seem like such a scam, but it's cool to spot CFL and NHL memorabilia dating before the 1950s, even if they're way out of my price range.

[ArgofanIan]

Mike Clemons was on CP24 multiple times this morning promoting Victory Ball and support for youth. We are so lucky to have this guy as the face of our team... and for what he does for our community.

[Smallz38]

I remember another encounter about a year and a half ago at the pub I used to work with, I met Orlondo Steinauer and one of his coordinators sometime after their preseason game against the Argos and before the regular season (With their TiCat hats and polos of course). He was actually the one who brought up Pinball when I asked about him going to the "dark side". Really cool and down to Earth, very happy to talk football with a CFL fan like me. Says a lot about this league and those that work and play in it.

[Will]

I remember another encounter about a year and a half ago at the pub I used to work with, I met Orlondo Steinauer and one of his coordinators sometime after their preseason game against the Argos and before the regular season (With their TiCat hats and polos of course). He was actually the one who brought up Pinball when I asked about him going to the "dark side". Really cool and down to Earth, very happy to talk football with a CFL fan like me. Says a lot about this league and those that work and play in it.

Orlondo is a nice guy.