Huron Expositor, 2009-04-22, Page 11News:
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The Huron Expositor • April 22, 2009 Page 11
Clemons challenges students to do their best daily
CJLgryl Heath
OMMEEM
Find your sweet spot.
That's the advice from Michael
"Pinball" Clemons, a renowned CFL
player, motivational speaker; Ca-
nadian Football Hall of Famer, and
Chief Executive Officer of the Toron-
to Argonauts.
In a visit t� St. Anne's Catholic Sec-
ondary School in Clinton Friday, an
event made possible by the Domestic
Assault Prevention Team, Clemons
said he doesn't want to be known as
a football player.
"If you want to know who I am, I'm
the husband of Diane. and the father
of Rachel, Raven and Riley," he said.
"I want to challenge you today to
think a little bit differently and the
first part to that is knowing who you
are: as a person."
Being known by a job : title, said
Clemons, is arecipe for disaster.
Noting he is known for running
more yards in football than any oth-
er player, "The reality is that doesn't
accurately represent who I am."
Instead, -he said, knowing who you
are and recognizing the importance
of one's fellow man are the keys to
success.
"Every successful man is_ not a suc
cessful father," .he said, "But every
successful father is - . a successful
man."
Indeed, _ Clemons, who led the Ar-
gonauts to the Grey Cu p champion-
ship in 2004, as well as to divisional
championships while a coach up
till 2007, said he left coaching for a
simple reason: It took too much time
anyway from his children.
As a coach, he said, his No. 1 goal
was team building. ` : --
"The team is .the foundation for our-
selves as people," he said. "A team is
one. When you talk about someone
else, you talk about yourself You
need to understand that. Mind what
you say. The great thing is when
I build you up, who do I build up?
That's right, I bund me up."
The important thing. to under-
stand, he said, is a team must united
and each member of the team must
understand that the team is not a
whole without each of its members.
"Any coach worth his salt knows
coaches don't win championships,
teams do," he said. "You can do any-
thing you want to do. The thing is
you can't do it by yourself."
And, said Clemons, it's important
to understand that one is not defined
by circumstances but rather how one
reacts to them.
He noted that as a child growing up
in the projects in the United States,
he faced his share of challenges, as
did his mother who had him at the
age of 18.
"She never made excuses," he said.
"Inateacfi of - fn -'ing "excuses; - glib
Michael "Pinball" Clemons -compares -hls 5'6" height to St.
Anne's teacher Chrls Grace's 6' frame, as' an example = of the
challenges he's overcome as a -football player while speaking
at St. Anne's Secondary School last Friday.
Do you live or work in the Dublin, Mitchell or Stratford area?
Do you need quality childcare for your 2 1%2 to 6 year old child?
Do you need before dr after school care for your 6 to, 12 year olid?
Did you know that you have government licensed care right in your area?
DUBLIN CHILDCARE PROGRAM, LOCATED AT ST.
PATRICK'S'SCHOOL HAS OPENINGS FOR ALL AREA
��.
CHILDREN TO ATTEND
,may a .L i .•�..'3s,--". .i.-:--71.A.i:>:. a..-�T'-'G ..
we are open from 7:00 a.m. - 6:Oo p.m. Mon
T+1.
100-4,Vm, Reasonable rates, Hot, nutritious meals provided.
rz-
Childcare subsidy, is available to those who financially. qualify.
This program is operated by the
SEAFORTH COOPERATIVE
CHILDREN'S CENTRE "` 7
Please call for more information:
519-5270682
Get the knowledge you
need to be competit�
in your job search.
Attend a FREE STARTI;
Workshop to.learn how
develop your Return -to -W
Plan that will get you results.
Call your local Centre for Emrloyment.
Goderich 519-524-2515
Clinton 519-482-1700
Sea Forth 519-527-0305
ONTARM Employment Ontario programs
ba" tbe
made sure she
taught me the
most important
thing is not the
circumstances
but .what I did."
. Clemons who
stands at five -
feet, six -inches,
took time out
to stand along-
side St. Anne's
teacher Chris
Grace who eas-
ily stands well over six feet.
"When you see the two of us which
guys is the football player?" he asked
the audience comprised of St. Anne's,
St. Mike's and F.E. Madill secondary.
school students. "Life is a lot like
that."
"Our challenge is to live daily," said
Clemons. "Just do our best with to-
day and toxnorrow will take care of
itself."
Clemons issued another challenge.
See PEOPLE, Page 20
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nciriks welcomes you to...
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Vii► f` e
ring TIi
Tours. April 30 to Sun. May 3
Thurs and Fri 10 to 9pm; Sat and Sun 10 to 6prn
I've been searching high & low this:
year for the best goodies for our
homes and gifts for the special people
in our lives, all at affordable prices
(not an easy task I must say).
Come on by and see the new things
for spring: garden art, colonial,
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pottery, primitive furniture, antiques,
and much, much more!
41401 Mill Rd., Rinuteniill
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Life is,a little bit brigliter
ager a: daj t Primitve Creek!
Check out;faille le of new items online
www.prim tivecreeit.net
519-522-0454
ht:Krttinf HURON PERTH HEALTHCARE ALLIANCE
MAUTCARE
AL1.1 ANC
-*',Si.014.1"444, )44 hAt14.14);Pao •10( 14.1•041kor
Alliance Board of Directors:
• one Director from the catchment area served by the Clinton
Public Hospital and
84.,x{ ♦r M }'�'�C�. iii .^ �� IF
• one Director from outside the City of Stratford who resides
in the catchment area served by Stratford General Hospital.
You must be prepared to commit your time and energy to the Huron Perth
Healthcare Alliance business and offer a good community perspective on health
care issues.
*4 i '«!.,'r+4 fi( + ir#a. '.<: sir �:. 3xY�et srtY'� i +• . �R,- .mss 4 -ftp
Interested individuals are encouraged to visit the Alliance's Website
y vvw.hpha,i and attend the Information Session as follows:
Information Session
Date: Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Time: 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. i
Location: Conference Room
Clinton Public Hospital
Clinton, Ontario
Please RSVP to Brenda Mitchell, 519-2124205
or by e-mail at Orenda.mjtchetitthoha.ca, if you plsn to attend.
IniomtaSorrhicktigioi end an Application Form
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