Pubdate: Sun, 14 May 2006
Source: Toronto Star (CN ON)
Copyright: 2006 The Toronto Star
Contact:  http://www.thestar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/456
Author: Rick Matsumoto, Sports Reporter
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test)

ARGOS STAND BY WILLIAMS

Pinball Believes Offenders Deserve A Second Chance

HAMILTON--The Toronto Argonauts have been described in some quarters
as hypocrites for pursuing banned NFL running back Ricky Williams,
while at the same time dedicating themselves to the cause of leading
young people away from violence and criminal activity.

Mike (Pinball) Clemons, however, insisted yesterday that the CFL club
would, indeed, be hypocrites if it didn't look at the Miami Dolphins
player, who is under a one-year suspension after failing a drug test
for the fourth time.

"The reason is very simple," he said. "We have said that as the
Toronto Argonauts we are going out in the community and we're going to
try to reach them and not judge them."

Clemons spoke yesterday at Argo quarterback Damon Allen's second
annual Quarterback Challenge at Ivor Wynne Stadium, which brought
together 12 CFL quarterbacks, who ran through a series of skill events
in aid of children's charities.

Allen, by the way, won the event by accumulating 175 points in the
four skill tests. Tiger-Cats backup pivot Kevin Eakin was second with
145 points, while Saskatchewan Roughriders' Kerry Joseph and Edmonton
Eskimos' Ricky Ray tied for third, each with 130 points.

Joseph wowed the gathering, including his fellow quarterbacks, by
winning the longest-pass event with an 81-yard heave.

Clemons, who has spearheaded Argos' high-profile End the Violence
campaign, said the program's aim is to say to young people "even if
you have had a run-in with the law, even if you are in a detention
centre or haven't done well in school you can decide to change for the
positive."

He said the same criteria should apply to Williams.

Clemons said he appreciates the position of those who don't believe in
giving an offender a second chance.

"If you believe that people who do wrong will not change then I can
understand why they would say Ricky Williams should not be here," he
said. "But that is not our stand."

Clemons said that from his understanding, Williams has made a
concerted effort to change his lifestyle. He pointed out that the
latest positive test was not for marijuana or any other substance
deemed illegal by law.

"He had passed numerous drug tests before his latest positive test,"
said Clemons. "Our understanding at this point, and we've researched
it, is that this is a false positive."

Clemons said it has been suggested that the positive test is in all
likelihood related to a herb, which revolves around the yoga culture
that he has become involved in.

The coach pointed out that Williams now teaches yoga that preaches
drugs are harmful to the body.

Clemons said Williams has denounced drug use and said that if he joins
the Argos, he could "stand up and say drugs are wrong."

"If we say we can't (sign you) because of what you've done in the
past, then we're hypocrites," said the coach. "Because of what we have
said and what we are, it is imperative that we look at it."

At the same time Clemons admitted the Argos are still trying to decide
if bringing in Williams will help the football team.

"We still have to measure whether or not it works for us," he said.
"We still have to understand his level of commitment and whether he
respects the CFL. We have to figure if the time frame is right and it
would only be for a year."Meanwhile, former Tiger-Cat lineman and
hall-of-famer Angelo Mosca reiterated that he feels it is wrong for
the Argos to sign Williams.

He said he would take out a full page ad in the Star urging fans to
boycott Argo games if Williams is signed.

"Toronto is doing a good job of marketing, and I respect Pinball to
the highest degree," said the 70-year-old former defensive lineman.

"So, why bring in a negative and for one year? They're doing a good
job over there. They don't need a guy like him." 
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MAP posted-by: SHeath(DPF Florida)