No love left for Willie Fleming among CFL fans?

[Foxhound]

So I started a League for old-time fans of Willie Fleming on TSN CFL Fantasy and it's drawn basically zilch interest:

The Wisp!



This surprises me. I would have thought there'd still be lots of love for Willie Fleming in Lions' country.

Nor has a League I started in honour of Jackie Parker drawn much interest:

Ol' Spaghetti Legs

One for old-time ORFU loyalists and those from London has drawn similar disinterest:

London Lords

A League for those of Baltic ancestry has however drawn somewhat better participation:

Balticboys

[DanoT]

In order to remember the playing days of Fleming or Parker you would have to be 65+ so that kinda limits things right there.

[Hambone]

In order to remember the playing days of Fleming or Parker you would have to be 65+ so that kinda limits things right there.

Even then memories are fleeting. I'm still 3 years and a few days away from 65 and while the image of the legend is firmly in place I only vaguely remember watching Willie on TV and live only once when one afternoon my parents took me up to their 1965 training camp in Courtenay . He last played in 1966 when I was 9.

[Toppy Vann]

In order to remember the playing days of Fleming or Parker you would have to be 65+ so that kinda limits things right there.

Dano's right. As over 65 myself I actually (as a young football player in my teens) was introduced to Willie Fleming by my mom who was coordinating a fashion show in North Van for the Nor Westers Track and Field Club where Willing of the then famed Lions Den - men's clothing store on Granville - was one of the models. That was unforgettable as despite not being a big guy Willie remarked something like "Wow you Canadians sure have firm handshakes" leading me to think "oh s..t I've just ruined this guy's pass catching hand." He was joking.

But in those days all those players were super well known via the much fewer media sources available and in those days - amongst the guys I played football with - we were much more enamoured with the stars from all the CFL teams despite wanting the Lions to win. The Star Weekly had a weekly full page photo of star CFL players like Parker, Hal Patterson - All WR, Sam the Rifle Etcheverry, Johnny Bright, Rollie Miles, Normie Kwong, Jackie Parker, Kenny Ploen (QB, half and DB!). Like us kids these players (even stars) played more than one position and kickers weren't specialists.

Joe Kapp got little love for taking down Angelo Mosca at the alumni GC event but those of us who saw the hit on Willie on the ground that looked bad then never forgave him as that changed the course of the game. Now history has changed the story and the rumour of Willie dancing that night lol.

[Foxhound]

In order to remember the playing days of Fleming or Parker you would have to be 65+ so that kinda limits things right there.

My first exposure to Jackie Parker was probably hearing his name spoken in awed tones by older fellows in the schoolyard when I was in grade one in 1958-59. So I was primed and ready to see his card as a part of the 1959 Topps CFL set when I started collecting them in August. From my present day collection:







I have a vague memory of getting them in this first wrapper here although some were evidently also distributed in this second wrapper which Topps had used previously for the 1958 NFL cards:





Willie Fleming didn't make an appearance in a Topps CFL card set until 1961.

[CardiacKid]

Never saw him play but my mom certainly left an indelible impression of Fleming upon my mind. He was very much her favorite player and she could be counted upon to get all riled up when Angelo Mosca's name was ever mentioned.

To take a look at his stats and lifetime rushing average, you can't help but realize he was a very special player.

I got to meet Fleming during a meet and greet with a number of the 1st Grey Cup winning team at a 60th anniversary function. He was certainly low key in comparison to Joe Kapp who was seated next to him.

[Toppy Vann]

Never saw him play but my mom certainly left an indelible impression of Fleming upon my mind. He was very much her favorite player and she could be counted upon to get all riled up when Angelo Mosca's name was ever mentioned.

To take a look at his stats and lifetime rushing average, you can't help but realize he was a very special player.

I got to meet Fleming during a meet and greet with a number of the 1st Grey Cup winning team at a 60th anniversary function. He was certainly low key in comparison to Joe Kapp who was seated next to him.

Foxhound looks to have a collection similar to what kids in those days would have. It would not be just their team as players from all teams were known to fans. When the GC was played - Saturday afternoons then - even non regular fans would be a GC party with their friends watching it.

Fleming was low key more in the vein of a Kawhi Leonard. Soft spoken yet electric with the ball in the open field. Kapp was always the most outspoken man about town including owning that pub on Broadway and his peanut butter ads.

Those were simpler times and less media but the Lions were dominant in sports here.

Al Pollard - a US FB in early times (also a Stamp) was the Sports director for CKLG 730 am located in the 100 block East 11th in North and at our dinner table the radio was set to his sports reports sometime around 5:30 -6:30 pm - can't recall the exact time.

[Foxhound]

Hmmmm. An evil entity seems to be at work in this thread. The posts I've made have disappeared.



NOT SURE WHAT HAPPENED BUT THEY SHOULD BE SHOWING NOW. - MODS

[TheLionKing]

Had the pleasure to watch Fleming played. Greatest Lion running back EVER

[Foxhound]

In order to remember the playing days of Fleming or Parker you would have to be 65+ so that kinda limits things right there.

Dano's right. As over 65 myself I actually (as a young football player in my teens) was introduced to Willie Fleming by my mom who was coordinating a fashion show in North Van for the Nor Westers Track and Field Club where Willing of the then famed Lions Den - men's clothing store on Granville - was one of the models. That was unforgettable as despite not being a big guy Willie remarked something like "Wow you Canadians sure have firm handshakes" leading me to think "oh s..t I've just ruined this guy's pass catching hand." He was joking.

Never saw him play but my mom certainly left an indelible impression of Fleming upon my mind. He was very much her favorite player and she could be counted upon to get all riled up when Angelo Mosca's name was ever mentioned.

To take a look at his stats and lifetime rushing average, you can't help but realize he was a very special player.

I got to meet Fleming during a meet and greet with a number of the 1st Grey Cup winning team at a 60th anniversary function.

Had the pleasure to watch Fleming played. Greatest Lion running back EVER

So given that you fellows all know and love Willie Fleming, I'm wondering why none of you have joined the Fantasy League I've started in his honour.

Nor is it a case that few Lions' fans are Fantasy participants. The Den currently has 179 members and TSN 1040 Vancouver currently has 123 members. Meanwhile myself included The Wisp has only two members.

[CardiacKid]

In order to remember the playing days of Fleming or Parker you would have to be 65+ so that kinda limits things right there.

Dano's right. As over 65 myself I actually (as a young football player in my teens) was introduced to Willie Fleming by my mom who was coordinating a fashion show in North Van for the Nor Westers Track and Field Club where Willing of the then famed Lions Den - men's clothing store on Granville - was one of the models. That was unforgettable as despite not being a big guy Willie remarked something like "Wow you Canadians sure have firm handshakes" leading me to think "oh s..t I've just ruined this guy's pass catching hand." He was joking.

Never saw him play but my mom certainly left an indelible impression of Fleming upon my mind. He was very much her favorite player and she could be counted upon to get all riled up when Angelo Mosca's name was ever mentioned.

To take a look at his stats and lifetime rushing average, you can't help but realize he was a very special player.

I got to meet Fleming during a meet and greet with a number of the 1st Grey Cup winning team at a 60th anniversary function.

Had the pleasure to watch Fleming played. Greatest Lion running back EVER

So given that you fellows all know and love Willie Fleming, I'm wondering why none of you have joined the Fantasy League I've started in his honour.

Nor is it a case that few Lions' fans are Fantasy participants. The Den currently has 179 members and TSN 1040 Vancouver currently has 123 members. Meanwhile myself included The Wisp has only two members.

I have done the Fantasy Football thing in the past but no more. A couple of seasons ago I was participating in one and was actually doing pretty good at the start. However one weekend we went camping and I was unable to make my selections. Needless to say, I went plummeting down the ranks. As we do a fair bit of camping and can be counted upon to be off the grid fairly often during the summer, I don’t bother with Fantasy stuff anymore.

[Hambone]

I never did know if the story was true but there used to be one floating around Courtenay. When the Lions trained back in the day the players stayed at the Sleepy Hollow Motel which was about a 10 minute walk from Lewis Park and the CRA Hall which was the practice facility for camp. According to lore a couple of Willie's team mates dressed themselves up with bed sheets to look like KKK members and knocked on Willie's door. Poor Willie just about had a jammer.

[Foxhound]

So are women allowed on this forum?



If so, here are a couple of TSN CFL Fantasy Leagues for ladies in which the participants are lonely:

Ladies League

Ladies Who Love the CFL

[Fred.Fonce]

Willie Fleming lived on Saunders Rd in Richmond during his playing days. I lived nearby...all the kids knew where he lived so we'd ride by on our bikes hoping to catch a glimpse of the man. I did once, and clearly remember him standing at the front door talking with someone. This was probably '64, maybe '65. Oh man, 55 years ago, where have the years gone?!?!
I suppose most of us recall, but in the '60's the CFL paid as much, or more, than the NFL, and social conditions were favourable, so we'd attract and retain NFL talent.

[David]

The name "Willie Fleming" may not resonate with all in this town, but if you are of a certain vintage, memory of his exploits on the field is still held dearly. He was before my time, but I can appreciate him as one of (if not THE) greatest athletes to play professional sports in this city.

There is a fantastic Facebook group site called "Nostalgic/Sentimental Vancouver." Willie was brought up by someone a few weeks ago and it received lots of comments, pics, likes etc.


DH