Post by afterburner on Nov 7, 2006 19:04:05 GMT -5
TSN
Former Edmonton Eskimos great Jackie Parker has passed away in an Edmonton hospital. He was 74.
A source in the Alberta premier's office says Parker had throat cancer.
CFL Commissioner Tom Wright discussed the passing of Parker and what he meant to the game.
''When you think of the greats in CFL history, Jackie Parker certainly ranks among the best,'' Wright said. ''He is not only an icon with the Edmonton Eskimos, with whom he enjoyed his greatest success, he also played with Toronto and B.C. He passed and ran with style, and in many ways was the prototypical versatile quarterback who is the hallmark of our League.
''Following his playing career, he coached with the Eskimos and Lions, and also managed the Lions. In that regard, collectively he is a CFL treasure. His contributions to the game made him a timeless figure and he will forever remain embedded in our hearts and minds. Our thoughts are with Jackie Parker's family and friends and the many people he touched.''
"Ole Spaghetti Legs", as he was known, joined the Eskimos in 1954 and became a football legend over the next 13 years. He starred on both sides of the ball as a quarterback, halfback and defensive back for the Edmonton Eskimos from 1954 to 1962, the Toronto Argonauts from 1963 to 1965 and the B.C. Lions from 1966 to 1968.
Parker played on three Grey Cup winners with Edmonton, won the Schenley as the CFL's top player three times and was an All-Star for eight straight years. He passed for 16,476 yards and scored 88 touchdowns, kicked 103 converts, 40 field goals and 19 singles for 750 points. His dramatic 84-yard fumble return touchdown run in the 1954 Grey Cup remains one of pro sports most memorable plays.
Parker was a member of the CFL Hall of Fame, the Eskimos Wall of Honour and Canada's Sports Hall of Fame. He was also among the 185 players under consideration for TSN's Top 50 CFL Players program.
"The city has lost a great citizen," said Eskimos CEO Hugh Campbell. "The Eskimo family mourns the loss of Jack and our thoughts are with Jack's immediate family."
Parker began his coaching career with the B.C. Lions in 1968 as an assistant and was named Head Coach in 1969. He become GM in 1971 and held that position until 1975. After a brief stint as a color commentator on Eskimo broadcasts, he was named head coach of the Eskimos in 1983 where he remained until his resignation two games into the 1987 season.
"He made an impression on us the very first time he took the field," said Norman Kwong, lieutenant governor of Alberta and an old Eskimos teammate of Parker's.
"He could really run and do everything else. When he ran, when he passed, when he did things, they weren't always the pretty picture that you'd want to show kids, but he always got the job done."
"Football has lost a hero today in Jackie Parker," said Lions president and CEO Bob Ackles.
A quick look at former CFL great Jackie Parker:
Born: Jan. 1, 1932, Knoxville, Tenn.
Nicknames: The Fast Freight from Mississippi State, Ole Spaghetti Legs and the Mississippi Gambler.
Positions: Starred on both sides of the ball as a quarterback, halfback and defensive back.
Playing career: Played for Edmonton Eskimos from 1954 to 1962; Toronto Argonauts from '63 to '65 and B.C. Lions '66 to '68. Played college ball at Mississippi State.
Stats: Passed for 16,476 yards, scored 88 touchdowns; kicked 103 converts, 40 field goals and 19 singles.
Coaching career: Assistant coach with B.C. Lions in 1968 before being named head coach in '69 (he was also GM of the Lions from '71 to '74); Head coach of Eskimos from '83 to '87.
Career highlights: Won three straight Grey Cups with Edmonton ('54-56); Was named CFL's outstanding player three times ('57, '58 '60); Was a CFL all-star eight straight times ('54-'61); Was an all-American as a college player.
Honours: Member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame ('71); Canada Sports Hall of Fame in ('87); U.S. College Football Hall of Fame ('76).
Quote: When asked about the new domed stadiums with artificial turf replacing the natural grass he would have played on: "If I had a vote, I guess I'd vote for the domed stadiums. That way the talent isn't restricted by the weather.'"
Former Edmonton Eskimos great Jackie Parker has passed away in an Edmonton hospital. He was 74.
A source in the Alberta premier's office says Parker had throat cancer.
CFL Commissioner Tom Wright discussed the passing of Parker and what he meant to the game.
''When you think of the greats in CFL history, Jackie Parker certainly ranks among the best,'' Wright said. ''He is not only an icon with the Edmonton Eskimos, with whom he enjoyed his greatest success, he also played with Toronto and B.C. He passed and ran with style, and in many ways was the prototypical versatile quarterback who is the hallmark of our League.
''Following his playing career, he coached with the Eskimos and Lions, and also managed the Lions. In that regard, collectively he is a CFL treasure. His contributions to the game made him a timeless figure and he will forever remain embedded in our hearts and minds. Our thoughts are with Jackie Parker's family and friends and the many people he touched.''
"Ole Spaghetti Legs", as he was known, joined the Eskimos in 1954 and became a football legend over the next 13 years. He starred on both sides of the ball as a quarterback, halfback and defensive back for the Edmonton Eskimos from 1954 to 1962, the Toronto Argonauts from 1963 to 1965 and the B.C. Lions from 1966 to 1968.
Parker played on three Grey Cup winners with Edmonton, won the Schenley as the CFL's top player three times and was an All-Star for eight straight years. He passed for 16,476 yards and scored 88 touchdowns, kicked 103 converts, 40 field goals and 19 singles for 750 points. His dramatic 84-yard fumble return touchdown run in the 1954 Grey Cup remains one of pro sports most memorable plays.
Parker was a member of the CFL Hall of Fame, the Eskimos Wall of Honour and Canada's Sports Hall of Fame. He was also among the 185 players under consideration for TSN's Top 50 CFL Players program.
"The city has lost a great citizen," said Eskimos CEO Hugh Campbell. "The Eskimo family mourns the loss of Jack and our thoughts are with Jack's immediate family."
Parker began his coaching career with the B.C. Lions in 1968 as an assistant and was named Head Coach in 1969. He become GM in 1971 and held that position until 1975. After a brief stint as a color commentator on Eskimo broadcasts, he was named head coach of the Eskimos in 1983 where he remained until his resignation two games into the 1987 season.
"He made an impression on us the very first time he took the field," said Norman Kwong, lieutenant governor of Alberta and an old Eskimos teammate of Parker's.
"He could really run and do everything else. When he ran, when he passed, when he did things, they weren't always the pretty picture that you'd want to show kids, but he always got the job done."
"Football has lost a hero today in Jackie Parker," said Lions president and CEO Bob Ackles.
A quick look at former CFL great Jackie Parker:
Born: Jan. 1, 1932, Knoxville, Tenn.
Nicknames: The Fast Freight from Mississippi State, Ole Spaghetti Legs and the Mississippi Gambler.
Positions: Starred on both sides of the ball as a quarterback, halfback and defensive back.
Playing career: Played for Edmonton Eskimos from 1954 to 1962; Toronto Argonauts from '63 to '65 and B.C. Lions '66 to '68. Played college ball at Mississippi State.
Stats: Passed for 16,476 yards, scored 88 touchdowns; kicked 103 converts, 40 field goals and 19 singles.
Coaching career: Assistant coach with B.C. Lions in 1968 before being named head coach in '69 (he was also GM of the Lions from '71 to '74); Head coach of Eskimos from '83 to '87.
Career highlights: Won three straight Grey Cups with Edmonton ('54-56); Was named CFL's outstanding player three times ('57, '58 '60); Was a CFL all-star eight straight times ('54-'61); Was an all-American as a college player.
Honours: Member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame ('71); Canada Sports Hall of Fame in ('87); U.S. College Football Hall of Fame ('76).
Quote: When asked about the new domed stadiums with artificial turf replacing the natural grass he would have played on: "If I had a vote, I guess I'd vote for the domed stadiums. That way the talent isn't restricted by the weather.'"
