Canadian football legend Michael “Pinball” Clemons holds countless titles, records, and championships, but he says his greatest accomplishments are his relationships with people.
The former all-star running back, now General Manager of the Toronto Argonauts, put those words into action during his recent keynote address at Ivey. He worked the crowd, greeting students individually with high-fives and compliments while encouraging them to support one another, lift others up, and become beacons of positive change.
“It’s not what we do, but who we are that is most important,” he told the students. “The heart of a champion is not just about what you’ve won or what you’ve done – it’s an attitude, a way of life. It’s how you live and what you stand for.”
Clemons delivered the opening speech at the 2025 Ivey Sports Leadership Conference, an annual student-led event that brings together diverse sports industry leaders for meaningful discussions on sport, leadership, and society. The two-day event featured a range of activities, including a case competition, a live recording of the Agent Provocateur podcast, and numerous panel sessions focused on growing the game and sports fandom.
Weaving together lessons from his football career and personal life, Clemons shared how, despite challenges such as his small physical stature and growing up in the projects of Florida, he became a college-educated elite athlete thanks to the support he received. He credited the heroes in his life, including his mother and coaches, for bringing out the best in him and offered students advice on empowering others. Here are some takeaways.
It’s not about you, it’s about us
Clemons, who holds multiple professional football records, said he has difficulty accepting personal fame because success is always a team effort. Noting that every team is one unit and that all members contribute – whether highly visible or not – he emphasized that success in sports and beyond comes from working effectively together.
“I was the co-pilot, not the pilot, because we were all in it together. It’s not the superstar; it’s the superstars,” he said. “A team is one … so when I tear you down, I tear myself down. We all just need to take care of the people next to us.”
Lead with your heart
Inspired by Martin Luther King Jr.’s declaration that “power at its best is love,” Clemons described how great team captains lead by lifting up their teammates, offering solutions rather than criticism, and demonstrating care and support.
He encouraged the students to do the same as future leaders, even urging them to turn to the person beside them and say, “I’ve got your back.”
“Be someone who’s loyal. Be someone who is sensitive to the needs of others, takes care of people, and gives them the ability to thrive by putting them in the best situation for success – one that encourages, influences, and excites them,” he said.
Use your influence to better the world
Among Clemons’ many accolades, he is especially proud of being a two-time winner of the Tom Pate Award, which recognizes sportsmanship and community service. His extensive philanthropic work includes co-founding, along with his wife, Diane, the Pinball Foundation to provide marginalized and racialized youth with educational resources.
Describing how sports are becoming more inclusive and how many teams are strengthening their communities through charitable efforts, Clemons encouraged the next generation of leaders to measure success not by awards, money, or power, but by their impact on others.
“The greatest thing you can achieve is looking after the person next to you,” he said. “Your greatness, excellence, and how high you go will be determined by how you influence others, how you manage people, and how you take care of them. Those are the leaders of tomorrow – and today.”
The Ivey Sports Leadership Conference (ISLC) is co-founded by The Chayka Family and Golf Canada, as well as numerous corporate sponsors. ISLC 2025 was presented in partnership with BMO and The Parsons Group.
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