Retired star quarterback to aid in Huskies fundraiser
By John Korobanik,
Edmonton Journal
EDMONTON – Warren Moon will always have a special attachment to Edmonton and it’s that appreciation for the Eskimos and the city that keeps bringing the Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback back to the city.
One of the key players in the Eskimos’ five-in-a-row Grey Cup run from 1978-82, Moon will return next week as co-featured celebrity with his former receiver Brian Kelly for the Edmonton Huskies’ fundraiser, title Evening with Edmonton Eskimos Legends.
“I have always special feelings when I come back to Edmonton because that’s where it all started for me,” Moon said via a telephone conference call Friday. “I’m always really appreciative of the fact they gave me a chance to develop my career, they gave me a chance to play quarterback and I’ll always be indebted to the people for the way they treated me in
Edmonton. Whenever I can find an opportunity to try to help give back I’ll try to do that.”
Moon and Kelly, his favourite wide receiver target with the Eskimos, will headline the June 5 event with former Eskimos kicker Dave Cutler, the master of ceremony.
Moon had overcome racial stereotypes to play quarterback through high school, junior college and college in the U.S. and came to Canada when the NFL wouldn’t give him a chance at the position. After six seasons with the Eskimos he went to the NFL where he played for 17 years and finished his career ranked in the top three in 12 career quarterback categories.
Although he was never involved in junior football — there’s not a similar level in the U.S. — Moon recognizes the value of the program to the Eskimos, the CFL and the players.
“Junior football has really been an important part of the Canadian athlete’s development and is another viable opportunity for young players to develop their talents,” he said. “We had some great players come out of the junior program — Brian Fryer, Bill Stevenson, Bill Manchuk, these guys were important cogs in our Grey Cup run.
“I think one of the reasons our team was so good is because our Canadian talent was better than other teams’ Canadian talent, I really believe that.
“Some of those players came out of the Edmonton Huskies program so I believe they’re doing a good thing there. It’s been an important part of the community since 1954.
“You need money to keep those organizations going and I believe in development more than anyone … and if there’s any way I can help in raising funds I’ll do what I can.”
Tickets for the event at the Delta Edmonton South hotel — $150 each or $1,200 for a table of eight — are available by e-mailing jade2002@shaw.ca or calling Deb at 464-6113. Nearly 500 of the 800 available tickets have been sold.
Proceeds from the events go to the Huskies’ scholarship program and improvements in their facilities.
