When the Argos won the Grey Cup in 1983, Jan Carinci was one of their poster boys, posing with Dan Ferrone as they carried Earl Grey's beloved trophy off the field at B.C. Place.
It's a scene that hangs on the bedroom walls of a lot of dedicated Argo fans, and it gave a glimpse into the future of the outgoing former heartthrob. Carinci's personality and good looks have been assets off the field since his career ended in 1991 with the B.C. Lions, as he has been doing a lot of promotional work in and around Vancouver. It even included a stint as a football analyst on the Lions radio broadcasts on station CKNW, which Carinci calls "the CFRB of Vancouver".
"Me and (former head coach) David Ritchie didn't see eye-to-eye," said Carinci, who was let go of his radio duties last year. "They decided to get rid of this former player who didn't get along with the head coach, who had just happened to win the Grey Cup."
The loss of the radio job enabled Carinci to turn his full-time attention to promoting events for the company he co-owns, Daiseiko International Events. After working as a spokesperson and promotions manager for B.C. Pavilion Corporation, which operates public attractions such as B.C. Place and the Vancouver Trade and Convention Centre, Carinci helped form Daiseiko four-and-a-half years ago. Today, it promotes many unique events, such as dinner for 2700 people in B.C. Place and a low-flying extravaganza called the Vancouver International Air Race, with a lot of the business catering to the burgeoning Japanese market.
Carinci resides in Vancouver with Holly, his wife of two years and "a huge football fan", and he has lived in the west coast city since being traded there by the Argos just prior to the 1986 season. While he basically split his career with the two teams, Carinci is better known as an Argo, especially here in Toronto, the city he grew up in. However, when he came to the Double Blue in 1981 from the University of Maryland, it was a team in disarray.
"I think with the guys we had around, like Condredge (Holloway), (Terry) Greer and Ferrone, we had a lot of good talent, but it hadn't been structured in the right direction," said Carinci.
When Bob O'Billovich came in as head coach in 1982, the direction was altered all the way to a Grey Cup appearance, and then further moved along to Grey Cup victory in 1983, a game in which Carinci scored a key touchdown, as well as appear on the winning poster. However, any thoughts of a dynasty soon disintegrated.
"The '84 loss to Hamilton (14-13 in overtime) in the Eastern final really destroyed that '83 team," said Carinci, who during his tenure with the Argos became the team's career leader in punt returning with 2,752 yards on 292 returns, numbers since surpassed by Mike "Pinball" Clemons. The versatile Carinci also played slotback, fullback and held on placements, and was the holder for the Lions when Lui Passaglia set the pro football record for career points.
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