It's time to set the record straight. Despite reports to the contrary, Ken Clark was not the only person to play in the Super Bowl and Grey Cup in the same year. It's a myth that has lasted a long time, ranking right up there with the Babe Ruth "called shot" home run, and even perpetuated by a Trivial Pursuit Sports question. But it's wrong, all wrong!
"I never even played in a Grey Cup game," claimed Clark, a long-time professional punter who nevertheless did play for the Los Angeles Rams in the 1980 Super Bowl. Later that year, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats played in the Grey Cup against the Edmonton Eskimos, and the story goes that Clark was the Ticat punter. The trouble is, he played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders that year.
He did play for Hamilton once, whom he joined after starting his pro career with the Portland Storm of the World Football League, but that was from 1974-77. He came to the Argos a year later, and contributed 98 punts for a 44.3 yard average.
"It was really a fiasco there," said Clark about his one season as an Argo, when the team switched coaches in mid-season (from Leo Cahill to Bud Riley) and finished at 4-12 and out of the playoffs.
However, there was one play that stood out for Clark that year. As a back-up receiver, Clark rarely saw any action at that position, but he did catch an 80-yard "Hail Mary" pass in the final seconds of the last regular season game against the Ticats.
"After I caught the ball and started running, Terry (Metcalf) said 'Give me the ball', but I said 'No, block for me, this is my turn (to shine)'," said Clark, who took the ball down to the five yard line, but the Argos couldn't score the touchdown to win the game, and because of it missed the playoffs.
After that game, Clark signed with the Rams, and after his NFL stint moved back to Canada to play with Saskatchewan. After signing with the western 'Riders, the Buffalo Bills called with a contract offer, but it was too late to change his mind. A similar situation happened when he first joined Hamilton in 1974, as the Washington Redskins called with an offer the day after Ralph Sazio signed him.
"I don't think I'd change anything though, other than to make more money in the NFL," said Clark, who ended up finishing his career with the eastern 'Riders in Ottawa in 1987. In 12 CFL seasons with four teams, Clark finished fourth in all-time punting yardage and first in average, with 45.6 yards per kick.
After football, Clark moved up to Barrie, Ontario, where he worked for a couple of printing and graphics companies before opening his own company, Ink Spots, six years ago. He has two stepchildren, sons Ryan and Jesse, with his current wife Terri, and Clark also has two children from a previous marriage, son Garrett and daughter Devon, who are living in Australia.
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