PLAYER #61 - J.C. WATTS (1986)

With a name like Julius Caesar, it's no surprise that J.C. Watts was meant to be a leader.

This was exhibited not only on the football field, where Watts was a high-profile U.S. college quarterback at the University of Oklahoma and a successful CFL pivot in Ottawa and Toronto, but also on the American political scene, where he has moved his way up the Republican ranks to become an Oklahoma congressman.

Elected to the House of Representatives in 1994, Watts is only the second black Republican to win a seat to the house in 60 years.

"Never in their wildest dreams did Buddy and Helen Watts think the fifth child born to them, in a poor black neighbourhood in southeastern Oklahoma, would someday grow up to serve in the United States House of Representatives," said Watts, in an article that appeared on May 5th of this year in the Toronto Star. "I am the first black Republican to be elected south of the Mason-Dixon line since Reconstruction (130 years ago). It's obvious I did not win because of my skin colour or my party affiliation."

The reason Watts won was because of his talent, leadership skills, intelligence and enthusiasm, traits he exhibited when he entered the CFL in 1981 with the Ottawa Rough Riders. Watts led the team to the Grey Cup that year, and only a controversial pass interference call against tight end Tony Gabriel late in the game prevented a monumental upset by the 22-point underdog Rough Riders, who lost 26-23 to the dynasty of the Edmonton Eskimos.

Watts stayed in Ottawa until the 1986 season, when he came to the Argonauts and was involved in another memorable playoff tilt. This was the two-game, total point Eastern final against Hamilton, which the Argos led 31-17 after the first game, but lost 42-25 in the rematch at Exhibition Stadium, losing the series by a field goal. A similar format is back in place for the playoffs this year, and for the first time since 1986, the Montreal Alouettes are also back in the league. Watts started the last time the Als played a game in Toronto, and they're back tonight to play the Argos at the SkyDome at 7:30 p.m.

During his one year in Double Blue, Watts played in 11 games and went 108-for-182 for 1477 yards and five touchdown passes, to go along with 35 carries for 227 yards and four rushing TD's.

In 1987, Watts gave up football and returned to his native Oklahoma where he served as a Baptist youth minister before deciding to enter into politics in 1989. It was a difficult experience for the former journalism student, who felt attracted to Republican views even though the vast majority of blacks are Democrats, seen to be the party of the working classes.

"I faced the awesome task of calling my father and saying to him: 'Dad, I am today a Republican'," recalled Watts. "I think I was probably more afraid of telling my father of this Damascus road experience than I was of ever facing any linemen in all of my football career."

The next step: the first ex-Argo President of the U.S.?