Athletes become well-rounded by playing many sports: Allen

P.R.O. Kids Association's annual fundraiser takes place April 25 at Delta Brunswick

By Scott Briggs
Published in the Telegraph-Journal on April 18, 2009
Appeared on Page C10

Damon Allen has something in common with Michael Jordan, Garth Brooks and Phil Mickelson: each of those entertainers felt the need to try his hand at baseball.

Allen, however, is different in that he was considered a legitimate prospect. A year before embarking on a stellar career as a quarterback in the Canadian Football League, Allen was drafted by the Detroit Tigers for his pitching prowess.

Despite his success on the gridiron, the baseball bug would bite him again. A decade after being drafted by the Tigers, Allen went to spring training with the Pittsburgh Pirates before opting to return to football.

"For me, it also had a lot to do with closing the door,'' Allen said about his short stint with the Bucs. "I still enjoy baseball now, it's in me. I go to Blue Jay games and I take my son and grandson.''

Allen, who played for six CFL teams from 1985-2007, leads pro football with 72,381 passing yards. He surpassed Warren Moon's total of 70,553 yards (CFL and NFL combined) on Sept. 4, 2006.

The feeling of always being in the game drew him to football over baseball.

"For me, it's always been about participating on a daily basis,'' Allen said. "Being in a variety of different sports kept me well-rounded and gave me more options. It allowed me to stay active.''

Allen will talk about the importance of staying active as the guest speaker at the P.R.O. Kids annual fundraising dinner on April 25 at the Delta Brunswick. The reception starts at 6 p.m., followed by the dinner at 7 p.m.

Whether it's sports or the arts, the former CFL superstar encourages young people to be active and involved.

At the local level, one of the sporting options will be the Atlantic Football League. Allen hopes the pigskin circuit, which is set to begin its inaugural season in the fall, emphasizes the Canadian game.

The 45-year-old from San Diego, Calif., said he can't understand why some Canadian football programs teach and play American rules. The Canadian game, Allen emphasized, has lots of "motion and creativity,'' qualities that should be embraced.

"I think one of the things we have to do in this country is look at the style of play (of the CFL),'' he said. "A lot of kids don't aspire to play in the CFL. They're bent on American rules, American TV and the NFL.''

Allen's brother, Marcus, took his act to the NFL, starring for the Los Angeles Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs from 1982-1997. The younger Allen signed with Edmonton in 1985 and led the Eskimos to a Grey Cup two years later.

"I've spent more than half my life in Canada,'' said Allen, who lives in Oakville, Ont. "I built something here.''

Still, Allen's formative years as a young athlete were spent in the U.S. Developing his talent in an American system and playing professionally in Canada gives him plenty of perspective.

"When you look at sports (in the two countries), one of the biggest differences is the support (in the U.S.),'' Allen said. "From grassroots to high school and through college, the support is there. It's not impossible for a kid to picture himself playing in front of 70,000 fans in college, because some of them have already played in front of 30,000 in high school.''

But Allen doesn't believe the experience has to be on the big stage in order to be meaningful.

"We just have to introduce things to kids. Sports can give them an understanding of what exercise is all about and it makes kids well-rounded.''

Allen is working on starting a football academy that would offer clinics throughout the country. He'd like to involve "great players and great communicators,'' including former Winnipeg Blue Bomber Milt Stegall.

"I spent 23 years in football, so it's a natural process to support the game and promote it,'' Allen said. "Football is the ultimate team game and you build relationships with people. It prepares you for the corporate world, too.''