Commentary: Some Heroes Get Forgotten
(Listen daily for the RP Commentary on the All New Hits 98 CKHD & LTD Radio)
If you’re like me today, the passing of another Roughriders great has you thinking of your own mortality. And thinking of the great yesteryears.
News came down Wednesday that Jearld Baylis passed away at age 62. It’s such a sad, but even moreso weird, story.
Let’s start with the good. The Jackson, MS product came to the CFL with the Toronto Argonauts in 1986. He was famously traded to BC in 1990 in an historic deal involving Matt Dunigan, but made his way to Saskatchewan for the 1992-93 seasons.
In Sask we refer to those as “The Years of The Don.”
If you know, you know.
They were memorable for all of us, including Baylis, who was named CFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1993. Those years also coincide with my time at CKBI Radio in Prince Albert and as sports director, I had the good fortune of interviewing a Rider player or coach once a week via telephone, all set up by the best PR man the team has ever seen, Tony Playter.
One of those players was Jerald Baylis, who graciously gave his time and a very insightful interview for our listeners in Lakeland. He was such a nice guy.
I was such a huge Rider fan back then and really remember Jearld Baylis. Such thick, long legs connected to a bubble butt and a swim-move pass rush which was impossible for blockers to stop.
Jearld went on to Baltimore with Don Matthews in 1994 where he lost a Grey Cup, then won one with the Stallions.
For that, Baylis became part of CFL history but that’s where the sad news comes in.
The CFL tried to contact him about being inducted into the Hall of Fame four years ago but had no luck. Nobody knew where he was.
And then word came down this week that Baylis actually passed away in December. But not too many knew were he was even living when he passed.
Maybe some heroes do in fact, get forgotten.
That’s today’s Rod Pedersen Commentary.
(The Rod Pedersen Show airs daily at 12 pm & 4 pm ET on Game+TV, Podcast & YouTube Live)
Honestly I read that about Mr. Baylis and just sad. That’s how those guys back then were referred to. Mr. Narcise; Mr. Austin the list went on and on. The only thing I can surmise is some people move on, put the past behind me and those that knew Mr. Baylis most likely had access to him anytime they wanted. When we remove social media and the circle gets small. It just means those in the circle are meant to be there and those who hadn’t talked to him in 30 yrs the feeling was probably mutual. The Don years….courtesy… Read more »