Charles Roberts will be the 2024 Ring of Honour inductee - great choice and looking forward to it already!!
Well deserved!
https://3downnation.com/2024/08/26/winnipeg-blue-bombers-to-induct-charles-roberts-into-ring-of-honour/
I've been waiting for this one.
May have to get a Jersey
One of the most purely talented players I've ever watched live. Glad he's going to be up there.
It's about time. Happy for Charlie.
Anyone know if any retro jerseys will be available?
Charles Roberts To Be Inducted Into Ring of Honour
WINNIPEG, MB., August 26, 2024 – The Winnipeg Blue Bombers today announce Charles Roberts as the 2024 inductee to the Ring of Honour at Princess Auto Stadium.
Roberts, a running back and the leading rusher in franchise history, becomes the 16th member of the Ring of Honour and will be officially added during the annual Banjo Bowl on Saturday, September 7th against the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
"This is a big deal for me, I'm humbled and I'm very appreciative that I'm being honoured as one of the legends of the organization," said Roberts. "All those years ago when I first came to Winnipeg it never dawned on me that I'd receive a call 20 years later informing that I'd be saluted in this way by being added to the Ring of Honour.
"So many guys come up to Canada and want to use it to get back to the NFL. After my first year in Winnipeg, I didn't want to be anywhere else because I was so comfortable thanks to the fans, my teammates, and the people in that community. I had found a home."
Roberts played for the Blue Bombers from 2001-08 before being traded at the end of his career to the B.C. Lions. He was a Canadian Football League All-Star for seven consecutive seasons from 2001-07 and was selected as the CFL's Most Outstanding Special Teams Player in 2001, the year he was also a finalist for the CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie award. He was also a finalist for the CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award in 2006.
Roberts was named the Blue Bombers' top rookie and special-teams player in 2001, and the team's most outstanding player in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006.
The Sacramento State product led the CFL in rushing three times (2003, 2005, 2006), was the Blue Bombers' leading rusher seven times (including six straight 1,000-yard seasons) and finished his days as the franchise's all-time leading rusher with 9,987 yards, surpassing Leo Lewis in 2007. Roberts ranks second in Blue Bombers history to Milt Stegall with 79 career touchdowns and his 64 along the ground ranks first. He ranks sixth all-time in CFL rushing with 10,285 yards.
Roberts was named to the Winnipeg Football Club Hall of Fame in 2013 and a year later, was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.
"Congratulations to Charles Roberts, a welcome addition alongside the other icons of our franchise," said Blue Bombers President and CEO, Wade Miller. "The Winnipeg Football Club is absolutely thrilled to add such a spectacular player to our Ring of Honour."
About time!
Quote from: Jesse on August 26, 2024, 08:13:34 PMAbout time!
Agreed!
Roberts is one of the most exciting players I have seen suited up for the Bombers!
One of my favourite memories of Charles Roberts (Chuck Bob, as my kids called him) was the Labour Day game in Regina in 2001, one of the few that the Bombers won.
About halfway through the fourth quarter the Bombers had a small lead, and they took the ball deep in their end. They then marched up field with nothing but running plays to Roberts and Mike Sellers. I don't remember if they scored on that drive, but they ate up seven to eight minutes on the clock, thereby sealing the win. I've never seen a dual running back combo like those two.
Charlie ranks up there with the likes of Milt.
I doubt we ever see a talent like that again.
I see Harris as tops and Brady will challenge Charlie as #2. This is based on my 25 years as a hardcore fan. Many greats before my time. Charlie will go down as one of my all time favorites. Magic to watch at the old barn. A simpler time.
Reminds me that the Bombers traded him just shy of 10,000 yards rushing. >:(
Quote from: Ducky on August 27, 2024, 05:17:13 AMReminds me that the Bombers traded him just shy of 10,000 yards rushing. >:(
Unfortunately business often trumps the personal attributes of life. Difficult decisions are often made and the story of Drew Willy - and others - is an example of that reality.
As soon as I read the Blink Robert's headline I immediate thought of Goldie.....he's definitely one of my all time favourite Bomber running backs.....I rank him up there with my personal favourites starting with Leo Lewis, Mack Herron, Dave Raimey, and Andrew Harris. There were other greats no doubt but Blink is in my personal top 5!!
I know Jesse and I share this opinion.
Long over due for the clubs all time leading rusher among other prominent categories. thanks Linc, you know I have been calling for this a while now. Blink was the reason excited to be a STH in those years. Truly worth the price of admission. :)
Still the only player I broke down in tears when he was moved to BC after that LD game.
Looking forward to grabbing another autograph or two from him!
Love ya Charlie!
Quote from: John T. on August 26, 2024, 10:08:03 PMOne of my favourite memories of Charles Roberts (Chuck Bob, as my kids called him) was the Labour Day game in Regina in 2001, one of the few that the Bombers won.
About halfway through the fourth quarter the Bombers had a small lead, and they took the ball deep in their end. They then marched up field with nothing but running plays to Roberts and Mike Sellers. I don't remember if they scored on that drive, but they ate up seven to eight minutes on the clock, thereby sealing the win. I've never seen a dual running back combo like those two.
That was my first LDC experience and an extreme joyess one. Roberts, Sellers were magical that day! Khari played point guard for the most part.
Quote from: Lincoln Locomotive on August 27, 2024, 07:29:34 AMAs soon as I read the Blink Robert's headline I immediate thought of Goldie.....he's definitely one of my all time favourite Bomber running backs.....I rank him up there with my personal favourites starting with Leo Lewis, Mack Herron, Dave Raimey, and Andrew Harris. There were other greats no doubt but Blink is in my personal top 5!!
You know it Linc. Hearing those words from you mean a lot to me.
Quote from: GOLDMEMBER on August 27, 2024, 07:47:16 AMI know Jesse and I share this opinion.
Long over due for the clubs all time leading rusher among other prominent categories. thanks Linc, you know I have been calling for this a while now. Blink was the reason I got STs in a few of those years. Truly worth the price of admission. :)
Still the only player I broke down in tears when he was moved to BC after that LD game.
Looking forward to grabbing another autograph or two from him!
Love ya Charlie!
Blink is the reason I'm a CFL fan. The player that got me into football and kept me buying tickets throughout all those lean years, even after he was gone.
I'll absolutely never forgive the then Bomber management of Berry and Taman for trading him the way they did.
I really hope I'll get the opportunity for an autograph this weekend!
Quote from: Jesse on August 27, 2024, 12:06:40 PMBlink is the reason I'm a CFL fan. The player that got me into football and kept me buying tickets throughout all those lean years, even after he was gone.
I'll absolutely never forgive the then Bomber management of Berry and Taman for trading him the way they did.
I really hope I'll get the opportunity for an autograph this weekend!
I was a 4 year season ticket holder by time he arrived but he got more excited to come to the park than any other player.
Blink is one of the best ever. Such a unique talent and he shredded defenses with regularity during his time here.
Still bothers me he never got a ring.
Quote from: Ducky on August 27, 2024, 05:17:13 AMReminds me that the Bombers under a different regime traded him just shy of 10,000 yards rushing. >:(
FTFY
One of the dumber decisions under Taman, IMO.
Quote from: Jesse on August 27, 2024, 12:06:40 PMBlink is the reason I'm a CFL fan. The player that got me into football and kept me buying tickets throughout all those lean years, even after he was gone.
I'll absolutely never forgive the then Bomber management of Berry and Taman for trading him the way they did.
I really hope I'll get the opportunity for an autograph this weekend!
Trivia:
Without Googling it, who was the player we got in return?
m.
Quote from: TheDeuce on August 27, 2024, 05:46:35 PMTrivia:
Without Googling it, who was the player we got in return?
m.
Joe Smith or something really generic like that - dude was more interested in growing a garden than playing football
Quote from: The Zipp on August 27, 2024, 05:49:42 PMJoe Smith or something really generic like that - dude was more interested in growing a garden than playing football
Although Joe Smith was all business on the field though. A very good running back.
Despite his generic name, there was nothing generic about Joe Smith's game as a bruising tailback.
I still hate the trade to this day, just to be clear. It made me confirm my utter dislike of Taman.
But to suggest Smith didn't care about football is absurd.
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/smith-goes-own-way-while-on-sidelines/article1057896/
I wasn't making this up...there was an article written about it..dude was eccentric.
Quote from: TheDeuce on August 27, 2024, 05:46:35 PMTrivia:
Without Googling it, who was the player we got in return?
m.
Don't worry, I remember Joe Smith.
A bunch of people loved the Reid/Smith combo but I was so jaded that I couldn't bring myself to ever really like either of them.
Quote from: Jesse on August 27, 2024, 09:19:36 PMDon't worry, I remember Joe Smith.
A bunch of people loved the Reid/Smith combo but I was so jaded that I couldn't bring myself to ever really like either of them.
Smith's tenure here is easily forgotten. Reid carved himself out a pretty nice career in the years that followed, though.
What bothered me about the trade more than anything is that it didn't address an issue - at all.
That 2008 season was a strange one.
Quote from: ModAdmin on August 27, 2024, 06:33:55 PMAlthough Joe Smith was all business on the field though. A very good running back.
The Bombers won that trade. Roberts didn't do anything after that trade and was out of football not long after. Joe Smith was an effective running back for a couple seasons.
I know I am in the minority here but I was never a big fan of Roberts. I felt he wasted his talent. I have hard time for forgiving his lack of professionality when he partied all night in Montreal the night before the 2001 Grey Cup. He always came across to me as a bit of a selfish player. He would not be on O'Sheas team. Having said this his statistics make him worthy of being in the ring of honor but I think he was capable of so much more if he trained harder and didn't smoke.
Quote from: bwiser on August 29, 2024, 06:01:00 PMThe Bombers won that trade. Roberts didn't do anything after that trade and was out of football not long after. Joe Smith was an effective running back for a couple seasons.
Neither Smith nor Roberts played after the 2008 season. How either team won that silly, useless trade is beyond me.
Quote from: bwiser on August 29, 2024, 06:05:47 PMI know I am in the minority here but I was never a big fan of Roberts. I felt he wasted his talent. I have hard time for forgiving his lack of professionality when he partied all night in Montreal the night before the 2001 Grey Cup. He always came across to me as a bit of a selfish player. He would not be on O'Sheas team. Having said this his statistics make him worthy of being in the ring of honor but I think he was capable of so much more if he trained harder and didn't smoke.
Hard to be certain of that. Maybe a guy like Roberts could've used a coach like O'Shea.
And if you're going to single him out for what happened in 2001, I think you're ignoring the bigger picture.
Quote from: bwiser on August 29, 2024, 06:05:47 PMI know I am in the minority here but I was never a big fan of Roberts. I felt he wasted his talent. I have hard time for forgiving his lack of professionality when he partied all night in Montreal the night before the 2001 Grey Cup. He always came across to me as a bit of a selfish player. He would not be on O'Sheas team. Having said this his statistics make him worthy of being in the ring of honor but I think he was capable of so much more if he trained harder and didn't smoke.
It is to bad you feel this way. A pity really.
Quote from: bwiser on August 29, 2024, 06:01:00 PMThe Bombers won that trade. Roberts didn't do anything after that trade and was out of football not long after. Joe Smith was an effective running back for a couple seasons.
Both players finished the year and retired.
It was clearly not a football trade, but the desperate move of a struggling team trying to "shake things up" and the player and fans suffered for it.
On September 1, 2008, Smith was traded to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for fellow RB Charles Roberts.
He was released by Winnipeg on June 25, 2009.
He was barely here..
Quote from: GOLDMEMBER on August 29, 2024, 07:11:53 PMIt is to bad you feel this way. A pity really.
I don't question his talent I question his character. Can he even come to Canada.
.
Quote from: bwiser on August 29, 2024, 08:46:39 PMI don't question his talent I question his character. Can he even come to Canada.
.
Are you serious? You surprise me here pal. Sounds like he'll be here next week so what gives?
Quote from: bwiser on August 29, 2024, 08:46:39 PMI don't question his talent I question his character.
.
He's been back before.
Quote from: bwiser on August 29, 2024, 06:05:47 PMI know I am in the minority here but I was never a big fan of Roberts. I felt he wasted his talent. I have hard time for forgiving his lack of professionality when he partied all night in Montreal the night before the 2001 Grey Cup. He always came across to me as a bit of a selfish player. He would not be on O'Sheas team. Having said this his statistics make him worthy of being in the ring of honor but I think he was capable of so much more if he trained harder and didn't smoke.
I take it you mean 2007 in Toronto. Roberts actually played pretty well in 2001 and he was a rookie.
Does anybody have anything to substantiate this rumour, other than hearsay? I've never heard Charles admit to it, never heard another player or coach say it, never heard a media person say it. Maybe somebody did see him out that night somewhere. Does that mean he was "partying all night"?
It is fair to say he had a bad game however. That we all saw.
Quote from: Jesse on August 29, 2024, 09:54:54 PMHe's been back before.
He was here only what, 2 years ago?
Who knows what is true. It doesn't really matter. He is being put into the ring (and celebrated) for his ability to play football. I understand the need for a sanity check, we can't be honoring axe murderers afterall, but too many people want everyone to be squeaky clean. Look hard enough or judge people only by their worst moments and who could be celebrated for anything?
Quote from: bomb squad on August 29, 2024, 10:35:35 PMI take it you mean 2007 in Toronto. Roberts actually played pretty well in 2001 and he was a rookie.
Does anybody have anything to substantiate this rumour, other than heresay? I've never heard Charles admit to it, never heard another player or coach say it, never heard a media person say it. Maybe somebody did see him out that night somewhere. Does that mean he was "partying all night"?
It is fair to say he had a bad game however. That we all saw.
Yeah, I fully believe it happened. Don't think it's in the top 3 reasons that we lost the game, and it simply can't take away all of the emotional investment I have in 7 years of watching him dominate for us.
Quote from: Jesse on August 29, 2024, 11:28:35 PMYeah, I fully believe it happened. Don't think it's in the top 3 reasons that we lost the game, and it simply can't take away all of the emotional investment I have in 7 years of watching him dominate for us.
I think Milt was his roommate and he's mentioned before he never saw Roberts all night before the GC. Of course Milt was in bed by 9:00 pm.
Quote from: Sir Blue and Gold on August 29, 2024, 11:11:10 PMWho knows what is true. It doesn't really matter. He is being put into the ring (and celebrated) for his ability to play football. I understand the need for a sanity check, we can't be honoring axe murderers afterall, but too many people want everyone to be squeaky clean. Look hard enough or judge people only by their worst moments and who could be celebrated for anything?
Well put as always. Can we not just celebrate the greatness of his on field play? He is THE reason so many even bothered to attend Blue Bomber games.
Quote from: GOLDMEMBER on August 30, 2024, 01:26:19 PMWell put as always. Can we not just celebrate the greatness of his on field play? He is THE reason so many even bothered to attend Blue Bomber games.
I absolutely let player's off field antics affect my perception of the player.
But with Charlie, people just are always so worked up with "what he could have been". This is who he was. Maybe had he had Milt's work ethic we never would have seen him at all. Just straight to the NFL. Maybe, what if, etc.
What we had, was the best I've ever seen. That's the argument for me.
Quote from: Jesse on August 30, 2024, 02:25:29 PMI absolutely let player's off field antics affect my perception of the player.
But with Charlie, people just are always so worked up with "what he could have been". This is who he was. Maybe had he had Milt's work ethic we never would have seen him at all. Just straight to the NFL. Maybe, what if, etc.
What we had, was the best I've ever seen. That's the argument for me.
yes I'm on the exact same page.
Let's not discuss/speculate about anyone's personal life allegations here. It is against the rules.