Published Jul 16, 2025 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 4 minute read<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n You can save this article by registering for free here<\/a>. Or sign-in<\/a> if you have an account.<\/p>\n One of the things Milt Stegall is hoping to feel when he gets back to work on TSN\u2019s CFL panel on Thursday is joy.<\/p>\n Advertisement 2<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Exclusive columns by Ryan Stelter, Paul Friesen, Ted Wyman, Scott Billeck, Lorrie Goldstein, Warren Kinsella and others. 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Plus newsletters: Gimme Stelter for your beat on the city, The Exit Row for all your Jets news and On the Rocks for curling.Unlimited online access to Winnipeg Sun and 15 news sites with one account.Winnipeg Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.<\/p>\n REGISTER \/ SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.<\/p>\n THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an Account<\/p>\n or<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Canadian football\u2019s career touchdown leader, devastated by the death of his 20-year-old son, Chase, in early June, wants to get back to having fun again, doing the job he\u2019s loved for the last 15 seasons.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cWe came to a point where we have to try and get back to our normal life, as much as we can,\u201d Stegall told me on Tuesday as he looked ahead to his first TV appearance of the season two days later.<\/p>\n So in the spirit of having fun, here\u2019s a Milt Stegall story you probably haven\u2019t heard.<\/p>\n In 2002, I picked up an old car at a local auction. It was a 1966 Oldsmobile Ninety Eight, a big four-door hardtop, classic turquoise in colour, that was a little rusty but in decent driving condition.<\/p>\n I took the car to the old stadium on occasion to watch the Blue Bombers practise and to conduct interviews.<\/p>\n The Winnipeg Sun’s Daily Headline News<\/p>\n Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Advertisement 3<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n One day I ran into Stegall in the parking lot and he expressed interest in it, asking where I got it and how much I paid ($1,300).<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll give you $5,000 for it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n I told him it wasn\u2019t for sale.<\/p>\n He upped the ante: \u201cI\u2019ll give you $10,000.\u201d<\/p>\n I didn\u2019t take Stegall up on his offer. But a few years later, after getting some bodywork done and having it repainted, I ran into him again \u2013 he was still playing \u2013 and showed him the finished product. Now at least it was worth closer to what he had offered.<\/p>\n Of course, it still wasn\u2019t for sale. I tend to hang onto these remnants of my childhood.<\/p>\n Fast-forward to this past Tuesday, when I had Stegall lined up for a phone interview early in the afternoon.<\/p>\n Five minutes before I was supposed to call him at his home in Atlanta, I got a call from my mechanic. He\u2019d recently done some work on an overheating problem with the Olds and was checking in to see how it was doing.<\/p>\n Advertisement 4<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n I told him I couldn\u2019t talk for long because I was supposed to do an interview with Milt Stegall. One thing you don\u2019t want to do is make the former receiver wait.<\/p>\n Stegall always liked to say there were six guarantees in life, among them: Death, taxes, Milt Stegall being in good shape and Milt Stegall being on time.<\/p>\n My mechanic quickly switched gears (pun intended) and offered heartfelt condolences that he wanted me to pass on to one of the best receivers we\u2019ve ever seen in the CFL.<\/p>\n He\u2019d heard about the tragedy, and with kids of his own couldn\u2019t imagine what Stegall and his family were going through. It struck me how sincere he was.<\/p>\n By the time I got off the phone with my him, I was two minutes late in calling Stegall.<\/p>\n He was quick to point it out, of course.<\/p>\n Advertisement 5<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n I told him I had a good reason, reminding him of the car he wanted to buy some 20 years ago and telling him what the mechanic had said, unprompted.<\/p>\n \u201cI can accept you being late over that,\u201d Stegall said. \u201cThere\u2019s been so many people reaching out to me \u2026 it\u2019s definitely helpful in navigating through this.\u201d<\/p>\n The conversation turned to the incredible pain his family was dealing with and his return to work this week, including a trip to his old stomping grounds for Friday\u2019s game against Calgary.<\/p>\n The column I wrote from our talk drew all kinds of reaction on Wednesday, both on social media and in emails from readers.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s an example: \u201cThank you for sharing this update of how the Stegall family is coping after the tragic loss of their son,\u201d wrote Brent. \u201cI am a CFL fan in Saskatchewan, who has always had so much respect for Milt, the player, broadcaster and CFL advocate. I\u2019m glad to read that he is healing, even if just a small amount, everyday. I\u2019m looking forward to seeing Milt back on the TV this week.\u201d<\/p>\n Advertisement 6<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n From Kirk on X: \u201cWinnipeg will embrace him on Friday.\u201d<\/p>\n From Al on the same site: \u201cHope Friday\u2019s hug from Wpg can help during this tough journey.\u201d<\/p>\n With all the division and nastiness out there these days, it\u2019s reassuring to see an outpouring of empathy for someone going through an impossibly difficult time.<\/p>\n If there\u2019s one thing we can all do to make this a better place, it\u2019s offer up some kindness, whether it\u2019s dealing with employees in a store, simply walking down the street or between oil changes, as the mechanic had done.<\/p>\n I mentioned his words to a family member that day.<\/p>\n \u201cThat guy speaks for all Bomber fans,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n There you go, Milt.<\/p>\n Welcome back to Winnipeg.<\/p>\n paul.friesen@kleinmedia.ca<\/p>\n X: @friesensunmedia<\/p>\n Read More<\/p>\n ‘Toughest moment of my life’: Bombers great Stegall on losing his son<\/p>\n![\"Milt](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/SptsWB1_Stegall2024-scaled-e1752713327144.jpg\")
Milt Stegall secures a catch during Winnipeg Blue Bombers rookie camp at Princess Auto Stadium on May 8, 2024. Photo by Kevin King \/Winnipeg SunArticle content<\/p>\n![\"Winnipeg](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/19.1.4\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-wsun-new.svg\"){kind=logo}
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