It’s all about chasing wins and championships — Lucky Whitehead has long understood that as well as anybody while earning paycheques from the Dallas Cowboys and New York Jets to the B.C. Lions and now with his second stint with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
What the veteran receiver/returner has also long grasped better than most is that professional football is a profession, yes, but it’s also entertainment. And fans love — LOVE — players who interact with them and have fun doing it.
Whitehead showcased that during his days down south and from the very first moment he pulled on Blue Bombers colours in 2019, instantly becoming a fan favourite. And could be argued he perfected it during his three seasons with the Lions, when he mastered the art of grand entrances on game day all the while becoming a CFL all-star receiver.
So, hell yeah, Sunday’s return to Vancouver — his first visit since not being re-signed by the club over the winter — will bring goosebumps.
“Absolutely. A lot of memories there,” Whitehead told bluebombers.com this week. “It’s going to be fun just to hear the crowd, to be out there with the boys and especially after that first game. It’s going to be super-exciting and I know it’s going to be the same type of emotions and excitement coming out of the tunnel running out on that field and after hearing that anthem.
“I know whether it’s kick return or punt return to start that I’m going to get those butterflies until I get hit.”
Whitehead has seen his workload altered this week at practice with the return of Kenny Lawler. He was still taking the occasional snap at receiver with the starters, but will handle the majority of the return chores against his old club on Sunday.
“As you get older you understand the business side of things,” he said. “At the end of the day I know what kind of player and athlete I am and I can play with the best. So, there’s excitement to show I’m still that dude, to be honest. That’s my job and that’s what I’m going to show.
“It’s personal for me. And that’s not just with B.C., that’s with everybody that didn’t give me an opportunity. Don’t question my game as far as my speed. Right? That’s my game.
“I already knew (his not returning to B.C. in free agency) was coming,” he added. “As a player you get the sense of things. You see how things turn and I felt that in the midst of the season last year.
“I just know it’s going to be it’s going to be electric. It’s going to be a lot of love.”
Whitehead still has a lot of connections with the Lions — he attended Nathan Rourke’s wedding, for example — and will undoubtedly do some back-slapping and bro-hugging before Sunday’s tilt.
And, back to his game-day entrances, which became part of the show during his days with the the Lions…
@bclions What’s your choice for the BEST Lucky Whitehead Stadium entrance! ➤ Ice Cream Bike🍦 ➤ Puppy’s 1st game 🐶 ➤ Big Wheel 🛞 ➤ Cowboy 🐎 @luck2fastt @cfl #cfl #football #stadiumentrance #stadium #lucky #nfl #footballtiktok ♬ original sound – BC Lions
Whitehead said the idea began with some players opting to not drive their vehicles into downtown Vancouver and B.C. Place on game day. He borrowed then-teammate Chris Rainey’s mini-scooter one day and it grew from there, including using a Pogo stick, riding a Big Wheel and a horse into the facility.
He thought about zip-lining into the stadium prior to the Lions home playoff game last year and while recording our latest Handled Internally Podcast this week said he was offered to do that for this Sunday’s game.
But…
“Things are run differently around here,” he said with a grin. “So, I’m going to go in there with my hard hat on and get off that bus ready to work.
“I know a lot of people are probably expecting something, and it has been brought up that I should do something, but that’s not how things work here.”
HOT TICKET: The Blue Bombers announced the ticket pricing for next year’s 112th Grey Cup at Princess Auto Stadium and season-ticket members can enjoy a reduced rate.
Tickets will go on sale to the public next June, FYI.
Click here for more details.
