STEVIE BAGGS SPREADIING POSITIVE MESSAGES

Stevie Baggs and his mother, Lola Robinson, at Mosaic Stadium on Friday.

Photograph by: Roy Antal, Leader-Post

REGINA — It may look impossible, but Stevie Baggs keeps putting his best foot forward.

He does that as a defensive end with the Saskatchewan Roughriders and as the founder and president of a charity foundation in the United States. Baggs has become a professional football player despite being severely pigeon-toed. It's so extreme that it looks like he's going to trip over his feet while walking or running. That doesn't happen but Baggs has heard the taunts about his inward-pointing toes while growing up.

"It was bad growing up with my first name Stevie, my last name Baggs, and being pigeon-toed,'' Baggs said Friday after the Roughriders completed their final preparations for Saturday's CFL game against the Montreal Alouettes (1 p.m.) at Mosaic Stadium. "It definitely gave me some character and resilience. Now I embrace my name Stevie and my feet because they are a blessing.''

Baggs, 27, also passes on those blessings through his role with Creating Empowerment Through Autonomy (CETA). Baggs and his mother, Lola Robinson, founded the charity in 2004. The foundation is directed towards assisting at-risk communities and children.

"Aside from football, that is my passion,'' said Baggs, a 27-year-old native of Orlando, Fla. "We have many objectives back home and I hope to do something here. My main thing is to use my pro tag to draw them in and then I tell them the truth. Not everyone is going to be an athlete or an entertainer and that's what I'm trying to spread.''

Judging from appearances, Baggs wasn't expected to be a professional athlete. But he has looked up a number of athletes with pigeon-toes and he's running with some pretty good company. The list features former NFLers like Bob Hayes and John Elway. Ed Reid, an all-pro safety with the Baltimore Ravens, is also pigeon-toed. The list includes current CFLers like Winnipeg Blue Bombers linebacker Barrin Simpson and Riders' defensive tackle Marcus Adams. Hayes was the world's fastest man despite being pigeon-toed.

"You have guys who walk this way and produce very well on the football field,'' said Baggs.
Robinson has seen her son overcome adversity associated with being pigeon-toed. Baggs's grandfather and father were both pigeon-toed but not to the same extent as Baggs.

"There wasn't one time that he felt inadequate because he was pigeon-toed,'' said Robinson, who is in Regina this weekend for the game. "He always used it as an opportunity to prove to be people that he could do it and that has been his driving force.''

It has taken time for Baggs to become a force in the CFL. After completing his career as a three-time All-American at Bethune-Cookman University, he spent time on the practice rosters of the NFL's Detroit Lions and Jacksonville Jaguars. He also played in NFL Europe and with the Orlando Predators of the Arena Football League.

Baggs signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2006 and dressed for seven games over two seasons. Winnipeg attempted to place him on the practice roster in 2007 but Baggs signed with the Edmonton Eskimos because he wanted a chance to start. Baggs dressed for seven games in 2007 but wasn't re-signed. Baggs signed with the Riders in September 2008 as a free agent.

This year, he was promoted to the starting defensive end when veteran Kitwana Jones was traded to the Eskimos. This season, Baggs has an interception, three sacks, a safety and a fumble recovery. His performance has impressed Mike Scheper, the Riders' defensive line coach.

"He has performed very well in the two games we've had,'' said Scheper. "I can't ask for any more out of him and he's the consummate professional. He loves the game and strives to get better.''

That also takes place away from the field. In April, Baggs helped organize a CETA youth football camp and life skills clinic. Baggs funded the two-day event in Atlanta with money that could have gone to pay his mortgage.

"He has friends in the NFL who are making millions of dollars and they aren't doing anything,'' said Robinson. "Stevie does this and he's barely making enough to feed himself. We're praying that God will continue to open doors and he won't have to sacrifice his bill money to give back.''
There are many aspects to CETA. One of the elements he stresses is how difficult it is to become a professional football player.

"There are 2,352 NFL and CFL players in the world combined,'' said Baggs. "There are three or four million playing high school football and 300,000 of them in college. When they look at those numbers, they realize their chances are slim to none. We just want them to know that they have different opportunities out there.''

mmccormick@leaderpost.canwest.com
© Copyright (c) The Regina Leader-Post



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Stevie Baggs and his mother, Lola Robinson, at Mosaic Stadium on Friday.
Photograph by: Roy Antal, Leader-Post



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