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Archive Record
Images
Metadata
Object ID |
2013.55.36 B |
Object Name |
Video Recording |
Title |
Norman (Norm) Kwong Interview |
Interview Summary / Résumé d'entrevue |
Norman Kwong, Order of Sport recipient, inducted in 1975, born in Calgary, Alberta, talks about his career in the Canadian Football League. Norman explains that he began playing football in his teens and that he tried out for the Calgary Stampeders directly after completing high school. He talks about his dual roles of playing offence and defense, which was standard at the time due to substitution rules. Winning the Grey Cup in 1948, his first year playing, fuelled his desire to excel. Asked about his nickname, the "China Clipper," Norman explains its origin and dismisses any derogatory connotations. Norman recalls the game in which he held a rushing record for 44 years and how playing against Calgary after being traded was a big motivator. Norman talks about the difference between his playing days' salaries and players' large salaries today. Norman talks about his role as Lieutenant-Governor of Alberta. He discusses football legends Jackie Parker and Doug Flutie, stressing Jackie's greatness within the expectations of a different era. In comparing football to life off the field, Norman notes how sport provides immediate results of win/loss. Norman talks about the cultural diversity within Canada and the importance of passion in sport. Norman talks about healthy city rivalries that exist because of sport and highlights the differences between the CFL and the NFL. The interview concludes with Norman showcasing his 1954 Schenley Award and his 1969 Canadian Football Hall of Fame plaque. Norman Kwong, récipiendaire de l'Ordre du sport, a été intronisé en 1975 et est né à Calgary, en Alberta. Il parle de sa carrière réussie dans la ligue canadienne de football (LCF). Norman explique qu'il a commencé à jouer au football à l'adolescence et qu'il a participé aux essais des Stampeders de Calgary immédiatement après avoir terminé ses études secondaires. Il parle de ses doubles rôles, jouant à la fois sur l'équipe offensive et défensive. Cela était normal à l'époque en raison des règlements de substitution en vigueur. Le fait d'avoir remporté la coupe Grey au terme de sa première année de jeu, soit en 1948, a nourri son désir d'exceller. Lorsqu'on lui demande de parler de son surnom, " China Clipper ", Norman en explique les origines et réfute toute connotation dénigrante. Norman se souvient du match lui ayant permis d'établir un record du plus grand nombre de verges par la course, record qu'il détiendrait pendant 44 ans. Il se souvient également de la grande motivation qu'il éprouvait lorsque, après avoir été échangé, il disputait des matchs contre Calgary. Norman parle de la différence entre les salaires des joueurs de son époque et les gros salaires des joueurs d'aujourd'hui. Norman discute de son rôle de lieutenant-gouverneur de l'Alberta. Il parle des légendes du football Jackie Parker et Doug Flutie. Il souligne la grandeur de Jackie à la lumière des attentes d'une époque différente de la nôtre. En comparant le football à la vie au-delà du terrain, Norman remarque que le sport produit des résultats immédiats, avec une victoire et une défaite. Norman parle de la diversité culturelle au Canada et de l'importance de la passion dans le sport. Norman parle de rivalités saines entre les villes, rivalités qui se forment grâce au sport, et il met en avant les différences entre la LCF et la NFL. Dans la dernière partie de l'entrevue, Norman montre le prix Schenley qu'il s'est vu décerner en 1954 et sa plaque du Temple de la renommée du football canadien, marquant son intronisation en 1969. |
Scope & Content |
Norman Kwong interview, 22 November 2006. Digitized MP4 from Sony 40 Advanced ME DVCAM. Viewing time 00:20:39. 00:47Childhood: Neighbourhood didn't have a lot of organized sports, partly because it was the time period, played baseball because they had a bat and ball, nothing else, never skated because didn't have skates, did not play football until in teens 01:24Life as a kid: grew up in Riverside and Bridgeland in Calgary, friends were from the same social and economic class, for sport they ran around the block and the one who ran the farthest and fastest was declared the winner 01:51Started to play football when a friend found a ball and they played and learned about the game by themselves 02:20When he started to take it seriously: after high school, tried out for the Stampeders 02:42He always considered football a game for him first, rather than a profession, until the last few years as a player in Edmonton 03:00On getting onto the Calgary lineup right out of high school: made the team his first year in 1948 but not on the first string, he alternated playing with other players 03:30On playing both offence and defense: it was normal at that time because of the rigid substitution rule, once you were on the field you stayed there until hurt or taken out 03:50Why did you focus on running back? Most talent for that position, could run fairly fast, he was tricky, and because you are good at it, they let you play 04:19Winning the Grey Cup 1948: His first Cup, won in the first year he played and was 18 years old. He played little in the game, "fuelled the desire in me to become better and to become the first string halfback"; they did not get to keep the Cup for a day as they do now, just had a team picture with the Cup 05:11On his nickname the China Clipper: There used to be an airline that flew out of the United States overseas, the plane that flew to China was called the China Clipper, the plane that flew to England called the England Clipper... he got the nickname because the plane was fast and he was fast; he did not consider it derogatory 06:11Had 192 yards rushing in one game, a record that stood for 44 years: did not realize it had been a record that long; exceptional day for him while playing for Edmonton against Calgary. The quarterback gave him the ball a lot that day - because he knew Norman was angry at being traded to Edmonton and that was part of the motivation for playing so well. 06:56On becoming part of the community (business and remaining with the team) after retiring: had to happen, matter of existing, at that time the top salary was $15,000., in those days could buy a house and a car, which was good for the time but not like the mega salaries of today 07:50On being Lieutenant-Governor of Alberta: "My job is to motivate or help support seniors or youth and encourage them in taking an active lifestyle, eating healthy and being part of the community..." 08:42Talks about Jackie Parker being the greatest Canadian football player, although Doug Flutie was considered the top player as he played in a different time where the expectations of the players was different 09:33Returning to question of his role as Lieutenant-Governor of Alberta : "My role is to encourage people of Alberta to be proud Albertans, to be proud Canadians, to encourage them to seek a more active lifestyle, to encourage seniors to be more active, to encourage youth to be more active, to just be good citizens of the country." 10:03Is football easier or harder than life off the field? "Football is much easier than life off the field because football is always a winner/loser. You have the results of what you done, accomplished given to you right away, whereas in life you work along at something and hopefully get better and improve your status if life." 10:32On his relationship with Jackie Parker: good friendship, he was the greatest football player who ever came to Canada, played so many things - offence, defense, passed, ran, kicked field goals, very special player and special friend 11:14Idols when young: there was no TV or radio, only got news when went to movies and saw the newsreel, no hero worship because not familiar with the current heroes 11:45Life lesson that he learned while playing sport: "Being prepared, doing enough practice to be good at what you want to be and it translates to life as learning your lessons... The most important lesson I learned is to do something you enjoy doing. That way it makes success easier." 12:24Do you learn more from winning or losing: "I think there's a double lesson. When you win of course there's the elation of winning, it makes you want to continue to be a winner and when you lose, of course, it's the opposite feeling. It just makes you prepare yourself so that next time you'll win rather than lose." 12:50On being an Honoured Member of Canada's Sports Hall of Fame: honour because of the recognition it gives you and the association with the other members of the Hall of Fame 13:10Talks about a funny moment when the team was flying to Winnipeg and they played a trick on a teammate 14:34Is there more cultural diversity in sport than in everyday life: "cultural diversity is beginning and developing all through Canadian life... We are a good melting pot ... and it is good for the country. The diversity in our society is reflected on the playing field." 15:32On being competitive: "Sports to me were always a source of fun.", talks about playing sports as a child and not realizing the main focus was to win until into his teen years, "competition is a major factor if you are going to play. But I certainly don't feel that there should be any big rivalries or any differences made between people who are playing for fun - it is for fun not for winning a trophy." 16:18Role of sport in society: "Sports is a gathering point for cities, like the Calgary-Edmonton rivalry... Sports is a major character builder, that kids learn that by working a little harder they can succeed and become successful." 17:04Why is the CFL so important to Canadians? "The history of Canadian football has played a big part in the people who follow it now, appreciate the talent that is in the league now, players as good as you will see anywhere, rivalries between Canadian cities is healthy... keeps people's interest and I hope it continues" 17:52Differences between the CFL & NFL: "the linemen are the biggest difference... Canadian players need to be more mobile overall and are not as specialized in their talents, have to be able to be able to catch a ball and run with it... do more than one thing... CFL players are usually more versatile" 18:48Shows his 1954 Schenley Award for Outstanding Canadian Player of the Year 19:57Shows his plaque for his induction into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1969; he was inducted the first year he was eligible |
Date |
2006/11/22 |
People |
Kwong, Norman Parker, Jackie |
Search Terms |
Normie Kwong Norman Kwong Football Grey Cup CFL Calgary Stampeders Edmonton Eskimos Interview |