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THE MOJ: Phantom now ghosting Lions, but there was a time when he was the spirit of camp

Remembering the shadowy figure that kept CFL training camps honest for a generation
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The B.C. Lions unveiled their 60th anniversary logo in Vancouver, on Thursday May 16, 2013. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

There are no photos or documented stories of his actions.

Yet he played a major role in shaping the team香蕉视频直播檚 chemistry and culture for many years.

Ask a current Lions player about the legendary Phantom and you香蕉视频直播檇 get a quizzical look.

That香蕉视频直播檚 what happened last year when myself and Lions colour analyst Guilio Caravatta asked linebacker Jordan Williams if he had heard of The Phantom.

When told of The Phantom and what he had done at Lions training camps over several decades, Williams was even more surprised.

香蕉视频直播淵ou香蕉视频直播檙e joking right?香蕉视频直播 Williams replied.

Players today have no clue.

香蕉视频直播淪trange things would happen,香蕉视频直播 noted Lions legend Lui Passaglia, who handled the kicking duties for the team from 1976 to 2000. 香蕉视频直播淎nd of course, all of a sudden nobody knew where The Phantom came from. And who was The Phantom? And why was there a Phantom?

香蕉视频直播淚ndividuals were caught off guard by situations that would happen to them and wondering why and who did it. And, of course, the veterans that had been around a while knew that The Phantom was lurking around the corner during training camp or sometimes even during the season. You never knew when he would pop up.香蕉视频直播

Bill Reichelt joined the organization in 1978 and was with Lions as their trainer until his retirement in 2018.

He saw The Phantom make his presence felt at training camp no matter where it was located 香蕉视频直播 Kelowna, Abbotsford, Courtenay or Kamloops 香蕉视频直播 somehow The Phantom would find a way to get there.

香蕉视频直播淥h, where do we start. Personal items would be put in a bag and then filled with water and thrown into the freezer. Equipment would be taped and bound and then hung up from the rafters in a gym or the facility. There would also be times that heat balm would be rubbed into a jock. He香蕉视频直播檇 be busy during some camps,香蕉视频直播 remembers Reichelt.

Rookies who were disrespectful to veterans or the training staff usually would be the targets, but as Passaglia explained, it only took one message to be delivered for someone to 香蕉视频直播榮ee the light香蕉视频直播 and fall in line.

During his entire tenure with the Lions, The Phantom was a ghost-like character. Sometimes he would strike at night while on other occasions he would do his work while the players practiced.

There are stories, passed down by the elders, that say that The Phantom had a close rapport with the trainers and the equipment staff while others say that there were a group of veterans who had The Phantom香蕉视频直播檚 ear and would give him direction in terms of who to target.

香蕉视频直播淣o one ever caught or even got a glimpse of him in action,香蕉视频直播 Passaglia says.

Given all the free time kickers have at training camp, some believe that Passaglia himself was The Phantom 香蕉视频直播 an accusation he vehemently denies.

香蕉视频直播淚t wasn香蕉视频直播檛 me,香蕉视频直播 he states, 香蕉视频直播渂ut putting things together I had a real good idea of who he was.香蕉视频直播

香蕉视频直播淎re we on the record?香蕉视频直播 he asked.

When informed that he was, Passaglia put a halt to the interview.

Rumors abound when it comes to what The Phantom is doing these days. Unfortunately, none of these reports could be verified.

Wherever The Phantom is, he has a lifetime full of memories 香蕉视频直播 and victims - he can look back on.

Veteran B.C. sports personality Bob 香蕉视频直播渢he Moj香蕉视频直播 Marjanovich writes twice weekly for Black Press Media. And check out his weekly podcast every Monday at or your local Black Press Media website.

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