Shawn Lemon’s blind faith in Argos rewarded with Simoni’s cash

Shawn Lemon made the football equivalent of a blind bet on his football team in January and it paid off – literally.

On the same January day head coach Scott Milanovich resigned – general manager Jim Barker had been fired days before – Toronto’s sack artist made a gutsy prediction.

 

That wasn’t just Twitter talk from Ticats linebacker Simoni Lawrence, the exchange was like an old-time handshake: the bet was on.

The Argos beat Hamilton in Week 1 and from there each team’s season went in opposite directions. Hamilton went 0-8, but finished strong. Lemon and the Argos, under general manager Jim Popp and head coach Marc Trestman, were steady and closed their schedule 5-2 to claim top spot in the East Divison.

Before the regular season was over Lawrence held to his (Twitter) word.

“Simoni already knows the answer to that, I’ll keep that disclosed, but he’s in good terms with me so let’s just say that,” Lemon said. “He honoured his word.”

Bet made and bet paid in Canadian dollars.