Winnipeg Blue Bombers #9 Justin Medlock during practice August 20, 2019
No one truly knows what our new reality is going to look and feel like days from now – let alone in the coming weeks or months – as part of this still-developing Coronavirus pandemic.
But Winnipeg Blue Bombers kicker Justin Medlock got an up-close taste of what the here and now looks like Monday at his offseason base in Jupiter, Fla.
It began when the veteran hoofer headed over to the park near his home for his daily workout, which was then trumped by the announcement later in morning when the Canadian Football League announced the postponement of the opening of training camps, scheduled for May 17th.
“I try to work out at the park at around 7 a.m. I just park the car and work out while the sun rises with about an hour-long routine,” said Medlock in a conversation with bluebombers.com. “But I didn’t set my alarm and came out at 9 a.m. and there were police officers roaming around – I guess they’re getting tighter on their security – and they said, ‘You can’t come to this park and work out.’
“I’ll be fine. I can just work out in my garage. The kicking part is a little bit tougher. I used to go to this park nearby, but I can’t now. I’m fine, but it’s tough times, obviously. It’s a tough time for the players, the coaches and the fans in general, but they’ve made the right decision.”
“I think we all kind of knew this was going to happen and you have to prepare for this. At the same time it’s sad because you train towards this next goal and you want to be around your teammates and coaches. We all just want to play some football.”
Now, understand this: Medlock’s take on what is unfolding all over the globe is as educated as any on the Bombers’ roster or in the CFL. He’s the kind who devours all kinds of news, is plugged in to his teammates and others around the league and his sister, an E.R. doctor in California, will soon be returning from vacation and brace for what awaits her when she puts on the mask and gown again.
“It’s just so tough for everyone,” he said. “We all want answers, but we just have to wait. Hopefully we will get some answers in the next few weeks. It’s March still and the football season still seems like so far away.”
Now a father of two – he and his wife Hannah welcomed daughter Kaya in January, joining three-year old Braxton – Medlock also registered to take some online courses in the medical sales industry in case the start of the season is delayed later into the year.
“Who isn’t thinking about Plan B right now?” he reasoned. “I watch a lot of news… it can impact you mentally. My diet was so bad last week. I was treating it like it was December. And then I was like, ‘What am I doing?’ And after that I just said, ‘Monday, let’s just get going again and move forward and get ready for the season. Stay ready. Stay focused.’
“I’m really good with self-talk and really good with thinking in a positive manner and just getting myself ready for certain things. Last week I was just having a hard time. I had to bounce some ideas off other guys and I just said, ‘Man, I am not very good at this. This is a shock.’
“It’s been such a dramatic change across the world and you just have to hope that people are doing the right thing.”
Even the smallest gesture can be part of ‘doing the right thing.’ Besides practising social distancing, Medlock has been making sure to support local businesses in Jupiter at least once a week.
He and his teammates are following that up here in Winnipeg, too. Medlock, for example, has been buying gift cards for local restaurants and then having them delivered to some of the football club’s staff.
“I try to go to local businesses here and then I was thinking about Winnipeg and one of the places that I go to a lot is Colosseo’s. They take care of a lot of the players and so I called them and wanted to make sure they were OK. A lot of players have tried to take care of Nicolino’s, too, because they’re good to us. We’re just trying to give back to local businesses.
“It’s tough times. Everybody is going through something. We’re all hoping things turn out and we get back to a better place. Right now it’s just step by step.”
