WINNIPEG — Charles Roberts said he still thinks of Winnipeg as home as the Blue Bombers announced Tuesday their all-time rushing leader was going into the team’s Hall of Fame.
"The meat of my life so far was spent in Winnipeg," said Roberts from Long Beach, Calif., where he works in customer service for the post office.
He says his children still talk of returning to Canada and the induction has great meaning and is "a dream come true."
"It’s fulfilling a void in my heart. I left Winnipeg in 2008 and I really haven’t felt the same since."
Roberts joined the Bombers in 2001 and spent seven-plus seasons with the club before being traded in September 2008 to B.C. for running back Joe Smith.
An Achilles tendon injury led to his contract not being renewed in 2009 and, still hurt by the trade, he said he decided against trying to make a comeback.
"I was hurt when I got traded. I’m human like anyone else. I fully expected to end my career in Winnipeg," he said.
"It’s all about your heart and what you’re willing to put your body through."
Roberts was a six-time all-star with Winnipeg and the CFL’s top special-teams player in 2001. He led the CFL in rushing three times (2003, 2005, 2006) and is Winnipeg’s career rushing leader with 9,987 yards and 64 TDs.
He’s also second in club history in combined yards (17,528) and touchdowns (79).
Another Bomber great and record holder, receiver Milt Stegall, gave him the nickname Blink.
"He was the man. He set the bar and I always wanted to get as close to him as possible," said Roberts, who is behind only Stegall on the Bomber’s touchdown list.
As for highlights of his Bomber career, Roberts at first said he doesn’t think much about his playing days any more.
But he does remember one particular play.
"There was a game against Montreal at home… It was the fourth quarter and we needed to score. It happened to be my longest run of my career from scrimmage, 70 yards, I think it was."
And he also remembers the teammates who helped him rack up all those yards, singling out offensive lineman Moe Elewonibi, fullback Wade Miller and coach Dave Ritchie.
"I had a good career but my career wouldn’t have been what it was without my teammates, great coaching."
Also named to the Hall of Fame by the Bombers Tuesday were past team president George Graham and Ralph Warrington, who headed radio station CJOB in the 1990s, the Bombers’ longtime broadcast home in Winnipeg.
The ceremony will be held Sept. 18.
