“He was tough as nails, take no prisoners. And that was his life, too.”

It was a focal point of Lyle Bauer’s office at old Winnipeg/Canad Inns Stadium, a photo framed and prominently featured on the wall of the then President and CEO of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. And the snapshot from his days as a hall of fame offensive lineman perfectly encapsulated the man as a player, an executive and as a person. The photo features Bauer, who passed away suddenly at age 65 on April 26th as the result of an infection, looking downfield while his enormous right hand is jammed under the jaw of an unsuspecting defensive lineman with the Toronto...