His road has not been an easy one

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 28/06/2012 (5173 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

BLOI-DEI DORZON has been through a personal tragedy and a career setback to get to this point, so maybe it’s not surprising that he’s caught a break this week.

The Blue Bombers’ starting running back — a designation handed to him after injuries to Chris Garrett and Chad Simpson moved him up the depth chart — has been through enough hardship to appreciate the opportunity he has in front of him.

Start with the sudden loss of his sister Watchee, one of 10 children in the Dorzon household. She was murdered in North Carolina in 2004, found “cut up in the trunk,” he told reporters Wednesday.

The devastating loss put everything in perspective, Dorzon said.

“It was the hardest thing in my life, losing my sister. She was my best friend,” the 27-year-old said after practice at Canad Inns Stadium. “If I can go through that, I can go through anything.”

Fast-forward to 2008: Dorzon broke his ankle in his junior season at Jackson State and missed five months of football, including the spring camps, which are vital for a player to establish his position on the depth chart heading into the fall.

He made it back to the field, though.

“That time off — not being able to be on the field — made me love football even more,” he said.

WOODSON READY: Not to be overshadowed in this week’s episode of As the Bombers Backfield Turns is the fact that rookie Anthony Woodson sits just one play away from being the Bombers’ featured running back.

The non-import from Calgary, who’s made a nice impression on coaches with his intelligence and ability to plug in at various spots, will back up Dorzon in Vancouver — on top of his duties as a special-teamer and the emergency backup Canadian receiver.

“It’s amazing how fast things can change,” he said Wednesday, looking forward to his first game as a professional football player. “I don’t think it will really hit me until the lights are on and I’m singing O Canada. That’s when it’s really going to kick in for me, and when I realize that I’ve gotten to this stage.”

CAPTAIN BLUE: The Bomber team captains for the 2012 season: quarterback Buck Pierce, receiver Terrence Edwards, safeties Ian Logan and Brady Browne, linebacker Brandon Stewart, and defensive back Jovon Johnson.

INJURY UPDATE: Left tackle Glenn January left practice early Wednesday, but the club suggests it was only a precaution, as the veteran has been dealing with a lower-body injury. Same deal for defensive linemen Jason Vega and Kenny Mainor, as both saw limited work this week.

Final determinations on their status will be made this morning.

Defensive back Deon Beasley (hip) has been ruled out for the B.C. game. Other notable omissions from the Bombers lineup include receiver Cory Watson (hamstring), linebacker Marcellus Bowman (leg) and right tackle Andre Douglas (hip). All are on the one-game injury list.

BOMBER STAMPS: The CFL and Canada Post are issuing postage stamps to commemorate the 100th Grey Cup Game, one for each of the eight CFL teams. The stamps are available Friday.

Canada Post also plans to release nine different stamps to mark the Grey Cup itself. It is expected those will be available in August.

adam.wazny@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @wazoowazny