The Baines of semi-pro existence
Baines does all that he can to keep Northwest Football League alive, well

BY GAIL WOOD
THE OLYMPIAN

This article appeared in the July 2, 2000 edition of The Olympian newspaper

LAKEWOOD - Ron Baines is the team owner, coach, equipment manager and head uniform washer.

And, until just a couple of years ago, he was also a player.

For 28 years, Baines has been with the Pierce County Bengals, a semi-pro football team in Tacoma that once won 107 straight regular-season games.

Now that he's 53, his playing days are finally behind him, but he remains committed to a team that has helped five or six players a year go on to play in college.

"That's what it's all about," Baines said about the Bengals being a stepping stone.

In 1969, Baines was a 10th round draft pick by the Buffalo Bills after playing wide receiver at Montana. Baines survived the exhibition season, but left camp before the final cut because he was homesick.

"I made some wrong decisions," Baines said. "I'm just trying to make sure guys who play for me don't make those same mistakes."

Baines could run 100 yards in 9.4 seconds and high jump 6-10. He had the ability but not the direction. The Washington Redskins wanted to sign him in 1974, but Buffalo wouldn't release him. In 1977, Portland of the World Football League offered Baines a contract, but he was making more as a teacher.

"I wish I had better guidance out of college," Baines said.

Now, he is devoted to keeping the Bengals alive, working all year without ever taking a paycheck.

"He's unbelievable," said Debra Baines, Ron's wife. "Ron doesn't get paid for this and he does all this work. It used to drive me nuts. I'd ask him why are you doing this?' He'd just say, 'To give guys a chance to play football."'

Not all of his players are thinking about college. For guys like Cyril Johnson, it's a way to stay out of trouble. Johnson was in a gang in Tacoma and was headed for jail until he landed on the Bengals. Baines made sure Johnson stayed clear of trouble.

"He feels he's doing a good service," Deborah Baines said. "It's not about money he because he doesn't make any. It's about helping people. He's so good with people."

Baines teaches at a private school in Tacoma, working with elementary school students who have learning disabilities.

"I substituted for him for a little while once when he went to the dentist," said Deborah, a secretary at a lumber mill in Tacoma. "Those kids drove me crazy, but Ron handles them."

Baines last played for the Bengals when he was 47. He was a player-coach.

"If the quarterback wasn't doing the job, I put my gear on at halftime," Baines said.

Playing against guys half his age, Baines still could dominate.

He threw for nearly 300 yards and four touchdowns in the last two quarters to lead the Bengals to a comeback win.

By then, Baines was a walking legend.

He has been inducted into the semi-pro football national hall of fame as a coach and as a player.

"Guys wouldn't block for me," a laughing Baines said of those final times as a player. "'They'd say, 'I heard so much about you, I wanted to see you play. And I'd be running for my life."

Baines, who took over as head coach 15 years ago, is known as a disciplinarian who runs organized workouts twice a week. He's demanding. He's used to winning, as a player and as a coach. The Bengals debuted 28 years ago with Baines at wide receiver. The team was undefeated in its first 15 seasons, won four national titles, four West Coast trophies and 17 Northwest League titles.

This time of year, Baines' garage turns into an equipment room stacked with helmets and shoulder pads. An extra bedroom becomes the office for the winningest team in league history.

He also is busy hustling financial support, printing programs, checking equipment and recruiting players.

And then there's always the mundane. Before the game, he tapes players' ankles.

After a game, Baines collects everyone's helmets, pads, jerseys and pants and puts them into a horse trailer which serves as the team's equipment rig. He then heads for the laundromat to wash 40 uniforms.

"It's a one-man job," said Kevin Clark, Baines' starting fullback and a Tumwater High School graduate.

"He does everything. He's a great guy. Because of him, a lot of guys get to play football."