Kyle Walters out-ranks Danny McManus as general manager of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

But where Walters, a St. Thomas native, was a strong CFL player and CIS coach, McManus is a living legend who won three Grey Cups as a quarterback and sat third all-time in passing yards when he retired in 2006.

So is it hard for McManus, the CFL Hall of Famer and Bombers assistant GM, to work under Walters, a respected former safety and halfback whose legend is comparably small?

“Oh, no,” McManus said on the phone Tuesday during a recruiting trip to Mobile, Alabama.

“Kyle makes it easy … it’s been a great year working with him. My job is to make him look as good as possible and I try to do that each and every day, whether it’s here at practices or on the phone talking with players or agents – somehow try to help him look good.

“The only way that happens is if the Blue Bombers look good.”

McManus will be a featured guest Thursday at the St. Thomas Sports Spectacular, a fundraiser for Special Olympics and Community Living Elgin.

He’ll join a long list of elite athletes and coaches at the head table, including Canadian Baseball Hall of Famer Tim Raines, Olympic and World Champion figure skater Jamie Sale, professional wrestling champ Mick Foley and former Toronto Raptors coach Butch Carter, the event’s main speaker.

Toronto Blue Jays broadcaster Mike Wilner will emcee the event, following in the footsteps of Jerry Howarth and the late Tom Cheek.

McManus is director of U.S. scouting as well as assistant general manager for the Blue Bombers, trying to entice American players to play north of the border.

A major selling point is his own career, which saw him play 17 seasons in the CFL after starring at Florida State University

“I fell in love with the game,” he said. “From a quarterback position, you love playing in a game that the ball is in the air a lot.

“You’re throwing the ball all over the place. It’s a fast-paced game, and what I found out more about the CFL the longer I was there, is the fans.

“The fans love the game, and it’s a close-knit group that you can get up close and personal with … the fans were the main reason that I kept staying in the CFL.”

McManus is an assistant for now but admits he’d like to be a general manager some day.

“I’ve got a lot to learn,” he said. “Just like my first year in the CFL: I didn’t know everything. It took probably every year that I played to learn something new.

“And as long as you keep learning, that means you’re still striving to be the best. And that’s all I’ve ever done – playing and now in this line of work as being assistant general manager and trying to find talent.

“I try as hard as I can every day to win that day, and when the sun comes up the next day, try to win that day and just keep doing it over and over.”

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IF YOU GO

St. Thomas Sports Spectacular

WHAT: Chance to mingle with and hear from elite athletes and coaches while raising money for Special Olympics and Community Living

WHEN: Thursday, Jan. 22

WHERE: St. Anne’s Centre (20 Morrison Dr., St. Thomas)

TICKETS: Call Sean Dyke at 519-631-1680 or visit www.stthomassportsspectacular.com