It’s that time of year again. The malls are full of stressed out shoppers and delivery truck drivers are working around the clock. That’s right, it’s Christmas time!

Here at BCLions.com, we are catching up with some of the players and coaches from your BC Lions to find out their favourite things about the holidays. Recently, we had the chance to talk to one of the most famous Lions of All-Time, Geroy Simon.

Geroy is the greatest receiver in franchise history and arguably the top receiver in the history of the CFL. The 2017 CFL Hall of Fame inductee reeled in 1,029 passes for 16,352 yards and 103 touchdowns across 237 career games. Simon was a focal point on the 2006 and 2011 Lions teams that won the Grey Cup and holds the franchise records for most career receptions, most career touchdowns, most career receiving yards and most receiving yards in a single season.

Geroy retired after the 2013 season and has since moved into the Lions’ front office. The prolific pass-catcher served as the Director of Canadian College Scouting and Player Personnel Assistant in 2017.

Q: What do you look forward to most about the holidays?

A: “Honestly, being with family. This year we will be spending Christmas in Pennsylvania for the first time in a while. Going home is something I am looking forward to. I haven’t spent the holidays back home in probably 10 or 12 years, so it will be pretty cool to be at my Grandma’s house.”

Q: What is your favourite Christmas movie?

A: “Oh man, I think I have to go with A Christmas Story. I love it when the kid gets his tongue stuck to the pole.”

Q: What is the best gift you have ever received?

A: “Probably a bike when I was younger, or a basketball.”

Q: What is the best gift you have ever given?

A: “The gift that seemed to be the most popular was when I gave my kids IPhones for Christmas two years ago.”

Q: Do you open your presents on Christmas morning or Christmas Eve?

A: “Christmas morning.”

Q: What kind of food do you eat for Christmas Dinner?

A: “We just have the typical food like Turkey and stuffing. I usually cook the dinner when we have Christmas here, but since we will back home, I won’t be cooking anything this year.”

Q: Do you enjoy decorating the house for the holidays?

A: “No, no, I will barely put up a tree. There have been times when I will put up a tree on Christmas Eve, but I don’t do a lot of decorating.”

Q: Do you have a fake Christmas tree or a real Christmas tree?

A: “I went with the fake tree last year and I will go with the fake tree again this year. But in years past, I would go with a real tree. I personally like a real tree, but it is just too messy. The cleanup is too much of a pain.”

Q: Is there a memorable moment you can think of from Christmas as a kid?

A: “One year, my brother wasn’t such a good kid. He got in a lot of trouble one year and my mom gave him a lump of coal as a present on Christmas morning. My mom put the coal in a giant box so he thought he was getting this great present and it turned out to be a lump of coal. He ended up getting his real presents that night, but I don’t think I will ever forget that.”

On behalf of Geroy Simon and the BC Lions, we would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Be sure to check back with us when we talk to Ty Long about his Christmas traditions.

bhelberg@bclions.com