Regina-born sports legend Gerry James says one of the main reasons he played in the CFL and the NHL at the same time was because he needed the money.

James, who was in Regina this weekend for events with the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame, explained that in his day, professional sport was not as lucrative as it is today and players needed to work — year-round — to make ends meet.

For some, that meant playing during the sport's season and working at some other job in the off-season.

"Financially, in the 50s and 60s, you had to do two sports or do one sport and have a job," he said.

James, who grew up in Winnipeg, played football for the Blue Bombers. When the football season wrapped, he laced on skates for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

He was in both leagues, at the same time, for six years and won Stanley Cup and Grey Cup championships.

James, 81, said so long as he remained healthy, he was fine with playing throughout the year.

"It was just an extended season," he said. "As long as you didn't get hurt playing football, you could go right into the hockey season."

He added he enjoyed playing both sports, but the money mattered.

"I wanted to play both, but I mean, financially I had to," he said, noting that in the late 50s the CFL and the NHL paid about the same — $10,000 per season.

When it comes to playing in two sports today, James says money is no longer a factor.

"They pay athletes so much money nowadays, they don't have to," he said.