Welcome to Stark County....New Hall of Famers

[The Butler]

Congratulations to the new members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame who will be enshrined in early August in Canton.

Gene Hickerson
Guard, 6-3, 248
1958-1973 Cleveland Browns.
15 seasons, 202 games.

Michael Irvin
Wide Receiver, 6-2, 207
1988-1999 Dallas Cowboys.
12 seasons, 159 games.

Bruce Matthews
Guard, Tackle, Center, 6-5, 289
1983-2001 Houston Oilers/Tennessee Oilers/Titans.
19 seasons, 296 games.

Charlie Sanders
Tight End, 6-4, 230
1968-1977 Detroit Lions.
10 seasons, 128 games.

Thurman Thomas
Running Back, 5-10, 198
1988-1999 Buffalo Bills, 2000 Miami Dolphins.
13 seasons, 182 games.

Roger Wehrli
Cornerback, 6-0, 190
1969-1982 St. Louis Cardinals.
14 seasons, 193 games.

[tiger74]

you mean to tell me that cocaine head gets a bust in the hall. what is the world comming too.

[Al.]

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/6438144?MSNHPHMA

[longtimefirsttime]

I would have taken Monk over Irvin but I'm obviously not on the committee. It's good to see Hickerson finally get in.

[xtiger]

Irvin's ok? But Pete Rose can't make the Baseball HOF?

What a bunch of scat.

[gotigers1]

Nice job by the NFL and HOF to get the game on the NFL Network as a way to try and force TWC and MCTV into picking up the channel... :bs:

[Benchboss1]

Nice job by the NFL and HOF to get the game on the NFL Network as a way to try and force TWC and MCTV into picking up the channel... :bs:


Wouldn't that be called either shrewd marketing or smart business?

[DAWGH8R]

Gotta love the dish !!!

http://satellite-dish.cellularfone.us/images/satellite_dish.gif

[GrowlingTiger87]

you mean to tell me that cocaine head gets a bust in the hall. what is the world comming too.

It's the PRO FOOTBALL HOF, not the LIFE HOF. I guess you would have to kick OJ and LT out, along with a slew of others. Give it a rest.

[obie7661]

I was really glad to see that Gene Hickerson will be a Hall of Famer. I loved watching him when he played.

[obie7661]

Path to hall finally opens for Browns' Hickerson

http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/16620660.htm

[DAWGH8R]

It's the PRO FOOTBALL HOF, not the LIFE HOF. .

Please explain this to the baseball commission !!:poke:

[obie0130]

LONG overdue for Gene Hickerson. Glad to see it finally happen.

[TigerLoverFromAfar]

you mean to tell me that cocaine head gets a bust in the hall. what is the world comming too.


I opened the rep this morning and the headline read "6 MORE BUSTS" with a picture of Irvin, so I obviously thought it was because he had been busted yet again because he can't leave the cocaine alone.
What a disappointment. :ohplease:

[GrowlingTiger87]

Please explain this to the baseball commission !!:poke:


Two different leagues. I agree with you. Pete SHOULD be in the HOF.

[GrowlingTiger87]

I opened the rep this morning and the headline read "6 MORE BUSTS" with a picture of Irvin, so I obviously thought it was because he had been busted yet again because he can't leave the cocaine alone.
What a disappointment. :ohplease:

Again, his ON FIELD numbers and performance are what earned him the honor.

[Kamd50]

While you cannot argue with facts and stats of an athlete's career, it somehow doesn't seem appropriate that they all share the same accolades and honor that comes along with being INDUCTED into any HOF.

Maybe there should be a separate HOF for the Elite athletes who's performance both off and on the field is to be admired and respected. Or maybe there should be a Hall of Shame within the HOF for those who's only admirable deeds were on the field only.

Idk what the answer is, but I just don't like the message that is given to our youth of "see... you can be a liar a cheater a wife-beater a druggy and an alcoholic and STILL receive the highest honor in your chosen field of athletics :thumbsdown:

[TigerCoach]

While you cannot argue with facts and stats of an athlete's career, it somehow doesn't seem appropriate that they all share the same accolades and honor that comes along with being abducted into any HOF.:

Although some of them sure deserve it (O.J.), I hope none of these guys gets "abducted", that would be bad! LOL!!!:poke:

[Kamd50]

Although some of them sure deserve it (O.J.), I hope none of these guys gets "abducted", that would be bad! LOL!!!:poke:

OK OK "Smart Guy" ! I went back and fixed it, LOL !

Now, concerning O.J., that is exactly my point. It is a disgrace to have him in there amongst so many other admirable men.

[Kamd50]

Oh and by the way TC, this is Chili, cornbread, and homemade blooming onion weather:poke: Mmmmmmmmmm, it sure smells good in here! hahaha!

[MUCSteelers5xSuperChamp]

I'm pleased that Michael Irvin is enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He embodied what being a Dallas wide receiver was all about in leading the Cowboys to three Super Bowl titles in four years.

"The Playmaker" is the real deal in my mind.

[TigerCoach]

Oh and by the way TC, this is Chili, cornbread, and homemade blooming onion weather:poke: Mmmmmmmmmm, it sure smells good in here! hahaha!

OK, What time? LOL! I'm making BBQ baby back ribs, greens and roasted sweet potatoes.

[MUCSteelers5xSuperChamp]

Kamd50,

You're a strong critic in regards to a player's conduct on and off the field. I can tell that you have very high standards.

You know...I wonder had O.J. Simpson been convicted of murder, would they have taken his name off of the Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinees list.

Let me ask you a question: I have always been a devout believer in second chances. Do you think Michael Irvin should be denied enshrinement because of a drug conviction back in 1996, his one and only offense (later dropped because he stayed clean for four years)?

[Kamd50]

OK, What time? LOL! I'm making BBQ baby back ribs, greens and roasted sweet potatoes.

Mm Mm Mmmm! You gotta love SuperBowl Sunday:love:

[Kamd50]

Like I said before, Idk what the answer is. But as far as second chances go, there is a big difference between giving highschool or even colege kids them second chances and professional full grown men.

[monte81]

I never thought that Irvin would ever get in because of the off the field problems but on the field---he couldn't be guarded and played and won 3 super bowls and had seven 1000 yard seasons, and definitely was the on the field motivator and leader of the Cowboys and played every down with a lot of heart(WR's should watch him--he blocked like a fullback and ran routes to perfection)! Regarding is life---the kids of today should take what Irvin said in an interview on Real Sports:

I want my kids and the youth of today to watch me and the things I have done on the field and know what hard work is and what you can accomplish coming from nothing and the things done off the field lets you know how to overcome your own demons and its always a work in progress.--it was something like that.

Anyway---kids of today should work hard as @ell on the field(practice, weight room, and games but use Irvin's off the field mistakes to guide them into making the right decisions. ALL ATHLETES AND PEOPLE ARE NOT AS FORTUNATE TO OVERCOME THE STRUGGLES of MICHAEL IRVIN-- SO WALK THE RIGHT WAY THE FIRST TIME AND AND LEARN FROM SOME OF THE BAD EXAMPLES AND ADAPT THE QUALITIES OF THE GREAT ROLE MODELS THAT DO EXIST!!!!

OH-- BTW Pete Rose should be in the baseball HOF, Art Monk definitely should be in, OJ did it but you can't take out the bust, LT was the best linebacker in history and should be in--he just killed himself morally and financially!!!

[TigerLoverFromAfar]

I was watching the preshow yeaterday and they were all talking about how this guy should be allowed to play (Tank Johnson) and every one of those punks sat up there and said that he should be punished by the NFL (commissioner) and held accountable for his actions...meanwhile every other week they are rubbing elbows with Irvin....not a one of them said he should have been left behind, or anything. it really frightens me to hear Roger Goodell preaching about how the NFL needs stricter rules and how 1 infraction will be punished.....BULL&^%$
As for Irvin- no matter what he did on the field for the cowboys- his continuous drug use and abuse on and off the field is what I remember the most about him. And that is pne player who I feel doesn't deserve a bust in the Hall of Fame. (maybe the drug connection Hall of fame)

[monte81]

He's in because of what he did as a football player and deserves to be in--technically he only had 1 conviction and a few almost encounters(money has its advantages) and 2 false accusations!! I think all of us need to start forgiving and helping people more than we do these days! I am more concerned about the current NFL players not voting to give more money into the former players retirement (1950's- to 80's players)-- I saw some players Dr. bills from 50 to 300 thousand a year every year since retirement and their pensions are less than 24 grand!!! Greedy @sses!!!

[GrowlingTiger87]

And remember folks, whether or not we like these guys and their moral deficiencies, WE play a HUGE part in creating these larger than life "heroes".

I'd bet money that if we were to really analyze all of the HOF members in every pro sport, we would find a lot more undesirables than we think. No one is perfect, and people need to learn how to forgive.

Congrats to ALL the incoming members. They are all very deserving for what they did ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD.

[Kamd50]

I agree with you TLFT, a little hypocrysy going on right there.

Forgive???? LOL ! We are not talking about some highschool boys who haven't learned anything about life yet. Irvin was a show-boating, boastful,arrogant football star who got away with plenty because of that fact and the almighty $. "Technically", lol, come on Monte, you know that is a big snow job. ....where there's smoke there's fire.....Even the kids know that he has to be guilty of plenty more than just what he got caught for.

Give accolades if you must for his football stats, but as a person, hell no.

[monte81]

I agree with you TLFT, a little hypocrysy going on right there.

Forgive???? LOL ! We are not talking about some highschool boys who haven't learned anything about life yet. Irvin was a show-boating, boastful,arrogant football star who got away with plenty because of that fact and the almighty $. "Technically", lol, come on Monte, you know that is a big snow job. ....where there's smoke there's fire.....Even the kids know that he has to be guilty of plenty more than just what he got caught for.

Give accolades if you must for his football stats, but as a person, hell no.

Kamd50--Accolades???? I did not give him any for personal actions!
I never said he didn't do wrong or misbehaved--he himself admits that---if he is clean now--dont know and but its his life. he desearves to be in the HOF!! I have done things i am not proud of and someone has given me a 2nd chance(sometimes 3 or 4!LOL) I have been learning that I cannot hold grudges, treat people indifferant, or live above the law---it takes some people a few more bumps on the head before they get it that don't mean we give up on them!! I am still trying to get through to Billy Relford and maybe kids saw the interview on Real Sports so they learn not to make those same mistakes Irvin did!!!!!!

[Kamd50]

I didn't mean to imply that you gave him accolades for his personal life, just making a statement of how I feel about it. I still feel that this is a case where he has gotten over on everyone in general because of who he is and money.
Good luck with that whole thing with B.R. also. A person has to truely want to change before anyone else can do anything for them. I mean look at all the effort people have put into helping him out over and over again and look at how he has shown his gratitude. Sadly, some people just cannot be saved, but I commend you for your optimistic attitude Monte.

[SuperBran]

i'm glad irvin's football skills aren't as bad as his fashion skills.


and how is art monk not in the hall? lynn swan got in and never eclipsed 900 yards receiving in a season (only passed 800 yards twice) and only reached 50 catches twice. c'mon folks....where's the love?

[MUCSteelers5xSuperChamp]

Kamd50,

You must have a strong aversion for Michael Jerome Irvin. Sure he talked a big game and had the swagger expected of a Dallas Cowboy.

When Dallas had a three-touchdown lead and were dropping foes like flies, no one talked bigger or played better than Irvin. He did a lot of trash-talking against the powerful Pittsburgh Steelers (who had the AFC's #1 offense in 1995) in Super Bowl XXX :laughing: !

At least he's raising his eight and nine year old sons to not make the same mistakes he made.

[Kamd50]

Keno, as far as Irvin's raising of his sons, haven't you ever read TigerCoach's signature line....."lead by example not by your mouth":rock: That philosophy would serve Irvin well. I personally dislike athletes who feel it necessary to always toot their own horn. Let their actions speak for themselvs.

[monte81]

I didn't mean to imply that you gave him accolades for his personal life, just making a statement of how I feel about it. I still feel that this is a case where he has gotten over on everyone in general because of who he is and money.
Good luck with that whole thing with B.R. also. A person has to truely want to change before anyone else can do anything for them. I mean look at all the effort people have put into helping him out over and over again and look at how he has shown his gratitude. Sadly, some people just cannot be saved, but I commend you for your optimistic attitude Monte.

I gave B.R. my number a few weeks ago and he never called--you can lead a horse to water but.....you know!!!!!

Michael Irvin played with the attitude and desire which could and should be practiced by wanna be ballers all throughout America without his showboating! However off the field he was equally a bad boy--i learned from the hood that 90% of the time that once a crack head always a crack head!!! That goes for most addictive drugs because ONLY FEW(and I applaud them) have the inner spirit to stop completely!
I have not spoke to one of my best friends in years because he cant stop( he doesn't come around me anymore)---he says when he is around me he is stronger but he always seems to burn me in the end!!! I even thought about bringing him to C-bus with me because I still can not give up on him!!!!---I am not really a weekly chruch going person but I tell him the only way to really stop is chruch and counseling but he will not do either!!! I still do not know what made him or others start doing the @hit anyway when you can see what it did to the last person!!!
Michael Irvin at least claims he is walking straight now---???? We will see if he is lying because if he is not doing right something will happen---CARMA makes everything eventually come back around to get you!! For his kids sake I hope he is making the right decisions.

[MUCSteelers5xSuperChamp]

Kamd50,

Just like Joe Horn pulling out a cell phone and calling his mother four years ago......

You know, there are a lot of guys that do a lot of talking. Some can back it up and others...you know the story there. You have real strong Italian Catholic roots that discourage that kind of thing...talking, staring down, pointing a finger, etc.

Just answer me one question: If you were Horn's mother and you were watching a game on TV, he pulled out a cell phone and called you to tell you he scored a touchdown...how would you react?

[SuperBran]

here's an interesting biography on irvin...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Irvin#Sex.2C_drugs_and_injuries

among the more entertaining passages:

(1) "In March of 1996, Irvin was arrested on charges of cocaine possession at a hotel party celebrating his 30th birthday. After numerous court appearances amid a national media circus, which featured Irvin showing up to court in a full-length mink coat, he pled no contest to the charges and was sentenced to community service, ordered to pay a $10,000 fine, and put on 4-years probation. When drug-tested for illicit drugs, he tested negative. But the NFL suspended Irvin for the first five games of the 1996 season."

(2) "Irvin was also known as a regular at the "White House", a private pleasure palace near the team's training facility, where he and some Dallas teammates, like lineman Nate Newton, allegedly enjoyed a variety of wanton activities, including drugs and illicit sex."

(3) "A year following his retirement from the NFL, Irvin again was arrested on drug possession charges. In this case, Irvin was in a Dallas apartment with an unrelated woman. Neither answered the door when police drug task force agents arrived with a search warrant. Police entered the apartment forcibly, finding drugs. Irvin and the female were placed under arrest, though charges against Irvin were later dropped."

(4) "A year following his retirement from the NFL, Irvin again was arrested on drug possession charges. In this case, Irvin was in a Dallas apartment with an unrelated woman. Neither answered the door when police drug task force agents arrived with a search warrant. Police entered the apartment forcibly, finding drugs. Irvin and the female were placed under arrest, though charges against Irvin were later dropped."

(5) "In 2003, he professed to be a born-again Christian.........The promises of a new lifestyle appeared to be short-lived, with Irvin again arrested on drug charges a mere two years later following his self-professed born again Christianity. In this case, Irvin was with his wife when he was pulled over in Plano, Texas for speeding on November 25, 2005. With probable cause, police searched his vehicle and found drug paraphernalia, including plastic bags with marijuana residue. Irvin was arrested for a Class C misdemeanor. He was later released on bond...."

(6) "Controversy continued to follow Irvin when during a November 2006 radio interview on the Dan Patrick show, Irvin joked that Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo's athletic ability may have been due to African-American heritage, and made references to Romo's maternal relatives being involved with "slave brothers"."

[Kamd50]

ummm yea, what was that about second chances? LOL
Thanks for providing those additional facts. Funny how those charges kept getting dropped like that, isn't it?

Monte, last I heard B.R. is still in jail, you know that right? just wondering.

[DAWGH8R]

I believe he is still at Stark County jail, waiting for Grand Jury to hear his cases.:help2:

[monte81]

ummm yea, what was that about second chances? LOL
Thanks for providing those additional facts. Funny how those charges kept getting dropped like that, isn't it?

Monte, last I heard B.R. is still in jail, you know that right? just wondering.


B.R. is out on bond! I just wanted to see if I could try to help him out one last time!

michael irvin has ahd many many chances like i said i hope he is getting it right because he is on his last chance with espn.

[Kamd50]

Wow, I wonder who posted bond for him? Or is paying for his attorney? Or will he have a court appointed one? Do you know?

[monte81]

I didn't ask but he is out for now! All his auntsand uncles on his dad's side could of paid it--they all make pretty good $$$ and they are not going to completely give up on him!

[obie7661]

Ex-Brown entering hall of fame with a droll, biting wit, as always

http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/16632656.htm