5 Chiefs On First Hall of Fame Voting List

There are 133 men on the first list for nomination to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2009 was announced on Tuesday in Canton, Ohio. 

DE Bruce Smith, DB Rod Woodson and TE Shannon Sharpe head the list of first-year eligible candidates among the 133 players, coaches and contributors.

Five former members of the Chiefs are part of the list as well: LB Derrick Thomas, DE Art Still, S Deron Cherry, CB Albert Lewis (left) and K Nick Lowery.

From this preliminary list Hall of Fame selectors will choose 25 candidates who will advance as semifinalist nominees.  The list of 25 modern-era semifinalists will be announced later next month.
 
The 25 modern-era semifinalists list will be reduced by a mail ballot to 15 modern-era finalists. 
 
The final list of nominees that will be considered for election will consist of the 15 modern-era finalists and the two previously announced senior nominees: WR Bob Hayes and DE Claude Humphrey. 

The Class of 2009 will be selected from the list of 17 finalists on Saturday, January 31, 2009, in Tampa, Florida the day before Super Bowl XLIII.  Rules provide that between four and seven new members will be selected.

Emmitt’s Passion, Respect & Heart

From Canton, Ohio

Saturday evening at Fawcett Stadium was dominated by the Washington Redskins.

With a pair of former Redskins players entering the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the stands were filled with fans wearing burgundy and gold.  The cheered Art Monk and Darrell Green.  They cheered former head coach and Hall of Famer Joe Gibbs.  They cheered Emmitt Thomas, who spent time as a Redskins assistant coach.  They classlessly booed Michael Irvin and anybody associated with the Dallas Cowboys.

They should have held this event on the Mall in the District of Columbia.

Chiefs Emmitt Thomas Talks

From Canton, Ohio

Emmitt Thomas will go into the Pro Football Hall of Fame Saturday night with the distinction of being the least interviewed honoree in history.  As a player, coach and now Hall of Famer, interviews are not his thing.

But this week in Canton, he had no choice.  So here’s an opportunity to hear from Thomas courtesy of the Hall of Fame and its press conference for all the inductees.

Hall of Fame Evening

From Canton, Ohio

I am one lucky man.

Like anyone, there are moments when life gets grisly, when it seems easier to bitch and complain, when work piles up and the pressure gets turned on.

I get grumpy.

I was grumpy Friday night. I’m in Canton, Ohio for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Weekend.  It had been a long day getting to Ohio and then there were hotel problems and yada-yada-yada.  I was scheduled to attend the annual Enshrinees Dinner at the Canton Memorial Civic Center.  Think of a small arena, filled with tables and your general mass produced banquet meal.  I’ve been there before.  I wasn’t looking forward to being there again.  Of all the events on Hall of Fame weekend, it’s the most forgettable.

Thank goodness I went.