It’s About Time
From Tampa, Florida
The world has been spinning pretty fast for the last 14 hours and I’m only now getting the chance to sit down and compose some thoughts about what happened today with the addition of Derrick Thomas to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
My first reaction at 2:40 p.m. EST when Hall of Fame President Steve Perry announced the six-man class of 2009 was: it’s about time!
My second reaction was one of relief.
My third reaction was one of joy when I saw the smile on Norma Hunt’s face. The first lady of the Chiefs was there for the announcement and she was giddy, not only about D.T. but another member of the class: Buffalo owner Ralph Wilson, one of the original owners from the first year of the American Football League.
I keep getting told these days that I need to make my posts more personal; that’s the way of the 21st Century Internet I’m told. That’s tough for me, because I wasn’t trained that way. I was taught to keep myself out of stories, to tell the facts, or provide analysis or commentary based on facts.
But somewhere along the way, I became part of the story when it came to D.T. and his five-year wait to get into the Hall of Fame. As the Kansas City representative on the 44-person Board of Selectors, it was my job for the last five years to present Thomas’ credentials for induction into the Hall.
And so his failure became my failure. I was roasted by talk-show mumblers, letter writers, e-mailers and those folks who live on the discussion boards. I’ve never been one who much cared what other people thought about me. I’m not trying to win friends and impress people. I’m trying to get reads and visitors to this site, just as I tried to get listeners in radio and subscribers for newspapers.
But after awhile it got old, because it was unfair. D.T. didn’t make the Hall for the first four years because it wasn’t his time. It had nothing to do with me. D.T. didn’t make the Hall because of me, although my friends say I should take the credit.
D.T. is a Hall of Famer because of D.T.
Over five years that he was a finalist, D.T.’s sacks total did not increase. He didn’t force any more fumbles. He didn’t score any more sacks. On first blush, his record was good enough.
But the group did not agree. They didn’t so much disagree, as the time was not right. I said throughout that there was no doubt in my mind that Thomas would make the Hall. Everyone needed to be patient. It was just a matter of time.
That time was Saturday in Tampa. Why? Got me. I’m not going to question what happened. I’ll just enjoy the results.
So what happened? The Board of the Selectors for the second straight year looked harder at defense than offense. Last year, four of the six inductees were defensive players. The class for this year has three of the six on the defensive side. That’s good, because an imbalance has grown over the years with so m any offensive players getting into Canton.
Now, seven of the last 12 have been defense.
That left out a couple of big name receivers, specifically Cris Carter both this year and last year, and Shannon Sharpe, new to the room this year. I’m sure the selectors will get grilled by the analysts and pundits for not providing Carter and Sharpe tickets to Canton.
They too will eventually get in. They just need to be patient.
Several things rolled in D.T.’s favor this year. One, there were two older members of the board who have never been in his corner who were not in the room. They were replaced by younger voters who grew up watching Thomas cause havoc. Two, he was the only linebacker on the ballot. There were two defensive ends and two defensive tackles. DT Cortez Kennedy and John Randle are worthy considerations for the Hall, but this was their first trip into the meeting room and their credentials were not so good that they were headed for immediate induction.
The defensive ends were Bruce Smith and Richard Dent. Smith was an automatic selection. Dent has a very good career record, including more sacks than D.T. and Super Bowl appearances.
Ultimately in the voting, Dent went the same way as Carter and Sharpe and when the voters were down to their final five, it was a lock.
And that sent Derrick Thomas to his rightful place, the hallowed halls of Canton, Ohio.
That’s it for now. I’m going to go pound a mojito or 12 and enjoy the moment. More on Sunday about the whole day, including the stuff you can’t get anywhere else: what actually went on in the voting room.
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enjoy 15 of them champ! you have earned every one of them. thank you, thank you, thank you, for never letting dr. z’s ridiculous assertations get you down, for never giving up the fight. thank you sir, for this moment. you, by standing up for DT, gave every Chiefs fan … you just gave us what we needed.
on behalf of my little seat in Arrowhead Nation, and I’d be lying if I said what seat in 132 I am next year, since they’re all changing numbers … on behalf of my little section of Arrowhead Nation, thank you for all you did.
Can’t wait until that magical August afternoon when the world will get to appreciate what so many of us did throughout the 90s …
Mojito’s all around.
Well said, Steve. There are thousands more out here that agree with every word. You’re right, Mr. Gretz, of course’ DT is the reason he is in the HOF. That said, you did good and there is a whole lot of Chiefs fans that understand that.
Bob
Congrats! I know you worked hard over the years inside and outside the room to get him a bust on Canton. He was a great player and the “D” has not been the same without him. Too bad the 2009 does not have a pass rusher worthy of a top 5 pick.
Too all the Bob doubters…none of you would be given the honor of being on the selection committe. You can’t have what your don’t earn.
With so many mojitos might I suggest some large glasses of water also. The morning after can be painful.
A. Mojitos really…thought for sure it would be margaritas?
B. I know you hate to take credit, but you deserve it! No one could honor DT in words like Bob Gretz.
C. So proud to be a Chief’s fan today!
Congrats to Derrick Thomas. May he rest in peace.
Congrats to the Thomas family, he greatly deserved getting into the HOF. I would like to see Marty present the bust at the ceremonies and have Derrick’s son do the acceptance speech. And finally, thank you for all you’re efforts Bob!
Hey Bob; the only thing nicer would have been if the NFL had chosen the Chiefs to play the Bills in the HOF game.
I too would like to see Marty stand on the stage in Canton. I’m not sure there is room for 2 boxes of Kleenex on the podium. I’m sure he would get extremly emotional speaking about his hororary son and the cornerstone of the great defense that was forged in the 90′s. On a side note does anyone remember the “Monday Night Meltdown” in 1998? If I recall it was caused by some cheap remarks by the TE from Denver. How fitting that the more deserving DT is brought into the HOF before the man called Shannon. Although Mr. Sharpe’s accomplishments will bring him into the elite club very soon. Again nice work Bob. Your perseverance has payed off for all to enjoy.
Yes, I too remember that game and how pissed off Marty was late in the game when things took a turn for the worse. I also remember that there were a lot of exchanges between Shananon Sharpe and some of the Defenders. If memery serves me right, to add insult to injury, he commented after the game that the Broncos owned Arrowhead now? But it seems more like a one sided affair since then (ours), with Mike Shanahan as the coach from this years game stats!
This is probably gonna piss a few people off but according to the Star Peterson will be presenting Thomas at the HOF
Bob,
This had to be personal for you and rightfully so. When you are tasked with presenting somebody that you know is deserving and it doesn’t happen repeatedly, at some point it must become a single minded pursuit. it must be extremely personally gratifying to see this to conclusion. Enjoy the rest of your time there and rest with the gratitude of the Chiefs nation. It’s 9:54 AM eastern and we are all behind you and you are the man! Heh, heh, heh.
Bob, I’ve followed your work on this for ever. I, as well as other KC fans respect and value your unbiased Chiefs coverage. You tell it like it is. So too with DT’s presentation! Your passion for what you were doing always has shown thru. My niece+husband Bronco fans were pulling for DT too! DT was/is always my favorite Chief and his death hurt. But I keep hoping another in his cloth will arrive and create magic for the Red & Gold. Your work is not lost out here in the Chiefs Nation. Game days are gold for you too! Longwindedly all I’m trying to say is: Great work!!! DT is up there smiling ready to sack Elway onece again someday!
I’m with you Bob – it was about time. DT really deserved it. Congrats to his family!
Guess there are a lot of players on the waiting list – but the good thing is they keep the numbers short of demand so not to devaluate the Hall.
Guess the next Chief to be considered will be Will Shields – and then Tony Gonzalez (I don’t consider Willie Roaf a Chief, sorry).
When will Shields be eligible? 2012?
yea!!!!!!!!!
about time…
now jason whitlock and adam t can’t blame bob any more!
I am so glad he finally got in. It puts som closure on his great career. I don’t have a problem with Carl making the induction speech. If his family wanted Carl to make the induction speech, that’s fine. I figured it would either be Carl or Marty.
For someone who “never … much cared what other people thought about me,” you sure do refer to them in your writings a lot. Every time you do it, you make it personal.
However, I do think it was unfair to lay Thomas’ HOF status at your feet. Dr. Z’s criticism was insulting, and I never came across any other that had substance. Think of all the deserving players that have had to wait longer, or who won’t get in at all, plus the perceptions about him that were stacked against his favor, and in retrospect, five years may seem like a relatively short time.
Bob, I know that you dont think that you had a huge part in it, but you definitely did…
as for the opinions of others, Frank Gansz was DESTROYED by a certain KC media member, Im sure you know which, that really killed his name and reputation despite being known as the best special teams coach ever…Was it his fault the players wanted him to be the Head Coach? No….Was that “Crash Gansz” stuff ridiculous? Yes….and more than anything, the man he was, made it not right….Its not like its Marcus Allen who despite what some fans think, is a completely different person on field than off…Gansz is a great person…DT was a great person
You do a lot for the organization, and this time you did a lot for a man who needed a voice…Here is a guy who let his play speak for him, and since hes passed, it was then your job, and you did that job as well as he did his.
You know who I think would make an outstanding speaker for Derrick Thomas at the ceremony? Neil Smith. That may sound crazy to some, since he was a Bronco and all that, but when these two were on the field together, it was magic. How powerful would that be to hear Neil Smith speaking about his former fellow destroyer of offenses. That’s just my take.