Monday Morning Cup o’Chiefs
From River Falls, Wisconsin
Back in the northwoods, but still carrying a few tidbits from Canton that are worth mentioning. Here’s the best.
There are two visible signs that a Hall of Famer has that signify his honor: his gold jacket and his Hall of Fame ring. This year’s class of inductees got their jackets on Friday evening. Each will get their rings in different ceremonies at the NFL stadium of their choosing.
Emmitt Thomas has announced he wants to get his Hall of Fame ring at Arrowhead Stadium. Magically, the NFL schedule came together and the Falcons bye week just happens to be October 19, which also happens to be the day the Chiefs host the Tennessee Titans at Arrowhead. That also happens to be the game the team selected for Almni Weekend. So Thomas will get his ring not only infront of Chiefs fans, but infront of dozens of his former teammates.
Some other leftovers:Â
Former Chiefs center Jack Rudnay looks better today, at the age of 60, than he did 26 years ago when he retired after the 1982 season. “Gretzie, I’ve got more titanium in me than an airplane,” Rudnay said of several operations.
One of the more poignant scenes at the after-party the Hunt family threw for Emmitt Thomas was the trio of Norma Hunt, Phyllis Stram and Georgia Buchanan all exchanging hugs, catching up on each other’s lives and going on without their Hall of Fame husbands.
Denver owner Pat Bowlen should never speak in public again. A very nervous Bowlen gave one of the most difficult to listen to speeches in Hall of Fame history when he presented T Gary Zimmerman. He may have had stage fright, which is all the more reason he should have simply stood up and said “Here’s Gary.”
Thomas left Falcons training camp in Atlanta with a Hall of Fame speech that timed out to seven minutes. By the time he gave the speech on Saturday, it grew to 15 minutes. That’s what happens when players start considering who they need to honor and thank.
One of the biggest reactions Friday evening at the Enshrinees Dinner and then Saturday at the induction ceremonies came with the introduction of the “Kansas Comet” Gale Sayers. It was surprising in that there was no Bears contingent and certainly no groups from Kansas at either event. Sayers remains one of the most popular figures in NFL history.
Former San Francisco 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo, who was the presenter for DE Fred Dean is now in the agent business.
Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan left training camp to attend the induction ceremony to honor Zimmerman.
 COUNTDOWN
The Chiefs are 3 days away from their pre-season opener against the Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago. They are 34 days away from their regular-season opener against the Patriots in Foxboro and they are 41 days away from their home opener against the Raiders.
Oh, and football is 179 days away from the announcement of the Hall of Fame class of 2009 on January 31, 2009.
CHIEFS HISTORY
On August 4, 1962, the Dallas Texans beat the Oakland Raiders 13-3 in a pre-season game played in Lithonia, Georgia. Lithonia? It’s about 20 miles east of Atlanta. In fact, this was the first pro football game played in Greater Atlanta area. The teams were welcomed made by Charles Emmerich, chairman of the DeKalb County Commission.
Along with the location, this game was noteable in franchise history because it was the first game Len Dawson played for the franchise. He did not complete any of the three passes he threw in this game. This night Cotton Davidson threw touchdown passes to Frank Jackson and Henry Cambridge, while Abner Haynes ran 10 times for 134 yards.
 OUT OF TOWN VIEW
Christopher Walsh from the Tuscaloosa News spent several days in River Falls last week and ended up writing a three-part series on what’s going on with the Chiefs.
- Part 1: overview of the Chiefs, Brodie Croyle and the rebuilding of the team.Â
- Part 2:talks about the Nick Saban connections (from LSU) on the Chiefs roster.
- Part 3: focus moves to Croyle.
AS THE FAVRE TURNS
Brett Favre is in Green Bay, scheduled to report today to the Packers and he could be on the field as early as Tuesday, competing for the starting QB job.
Fox TV’s Jay Glazer has a good look at the Favre situation, with a view from River Falls as well.
AROUND THE AFC WEST
In Denver, one of their columnists believes the Broncos did John Lynch wrong in how they handled his situation last week.
Out in San Diego, they are working on one of the keys to any good defense: turnovers.
With the Raiders, their offensive leadership on the coaching side is very young and very earnest. No, really.
Any early buzz in Canton about DT’s chances for next year?
Bob,
I have family in the Canton area and enjoy heading to the HOF festivities each year.
One of my major disappointments is the fact that former inductees that are provided with free accomodations, airfare, etc to attend the weekend festivities, that take full advantage of the perks but can not take 3 hours out of there Saturday morning to participate in the HOF Parade. It is an honor to be inducted in the HOF and a huge disappointed that these individuals need additional compensation ($) to particpate.
The city of Canton, spends hundreds of thousands dollars every year to put on a good show and the least these inductees could do is spend a little time thanking the city and participate in a great tradition.
Sincerely,
Jeff