What It Says About Us

This weekend, another class of football greats will be enshrined in the pro football hall of fame. Many greats that I watched play such as Emmit Smith, Jerry Rice, and John Randle will be enshrined. They deserve it of course. Thier accomplishments speak for themselves. Other such as Broncos running back Floyd Little, and Lions cornerback, now Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau are also finally being honored this weekend. I never saw any of them play, I was too young and I am 37.

As I have listened to these folks being interviewed the question was asked of Floyd Little, why do think it took so long, are you upset this didn't happen sooner? Little responded appropriately that there is never a bad time to go into the Hall of Fame as long as you get there. While that is the right answer it does beg the question, why now and not then?

When Don Sutton was finally elected to the baseball hall of fame, he answered the question a little more honestly saying that he didn't know why now and not before. He hadn't thrown another strike out, his ERA has not lowered, but here he is now so he would take it. In the case of LeBeau, he has been retired longer than I have been alive (38 years). He has not had a single interception, or tackle, or forced fumble, or return for a touchdown. But now 38 years after he is done playing, the committee is recognizing his performance as a player.

I once read an article that said any attempt to rate the presidents of the United States, really says more about us than it does about them. It reflects our current bias and cultural preference as opposed to the issues they faced when they had to govern. That is probably true when it comes to deciding what is a Hall of Fame career as well. Good for this current group who finally recognized these players, abilities and contributions to the game. Perhaps it says something about us that we can recognize what they have done as opposed to those in the past who couldn't. In the end perhaps Little is right. No matter if you have been in for 38 years or newly inducted yesterday, everyone calls you the same thing, a Hall Of Famer.