It's that time of the year...

Hey Ya'll SportsGal89 In the Building!
If you follow my FB feed, you would have caught the news about my post on the NFL Pro Hall of Famers this year...
So let me give ya'll a brief about the Hall of Fame and the background on this years Hall of Fame Class who will be rocking those sweet Golden Jackets.
So first the Pro Football Hall of Fame opened up in September of 1963 in Canton, Ohio. For the record, there is nothing really in Canton worth seeing but the Hall of Fame. I should know, begin an Ohio girl and traveling with my dad one of our many trips was to the Football Hall of Fame. I think we went maybe once a year, I have to say it never gets old, especially seeing all the info about the newest classes. It has been a while since I have crossed the doors of the great building, maybe I should take a road trip?
Anyways, the Pro Football Hall of Fame is the place where we get to honor the greats who changed the way we view the Gridiron! In order to be nominated a player must be retired for at least 5 years and as a coach the same. Interesting huh? Votes get calculated by a select few and it all culminates with a big ceremony, lots of tears if you are Michael Irvin, who cried and apologized for the tribulations he put his family, his teammates and his fans through when he was inducted in 2007. Finally at the end of a week long celebration in Canton, we are graced with the Hall of Fame game a preseason bonanza that is selected around the same time as the Hall of Fame Class.
A little back history on why Canton, well if you didn't know Canton was the founding home of the American Professional Football Association and the home of the Canton Bulldogs(no longer in existence, but pretty good from what I have read). Anyways the primary reason, the city of Canton was able to successfully lobby for a bid and won! And I don't think that it was such a bad idea, like I said if you get a chance to go, definitely check it out! It is worth seeing.
Now on to this year's Class!!!
1) Rickey Jackson:
Linebacker 6-2, 243 (Pittsburgh)
1981-1993 New Orleans Saints, 1994-95 San Francisco 49ers
Honorable Mentions: Yo this dude is from Pittsburgh!! You got to love it..
"Rickey who led the Panthers in tackles during his senior year, a season in which Pitt had the highest rated defense in the country. He led the way with 137 tackles and also had 12 sacks and capped the year with 14 tackles in a 37-9 victory in the Gator Bowl. He then played in the Senior Bowl and earned Defensive MVP honors in the East-West Shrine Game"- Pro Hall of Fame website
Saints fans will recognize his shear talent and ability to turn a 1-15 team around, after his rookie year. Sound familiar... WHO DAT?!

2)Russ Grimm:
Guard 6-3, 273 (Pittsburgh)
1981-1991 Washington Redskins
Anyone else seeing a trend, Pitt seems to have dominated the '81 Draft! Gotta LOVE IT!!
Honorable Mentions:
"Grimm won All-Rookie honors in 1981 and earned the reputation as the best offensive lineman on the team. Soon thereafter, a rather unusual occurrence happened when “stardom” hit a group of offensive linemen. The solid play of the Redskins’ front line, that included the return of May as a starter, earned the nickname “The Hogs” for their work 'in the trenches.' Fans embraced the group of humble linemen as the symbol of the Redskins dominant offensive attack."- Pro Hall of Fame website

Maybe the induction of a Redskins legend might bring some luck to the slackin 'Skins. Wait no, the only thing that will do this team well is getting rid of that horrible guy in the front office. That's right Snyder I'm talking about you..

3) It pains me to say this next one, not because I don't think he deserves the honor on the field, but off the field this guy is a class-A jerk. He definitely needs to take a lesson or two from Oprah's celebrity get down on tipping waiters.. I'll give you the inside scoop. Jerry Rice has been known to frequent a little restaurant I used to work for in the Bay Area called Chili's (ha ha ha) anyways, on occasion celebrity stricken managers would cover his bill, which meant the dude tipped nada or next to nada! What the heck, just cause your bill is covered doesn't mean that you don't tip, we got lives too fool!
Now back to the blog...

Jerry Rice:
Wide Receiver 6-2, 200 (Mississippi Valley State)
1985-2000 San Francisco 49ers, 2001-04 Oakland Raiders, 2004 Seattle Seahawks

Honorable Mentions: Obviously you can't miss this guy's Swag on the field, watching the dynamic duo between him and Joe Montana that led the San Francisco 49ers to greatness and following that up with Montana's successor Steve Young. Watching the Niners during this time was simply amazing. I must have been 5 watching some of these games, it was a great time to be a football fan, for sure. You can't think of the Niners without a Jerry Rice. He did a great job for the city, for the team and for the fans even if he can't tip! His record speaks for itself:
" 20 NFL seasons under his belt, 13 Pro Bowls, 11 All-Pro selections, three Super Bowl rings and virtually every major receiving record, and finally his election into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010, Jerry Rice certainly proved his worth." Pro Football Hall of Fame website

4) Floyd Little
Running Back 6-0, 196 (Syracuse)
1967-1975 Denver Broncos

Little known fact about your fav SportsGal, I used to be a HUGE Broncos fan before I started bleeding that Black and Gold. When I was 3 we used to live in Denver. I was a HUGE Elway fan, like HUGE! I got the chance to sit next to him and his family at a restaurant in the Bay, practically knocked the knee off of my friend when I realized it was him. Sent a text to my dad, yo that was a great day!! Anyways, I still have a soft spot for the Broncos, my dad used to, probably still does, call them the Denver Doncos , smh!! Anyways this is great that Mr. Little is getting to wear that sweet Jacket.

Honorable Mentions:
Time at the S! Syracuse that is:
"He broke the school’s career rushing record while hitting the 100-yard mark 13 times. He also demonstrated a knack for finding the end zone as he scored in 22 of his 30 college games. He scored 19 touchdowns in 1965 to lead the nation in that category. A finalist for the Heisman Trophy, Little received more votes for college’s most coveted trophy than any other sophomore or junior that year."

A little bit about Little after he made it to Denver:
" Little was actually used more as a return man than a runner during his rookie season. Regardless of where he played on the field his flashy style that so excited the fans was apparent from the start. He led the AFL in punt returns and even scored a touchdown on an electrifying 72-yard return against the New York Jets.

Little evolved into the face of the franchise and almost single-handedly put Denver on the pro football map. Despite a lack of talent around him, he managed to become among the finest runners in the game during his nine-season career that spanned through 1975. As evidence, there wasn’t a single player in the game who put up more all-purpose yards from 1967 to 1975 than the Broncos’ prized multi-faceted star."
Pro Football Hall of Fame Website

5) John Randle
Defensive Tackle 6-1, 278 (Trinity Valley Community CollegeTexas A&I)
1990-2000 Minnesota Vikings, 2001-03 Seattle Seahawks

Honorable Mention: Randle is only 1 of 14 Hall of Famers inducted without being drafted into the NFL.. LOVE IT!

6)I have to say even though I CAN'T STAND the CowGIRLS, there is one player that I can't hate on.

EMMITT SMITH!!!
Running Back 6-0, 207 (Florida)
1990-2002 Dallas Cowboys, 2003-04 Arizona Cardinals

I think it goes without saying that if you know the Cowboys, than you know Smith. And you know the era in which he brought a little class to the boys from TEXAS ;) Emmitt was definitely in a class of his own, school my Steelers in their 1996 meet up when Coach Cowher first arrived in the Steel City as the head guy of the greatest team in the league. :) LOVE IT!! Anyways, watching Emmitt Smith play was something to enjoy, and it is nice to see this great athlete and role model finally getting that Golden Jacket that he most definitely deserves....

Want to know more check out his stats
http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/member.aspx?PlayerId=291

AND NOW THE MOMENT I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR...
COMING IN AT NUMBER 7 In this Inductee Class:
The Great, "Coach Dad," Dick LeBeau!!!!! (ahhh ahhh )
7) Dick LeBeau
Cornerback 6-1, 185 (Ohio State)
1959-1972 Detroit Lions

Dick LeBeau is a Legend, both for his playing ability and for his Coaching. He is being inducted into the Hall of Fame on his playing ability. But there is no doubt that he deserves it just as much for his great defensive coordinating that he does with my boys the Pittsburgh Steelers!! Yee!
Anyways, there are many reasons I love this man! The Obvious he is of the Black and Gold breed, but because we share a little Ohio bond as well. LeBeau played for my favorite College Athletic Department the Ohio State Buckeyes!!! He helped the Buckeyes take down OSU rival Michigan in 1957 with a score of 31-14! LOVE IT!!
He spent 14 years playing the game with the Detroit Lions and he is in his 36th Season coaching! And he has spent the longest time with the Pittsburgh Steelers, making their defense something to be revered. Creator of what is known as the "zone blitz," LeBeau is describes as a defensive football genius. Hey I can't hate on that Swag, look at my boy Troy Polamalu #43! Not to mention James Harrison and all the others on this side of the ball. Many of the great defensive players have been schooled by "Coach Dad!"
It is with great pleasure and honor that I am so excited to see him inducted into the Class of 2010 NFL Football Hall of Fame!
And that's it, SportsGal89 out! Hit me back for the Lakers vs. Suns Gm 2 Tonight!!