Hall of Fame Inductees Announced - Carter Snubbed

I could be slightly biased with my feelings here. So I am going to attempt to go with the facts. Instead of vomiting out the rant I initially felt in reaction to Cris Carter not being inducted tot he Hall of Fame this year.

Chris Carter facts

Receptions

• 2nd all time in receiving yards (13,899) -Trails Jerry Rice
• 2nd all time in career receptions (1,101) -Trails Jerry Rice
• T-3rd all time in seasons with 50+ receptions (11) -Trails Jerry Rice and Andre Reed
• T-3rd all time in receptions in a season(122 twice '94 & '95) -Trails Marvin Harrison and Herman Moore
• T-4th all time in Season with 1,000+ Yards Receiving(8) -Trails Jerry Rice, Tim Brown and Jimmy Smith

Touchdowns

• T-3rd all time in most seasons leading league in TD(3) - Trails Don Hutson and Jerry Rice
• 2nd all time most TD in a career(130) - Trails Jerry Rice
• T-4th all time Most TD in a season(17) - Trails Jerry Rice, Mark Clayton, and Sterling Sharpe

Not only are there very few guys who have surpassed him in any one category, Jerry Rice is the only player to surpass him consistently across the board. Jerry Rice is the one player who it is readily agreed is the best player at his position. Almost every other best at argument will draw a laundry list of names. Not WR, so the simple fact he is consistently above or near the performance of the greatest of all time warrants a first ballot Hall of Fame selection.

As I sit here pondering why it is that he wasn't selected. I can't help but think of the words of another player who was inducted this year. Redskins corner Darell Green was asked by Scot Van Pelt on the Mike Tirico show "why is Riggins the only Redskin from those three championship teams to make it to the Hall of Fame". With out much conviction he said the only thing he could come up wit was that they had no sizzle, they were just guys who came in and did their jobs.

Like I said he didn't seem to have much conviction, it was more of a default because he couldn't explain it. I think after seeing Cris Carter snubbed there may just be something to this. Carter really had no off the field issues once he left Philadelphia. I mean what exactly would it have taken, would he have had to actually surpass Jerry Rice. Maybe they just don't put receivers into the hall on the first ballot. Maybe they feel like it is the Fantasy Football Hall of Fame and because receivers don't touch the ball as often as a QB or RB they aren't worth as much.

Don't worry I got you covered I looked it up. Here are your First Ballot Hall of Famers. There are plenty of them but in the interest of apples to apples here are the Wide Receivers

• Raymond Berry
• Lance Alworth
• Paul Warfield
• Steve Largent

I was cruising along researching this and I was willing to accept that maybe some of the guys on this list are better thanI know as they were before my time. But seriously. Steve Largent!? Are you kidding me, I like Largent, I loved his tough style and his gritty play. But I challenge anyone out there to lay down a convincing argument for why Steve Largent should be a first ballot Hall of Famer, while Cris Carter is not.

If you like this blog Subscribe via RSS or Subscribe by Email

Learn more about RSS

This Week In Sports January 28, 2008

Check out this weeks headlines that were either major or eye catching here

If you like this blog Subscribe via RSS or Subscribe by Email
Learn more about RSS

Sports Nicknames Lists

I wrote a post the other day that I needed to find some NASCAR nicknames for. That got me to thinking of some of the best Nicknames in sports...See lists

NBA Mid-Season recap (Western Conferance)

New Orleans -Chris Paul has managed to find the Tyson Chandler, we all expected him to be. As a duo the two have combined to more than double the next pair in ally-oops. Not the most solid stat but it does show Paul's direct involvement in Chandlers emergence .

Phoenix - I love to watch em play and that offense is fun, but I doubt the Suns sit down every year in the offseason and say "I really hope we entertain bloggers everywhere" No they are in it to win, and they really need to accept the fact that their system just wont take it all the way, and it isn't getting any better with age.

Dallas - Avery Johnson said last year they were spent by the time the playoffs cane around, and he wanted to pace himself. So far so good. Maybe mix in a pinch more rest (see:losses)

Denver - Not impressed there in 4th in the division. I am impressed they are there with the string of injuries.

Los Angeles Lakers - Everything was roses until Andrew Bynum went down. Now let's see which Kobe leads them through this stretch. GO GET CHRIS WEBBER. I don't think he is the cure-all that everyone seems to think he is but he is sure better than DJ Mbenga.

San Antonio - Every year they turn it on later and later. Seems like this might be the year it is to late.

Portland - Thanks to the addition of Greg Oden, Even with out Oden, Trailblazers are going to be a force in the west. How nice does this get when next year they add Oden into the mix.

Golden State - Ever since the return of Stephen Jackson , the Warriors have been rolling. Who knew all those Captain Jack jokes would fall so flat. Jackson has even had the good sense to defer the praine to Baron Davis, who is a headcase very emotional player

Utah - In need of spark for the team, the Jazz went out and signed... Kyle Korver?? Really, that is your big solution. Keep on trying. I love Jazz coach, Jerry Sloan, (if you find the opportunity, watch film of him playing. TOUGH) but you have to acknowledge the fact that he is not getting the potential from all the talent he has. The game may be past him.

Houston - I am not a Rocket(s) scientist. But even I can see simple math. Yao is a great player. T-Mac is a great player. T-mac and Yao are an average (I'm being generous) team. Trade T-mac, get what you can get and move on.

Sacramento - With all the injuries the team has suffered, the Kings have to be happy to be where they are. Now that Kevin Martin, Mike Bibby, and Ro Artest are back, thing are looking good. with a strong push, they are playoff bound. I also think they could get a good return on trading Beno Udrih in a PG point league.

LA Clippers - The most interesting thing for LA's step child is the developing drama between, owner Donald Sterling and Coach Mike Dunleavy. Sterling all of sudden decided that after 20+ years of mediocrity now he needs a winner and if Dnleavy can't do it then there will be changes. Really you have been in the bottom of the NBA for my entire life and now that you have two major players in Elton Brand and Shaun Lvingston out for the year and Sam Cassell missing a few weeks with back problems. Now he expects success. Stering, go back to sleep.

Memphis - Pau Gasol is starting to play the pre-season hype predicted. Instead of like he has the last few years. At this point it is to little to late. When you are supposed to be one of the top players in the league, you shouldn't get outplayed by a guy on your own team. Rudy Gay is talented but he shouldn't be leading your team.

Seattle - Kevin Durant will be really exciting to watch. As he fills out a little to help his defense he will be a real force. Notice all these statement are future tense, see you next year Sonics.

Minnesota - Whew, thankfully you unloaded all the Kevin Garnett baggage. Seriously, does Kevin Mchale get another ring if the Celtics win.

If you like this blog Subscribe via RSS or Subscribe by Email
Learn more about RSS

This week in sports

Check out my other blog Links and Lists.
Todays list is some of the tidbits form the week in the sports world

Minnesota Vikings Offseason

Minnesota Vikings – The Vikings have not had a prolific receiver since losing Moss. In addition to their obvious needs at WR they need to shore up their secondary. The Vikings had the best rush defense in the league but even with that forcing the opposing quarterback to throw they managed to be the dead last passing offense. This is a very shallow draft for wide receivers. Malcolm Kelly and Desean Jackson are the only ones that I see as first round worthy. Kelly may be gone by the time the Vikings make their pick, however I think Jackson could still be available at this point. I also think that Jackson will actually end up being the best receiver in this class. If both of them are gone by this point, I think they should look at getting trading down to get Aqib Talib or Leodis Mckelvin towards the end of the draft as well as getting a possible third round pick. The possibility exists that Mike Jenkins of South Florida would be available at this point but I think it is very risky taking a guy who didn’t really play a lot of big time competition in the first round. I can’t let the draft pass without thinking of the past. Mike Lynn definitely hurt the team with the Herschel Walker deal, which I like to refer to as the original Ricky Williams deal. I also think of the good years the Randy Moss at #21. As I looked back I came across Korey Stringers name. Just a nod to the man and his family.

Outside Shot
Malik Rose pretty much made my week.
When asked about Isiah Thomas saying "the Knicks are not that far from a championship"
Malik dropped tthese gems
"We don’t have what it would take to win a championship." - Thanks Captain Obvious
"There are things in San Antonio that are different than in New York" - Really are you the only thing that isn't different??
"We have some weird personalities on this team" - That one has to be the understatement of the

Houston Texans Offseason

Houston Texans – I have a huge issue with people who are so quick to spout their
opinion, especially a negative opinion. Then when it turns out they are wrong, they are never around to man up about it. I am not that guy. I was a vocal critic of the Mario Williams draft choice. I was wrong. Very, Very, wrong. Reggie Bush isn’t what he was in college(I am an SC fan that is as close as I am getting to saying he’s a bust) Vince Young is decent, and he is a better passer than most people are giving him credit for. Those two aside Mario Williams was the right pick.
The Texans suffered a series of injuries through out the year. No one ever wants to go through all the trouble that Houston did but there is an upside. Between Sage Rosenfels and Matt Schaub along with Ahman Green, Ron Dayne, and Darius Walker, they have found reliable back ups to go along with their starters. The only potential problem facing Gary Kubiak is that with any kind of difficulty on Matt Schaub’s part a QB controversy could arise. Not the worst problem to have. At WR they have Super receiver Andre Johnson who injury got as well. He was replaced nicely by Andre Davis who turned in excellent work as a return man as well towards the end of the season. I do think they responded well to those injuries this year and you can’t help but acknowledge the job Gary Kubiak did with this team.
With the Mario Williams anchored front line their defense has shown very well this year. The injury bug did get them on this side of the ball as well, hitting Dunta Robinson mid season. There secondary still held their own through out the year.
With their skill positions and their defense looking like all they need is to stay off the trainers table. Their real gaping hole is at the left tackle position. They should look at Ryan Clady (OT-Boise St.) who should drop this far and should be their first choice.
With that hole sealed up and consistent QB play the only thing left will be dodging a bullet on the injury front. If that happens the future for this team looks great. They are my sleeper for 2008.

Next team - My Minnesota Vikings