Pro Football HOF Class of 2008

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

Sitting here at my Media Work Room desk inside the Pro Football Hall of Fame — post Enshrinement — I’m really in awe as I think about the whole event I’ve just been privileged to be so close to. It really is an honor to be involved with the greatest players in the history of professional football, a game I have enjoyed almost my entire life. In the room next to me are the busts of the members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Hall closed it’s doors to fans at 5 p.m. this afternoon, but because we (the media) are still in here working, it’s like we have the whole place to ourselves. When I step out into the hallway to use the restroom or whatever (too much information, I know), many of the exhibits with audio are still playing but nobody is anywhere to be seen. It’s kind of funny. If, as John Madden says, the busts talk to each other at night, they might have to speak up to hear over the recordings and videos. Yes, I caught them in the act. I love this place.

Photos David Kindervater

A boisterous crowd of 16,654 inside Fawcett Stadium made it feel like a Skins home game. Washington Redskins jerseys were everywhere. If I had to sum up my thoughts from this day, though, it wouldn’t be about what anyone was wearing. It would be about what an honorable group of guys the Class of 2008 is. It’s clear these six men are Hall of Famers in the game of professional football and life.

The themes that ran though each speech were centered around dreams, faith and family. Here are some of my favorite moments from the speeches that gave each player’s story of their journey to where they are today.

Andre Tippett – Andre spent most of his acceptance speech thanking the many people who helped him in his career, but he closed with a message to young people everywhere: “I am proof you should do everything you can to live your dream. Whatever that may be. I did not have the material advantages, but through commitment to achieving my goals, using the advantages that I did have and listening to the wise men and women who offered their support, I was able to live my dream. This was my dream.”

Emmitt Thomas – Emmitt gave God all the honor and praise for letting an undrafted, free agent, country boy from little Angleton, Texas enter the hallowed grounds of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. “I played the game with a lot of respect, honor that the game so very much deserved, from everyone who has ever had the privilege of strapping on a shoulder pad or buckling up a chin strap. It’s simple, ladies and gentlemen. I respected it and I still respect the American values that our great game stands for.”

Fred Dean – Fred was more humorous than I had imagined he would be after having a pretty serious conversation with him on the telephone a couple weeks ago. As a pastor, I can imagine his services must be a lot of fun. But he shared the story of how he started his days as a defensive end: “I wanted to be a defensive end. You know, when you get used to it, you get used to getting down in the dirt, getting your clothes dirty and wallowing a little bit, it makes everything come out right when you can stand up out of the mud and feel comfortable. So I said to myself, ‘Hmm, I like the dirt.’ And if I can beat somebody in this dirt, it’s going to be a good thing. And another thing that I knew is that when you tried to talk about me, when I was coming up, I was small in size, but I tell you dirt can’t talk about dirt. So we need to understand that out of all of that I ended up with the San Francisco 49ers. And to me that was a dream come true.”

Darrell Green – As predicted, Darrell delivered what was my favorite speech of the evening. He made so many humorous and touching comments, but I was especially moved when he spoke of his father: “My dad, my dad, Leonard Green, Sr., everybody said you’re too little, you can’t do it. He said, boy, you can run that ball. They said no. And he said go. The most encouragement you can ever get in life is when a dad encourages his son. Encourage your son, that’s what he did for us.”

Gary Zimmerman – Gary rarely talked with the media during his playing days so I know this was especially awkward for him, but he spoke well and even shared this funny moment from his career as the Denver Broncos left tackle: “When I began playing in Denver, I came to know the curse. The curse happens to tackles that have an amazingly talented quarterback, like John Elway. And you are responsible for protecting his blind side. What happens is, the night before the game, you get little or no sleep knowing that if you screw up you will forever be known as the guy who lost the franchise.”

Art Monk – Art really seemed to soak up the moment of a four-minute standing ovation. After waiting eight years as a finalist before being elected into the Hall, this was perfectly symbolic. The response was overwhelming. What Redskins fans didn’t get out of their system during Darrell Green’s speech, they made up for here. Art spoke eloquently about his faith. And his humility for the award he was receiving: “Being included into this fraternity is a pretty humbling experience for me. I always grew up seeing these guys as giants and legends who make significant contributions to the game of football. And it’s pretty hard for me to believe that I’ve now been included as part of them. Growing up I was never voted the most likely to succeed. And there was never anything about me that would have given anyone the impression that I would have played in the NFL let alone to be standing here.”