Pro Football HOF Enshrinement 2008

Photo David Kindervater

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

I arrived at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio about half an hour ago. The weather is typically beautiful (78 degrees and mostly sunny today). After parking and getting through security and all that stuff, I took the long way around Fawcett Stadium where this evening’s Enshrinement Ceremony will take place. Almost all of the seats were empty with about three hours to go before things get started. I’m headquartered here in the Media Work Room inside the Hall. There were two lines, each of about 50 fans deep to get inside the Hall of Fame from the front entrance. This is my 5th straight year covering this event and I’ve never seen anything like that. Luckily I have access from the inside because it looks like a long wait out front. Obviously, with Art Monk and Darrell Green being inducted today, the crowd is predominantly adorned in maroon and gold Washington Redskins gear.

The order in which this year’s inductees are scheduled to appear are Andre Tippett, Emmitt Thomas, Fred Dean, Darrell Green, Gary Zimmerman and Art Monk. Hopefully you caught my pre-Enshrinement conference call interviews with each player (except Emmitt Thomas who did not participate in the program). I’m looking forward to their words of wisdom tonight.

This is one of my favorite weekends on the National Football League calendar. Every first weekend in August, a visit to the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the enjoyment of the annual Enshrinement Festival is the perfect way to start another National Football League season. I’m thankful to have this inside access to the event. Even though it took me 30 years to get started as an NFL writer, I guess I’ve always felt like I would be doing this someday. I’m now entering my 10th season as a credentialed member of NFL Media. I’m off to take my annual tour of the Hall now so I’ll catch up with you later.