Marino2Clayton
I'm too drunk to taste this chicken.
Being in Canton this weekend was a very special experience. The last time that I had been to the Hall was eight years ago for Coach Shula's induction. Things were much different then than they are now.
At that time the ceremonies did not take place in Fawcett Stadium, but on the steps in front of the Hall. Things were much smaller and much more intimate. I was able to either meet or shake hands with at least a dozen Hall of Famers...
Ray Nitschke, Joe Greene, Bob Lilly, Chuck Bednarick, Deacon Jones, and Bart Starr
Not to mention Dolphin greats...
Larry Csonka, Paul Warfield, Larry Little, Nick Bounticonti, and Bob Griese
I was able to mingle and walk among the all time greats. I could look to my left and there would be Lenny Moore, or look to my right and see Franco Harris. It was heaven for any true football fan.
Back then it was free to sit in on the ceremony and only $26.00 to get into the Hall of Fame game. This year I bought my induction ceremony tickets off of eBay for $178.00 and paid $90.00 a day for my hotel room. Unfortunately, I didn't even get to go to the game. Back in '97 the Hall of Fame game was only a couple of hours after the induction festivities. Now the game is not until the next night and ticket prices were extremely too high for an exabition game. Of course, one of the main reasons I spent under $100 on my trip to see Shula was that I slept in my car at a rest stop because I didn't have the money for a hotel room.
Even with the many changes between now and then, this weekend was still great and something that I will never ever forget.
This year, while touring the hall, I was able to see Roger Stauback, Paul Tagliabue, and Bob Griese. Latter, on my way to the car, I was able to make contact with future Hall of Famer Rod Woodson.
HOF Trip 2.jpgOverall it has been great to see Hall of Fame weekend grow to be as big and important as it has become. Because as fans we must honor and pay tribute to the greats that built the game of professional football into what it has become today.
Without John Untias could there of been a Peyton Manning?
Without Ronnie Lott could there be a Ed Reed?
Without Jim Parker could there be an Orlando Pace?
Without Dick Butkus could ther of been a Ray Lewis?
The glory shared by all the great players today was created by the sweat, tears, and god given talent of the 229 members of the Hall.
At that time the ceremonies did not take place in Fawcett Stadium, but on the steps in front of the Hall. Things were much smaller and much more intimate. I was able to either meet or shake hands with at least a dozen Hall of Famers...
Ray Nitschke, Joe Greene, Bob Lilly, Chuck Bednarick, Deacon Jones, and Bart Starr
Not to mention Dolphin greats...
Larry Csonka, Paul Warfield, Larry Little, Nick Bounticonti, and Bob Griese
I was able to mingle and walk among the all time greats. I could look to my left and there would be Lenny Moore, or look to my right and see Franco Harris. It was heaven for any true football fan.
Back then it was free to sit in on the ceremony and only $26.00 to get into the Hall of Fame game. This year I bought my induction ceremony tickets off of eBay for $178.00 and paid $90.00 a day for my hotel room. Unfortunately, I didn't even get to go to the game. Back in '97 the Hall of Fame game was only a couple of hours after the induction festivities. Now the game is not until the next night and ticket prices were extremely too high for an exabition game. Of course, one of the main reasons I spent under $100 on my trip to see Shula was that I slept in my car at a rest stop because I didn't have the money for a hotel room.
Even with the many changes between now and then, this weekend was still great and something that I will never ever forget.
This year, while touring the hall, I was able to see Roger Stauback, Paul Tagliabue, and Bob Griese. Latter, on my way to the car, I was able to make contact with future Hall of Famer Rod Woodson.
HOF Trip 2.jpgOverall it has been great to see Hall of Fame weekend grow to be as big and important as it has become. Because as fans we must honor and pay tribute to the greats that built the game of professional football into what it has become today.
Without John Untias could there of been a Peyton Manning?
Without Ronnie Lott could there be a Ed Reed?
Without Jim Parker could there be an Orlando Pace?
Without Dick Butkus could ther of been a Ray Lewis?
The glory shared by all the great players today was created by the sweat, tears, and god given talent of the 229 members of the Hall.
