Pro Football Hall of Fame: Class of 2007
by 
David Kindervater on August 4th, 2007
Blogging the National Football League, Blogging the NFL
If I had to describe the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2007 Enshrinement Ceremony in one word, I would say emotional. Sure there was plenty of humor. There were plenty of fond memories and a lot of thank you’s. But for each of the six inductees, it was an emotional evening.
The ceremony began with welcoming remarks from Pro Football Hall of Fame President/Executive Director Steve Perry and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. Sarah Rucker, a student at local Lake High School in Hartville sang the “National Anthem.” She did a wonderful job and the thunderous fighter jet flyover gave me chills. ESPN’s Chris Berman was the MC and he introduced many of the nearly 80 returning Hall of Famers. It gave a great sense of unity among the returning members and the new Class of 2007.
Seven-time Pro Bowler Charlie Sanders was the first inductee to the podium, introduced by Detroit Lions owner/chairman William Clay Ford. There was a new twist this year — video introductions before each presenter spoke. It added to the storyline for each inductee, but failed to cut back on the length of the actual introductions as they were intended. Charlie, a member of the NFL’s All-Decade Team for the 1970s, referenced his work ethic and upbringing and gave thanks to the many people who helped raise him — from his community to his many aunts and his strict U.S. Army father. But it was his first junior high school coach who inspired him the most athletically:
“I was preparing to attend Dudley High School, our senior high school, and Coach McKee calmly walked up to me and asked me, ‘Are you going to try out for the football team?’ Without hesitation, I responded, ‘Yes.’ He looked at me with a gleam in his eye, smile on his face, and he said, ‘I don’t think you’re tough enough.’ As I look back, I don’t think he doubted me; I think he wanted to see if I doubted myself. I have since learned that growth is a mental obstacle you overcome and not just a physical accomplishment you attain.”
Charlie closed with a very emotional hello to his mother, who died when he was just two-years-old:
“Of all the things I’ve done in football, and there have been a lot, there’s one thing that I really, really regretted. Many times I’ve seen athletes, college, professional, often look into a television and say, ‘Hi, mom.’ I always thought that was special and always something I’d want to do but couldn’t. So I take this time right here, right now in Canton, Ohio, at the Pro Football Hall of Fame to say, ‘Hi, mom.’ Thank you for the ultimate sacrifice. This day belongs to you, for it was written.”
Next up was former St. Louis Cardinals DB Roger Wehrli. Roger played his entire career — and I mean entire career (high school, college and professional) — in the state of Missouri. Like Charlie Sanders, he was a member of the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1970s. He was introduced by a former teammate and Hall of Famer Larry Wilson who described Roger as having “the highest morals of anyone I’ve ever met.” I know from having interviewed Roger that he’s a man of few words — soft-spoken and kind — and his acceptance speech would prove to be the shortest. But the message he packed into his time was meaningful, filled with an abundance of thank yous to the people who have been a part of his life — his wife, children and grandchildren; coaches; family and friends from St. Louis; and his Cardinal teammates:
“Football is such a team sport that none of us are successful by ourselves. It takes a whole team for one person to succeed. I want to thank those players and coaches on those Cardinal teams and in some way share this with them. I hope they can feel the pride I have in being here on this stage as one of their teammates.”
Bruce Matthews was then also introduced by a Hall of Famer, a friend, a former teammate, and a coach — Mike Munchak. Ironically, it was Bruce who introduced Mike when he was inducted into the Hall of Fame back in 2001:
“Mike Munchak was my teammate for 11 years. He was my roommate in the hotel and the offensive lineman that I aspired to be like. He was my best friend, my advisor and an example of the man I wanted to be like ….. Introducing Mike for his induction in the Hall of Fame in 2001 was one of the biggest thrills of my life. I’m honored that he introduced me today. I thank God for my friendship with Mike. You’re like a brother to me and I love you very much.”
Bruce also referenced his role model and older brother Clay as “without a doubt the best all-around linebacker I have ever played with or against.” He commenced his speech by acknowledging his family, namely his wife whom he described as “the one thing that I cherish most on this earth.”
I remember former Buffalo Bills RB Thurman Thomas‘ playing days as though it was just last season. Introduced by his former head coach, the legendary Hall of Famer himself, Marv Levy, Thurman recounted the glory days of four-straight Super Bowl appearances, much to the delight of the pro-Bills crowd:
“Someone once told me I needed to enjoy every minute of my football career because when it ended I would miss it. I look at all of you today and every memory comes back. The memories are amazing, of a time when teammates were like brothers, regardless of race, religion or politics ….. to the fans of Buffalo, every guy has probably stood up here in all of these Hall of Fame jackets and said they probably have had the best fans in the world supporting them. I’m here to say that’s hogwash. No fans are like my fans, like Bills fans ….. I don’t know how to thank you for the support our team has shown over the years. It was a ride that none of us will ever forget, a ride we would all probably love to hop back on. Unfortunately, we can’t buy tickets for that ride any more, but we will always have those memories. To the city of Buffalo, to the Buffalo Bills organization, I love you.”
Thurman then acknowledged each of his children and asked his wife to marry him all over again.
Gene Hickerson was introduced by longtime friend and former teammate Bobby Franklin, but his illness prevented him from being able to stand and deliver an acceptance speech, so his son Bob spoke for him, thanking many and recounting events from his father’s career. In a lifetime Hall of Fame moment, Gene was wheeled out next to his bust by the three Hall of Fame running backs he helped pave the way for — Jim Brown, Bobby Mitchell and Leroy Kelly. There was not a dry eye in the stadium. It was a moment of support and friendship you want to watch over and over again.
Lastly, Dallas Cowboys Owner/President/GM Jerry Jones introduced Michael Irvin and described him as the “heart and soul” of the 1990s Dallas Cowboys’ championship teams. Michael stepped to the podium with no notes whatsoever. He proceeded to spend the next 25 minutes speaking from his heart about the highs and lows of his NFL career. I know from having interviewed him last week that he’s sincere, passionate and honest about his feelings. I enjoyed speaking with him probably as much as I’ve enjoyed speaking with any NFL player — ever. Tears rolled down his face when he denounced himself as a true Hall of Famer. And this is a long excerpt, but I think it’s important in showing Michael’s true colors and the man he is today:
“You know the Bible speaks of a healing place. It’s called the threshing floor. The threshing floor is where you take your greatest fear and you pray for help from your great God. I want to share something with you today. I have two sons. Michael, he’s 10, and Elijah, he’s 8 ….. That’s my heart right there. That’s my heart. When I am on the threshing floor, I pray. I say, ‘God I have my struggles and I made some bad decisions, but whatever you do, don’t let me mess this up.’ I say, ‘Please help me raise them for some young lady so that they can be a better husband than I. Help me raise them for their kids so that they could be a better father than I.’ And I tell you guys to always do the right thing so you can be a better role model than your dad. I sat right here where you are last year and I watched the Class of 2006: Troy Aikman, Warren Moon, Harry Carson, Rayfield Wright, John Madden, and the late, great Reggie White represented by his wife Sara White. And I said, ‘Wow. That’s what a Hall of Famer is. Certainly, I am not that.’ I doubted I would ever have the chance to stand before you today.”
Again, there was not a dry eye in the silent stadium. I really respect him for essentially baring his soul to the world and being a humble recipient of an award he feels he isn’t worthy of. I have a great deal of respect for what he did. I can’t imagine how difficult it was to stand before the world and reveal his feelings like that. He closed with a positive message of hope:
“God, why must I go through so many peaks and valleys? ….. Why must I go through so much? At that moment a voice came over me and said, ‘Look up, get up, and don’t ever give up.’ You tell everyone or anyone that has ever doubted, thought they did not measure up or wanted to quit, you tell them to look up, get up and don’t ever give up.”
As I packed my belongings and walked out of the Hall and around Fawcett Stadium to the parking lot, fireworks boomed in the distance, providing a fitting end to another amazing year at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Photo credits: Charlie Sanders, Bruce Matthews and Thurman Thomas (AP Photo/Phil Long); Roger Wehrli and Michael Irvin (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
Tags: bruce-matthews, charlie-sanders, gene-hickerson, michael-irvin, NFL, Pro Football HOF, roger-wehrli, thurman-thomas| 2.5 |
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