I had to deal with, at a young age, my own mortality. It was a constant thought for me, and the only way I could get rid of that thought or remove it was to be determined, commit myself to doing something to be remembered. That desire and those newfound appreciations have motivated me throughout my life.
I’ve learned that in every relationship there are opportunities to learn. I learned from my college teachers and my grade school teachers how effective we can be when we are passionate about our calling. From the folks of my childhood neighborhood, I have learned to persevere in difficult times. From my college coaches at Alabama A&M, I learned how you can still accomplish much with a small budget. From my church family, I’ve learned how a strong belief in God can see you through to the other side.
I’ve learned from Donnie Shell how to stay focused when everything around you demands your attention. From Chuck Noll, I’ve learned the meaning of true leadership. One aspect of that is to deny personal fame and glory for the sake of the team. From Franco Harris, I’ve learned how you treat people regardless of their status. From Jack Ham, I’ve learned that greatness doesn’t have to promote itself. From L. C. Greenwood, I’ve learned a certain style, a certain grace. From Jack Lambert, I’ve learned about an unquenchable competitive nature. From Lynn Swann, how to perform in difficult situations. From Rocky Bleier, commitment; Mel Blount, benevolence; Bradshaw, perseverance; and Joe Greene, leadership style. I’ve learned from people around me all through my fourteen years in Pittsburgh.
I’ve learned that first impressions are not always correct. My first day in Pittsburgh was a midwinter night right after the draft. It was cold, the trees were barren, it was snowing, and I didn’t bring a big coat from Alabama. I don’t think I owned a big coat. And I was going to a team that didn’t seem to be terribly interested in throwing the football, the kiss of death for a receiver. My first impression of that situation was this: it’s not a good thing.
Eight months later, I arrived at the airport and caravanned into Pittsburgh after our first Super Bowl win. It was cold. The trees were equally as barren. It was snowing. But the difference was the people. They were lining the highway from the airport all the way to the city, easily a twenty-minute drive. You would have thought it was midsummer….
As you’ve heard, I’ve had some wonderful people in my life who have within them a tremendous capacity to do good. And they chose to exercise that capacity for my benefit. Family, friends, neighbors, coaches, and acquaintances and some people I will never know. Thank you for exercising your capacity to do good things for me. We all have that capacity. Some choose to exercise it, some choose not to, and I stand here because of some people that chose to.
I believe firmly that more of us need to exercise that capacity to do good things. Who knows, that recipient of your kindness may motivate a young person to become a Hall-of-Fame receiver, or maybe a truly committed schoolteacher, or maybe a youngster that might want to be a fireman, who may at some point have to make the choice of running into a burning skyscraper. Or maybe just a young lady who grows up to be the neighborhood Kool-Aid mom. Who knows? But this world needs us to try.
At a banquet not too long ago in Alabama, one of the recipients of an award made this statement: “Our talent is God’s gift to us, and how we use that talent is our gift back to Him.” I pray that God finds my gift back to Him a worthy one.
APPENDIX
ENSHRINEES BY YEAR OF INDUCTION
1963 CHARTER CLASS
(September 7, 1963)
Sammy Baugh*
Bert Bell*
Joe Carr*
Earl “Dutch” Clark*
Harold “Red” Grange*
George Halas*
Mel Hein*
Wilbur “Pete” Henry*
Robert “Cal” Hubbard*
Don Hutson*
Earl “Curly” Lambeau*
Tim Mara*
George Preston Marshall*
John “Blood” McNally*
Bronko Nagurski*
Ernie Nevers*
Jim Thorpe*
CLASS OF 1964
(September 6, 1964)
Jimmy Conzelman*
Ed Healey*
Clarke Hinkle*
William Roy “Link” Lyman*
Mike Michalske*
Art Rooney*
George Trafton*
CLASS OF 1965
(September 12, 1965)
Guy Chamberlin*
John “Paddy” Driscoll*
Dan Fortmann*
Otto Graham*
Sid Luckman*
Steve Van Buren
Bob Waterfield*
CLASS OF 1966
(September 17, 1966)
Bill Dudley
Joe Guyon*
Arnie Herber*
Walt Kiesling*
George McAfee*
Steve Owen*
Hugh “Shorty” Ray*
Clyde “Bulldog” Turner*
CLASS OF 1967
(August 5, 1967)
Chuck Bednarik
Charles W. Bidwill Sr. *
Paul Brown*
Bobby Layne*
Dan Reeves*
Ken Strong*
Joe Stydahar*
Emlen Tunnell*
CLASS OF 1968
(August 3, 1968)
Cliff Battles*
Art Donovan
Elroy “Crazylegs” Hirsch*
Wayne Millner*
Marion Motley*
Charley Trippi
Alex Wojciechowicz*
CLASS OF 1969
(September 13, 1969)
Albert Glen “Turk” Edwards*
Earle “Greasy” Neale*
Leo Nomellini*
Joe Perry
Ernie Stautner*
CLASS OF 1970
(August 8, 1970)
Jack Christiansen*
Tom Fears*
Hugh McElhenny
Pete Pihos
CLASS OF 1971
(July 31, 1971)
Jim Brown
Bill Hewitt*
Frank “Bruiser” Kinard*
Vince Lombardi*
Andy Robustelli
Y. A. Tittle
Norm Van Brocklin*
CLASS OF 1972
(July 29, 1972)
Lamar Hunt*
Gino Marchetti
Ollie Matson
Clarence “Ace” Parker
CLASS OF 1973
(July 28, 1973)
Raymond Berry
Jim Parker*
Joe Schmidt
CLASS OF 1974
(July 27, 1974)
Tony Canadeo*
Bill George*
Lou Groza*
Dick “Night Train” Lane*
CLASS OF 1975
(August 2, 1975)
Roosevelt Brown*
George Connor*
Dante Lavelli*
Lenny Moore
CLASS OF 1976
(July 24, 1976)
Ray Flaherty*
Len Ford*
Jim Taylor
CLASS OF 1977
(July 30, 1977)
Frank Gifford
Forrest Gregg
Gale Sayers
Bart Starr
Bill Willis*
CLASS OF 1978
(July 29, 1978)
Lance Alworth
Weeb Ewbank*
Alphonse “Tuffy” Leemans*
Ray Nitschke*
Larry Wilson
CLASS OF 1979
(July 28, 1979)
Dick Butkus
Yale Lary
Ron Mix
Johnny Unitas*
CLASS OF 1980
(August 2, 1980)
Herb Adderley
David “Deacon” Jones
Bob Lilly
Jim Otto
CLASS OF 1981
(August 1, 1981)
Morris “Red” Badgro*
George Blanda
Wi
llie Davis
Jim Ringo*
CLASS OF 1982
(August 7, 1982)
Doug Atkins
Sam Huff
George Musso*
Merlin Olsen
CLASS OF 1983
(July 30, 1983)
Bobby Bell
Sid Gillman*
Sonny Jurgensen
Bobby Mitchell
Paul Warfield
CLASS OF 1984
(July 28, 1984)
Willie Brown
Mike McCormack
Charley Taylor
Arnie Weinmeister*
CLASS OF 1985
(August 3, 1985)
Frank Gatski*
Joe Namath
Pete Rozelle*
O. J. Simpson
Roger Staubach
CLASS OF 1986
(August 2, 1986)
Paul Hornung
Ken Houston
Willie Lanier
Fran Tarkenton
Doak Walker*
CLASS OF 1987
(August 8, 1987)
Larry Csonka
Len Dawson
Joe Greene
John Henry Johnson
Jim Langer
Don Maynard
Gene Upshaw*
CLASS OF 1988
(July 30, 1988)
Fred Biletnikoff
Mike Ditka
Jack Ham
Alan Page
CLASS OF 1989
(August 5, 1989)
Mel Blount
Terry Bradshaw
Art Shell
Willie Wood
CLASS OF 1990
(August 4, 1990)
Buck Buchanan*
Bob Griese
Franco Harris
Ted Hendricks
Jack Lambert
Tom Landry*
Bob St. Clair
CLASS OF 1991
(July 27, 1991)
Earl Campbell
John Hannah
Stan Jones
Tex Schramm*
Jan Stenerud
CLASS OF 1992
(August 1, 1992)
Lem Barney
Al Davis
John Mackey
John Riggins
CLASS OF 1993
(July 31, 1993)
Dan Fouts
Larry Little
Chuck Noll
Walter Payton*
Bill Walsh*
CLASS OF 1994
(July 30, 1994)
Tony Dorsett
Bud Grant
Jimmy Johnson
Leroy Kelly
Jackie Smith
Randy White
CLASS OF 1995
(July 29, 1995)
Jim Finks*
Henry Jordan*
Steve Largent
Lee Roy Selmon
Kellen Winslow
CLASS OF 1996
(July 27, 1996)
Lou Creekmur
Dan Dierdorf
Joe Gibbs
Charlie Joiner
Mel Renfro
CLASS OF 1997
(July 26, 1997)
Mike Haynes
Wellington Mara*
Don Shula
Mike Webster*
CLASS OF 1998
(August 1, 1998)
Paul Krause
Tommy McDonald
Anthony Muñoz
Mike Singletary
Dwight Stephenson
CLASS OF 1999
(August 7, 1999)
Eric Dickerson
Tom Mack
Ozzie Newsome
Billy Shaw
Lawrence Taylor
CLASS OF 2000
(July 29, 2000)
Howie Long
Ronnie Lott
Joe Montana
Dan Rooney
Dave Wilcox
CLASS OF 2001
(August 4, 2001)
Nick Buoniconti
Marv Levy
Mike Munchak
Jackie Slater
Lynn Swann
Ron Yary
Jack Youngblood
CLASS OF 2002
(August 3, 2002)
George Allen*
Dave Casper
Dan Hampton
Jim Kelly
John Stallworth
CLASS OF 2003
(August 3, 2003)
Marcus Allen
Elvin Bethea
Joe DeLamielleure
James Lofton
Hank Stram*
CLASS OF 2004
(August 8, 2004)
Bob “Boomer” Brown
Carl Eller
John Elway
Barry Sanders
CLASS OF 2005
(August 7, 2005)
Benny Friedman*
Dan Marino
Fritz Pollard*
Steve Young
CLASS OF 2006
(August 6, 2006)
Troy Aikman
Harry Carson
John Madden
Warren Moon
Reggie White*
Rayfield Wright
CLASS OF 2007
(August 4, 2007)
Gene Hickerson*
Michael Irvin
Bruce Matthews
Charlie Sanders
Thurman Thomas
Roger Wehrli
CLASS OF 2008
(August 2, 2008)
Fred Dean
Darrell Green
Art Monk
Emmitt Thomas
Andre Tippett
Gary Zimmerman
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
If game balls could be awarded, this is where they would go:
CHRIS SCHILLING, PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT
The unsung hero of this book.
JOE HORRIGAN, PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND EVENTS
The kindest and smartest guy in the room provided the guidance and reason and transcripts to make this happen.
STEVE PERRY, PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME PRESIDENT/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Without his approval, this project never would have moved forward.
PETER FIERLE, PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME MANAGER—DIGITAL MEDIA/COMMUNICATIONS
After serving as my first guide in Canton, Fierle served as a second set of eyes for reading the manuscript.
RYAN REBHOLZ, PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Someone had to double-and triple-check the spelling of all the names and the facts from all these years.
SALEEM CHOUDHRY, PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME RESEARCHER
Bringing the names to life, Choudhry gathered the pictures in this book.
SCOTT WAXMAN, LITERARY AGENT
He believed in me before the book even was born.
MAURO DIPRETA, HARPERCOLLINS VICE PRESIDENT AND EXECUTIVE EDITOR
As good an editor as there is, DiPreta has provided the assist from my first book to my last.
JEN SCHULKIND, HARPERCOLLINS ASSISTANT EDITOR
She did all the unheralded but greatly needed work.
LORI J. LEWIS, HARPERCOLLINS COPY EDITOR
She did an all-pro editing job.
ROGER GOODELL, NFL COMMISSIONER
In the middle of madness, Goodell took the time to write the fore-word he did.
PETE ABITANTE, SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE COMMISSIONER
Here’s hoping Abitante has room on his shelves for one more book.
GREG AIELLO, NFL SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT TO PUBLIC RELATIONS
A superb editor to go along with all the other duties he performs.
GARY GERTZOG, LEAGUE COUNSEL
Gertzog gave the project a push when it was stalling.
DERRICK CRAWFORD, LEAGUE COUNSEL
When permission for the book was requested, Crawford granted it.
ERIC WEINBERGER, NFL NETWORK EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
Former boss allowed his reporter to report this book.
NFL NETW
ORK
My former second family.
MICHAEL IRVIN, HALL-OF-FAME WIDE RECEIVER
The loquacious one delivered an unrehearsed, from-the-heart speech that awakened me from my sleep that night with the idea to compile the book you now hold in your hands.
MIKE HAYNES, NFL PLAYER DEVELOPMENT
And ace recruiter.
THE CLASS OF FOOTBALL
This book can only be as good as the words of the men enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
About the Editor
Award-winning writer ADAM SCHEFTER is an NFL correspondent for ESPN. The former president of the Pro Football Writers of America and former Hall-of-Fame voter is the coauthor of three books, including the New York Times bestseller Romo: My Life on the Edge. Schefter lives in New York.
Visit www.AuthorTracker.com for exclusive information on your favorite HarperCollins author.
Credits
Jacket design by Richard Aquan
Jacket photograph collage: Joe Montana by Andy Hayt/Sports Illustrated; Lawrence Taylor by John Biever; Vince Lombardi by Marvin E. Newman/Sports Illustrated; Dick Butkus by Tony Tomsic/Sports Illustrated; John Madden by Fred Kaplan; Michael Irvin by John W. McDonough; Dan Marino by John Mottern/AFP/ Getty Images; Terry Bradshaw by Neil Leifer/Sports Illustrated; Jim Brown by Hulton Archive/Getty Images
All photographs courtesy of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Copyright
THE CLASS OF FOOTBALL. Copyright © 2009 by Adam Schefter. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
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