OT: TO Declines to Attend Hall of Fame Ceremony

robertweathers said:

That cat is wired different.

He should just send a Native American to accept in his honor.

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(saw what you did there)

No matter his motivation, he is doing everyone attending a favor. Anyone that might be watching at home could change the channel when he got to the that's my QB equivalent of the speech, the folks in the audience not so much. T.O. had a tremendous amount of talent, unfortunately it came attached to a 50¢ head Like everyone's Owens' talent faded over time but that 50¢ head is still there.

Tunescribe said:

What's his reason? I saw no reason in his response.

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There is no justifiable reason, of course, but I'm sure he'll come up with something that some people will buy, including those who would've bought it no matter the excuse given.

TommyBrady12 said:

It’s just weird. No one has done that in NFL history. He whined about not getting in the Hall for years and now doesn’t want to go to the ceremony when he gets picked. It’s a complete disrespect to the voters.

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I'm trying to recall a time when I've ever sympathized with a stunt that TO pulled...and I can't.
But, it was sheer BS that he wasn't a first ballot selection, so...gulp...I can see where he's coming from.

As for any "disrespect to the voters," give me a break. The "voters" are a bunch of corrupt writers and other mediots who make their livelihood by having access to the same players who will depend on them for getting into Canton.
Come to think of it, I kind of like it that Owens is calling them out for their hypocrisy!!!

Go or don't go...I don't care either way, but the Irvin anecdote in the OP's article was nuts.

Regards,
Chris

Do they play the anthem there?

BFD...I dont care at all...matter of fact I dont care about any HOF for sports....

Deus Irae said:

The same voters who disrespected him by keeping him, an obvious first ballot HOFer, out for two years?

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To each his own, but I respectfully disagree that he was an obvious first ballot Hall of Famer. By talent and production, yes absolutely, but if that’s the criteria, they could use a computer/measurable statistics alone to determine worthiness for some positions, and that’s not how Hall of Fames work. Who is “worthy” is the opinion of the voters, and personally, I would not have voted for him on the first ballot, which many reserve for truly exceptional, no-brainers without any hesitation. The hesitation with TO is that frequently alienated teammates and poisoned locker rooms. He was incredibly selfish, and though these vices may be true with other great players, TO seemed to be complicit in broadcasting his vices through a loud horn, since his need for attention was so huge (and distracting.)

I do agree that the voters generally suck. I just think in this case there is some logic behind his “snub.”

maust1013 said:

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This is still the slyest way of throwing a teammate under the bus I've seen. He laid out why Romo should be criticized (going on vacation during the playoff bye week) and then pretended to defend him. Lol.

Ice_Ice_Brady said:

To each his own, but I respectfully disagree that he was an obvious first ballot Hall of Famer.

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He's arguably the 3rd best WR of the modern era. Yes, without question, he's a first ballot HOFer.


I can't stand the man, but I can still agree to the obvious.

Yes, indeed.

TO has decided that an organization that keeps one of the very best of all time out for 2 years shouldn't be respected. He is "protesting".

And yes, TO is all about TO.

What TO doesn't seem to care about (as Michael Irvin tried to get him to understand) is that TO is disrespecting the other players in his HOF class. He is also making the voters much more important than they should be.

Should the owner of a team who wins the SB refuse to accept the trophy from Goodell because they disagree with so many of his decisions? Of course not.

Deus Irae said:

He's arguably the 3rd best WR of the modern era. Yes, without question, he's a first ballot HOFer.


I can't stand the man, but I can still agree to the obvious.

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Good for him.
TO got his ticket punched despite the sanctimonious efforts of a bunch of boozed up dinosaurs masquerading as NFL journalists. I can't imagine the contempt this guy has had directed at him over the years by the self proclaimed virtue guardians...like Peter King...Goodell's bag man.
TO performed on the field, he played big when hurt....and he was clearly an incredibly talented athlete. His biggest sin.....wanting top dollar for being the team's biggest star....which he usually was.
Some players earn the ring and skip the parade....or skip the White House photo op.....followed by a big who cares
TO earned his HOF bust....the rest is just "so what" pageantry to sell tickets and ad time.
Good for him...stick it to the man...................though the World will miss out on one last TO push up opportunity

Deus Irae said:

He's arguably the 3rd best WR of the modern era. Yes, without question, he's a first ballot HOFer.


I can't stand the man, but I can still agree to the obvious.

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While I'd disagree with it, since an argument could be fairly made in comparison with previous selections Owens was not a 1st ballot guy it is certainly not without question. There was more than just antipathy towards him as a team mate working against Owens. Of the top 10 players in receiving yards 8 played all of their careers after the '94 rules changes and the other 2 played the bulk of their careers after them. Prior to Moss only 5 WR's from the modern era were 1st ballot selections, Berry, Alworth, Warfield, Largent and Rice. Of them only Rice played after the pass happy rules changes of '94 so it would appear today's pass friendly game is a mitigating factor as well. If Bruce, Brown and Lofton (who played his entire career before '94) aren't even in then a fair argument could be made that Owens (whose career started in '96) with all of his baggage was not a 1st ballot guy. Again, in the interest of clarity, I'd disagree with it but I certainly would not discount it out of hand.

He should have been a first ballot hall of famer but what a cry baby. I think he was jealous cause moss and rice got in the first ballot and he didn’t. A guy like Cris carter waited 5 years and he’s still humble about being in the hall. The guy might be bipolar

Deus Irae said:

He's arguably the 3rd best WR of the modern era. Yes, without question, he's a first ballot HOFer.


I can't stand the man, but I can still agree to the obvious.

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The voting system sucks. No doubt he’s a first ballot hall of Famer but he should know that. The public knows he’s a first ballot hall of famer. That’s all that should matter to him and not some idiot writers who had a grudge against him. I think he will change his mind come the hall of fame ceremony.

mgteich said:

Yes, indeed.

TO has decided that an organization that keeps one of the very best of all time out for 2 years shouldn't be respected. He is "protesting".

And yes, TO is all about TO.

What TO doesn't seem to care about (as Michael Irvin tried to get him to understand) is that TO is disrespecting the other players in his HOF class. He is also making the voters much more important than they should be.

Should the owner of a team who wins the SB refuse to accept the trophy from Goodell because they disagree with so many of his decisions? Of course not.

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???

TO's not disrespecting others of his HOF class, as his decision doesn't change anything on the ground for them. They'll still be able to go there, still be able to make their speeches, and still get into the HOF. And the voters are how one gets into the hall, so it doesn't get much more important than that.

borg said:

Good for him.
TO got his ticket punched despite the sanctimonious efforts of a bunch of boozed up dinosaurs masquerading as NFL journalists. I can't imagine the contempt this guy has had directed at him over the years by the self proclaimed virtue guardians...like Peter King...Goodell's bag man.
TO performed on the field, he played big when hurt....and he was clearly an incredibly talented athlete. His biggest sin.....wanting top dollar for being the team's biggest star....which he usually was.
Some players earn the ring and skip the parade....or skip the White House photo op.....followed by a big who cares
TO earned his HOF bust....the rest is just "so what" pageantry to sell tickets and ad time.
Good for him...stick it to the man...................though the World will miss out on one last TO push up opportunity

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Using the logic of the likes of Gary Myers:

All the players who refuse to go to the White House should be stripped of their championship titles and adornments.

He got screwed over and should have been first ballot. Can't blame him if some resentment is the reason for it,

Great player, but such a head case.

Personally, I like TO better than Michael Irvin or Warren Sap, but I couldn't care less about any HOF selection.