General Forum

Didn't know he was on the network, don't have it. Last I saw/heard he was verboten. Of course, I stopped watching on a regular basis a few years ago after they botched C.M. Punk. Not justifying his actions as I shudder at the thought of what his son went through.

Its crazy how many people on this list I would have guaranteed to be HOFers back in the late 90s-early 00s. I actually will be in Cooperstown July27th-29th for the induction. This will be my 2nd time ever for an HOF weekend. 1st was 2 years ago for Griffey and Piazza. 

That's cool Jimmy. I was at Ozzie Smith's, maybe 2002.  So much fun.

Seeing Sandberg inducted was one of the longest term plans I ever executed. Around 1984, my friend and I agreed that we'd go to his induction ceremony. Then we did. Much, much later. Went back for Maddux. I think I'll go for every other Cub that gets inducted.  So I'm probably waiting for Rizzo or Bryant. 

V3

The Wizard. That must have been incredible. It was actually the first time I was ever at the HOF 2 years ago. Considering I grew up in NYC, it is quite disgraceful that I never went to the HOF before then. Its funny but growin up in NYC, everything in NY State that wasn't in NYC just felt like it was a thousand miles away. I am glad to have changed that thinking and hope to make this more of an annual trip now with a few friends. I say more of an annual trip instea dof an annual trip because Jeter's year hotels have been sold out since before he retired

I think football's Hall of Fame committee has a much better style than baseball.  They announce an initial list of up to 180 players at the end of the regular season, they will then narrow that list down to 15 "finalists".  After that, they narrow the list down further before actually voting to between 5 and 10 players.  Then, instead of having to be named in the top 10 by a certain percent of voters, they are all voted on in a yes or no vote, with X number of yes votes required to be elected.  I think that could really help clear up the backlog in baseball's ballots right now.  

So, based on that format, my yes votes would be for...

1.  Trevor Hoffman                          Yes

2.  Vladimir Guerrero                       Yes

3.  Edgar Martinez                           Yes

4. Roger Clemens                           Yes

6.  Mike Mussina                             Yes

7.  Curt Schilling                              Yes

9.  Larry Walker                               Yes

11. Jeff Kent                                    Yes

13. Billy Wagner                               Yes

15. Chipper Jones                            Yes

16. Jim Thome                                  Yes

22 Jamie Moyer                                Yes

23. Omar Vizquel                              Yes.

Celtic, I was never sure how the football one worked.  Not sure why I never took the time to read up on it.

Agreed that baseball really needs to amend its approach to HOF. Too much nonsense goes into every pick or nonpick. Most recently, the fact that 3 writers didn't vote Griffey into the HOF shows what a joke it is. The fact that the ballots are secret causes even more issues cause there is zero accountability for eah vote. 

But does your final comment mean that you don't believe a guy like Chipper Jones belongs in the hall of fame? I am a huge lifelong mets fan, and I believe he is a first ballot Hofer easily.

I wasn't even 100% sure until this year.  I checked the list of players apparently hours after they had released the list of finalists after the initial list of (this year) 189 players, so they explained that was how they came up with the finalists.  I had always wondered that myself.  So, while not necissarly Hall-worthy, enough people think highly of all of the 15 finalists that they have already been voted on as finalists.  The fact that Morten Andersen has made it that far in voting several times now makes me optimistic that they might be starting to change their minds on kickers somewhat.  With as much as they can make or break a team nowadays, I think kickers and punters (but especially kickers) are football's DH.  They will someday get the respect due to them, but who knows for sure when that day will be.

Jimmy, that's wild about Jeter.  I actually made a decent little trip out of my visit.  Niagara Falls, to Cooperstown, to NYC.  I had never been to any of those places.  I can see why Cooperstown feels so far to you.  Seemed like a real long drive to me.