Hall of Fame ceremony lacks entertainment value

by Alex Marvez

Updated: August 2, 2008, 11:23 PM EST 243 comments

Not to disparage Gary Zimmerman, Art Monk, Darrell Green, Emmitt Thomas, Andre Tippett and Fred Dean. You can't. Selection for the Pro Football Hall of Fame is the game's greatest honor.

"It's almost like walking on holy ground," Monk said shortly after his arrival in Canton.

But when it comes to hype and entertainment value — which have become major elements of the televised induction ceremony — this year's festivities were about as compelling as a staring contest with a bronzed Hall of Fame bust.

This seemed bound to happen. The Class of 2008 was essentially a clearinghouse for long-standing nominees. Green was the only first-ballot selection. Everyone else had waited for at least a decade since retirement.

There were no players from two of the biggest "glory" positions: quarterback and running back. Instead, voters picked a Hall-record four defenders and an offensive lineman (Zimmerman) with a flat-line public persona because of his refusal to speak with the media while playing.

In recent years, the Hall was blessed with memorable enshrinement moments from some of football's biggest names. Michael Irvin weeping during an acceptance speech turned testimonial. Dan Marino firing one last pass into the stands at favorite wide receiver Mark Clayton. And John Madden's unforgettable line that "the busts talk to each other" inside the Hall once the lights are turned off each night.

If so, they had plenty to discuss about the attention some prior inductees brought to hot-button NFL topics, particularly player health. The most poignant moment was provided last year by Gene Hickerson, whose Alzheimer's disease and dementia could stem from head injuries suffered while playing guard for the Cleveland Browns (we'll never know for sure). Hickerson led his final sweep when his wheelchair was rolled on stage by the three Hall of Fame running backs he once blocked for — Jim Brown, Bobby Mitchell and Leroy Kelly.

Art Monk was one of six former NFL players to be inducted into the Hall of Fame Saturday. (Al Messerschmidt / Getty Images)

What will we remember from Saturday's event? An inordinate amount of religious praise. The first known Hall reference to the Dalai Lama by a surprisingly witty Zimmerman.

And tears. Lots of tears.

Derek Thomas broke down at the end of his speech inducting his father, Emmitt. Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen almost did the same after heaping praise upon Zimmerman. Green even poked fun at his own blubbering from the get-go in a 25-minute oration that amazingly topped Dean's for long-windedness.

Another distinctive highlight was provided by raucous Redskins fans who turned Fawcett Stadium into a miniature version of Fed-Ex Field. They added enthusiasm to Green and Monk's inductions and laughs when booing Hall of Famers like Irvin, Tony Dorsett and Mel Renfro who played for the arch-rival Dallas Cowboys.

If only the rest of a ceremony filled largely with droning acknowledgements was as spirited.

But the Hall should once again be a ball in the future. Colorful characters like Bruce Smith (2009), Jerry Rice (2010) and Deion Sanders (2011) will bring star power as locks for first-ballot induction.

The Class of 2013 could be the most dynamic of all with Michael Strahan, Jon Ogden and Warren Sapp among those eligible for enshrinement. Brett Favre will be in that same mix provided he stays retired.

Even if he doesn't, it will be worth waiting to ultimately hear Favre's induction speech considering his current squabbling with the Green Bay Packers. That should be anything but tame.

Alex Marvez was selected as a Hall of Fame voter for the Class of 2009.