The 2018 Fictitious Veteran Inductees

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Danny Meehan

The English soccer version of the 1974 Burt Reynolds classic, The Longest Yard, saw former English soccer star, Vinnie Jones taking on the main role. For those who are not familiar with Jones, he was a very popular soccer player, known for his toughness and charisma, which translated into a successful film career. As Danny Meehan, in “Mean Machine”, he was a former English Soccer Captain, who found himself in jail due to match fixing. The plot is identical to the ’74 version, but of course with a British flavor making it unique all on its own.

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Chaney

Even though Charles Bronson was already in his early 50’s, this was when he finally became a movie star; though perhaps not a well respected one. This wasn’t a guy you expected to sit in the Actor’s Studio chair, nor did you really want him to. You wanted Bronson to beat the snot out of people, and in Hard Times, he plays Chaney, a bare fisted fighter in the Depression Era who beat people up. There you go, that’s the plot and isn’t that enough?

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Bootney Farnsworth

We could vote for him just on the name alone. Played by Jimmie Walker, Bootney Farnsworth is a boxer who through the scamming of two fraternal lodge brothers (played by Sidney Poitier and Bill Cosby) they use hypnosis to convince him that he is a much better fighter than he is, and you know the power of persuasion don’t you? Farnsworth becomes a local champion, and Poitier and Cosby make substantial loot in the process.

Taking away the absurdity of the plot (and even bigger absurdity that Jimmie Walker could knock over a broom, let alone another man), this all black cast gave us a mobster named “Biggie Smalls”, the influence for the name of legendary rapper, “The Notorious B.I.G.”. That alone can make you forget that Walker allegedly had a great right hook!

The Bullet Points:
Movie Appeared:
Let’s Do it Again (1975)

Actor:
Jimmie Walker

Why You Should Vote For Him:
Because he’s Dy-no-mite!

Why You Should Not Vote For Him:
We loved Jimmie Walker in the 70’s, but did you believe that he was capable of beating anybody up?

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Bo Callahan

We all know that just because you win the Heisman Trophy, it does not mean that you will be a certifiable star in the National Football League. We have seen flops, stars, Heisman winners go undrafted and everything in between. In Draft Day, we have Bo Callahan, the Wisconsin Quarterback who was the reigning Heisman winner, and the expected number one pick. It didn’t happen, and we watch him plummet in a similar fashion that Aaron Rodgers did years ago. It is implied by the Cleveland Browns General Manager (played by Kevin Costner) that there are character issues with Callahan, but all we saw was draft day. Whether Bo Callahan was the next Aaron Rodgers or Ryan Leaf will remain a mystery.

The Bullet Points:
Movie Appeared:
Draft Day (2013)

Actor:
Josh Pence

Position Played:
Quarterback

Played for:
University of Wisconsin

Why You Should Vote For Him:
How many Heisman Trophy winners do we have on this ballot?

Why You Should Not Vote For Him:
He was painted as a chump and a likely NFL Draft bust. Matt Leinart anyone?

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Billy Young

Forgetting that Roy Scheider was way too old to be playing a baseball player, even in the last year of his career, a lot of people enjoyed watching the Disney Channel film, Tiger Town. He was linked with a young super fan who when he closed his eyes and wished hard enough, would result in a Home Run. Sure, it was as far fetched as Scheider being a baseball player, but it was a decent family film and we enjoyed the cameos from actual Detroit Tigers, though we doubt that Sparky Anderson ever legitimately thought about playing him in the Outfield.

The Bullet Points:
Movie Appeared:
Tiger Town (1983)

Actor:
Roy Scheider

Position Played:
Outfield

Played For:
Detroit Tigers

Why You Should Vote For Him:
It was an early Disney Channel favorite, and a nice story to boot.

Why You Should Not Vote For Him:
Even for his last season, Scheider looked ten years to old for the role.

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Billy "The Kid" McDonnen

Grudge Match may not have been a fan favorite of the critics, but for many this was a fun throwback remembering two of their past favorite actors, at least that is how we viewed it. In this film, Robert DeNiro plays former Light Heavyweight Champion, Billy “The Kid” McDonnen, a braggadocios though successful man living in the past. DeNiro is able to flex his comedic chops, though not necessarily his muscles, as he physically just did not look up to this. Still, this is Robert DeNiro so we will give him a pass!

The Bullet Points:
Movie Appeared:
Grudge Match (2013)

Actor:
Robert DeNiro

Why You Should Vote For Him:
DeNiro is a legend, even in roles that are beneath him.

Why You Should Not Vote For Him:
With all due respect to DeNiro, there are more iconic fictional boxers than this.

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Alexis Winston

Ice Castles was more of a sappy love story than an athletic story, but for our purposes we have a champion caliber figure skater who through a freak accident goes blind. She learns to skate with the disability, but it was a film more about making teen girls cry than anything else. Not exactly a winning formula is it?

The Bullet Points:
Movie Appeared:
Ice Castles (1978)

Actor:
Lynn-Holly Johnson

Why You Should Vote For Her:
Well, if you want to vote based on overcoming the odds, this is about as good as it gets.

Why You Should Not Vote For Her:
This could be one of the cheesiest characters on the ballot.

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144. Matt Birk

One of the most respected men in Professional Football, Matt Birk would not just earn six Pro Bowl selections, he would also win the Ed Block Courage Award in 2006 and the prestigious Walter Payton Man of the Year in 2011. The year after receiving that award at the Super Bowl, he won it in his final season with the Baltimore Ravens.

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261. Keith Brooking

One of the most prolific tacklers in the history of the Atlanta Falcons, Keith Brooking, was drafted from Georgia Tech 12^th overall in 1998. While he was not an immediate starter, he found a home in Atlanta’s Nickel Defense and was a part of their run to Super Bowl XXXIII.

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68. Jeff Saturday

Undrafted and out of Football, the Indianapolis Colts were told of Jeff Saturday and they would give him a chance to make their roster. Saturday did and would become the leader of the Offensive Line that protected the great Peyton Manning for a decade. He would make six Pro Bowls and earn two First Team All-Pro selections and was the 2007 NFL Alumni Offensive Lineman of the Year. Most importantly for Jeff Saturday, he was the starting Center on the Super Bowl XLI Champion Indianapolis Colts.

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