Not in Hall of Fame News

Butch Reed, who competed in many main events in professional wrestling during the 1980s, passed away today at age 66.  He had suffered multiple heart attacks in recent weeks. Playing football at the University of Central Florida, Reed first competed in the Central States territory, before moving on to Florida where he and Sweet Brown Sugar won the North American Tag Team Titles by beating Dory Funk Jr. and David Von Erich.  Reed would even receive title shots against NWA Heavyweight Champion, Ric Flair. Reed would continue to wrestle for various NWA promotions before joining Bill Watts’ promotion, Mid-South.  Reed was used at…

Dustin Pedroia, who last played in 2019, has announced his official retirement from baseball. Knee problems held Pedroia to only nine combined games in 2018 and 2019, and he did not play at all in the COVID-19 shortened 2020 season, so while this announcement is not unexpected, it is impactful considering what he meant to the Boston Red Sox. Pedroia debuted in 2006 for Boston, two years after he was taken in the second round of the amateur draft, and the two years that followed for the Second Baseman was nothing short of magical.  Pedroia won the 2007 Rookie of the…

We have another major retirement in the National Football League as Jason Witten has called it a career. Drafted in the 3rd Round out of Tennessee in 2003, Witten would see significant playing time in his rookie year but in 2004 he would rise to Pro Bowl status with a 980 Yard season. This would be the first of many seasons where the Dallas Cowboy would be considered an elite Tight End. From 2005 to 2010 he would be named to six more Pro Bowls, which would also include two First Team All Pro Selections. Four more Pro Bowls would…

We said yesterday that the omission of Curt Schilling would have to see the former pitcher go on a bit of an “apology tour” if he wants to make the Baseball Hall of Fame next year on his last year of eligibility.  Schilling fell 16 votes shy, finishing at 71%.  It is clear that statistically he belongs, but his politics and anti-media stance have seen voters openly state they would not vote for him. In response, Schilling responded on his official Facebook page: I can say at this point I am mentally done. I know math and I know trends and I know…

The NFL post-season usually is when we see significant retirements, and following that of Quarterback, Philip Rivers, we see Tight End, Greg Olsen, call it a career today. Greg Olsen played his college football at the University of Miami where he would become one of the top Tight Ends in the 2007 Draft, taken 31stoverall by the Chicago Bears.  Olsen did well, peaking with 612 Yards in 2009, but he was traded to the Carolina Panthers for a Third Round pick before the 2011 season. With the Panthers, Olsen continued his work catching passes and blocking potential tacklers.  Already good at both…