As we slowly work on the greatest 50 players of every major franchise of the big four of North American sports we will eventually look at how each of those teams honor those who played for them in the past. As such it is newsworthy to us that the Philadelphia Flyers retired the number 88 of Eric Lindros.

Lindros was drafted first overall by the Quebec Nordiques in 1991 and famously refused to report to the team. He sat out a year and was traded to the Flyers in a megadeal and he would immediately become the face of the franchise. A power forward in every sense of the word, Lindros’ imposing size was complimented with finesse skills. In the 1994-95 strike shortened season, Lindros was named the Hart Trophy winner while also earning First Team All Star Honors. The following season Lindros had a career high 115 Points and was named a Second Team All Star. In 1997, he led the Flyers to a Stanley Cup Final and was the playoffs leading scorer, though the team went down to defeat to the Detroit Red Wings.

As big and as powerful as Lindros was, his style of play made him injury prone and more specifically he began to get concussed often. He also suffered a collapsed lung, which was followed by a team edict for him to fly back to Philadelphia (this occurred in Nashville). He didn’t, and had he done so he would have likely died in the plane.

The injuries led to a public battle between Lindros and Flyers management, namely GM Bobby Clarke who questioned his star’s toughness. During the 2000-01 season, Lindros was cleared to return but refused to report and would sit out the remainder of the season. He would later be dealt to the New York Rangers but to say that the parting between the Flyers and Lindros was smooth would be an inaccurate one. Number 88 would play five more years in the NHL with New York, Toronto and the Dallas Stars before retiring.

Bridges were seemingly burned but Lindros would play in the Alumni Game at the 2012 Winter Classic at the request of GM, Paul Holmgren. Lindros would later be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2016 and this was mostly due to his work as a Philadelphia Flyer.

As a Flyer, Lindros was a six time All Star and he scored 659 Points over 486 Games, an incredible 1.36 Points per Game Average.

Lindros becomes the sixth player to have his number retired by the Flyers. He joins Bernie Parent (1), Mark Howe (2), Barry Ashbee (4), Bobby Clarke (7) and Bill Barber (16).

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate Eric Lindros for achieving this latest honor.

The Canadian Music Hall of Fame has announced that Barenaked Ladies will become the next members.

Barenaked Ladies formed in Scarborough, Ontario in 1988 and quickly developed a cult following in the Toronto area. The group didn’t sound like anyone else as not only were they quirky they sang about topics that hadn’t been dealt with and did so in a fun way. It wasn’t long before they had a major record deal and they became national sensations with songs like “If I Had a Million Dollars” and “Be My Yoko Ono” receiving national airplay.

By the late 90’s, the Ladies were not just Canadian sensations but international ones. Their single “One Week” went number one in the United States and they had other major smashes such as “It’s All Been Done” and “Pinch Me”.

As their style became more sophisticated they still maintained their uniqueness and distinct style.

What is very significant about this induction is that when it takes place at the Juno Awards this March it will be the first tie Steven Page, who acrimoniously left the group in 2009 will be with them.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate Barenaked Ladies for earning this prestigious honor.

It did not take long to find out who the first inductor will be for the upcoming Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony this April.

On the Howard Stern Show on SiriusXM, Jon Bon Jovi announced that Stern was his first choice:

“The truth is I only had one choice….nobody knows not only me but the members of the band as well as Howard.”

Bon Jovi, both the singer and the group have been longtime guests of the Show dating back to 80’s. Stern told Bon Jovi that he was “honored” and “would be thrilled to do it”.

Stern should make an entertaining figure for the ceremony and we look forward to see who will also become inductors.

The Grammy Hall of Fame has announced the 25 new recordings that will add to the already 1,038 songs/albums that have already been included.

To qualify, a song/album must be at least 25 years old.

The following Albums are now part of the Grammy Hall of Fame:

“Band of Gypsys” by Jimi Hendrix (1970)

“The Chronic” by Dr. Dre (1992)

“Heart Like a Wheel” by Linda Ronstadt (1974)

“Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison” by Johnny Cash (1968)

“Nevermind” by Nirvana (1991)

“A Night at the Opera by Queen (1975)

“Tubular Bells” by Mike Oldfield (1973)

The following Singles are now part of the Grammy Hall of Fame:

“Bring it Home to Me” by Sam Cooke (1962)

“Dream On” by Aerosmith (1973)

“Fight the Power” by Public Enemy (1989)

“Flash Light” by Parliament (1978)

“Grazing in the Grass” by Hugh Masekela (1968)

“I Can’t Help Myself” by The Four Tops (1965)

“I Heard it Through the Grapevine” by Gladys Knight and the Pips (1967)

“(I Love You) for Sentimental Reasons by The King Cole Trio (1946)

“I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston (1992)

“Mary Had a Little Lamb” by Thomas Alva Edison (1878)

“Me and Mrs. Jones” by Billy Paul (1972)

“Moon River” by Andy Williams (1962)

“My Man” by Billie Holiday (1937)

“Paint It, Black” by The Rolling Stones (1966)

“Savoy Blues” by Louis Armstrong & His Hot Five (1927)

“A Song for You” by Leon Russell (1970)

“Space Oddity” by David Bowie (1969)

“That’s All Right” by Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup (1949)

The Grammy Awards take place on January 28.