With it being the Hall of Fame weekend in Hockey (though there is no actual hockey being played in regards to the biggest league of the game), it seemed like a perfect time for us to look forward. As you have noticed, we have diligently worked on futures for the Baseball section. We are doing same for Hockey.

We have isolated ten players who we think may be worthy of some consideration for the greatest post career prize.

They are:

Brian Rafalski
Chris Osgood
Dominik Hasek
Doug Weight
Mark Recchi
Mike Modano
Owen Nolan
Pavol Demitra
Peter Forsberg
Sandis Ozolinsh
 

You know what to do! Check them out and cast a vote and give your opinion!

There may not be an NHL season, but this weekend the Hockey Hall of Fame officially inducts its latest class into Toronto.

The class is a solid one, headlined by Joe Sakic who enters on his first year of eligibility. The native of British Colombia won every accolade worth winning in hockey. He is a former Hart Trophy winner and Stanley Cup Champion. His trophy case also includes an Olympic Gold Medal, a World Junior Gold Medal, A Lady Byng and a First Team All Star Selection. Had Sakic not entered in his first year, it would have been considered a travesty.

Pavel Bure will also be recognized this weekend. The Russian Rocket was a goal scoring machine whose career productivity was cut short by injuries. Many have been clamoring for Bure to get in (he was eligible for six years) and for many this is an oversight that has been finally cleared by the powers that be.

Much the same was said about Adam Oates, who is also inducted this weekend. Oates got in his fifth year and is one of the few players who have over 1,000 assists. The gifted playmaker played with seven NHL teams in his career and is not commonly associated with any particular one. That may have been a big reason why it took as long as he did.

This cannot be said about Mats Sundin. The talented Swedish star spent his best years in Toronto where he was their best player for at least a decade. As the ceremony takes place in Toronto, and there is often recognition of the new entries at Leafs games during the Hall of Fame weekend, we were deprived of what would have been a stellar reaction from the Leaf nation.

We here at notinhalloffame.com congratulate this year’s class, and hope that some NHL games transpire before the next ceremony in 2013.

With a special thanks to our regular contributor, Spheniscus, we are please here at notinhalloffame.com to unveil our revised NASCAR list. With our numbers 1, 3 and 4 (Herb Thomas, Buck Baker and Rusty Wallace) all inducted, a major shift in the top five has occurred.

Tim Flock (Last year’s number #2 choice) has taken over the “Pole Position”. Joe Weatherly, Dale Jarrett, Bobby Isaac and Rex White were ranked 5, 7, 6 and 8 respectively last year and are now are top five.

It was not a stellar year for new entries as only Sterling Marlin (25) has a high debut of note. As always, we encourage you to take a good look at our revised list and give your opinions and votes!

Listening to the Dan Patrick Show today, former Home Run Slugger Mark McGwire declared that he would not vote for himself for the Baseball Hall of Fame. His rationale was simple; and though he did not exactly say it point blank, it was his belief that as a former PED user he did not meet the guidelines that are in place. He would go on to say that it was a perception that he would not fight and that he had the utmost respect or the Hall of Fame.

It is not like this declaration is likely to change the voters’ minds. Sure, we have this irrational love of tearing down heroes when they have done something we feel is erroneous and praising them once they admit the “error of their ways”. It is difficult to think that McGwire would make such a declaration based on a belief that his “salvation” will appeal to the Baseball Writers. He did not even hit 20 percent on the last vote (75 is needed to get in), and a complete reversal of popular opinion will have to allow the likes of McGwire, Sosa, Bonds, Clemens and Palmeiro to enter Cooperstown. It may take decades where we have a less sanctimonious view of the Steroids Era, if that happens at all.

Here is what we do know; we far prefer this Mark McGwire than the one who stood before congress declaring oafishly that he wasn’t there to talk about the past. Granted he came off better than Sammy Sosa, whose sudden ignorance of the English language was some of the greatest unintentional comedy this side of Barry Bonds’ inflated head (actually, that was literal). We also know that pegging the amount of PED users of that era was next to impossible and that depending on what figure you believe it could have easily been the half the League.   We also know Baseball (and fans) put its collective heads in the sands when McGwire and many others were shattering records. Check out past articles of ESPN and Sports Illustrated, many of which came up with theories of a “juiced ball”, dilution of pitchers due to expansion or just simply that athletes were “better”.

So should Mark McGwire despite his recent declaration get into the Hall of Fame? Our answer is yes, but we don’t feel angry to those who disagree; though we ask if you thought that in the mid 90’s.