We would like to congratulate the newly announced International Boxing Hall of Fame Class of 2013. It is headlined by the late Arturo “Thunder” Gatti who died a few years ago under what remains unusual circumstances. The Italian born, Canadian raised pugilist won the IBF Super Featherweight and WBC Light Welterweight straps and four times was in the “Fight of the Year”

Gatti is joined by five time World Champion, Virgil Hill, who won a Silver Medal for the United States in the 1984 Olympics and defended the Light Heavyweight Title 20 times. The Class of 2013 also includes former Light Flyweight Champion Myung Woo Yuh, Lightweight, Wesley Ramsey and Middleweight Jeff Smith in the old timers category.

Other inductees include Joe Coburn (19^th Century Boxer), referee Mills Lane, ring announcer Jimmy Lennon Jr., manager Arturo Hernandez, cartoonist Ted Carroll and journalist Colin Hart.

Induction ceremonies will be held on June 9, 2013.

As you have noticed, we have added the 2014, 2015 & 2016 Basketball Futures. Well, onward and upward here at notinhalloffame.com and we have now uploaded the 2017 group. This is quite the impressive group and could see multiple entries.

They are:

Allen Iverson

Antonio McDyess

Peja Stojakovic

Shaquille O’Neal

Yao Ming

Zydrunas Ilgauskas

As always, you know what to do! Check them out and cast your votes and give your opinions.

Minnesota Vikings Punter, Chris Kluwe has never been shy with his opinions. He wrote “Vote Ray Guy” on his jersey patch that commemorates the Hall’s 50^th anniversary. Guy, who has been universally labeled as the greatest punter ever never, got into the Hall despite being a semi-finalist multiple times. In fact, there is no football player who was strictly a punter who has been enshrined in Canton.

Kluwe called the Hall of Fame a “sham” and added that he would not “support a Hall of Fame that doesn’t have a punter in it”. He went on to say that sysyem if flawed if does not “acknowledge every facet of the game”.

Chris Kluwe raises a valid point. Punting may not be the sexiest aspect of the gridiron but it is a vital part of every football game. As such, Kluwe’s statement has some merit, as punters and kickers have never been the most respected in the game. This echoes a similar scenario in baseball where Edgar Martinez has not yet gotten into the Baseball Hall of Fame despite being the best DH of all time.  

Ray Guy can only get into the Hall of Fame as a Senior Candidate now. This is still a possibility in the future, but as only one gets in annually the likelihood continues to dim

As you have noticed, we have added the 2014 and 2015 Basketball Futures. Well, onward and upward here at notinhalloffame.com and we have now uploaded the 2016 group. Now granted, this is not a very large one as we only have two players (like 2015) who will be eligible that year for your consideration.

They are:

Michael Finley

Steve Francis

As always, you know what to do! Check them out and cast your votes and give your opinions.