Regular visitors of Notinhalloffame.com know that we are slowly working on the top 50 of every major team in the NHL, NBA, NFL and MLB. Once that is done, we intend to look at how each team honor their past players, coaches and executives. As such, it is important to us that the Pittsburgh Pirates have announced the second class for their franchise Hall of Fame.
Last year, the Pirates enshrined 19 former greats into their inaugural class, and we now have four former players; Dick Groat, Bob Friend, Elroy Face and Kent Tekulve will be joining them.
Groat played for Pittsburgh for nine years (1952 & 1955-62), and the Shortstop won the 1960 National League MVP in a year he anchored them to a World Series while individually winning a Batting Title. An All-Star six times with Pittsburgh, he batted .290 with 1,435 Hits for the team.
Face played for the Pirates for 15 seasons (1953 & 1955-68), where the pitcher’s career was instrumental in discussing the evolution of relief Pitching. A member of Pittsburgh’s 1960 World Series Champions, Face led the NL in Saves three times, Games Finished four times and was a six-time All-Star. He compiled 186 Saves with a 100-93 Record for the Pirates.
Friend was also a key member of Pittsburgh’s 1960 World Series squad. The Starting Pitcher went to four All-Star Games, won the 1955 ERA Title, and played 15 of his 16 Years with the Pirates. He has a record of 191-128 and 1,682 Strikeouts with Pittsburgh.
Tekulve was Pittsburgh’s closer during their 1979 World Series win. The bespectacled hurler had 158 Saves and 470 Games Finished for the Pirates.
The four players will be officially inducted in a pre-game ceremony on August 26 before their game against the Chicago Cubs.
We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate the newest members of the Pittsburgh Pirates for earning this impending honor.
Professional Football lost another great one yesterday with the passing of Dave Wilcox, who was 80 Years old
Drafted from the University of Oregon in the Third Round in 1964, Dave Wilcox won the Left Linebacker role during his rookie season, and he would hold on to it until he retired after the 1974 Season.
Wilcox went to his first Pro Bowl in 1966 and would begin a six-year streak of that honor in 1968. Twice a First Team All-Pro, Wilcox used his freakish strength to repel blockers and get to his intended target. Wilcox was a devastating tackler and had good hands, as shown by his 14 career Interceptions.
Wilcox was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000, and the 49ers Hall of Fame as part of the first class in 2009.
The “Intimidator” will be greatly missed.
We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to extend our condolences to the fans, family and friends of Dave Wilcox.
Weeks removed from the 2023 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony, Jacques Rougeau, a former WWE World Tag Team and Intercontinental Champion was asked by Wrestlingnews.co about a potential induction.
Here is what he had to say on that topic:
“I honestly feel from the bottom of my heart if it wasn’t for that big fight we had and all that, The Rougeaus would be in the Hall of Fame because everybody else we worked with that we worked months and years with like The Hart Foundation, The Rockers, The Bulldogs, Tito Santana, and everything I accomplished as The Mountie is incredible, The Jailhouse Match. I could go on and on and on about all the things I’ve accomplished in 11 years. I think that he’s given me a receipt by not putting me in the Hall of Fame”.
The fight that Rougeau was referring to was when he clocked The Dynamite Kid with a roll of quarters backstage at a television taping. Rougeau had three runs with the WWE, competed at six Wrestlemanias, and was in the main event of the 1993 Survivor Series.
In our last list of those to consider for the WWE Hall of Fame, Jacques Rougeau was ranked #117.
It's no secret that the highest-earning NBA players can accumulate serious wealth. From Michael Jordan to LeBron James, some of the most iconic athletes in history have taken home hefty paychecks for their skill and talent on the court. But exactly how much do these all-time greats make?
Naturally, the most successful players will make the most money throughout a long and storied career. And with the influx of cash coming into the NBA in recent years, players that are still playing in the league are the ones that feature at the top of this list, ahead of some more recognizable names such as the MJ, as well as Shaquille O'Neal.
This term, some of the game's most successful players are struggling somewhat. LeBron’s Lakers are currently way down in 11th place in the Western Conference, and online bookmakers such as https://www.bovada.lv/sports/basketball/nba haven’t given them any chance at all of competing for the Larry O’Brien trophy this season. The favorites for the crown this season are the Milwaukee Bucks, and with Giannis Antetokounmpo firing on all cylinders, it's clear to see why.
The Greek Freak still has a long way to go in his career, and there is no doubt he will make a fortune over the next decade or so. But which players have earned the most as of right now? Let’s take a look at some of the top NBA stars to see who has cashed in the most throughout their time in the league.
Have you ever just sat back and thought about how insanely successful LeBron James has been, both on and off the court? I mean, this guy is a bonafide living legend who's got a whopping $430 million to his name. And it's not just about the cash, but it's also how LeBron constantly pushes the boundaries of what a basketball player can do.
King James has four NBA championships to his name, spread across three different franchises, namely his beloved Cleveland Cavaliers, as well as the Miami Heat and his current team, the Los Angeles Lakers. He's been crushing it on the court for nearly two decades now and he recently became the NBA’s all-time leading points scorer, overhauling Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s long-time record.
He had had a massive impact off the court as well, spreading positivity and being a role model for millions. It's hard not to be in awe of LeBron's success story and his ability to dominate both sports and business.
Current Phonix Suns Point Guard Chris Paul has also racked up a mammoth amount of money throughout his nearly two-decade-long career. We're talking about an eye-watering $360 million, across a number of contracts with some of the league's finest franchises, namely the New Orleans Pelicans, Los Angeles Clippers, Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, and his current team, the aforementioned Suns.
This guy's journey in the world of professional basketball has been nothing short of extraordinary. He's stormed past challenges, set impressive records, and been named an NBA All-Star on no less than 12 occasions. Chris Paul's awe-inspiring earnings are a testament to his relentless determination and exceptional skills on the court. It just goes to show that if you put your heart and soul into something you love, you can achieve amazing things.
Despite both his personal and financial success, however, Paul has never managed to pick up an NBA Championship ring. He came close on a number of occasions, none more so than the 2021 campaign, where Paul and his Suns reached the NBA Finals. However, the might of the current table-topping Bucks was too much to handle, with the Suns eventually succumbing to a 4-2 series defeat.
Kevin Durant is a name that will live long in the annals of basketball history. From a humble college basketball career to an incredible professional one, he has certainly come a long way. He has earned awards by the bucketload, including back-to-back NBA Championships in 2017 and 2018 with the Golden State Warriors, as well as being named the MVP in both of those Finals successes.
And when it comes to money, it seems like the man can't stop earning it. Throughout his illustrious career, he has earned around $350 million and counting. It's no wonder why he's been hailed as one of the most successful NBA superstars in recent memory, both on the court and off it. And at the age of just 34, he still has plenty more left in the tank, and plenty more dollars left to earn.
Durant has recently moved on to the Phoenix Suns and is a teammate of the aforementioned Chris Paul. The Arizona-based outfit is currently fourth in the Western Conference and KD could very well be the man that can assist the 37-year-old Paul to perhaps his first and only NBA Championship.