Committee Chairman

CFL HOF 2014 Inductions Official

Sep 22, 2014

Admittedly, we have no intention of ever doing a rank of those who are not in the Canadian Football League Hall of Fame, though we have serious respect for the league north of the border and think it is worth commenting on what they do. As such, the Hamilton, Ontario based institution will be inducting their latest class.

The arguable headliner is Ben Cahoon, the Slotback from BYU. Cahoon was the favored target for years of Anthony Calvillo, who has the most Passing Yards of anyone in Professional Football history. Cahoon, who was raised in Sothern Alberta won the CFL Outstanding Canadian Award twice and the Grey Cup three times. Cahoon is in the top ten in Receiving Yards, Receptions and is easily the most prolific Canadian born Receiver in CFL history.

Cahoon is joined by Charles Roberts, the California born Running Back who spent most of his CFL run with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Roberts is fifth all time in CFL Rushing Yards and the all time leading rusher for Winnipeg. He is also a member of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers Hall of Fame.

Neil Lumsden, a three time Grey Cup winner with the Edmonton Eskimos also enters the CFL Hall of Fame. The Fullback would win a fourth Grey Cup as the General Manager in 1999 with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

Moe “The Toe” Racine enters the Hall, based on his combination of Offensive Line and Place Kicking skills with the Ottawa Rough Riders. He played the most games in Ottawa history.

Offensive Tackle, Ozooma Okeke also enters. He was a seven time CFL All Star who played with the Shreveport Pirates, Ottawa Rough Riders and the Montreal Alouettes.

Wally Buono also was enshrined. The Italian born player played ten seasons at Linebacker, earning two Grey Cups, but it was his acumen as a Head Coach, where he holds the CFL record for the most regular season wins and most Grey Cups as a Head Coach. He is currently the General Manager and Vice President of the B.C. Lions.

The final inductee is Larry Haylor, a long time coach in Canadian College Football.

The Canadian Football League Hall of Fame opened in 1972 and is based in Hamilton, Ontario.

BYU to retire Jim McMahon's Number

Sep 21, 2014

Published in Not in Hall of Fame News

As you may know, we here at Notinhalloffame.com are in the process of ranking every major North American sports franchise and how they handle their own Halls of Fame, Retired Numbers etc. Once done, we will take a look at the major University Football and Basketball teams, and as such we thought we take a look at BYU, who has announced that former Quarterback, Jim McMahon will have his number retired and enter the school’s Hall of Fame.

Used as a Punter in his Freshman Year, McMahon took over the role as the team’s starting Quarterback when regular QB Marc Wilson went down with an injury in his second year in BYU. He would lose it back to Wilson when he returned from injury and McMahon was himself injured in the off season and he was redshirted in 1979. Wilson would go on to have a great season, but McMahon would be back following Wilson’s graduation.

Now as the undisputed starter of the Brigham Young offence, Jim McMahon set a plethora of records in 1980, the most notable being Passing Yards (4,571), Touchdown Passes (47) and Efficiency Rating (176.9) and was named the WAC Player of the Year. McMahon also finished fifth in Heisman Trophy balloting and was named to the All-America team. Individual accolades are nice, but the pivot was about to pull off one of the most dramatic comebacks in Bowl history.

In that seasons Holiday Bowl, McMahon led his team back from 20 points down with four minutes left to go against a powerful SMU team in what was called by the BYU faithful as the “Miracle Bowl”.

The following season, McMahon played two less games due to injuries, but was an even more efficient passer. He won the Sammy Baugh Award and Davey O’Brien Trophy and was again an All American, and finished third in Heisman balloting. He would repeat as a Holiday Bowl champion, this time defeating Washington State.

Finishing his College career with 9,536 Passing Yards and 84 Touchdown Passes, McMahon was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1999. McMahon was ten credits short of his BYU degree when he left to turn professional, but he recently completed his degree. The BYU Hall of Fame states that completion of a degree must occur before a student-athlete can be considered for their Hall.

McMahon becomes the sixth player to have his number retired by BYU, joining Eldon Fortie, Steve Young, Ty Detmer, Marion Probert and Gifford Nielson.

We would like to congratulate Jim McMahon for obtaining this impressive accolade.

Kings to retire Peja Stojakovic's number

Sep 19, 2014

Published in Not in Hall of Fame News

The Sacramento Kings have announced that the number 16 that was once worn by Peja Stojakovic will be retired officially on December 16 of this year at their home game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Born in the former Yugoslavia, the Small Forward was drafted 14th overall by the Kings in the 1996 NBA Draft. Stojakovic would join Sacramento in the 1998/99 Season and after two years coming off the bench, he (and the Kings for that matter would have a breakout campaign in 2000. Over the next five years, his Points per Game Average would not dip below 19 and he would lead the NBA in Free Throw Percentage in 2003/04. Stojakovic would also represent the Kings in the NBA All Star Game three times and a Second Team All NBA Selection. Although Sacramento did not win the NBA Championship, Peja was a large reason that they were close to the big dance.

Stojakovic becomes the tenth man in Kings history to receive this honor, and the fourth since the team relocated to the state of California. He remains the all time leader in Three Point Field Goals and Free Throw Percentage for the Kings.

Saku Koivu Retired

Sep 13, 2014

Published in Not in Hall of Fame News

One of the top players from the country of Finland has announced that he will not be returning to play another season of professional Hockey. Saku Koivu has called at a career at the age of 39 and having played 18 seasons in the National Hockey League.

Like most Finnish born Hockey players, Koivu began playing professionally in the Finnish SM-Liga, and would rapidly become the star player for TPS. In the 1994/95 season, Koivu would win the League’s scoring title and the Lasse Oksanen Trophy as the Finnish Leagues Most Valuable Player. More importantly he would also take TPS to win the Kanada-Malja Trophy; the Stanley Cup of Finland, and winning the Jari Kurri Trophy as the Playoff MVP.

Like all great young Scandanavian players, the National Hockey League came beckoning, and Koivu, who was drafted 21st overall by the Montreal Canadians in 1993 was ready to ply his trade in North America.

Koivu proved to be more than ready for the NHL, but his body was not always willing. He would play all 82 games in his rookie season, but in the four years after he would never make 70. Still, he would accumulate 270 Points in 344 Games, which was a more than respectable Points per Game average. Koivu also became a team leader and in 1999, he would become the first European born player to captain the storied Montreal Canadians.

As rough as his multiple leg injuries would be, Koivu was about to face a much bigger foe, Cancer.

Specifically, he was diagnosed on September 6, 2001 with Burkitt’s Lymphoma and was expected to sit out the entire 2001/02 season while he battle the disease. That was what was expected.

Koivu returned to the ice that season on April 9, 2002, the 80th game of the Habs’ season. It was a special moment in Montreal Hockey history as Koivu was showered with an eight minute standing ovation by the devoted fans of the Montreal Canadians. This was not just a comeback for the sake of a comeback. Koivu would be a big part of that season’s playoff push scoring 10 Points in 12 Games and proving that he was not only back, but better than ever. Justly, Koivu won the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy awarded annually to the player who exemplifies perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to Hockey.

The Montreal Captain would go on to have his most productive offensive output the following season and would continue to develop as a very good two way Hockey Player. Koivu would win his second individual award, this time in 2009 as the recipient of the King Clancy Memorial Trophy which is given to the player who shows the most leadership and humanitarian efforts.

He would play the last five seasons of his career wit the Anaheim Ducks and in total, Saku Koivu would tally 832 Points with .74 Points per Game Average and is a one time All Star Game participant.

Koivu would also have a great career with his native Finland in International play, the bulk of which saw him as the team’s captain. Koivu’s trophy case contains an Olympic Silver medal, and three Olympic Bronze Medals (winning a medal in all four Olympics he competed in), a Silver Medal in the 2004 World Cup of Hockey, and a Gold, two Silvers and a Bronze in the World Championships.

As for post career accolades, as much as we respect Koivu’s NHL accomplishments, and his character, he probably will fall short for what the Hockey Hall of Fame is looking for and may fall in the 25 to 35 range once eligible for our list. Despite also tying Jen Beliveau for the longest tenure as a Montreal Canadians Captain, the organization has only retired numbers to date of those in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Still, we can see a spot for Koivu in the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame based on his accomplishments with the Finnish National Team, a spot he should probably get.

We would like to thank Saku Koivu for the memories on the ice and wish him the best in the next phase of his life.