Committee Chairman

Javy Lopez to the Braves HOF

Feb 26, 2014

We have a lot that we are working on here at Notinhalloffame.com, one of which is a look at each major franchise’s respective Hall of Fame and Retired Numbers. That won’t be for a while but as you have seen, every time there is an addition to a team’s Hall or a new retired number, we will comment on it here.

Today, the Atlanta Braves have announced the 26^th, 27^th and 28^th members of their Hall of Fame. The biggest name is Javy Lopez, who was their Catcher for parts of twelve seasons playing 1,156 Games for the Atlanta Braves. In that time, the popular Puerto Rican was a three time All Star and in 1996 was the NLCS MVP. The year previously, Lopez was the Catcher on the World Series winning Atlanta Braves team.

Lopez only received 0.2 of the vote when he was first eligible for the Baseball Hall of Fame, but he was well worthy of the Atlanta Braves Hall of Fame. He hit 214 Home Runs for the Braves and had a huge 2003 where he won the Silver Slugger and had an OPS well over one. Career wise with Atlanta he has a more than respectable .839.

Lopez is joined Rabbit Maranville, who had two separate stints with the Boston Braves. He and was inducted into Baseball Hall of Fame in 1954 and was regarded as one of the finest defensive infielders in his era. Offensively he contributed 1,696 Hits for the Braves and would have 2,605 total in his career. This induction shows how Atlanta; unlike other relocated franchises honours its past.

The Braves have also selected Dave Pursely who became the team’s Assistant Trainer when the team was still in Milwaukee in 1961. He would soon be promoted to Head Trainer and serve in that capacity until 2002.

We would like to congratulate all three for entering the Atlanta Braves Hall of Fame.

Jordan Gross Retires

Feb 26, 2014

Published in Not in Hall of Fame News

Carolina Panthers Offensive Tackle, Jordan Gross has announced that his eleven year NFL career has come to an end. The 33 Year old made the announcement today at a press conference, and his departure will create a void in the Panthers Offensive Line.

Gross was named to three Pro Bowls in his career, including last season. In 2008 he was a First Team All Pro selection, which is our favourite metric to really judge the elite status of a Football player, regardless of their position. Gross currently has the most starts all time with the Carolina Panthers with 167, and as a rookie was part of the team that made it to the Super Bowl.

Realistically, Jordan Gross does not have a Pro Football Hall of Fame career, but he does deserve an accolade of some sorts by the Carolina Panthers organization.

We would like to thank him for his years of service in the NFL, and we wish him the best in the next stage of his career.

Football List revised: Junior Seau now #1

Feb 25, 2014

Published in Not in Hall of Fame News

We have another major update to unveil here at Notinhalloffame.com as the Football List has been revised. A month ago, the Class of 2014 was unveiled over Super Bowl Weekend, and like last year the Baseball and Rock and Roll list have been unveiled much quicker than last year.

Last year, Derrick Brooks took over the top spot in his first year of eligibility, and was selected. This prompts the need for a new player at the top of the mountain and again we have another first year eligible player. Linebacker, Junior Seau, who sadly took his own life a couple of years ago, takes over the number one position. Seau may have tied tragically, possibly due to football related concussions, but his on field play necessitates his new spot. We wonder aloud if the potential reasons for his death, will be something that the Football Hall of Fame is looking to avoid.

Jerry Kramer, a former number one selection, and a previous interviewee on this website returns at number 2. You can bet that another 100 articles will be written this year extolling the virtues of the only member of the NFL 75^th Anniversary team not yet inducted into the Professional Football Hall of Fame.

Wide Receiver, Marvin Harrison is back at number 3. We were shocked last year when he did not get inducted, but it should only be a matter of time. Chuck Howley and Ken Stabler are back though both have moved up a spot to 4 and 5 respectively.

The second highest debut is that of Wide Receiver, Torry Holt, who takes over the number 8 spot, though there are other new entries in the top twenty-five. Offensive Linemen, Kevin Mawae and Orlando Pace enter at 15 and 18 respectively. Edgerrin James has also been receiving a lot of Hall of Fame buzz and cracks our top twenty at the number 19 slot.

Holt and Pace represent “The Greatest Show on Turf” St. Louis Rams, which won Super Bowl XXXIV in the 1999 season. They are joined by teammates Isaac Bruce (Wide Receiver at 22) and Kurt Warner (Quarterback at 31). The ranking of Warner was particularly difficult as the former NFL MVP has had phenomenal seasons and seasons of mediocrity, and nothing really in between.

There is one more former player now eligible, as Cornerback, Ty Law enters at 68.

You know what we are looking for! Your votes and comments drive up or down the rankings and we take great pride in being an interactive site.

As always, we thank you for all of the support we receive from all of you!

KISS will not play the RRHOF Ceremony

Feb 24, 2014

Published in Not in Hall of Fame News

The drama with KISS and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame refuses to go away. Yesterday, the band released a statement on their website in regards to the Hall of Fame Ceremony:

“To All Our Fans in Regards To The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame:

Out of respect, Ace and Peter’s recent statements demand a quick response to you, our fans.

Our intention was to celebrate the entire history of KISS and give credit to all members including long tie present members Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer, and additionally Bruce Kulick and Eric Carr all who have made this band what it is, regardless of the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame’s point of view.

Although KISS has moved forward far longer without them, Ace and Peter are at the very foundation of what we have built and this would all be impossible had they not been a part of it in the beginning”

It has been over 13 years since the original lineup has played together in make-up and we believe the memory of those times would not be enhanced. Contrary to claims made through the media we have never refused to play with Ace and Peter.

We have spent 40 years dedicated to building KISS without quitting or wavering as the band has moved forward with huge tours and platinum albums through different important lineups for forty years, to this day.

KISS has always been a band unlike any other. That is why we started KISS. That is why we continue KISS. Being unlike other bands also means making choices and decisions unlike other bands.

This is understandably an emotional situation where there is no way to please everyone.

To bring this to a quick end, we have decided not to play in any lineup and we will focus our attention on celebrating our induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

We are excited and are looking forward to seeing you all on the KISS 40^th Anniversary worldwide tour.”

So there you have it. Our first thoughts are that it (and pardon the lack of a better word) sucks that the original four won’t be performing together again. Initially, there is a selfish feel to it, where the fans are denied what (and sorry to say this Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer) what they really want to see.

However, this is the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame we are talking about: an institution that has snubbed KISS for years and whose creator (Jann Wenner) openly dislikes and this induction was (as Paul Stanley suggested) a reaction to the harsh criticism of not just KISS fans but of Rock and Roll fans in general.

There is also something to admire about Gene and Paul’s desire to have the same accolade bestowed on the current members, who although had little to do with the glory years, actually have a longer tenure with the band (though what about Vinne Vincent? Ha!). Basically, they are looking out for their friends, which is a nice gesture, but one that hurts the very people who made them what they are today, both in terms of fans and former bandmates.