When you follow halls of fame as diligent as we do, it is a festive season when you have the Baseball Hall of Fame and Football Hall of Fame announce their classes a week about.  Throw in the fact that the Rock and Roll Hall is now announcing their Finalists, we have an unprecedented time on our hands.

Due to COVID-19, the nomination process for the Class of 2021 was delayed by several months, but until two days ago there was no set date as to when it we learn who would be on the ballot.

The nominees are:

Carole King:  Ranked #87 on Notinhalloffame.com.  King entered the Rock Hall a long time ago as a songwriter with her partner, Gerry Goffin, but her solo work as a performer is also Hall worthy.  This is the first time she has been nominated since 1989.

Chaka Khan:  Ranked #168 on Notinhalloffame.com.  The Hall wants Chaka Khan in, as they have nominated her in the past as a solo, and later with the group, Rufus.  Again, as a solo, this is her sixth overall nomination.

Devo:  Ranked #80 on Notinhalloffame.com.  Devo returns to the ballot after a year, and their work in Post-Punk/New Wave is among the most influential of its day.

Dionne Warwick:  Ranked #362 on Notinhalloffame.com. Warwick has a trophy case full of Grammys and a laundry list of hits, but with an Adult Contemporary sound, her rock and roll credibility is suspect.  That hasn’t stopped Hall voters before.

Fela Kuti:  Ranked #397 on Notinhalloffame.com.  Every year there is a wild card, and this is year it is Fela Kuti, the most important singer from Africa.  If the Rock Hall voters value world music, he is the best choice they could make.

Foo Fighters:  Ranked #3 on Notinhalloffame.com.  Foo Fighters are in their first year of eligibility and it should be no surprise to anyone that they were nominated, nor should anyone be shocked to see them gain immediate entry.  An induction will make Dave Grohl a two-time inductee, having already been enshrined with Nirvana.

The Go-Go’s:  Ranked #111 on Notinhalloffame.com.  The Go-Go’s were he first all-female band to go #1 on Billboard, and this is their first nomination since being eligible in 2006.

Iron Maiden:  Ranked #13 on Notinhalloffame.com.  This is a pleasant surprise as the Heavy Metal gods have never been nominated despite being eligible since the 2004 vote.  Heavy Metal has struggled to find representation in the Rock Hall, and in the past few years, Judas Priest and Motorhead have been on the ballot, but failed to gain entry.  It might be a hard call to see Iron Maiden achieving what the others did not.

Jay-Z:  Ranked #2 on Notinhalloffame.com.  Jay-Z is one of the most important, if not THE most important hip-hop artist in the last thirty years.  If you don’t agree with that assessment, you can’t deny that he is among the most successful.  Like Foo Fighters, Jay-Z is on their first year of eligibility and he should get in.

Kate Bush:  Ranked #132 on Notinhalloffame.com.  Bush’s unique singing voice was only matched by her unique material. She was nominated before in 2018.

LL Cool J:  Ranked #100 on Notinhalloffame.com.  LL Cool J is nominated for the fifth time, but he again he is not the biggest named Hip Hop artist on the ballot.  The nomination of Jay-Z hurts LL Cool J more than anyone else, but there is no reason that two Hip Hop stars can’t get inducted in the same year.

Mary J. Blige:  Ranked #252 on Notinhalloffame.com.  Blige earns her first nomination on her third year of eligibility. Her diverse catalogue earns her a spot, but with other more established African-American women on this ballot, this will be a tough one for her to get elected on.

The New York Dolls:  Ranked #89 on Notinhalloffame.com.  The New York Dolls are this year’s proto-punk/punk nominee and the David Johansen led group were nominated once before, back in 2001.

Rage Against the Machine:  Ranked #40 on Notinhalloffame.com.  RATM is on their third ballot, and finding a group that fused rap and hard rock/metal better than them is a daunting task.

Tina Turner:  Ranked #113 on Notinhalloffame.com.  Tina Turner was long ago inducted as one half of Ike & Tina, but Tina’s solo career far eclipsed the duo in popularity.  This is the first time that Tina has been nominated as a solo, and should she get in, she joins Stevie Nicks as female double-inductee.

Todd Rundgren:  Ranked #12 on Notinhalloffame.com.  Rundgren’s overall body of work as a performer, songwriter and producer puts many Rock and Roll Hall of Famers to shame.  Eligible since 1996, Rundgren had to wait until 2018 for his first nomination, and he was also on the ballot last year.  

We know there will be copious amounts of rage regarding who was not nominated.  There always is.  We do feel that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominating committee did a good job nominating musicians across a musical landscape, and have for the last seven years. 

This ballot also has the greatest number of women in nominating history.

What happens next is up to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame voters.

Congratulations to all the Finalists, and let the debate again.

Mary Wilson, founding member of the Supremes, passed away last night.  She was 76 years old.  No cause of death was given, only that she passed away suddenly.

The Supremes, comprising of Wilson, Diana Ross and Florence Ballard first got together in their native Detroit, as the Primettes.  Signed by Berry Gordy of Motown, they became the Supremes, and they emerged as the label’s most successful artists, with 12 number one songs.

Gordy’s push of Ross led to a name change of the Supremes to Diana Ross and the Supremes, and Wilson was moved to the back for the duration of Ross’s stay.  Ross left the group for a solo career, but Wilson stayed on with the Supremes who performed, though not as successfully, throughout the 1970s.  

The Supremes were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to extend our condolences to the friends, fans and family of Mary Wilson.

It was announced today that former NFL Head Coach, Marty Schottenheimer passed away today following a long battle with Alzheimer’s Disease.  He was 77 years old.

Schottenheimer played six years in pro football, four with Buffalo and two with the Boston Patriots. Schottenheimer went into coaching, and moved up to defensive coordinator by the Cleveland Browns in 1980.  Five years later, he became their head coach. Under Schottenheimer, Cleveland went to the AFC Championship Game in 1986 and 1987, and to the playoffs four out of five years.  Schottenheimer left Cleveland in 1988 for the Kansas City Chiefs after he and Browns owner, Art Modell, mutually parted ways.

From 1989 to 1997, Kansas City was either first or second in the AFC West going to the post-season seven times. The Chiefs made it is far as the AFC Championship Game in 1993, losing to Buffalo.  After a 7-9 1998 season, Schottenheimer resigned, and became an analyst for ESPN.

Schottenheimer was hired by Washington in 2001, but it would only be for one year as his team were a disappointing 8-8, and he was fired at the season’s end.  He was not out of work for long, as Schottenheimer was hired by the San Diego Chargers in 2002.  

With San Diego, Schottenheimer only went to playoffs twice, but it looked like they were Super Bowl bound in 2006 following a 14-2 season, but they lost to the Patriots in their first playoff game.  That would be Schottenheimer’s last game as an NFL Head Coach, as clashes with ownership led to his dismissal.

Schottenheimer had a career record of 200-126-1.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to extend our condolences to the friends, fans and family of Marty Schottenheimer.

For most people, the Super Bowl is one of their favorite days of the year.  It is for us too, but we have one day on the football calendar that we like just a little bit more.  It is the day before the Super Bowl, when they announce the annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Class.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame committee met virtually two weeks ago due to COVID-19.  This is atypical, as they usually meet in person close to the Super Bowl.  We expected that leaks would come out, but to the credit of those involved, the spilling of details were minimal:

Let’s get to it!

The Class of 2021 is:

Alan Faneca:  Guard: 1998-07 Pittsburgh Steelers, 2008-09 New York Jets & 2010 Arizona Cardinals.  A Super Bowl Champion with the Steelers, Faneca went to nine Pro Bowls and was a six-time First Team All-Pro.  Faneca has been a Semi-Finalist and Finalist in his first five years of eligibility, and this made year six.  He has been arguably been “leapfrogged” by Steve Hutchinson and Kevin Mawae, and it won’t happen again.  Faneca has been overdue for some time.  Ranked #4 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Calvin Johnson: Wide Receiver:  2007-15 Detroit Lions.  Johnson went to six Pro Bowls, three First Team All-Pros and was considered the most exciting Wide Receiver of his day.  This was his first year on the ballot, and while other Wide Receivers exceed his overall stats, there was no one who passed the eye test more than “Megatron”.  Ranked #27 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Peyton Manning: Quarterback:  1998-11 Indianapolis Colts & 2012-15 Denver Broncos.  Manning took both the Colts and Broncos to a Super Bowl win, and he is a five-time MVP with 14 Pro Bowls and seven First Team All-Pros.  He would throw for 71,940 Yards and 539 Touchdowns and this is his first year on the ballot. There was zero doubt that Manning was going in, and it was already leaked that his selection was filmed at a party.  Ranked #1 on Notinhalloffame.com.

John Lynch: Free Safety:  1993-03 Tampa Bay Buccaneers & 2004-07 Denver Broncos.  Lynch went to seven Pro Bowls and won a Super Bowl with Tampa Bay.  Lynch gets in on his eighth try.  Ranked #25 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Charles Woodson:  Cornerback/Safety:  1998-05 & 2013-15 Oakland Raiders & 2006-12 Green Bay Packers.  Woodson is a Super Bowl Champion with the Packers and has 65 career Interceptions.  The nine-time Pro Bowler is also a former Defensive Rookie of the Year (1998) and Defensive Player of the Year (2009).  This was Woodson’s first year of eligibility, and like Manning, he was considered a sure thing.  Ranked #2 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Drew Pearson: Wide Receiver:  1973-93 Dallas Cowboys.  Pearson is this year’s senior inductee, and it has been a long time coming.  Pearson was a Finalist last year for the Centennial Slate, and his reaction when he was not chosen was heartbreaking.  There are many fans, and not just those of the Cowboys who are happy for the former Wide Receiver.  Ranked #28on Notinhalloffame.com.

Tom Flores: Head Coach:  Flores, a former quarterback with Oakland, Buffalo and Kansas City, became the first Hispanic Head Coach in NFL history when Al Davis promoted him in 1979 after being the Wide Receivers Coach.  Flores helmed the Raiders until 1987 and would win two Super Bowls (XV & XVIII).  He came out of retirement as Seattle’s Head Coach from 1992 to 1994, and he had an overall coaching record of 97-87.

Bill Nunn: Scout:   A reporter for the Pittsburgh Courier, Bill Nunn had a keen knowledge of the history black colleges.  These were schools that were underrepresented in the NFL, and Art Rooney, owner of the Steelers hired him as a scout, and he would also be their Assistant Personnel Director.  He remained with the Steelers until 2014, and he helped them win six Super Bowl rings. Nunn was also a charter member of the Black College Football Hall of Fame.   

The ten Finalists who did not get in were:

Jared Allen: Defensive End:  2004-07 Kansas City Chiefs, 2008-13 Minnesota Vikings, 2014-15 Chicago Bears & 2016 Carolina Panthers.  This was Allen’s first year of eligibility, and anyone who makes it as a Finalist in his first year of eligibility will make it to Canton eventually.  Allen led the NFL in Sacks twice (2007 & 2011) and had 136.0 in total.  He was also a five-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #19 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Ronde Barber:  Cornerback/Safety:  1997-12 Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  Barber is a former Super Bowl Champion and was the 2001 leader in Interceptions.  He has over 1,000 Solo Tackles with 47 career Interceptions.  After four years as a Semi-Finalist, Barber makes it through to the Finals, but it is believed that he was not going to get in until Lynch did.  Now that this has happened, Barber has a much clearer path to Canton.  Ranked #13 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Tony Boselli:  Tackle: 1995-01 Jacksonville Jaguars & 2002 Houston Texans.  The career of Boselli was short, but he is believed to be the greatest Jaguar of all-time. The Lineman has now been a Finalist for the five years in a row, and will likely see a sixth next year.  He is a beneficiary of Faneca’s selection.  Ranked #45 on Notinhalloffame.com.

LeRoy Butler: Safety: 1990-01 Green Bay Packers.  Butler had 38 career Interceptions, won a Super Bowl and went to four Pro Bowls over his career.  He is on a four-year streak of Semi-Finalist nods, and he was also a Finalist last year.  In terms of gaining momentum over the past three years, Butler is in the upper-tier of the list, but he did not get in.  Butler leaked earlier last week that he was not chosen.   Ranked #73 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Torry Holt:  Wide Receiver:  1998-08 St. Louis Rams & 2009 Jacksonville Jaguars.  Holt won a Super Bowl with the Rams, and he went to seven Pro Bowls with 12,832 career Receiving Yards.  Holt is now a two-time Finalist, but the Wide Receiver position is loaded with worthy candidates. Johnson’s immediate induction will help him in the future.  Ranked #9 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Clay Matthews:  Linebacker: 1978-93 Cleveland Browns & 1994-96 Atlanta Falcons.  A four-time Pro Bowler, Matthews had 69.5 Sacks with 1,595 Combined Tackles.  Matthews was in his last year of eligibility, and this was the first time he made it as a Finalist.  While he has the most fervent fan base on social media regarding this year’s potential class, he came up empty.  Matthews will have to get in via the senior committee.  Ranked #75 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Sam Mills:  Linebacker: 1986-94 New Orleans Saints & 1995-97 Carolina Panthers.  A five-time Pro Bowler, Mills began his pro career in the USFL.  A four-time Semi-Finalist, Mills made it to the Finals for the first time, last year but he is now down to one year left of Modern Era eligibility.  Ranked #48 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Richard Seymour:  Defensive End/Defensive Tackle:  2001-08 New England Patriots & 2009-12 Oakland Raiders.  Seymour won three Super Bowls with the Patriots, went to seven Pro Bowls and was a three-time First Team All-Pro.  Seymour has now been a Finalist three times.  Ranked #39 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Zach Thomas:  Linebacker:  1996-07 Miami Dolphins & 2008 Dallas Cowboys:  Thomas led the NFL in Combined Tackles twice (2002 & 2006) and he is five-time First Team All-Pro.  He also has 1,727 career Combined Tackles.  Thomas is a two-time Finalist, and has plenty of time left in his eligibility.  Ranked #23 on Notinhalloffame.com

Reggie Wayne:  Wide Receiver:  2001-14 Indianapolis Colts.  A six-time Pro Bowl and one-time Super Bowl Champion, Wayne has 14,345 Receiving Yards with 82 Touchdowns.  Wayne was a Finalist in his first two years of eligibility, and like Holt, the induction of Johnson helps him.  Ranked #8 on Notinhalloffame.com.

We will be altering our Notinhalloffame.com Football list next month to reflect the deletion of this year’s inductees and adding those who are eligible.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate the newest members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.