The United States Hockey Hall of Fame has announced the five-member class that will comprise their Class of 2019.

Gary Bettman:  Bettman has been the commissioner of the National Hockey League since 1993 and since his tenure, the league expanded from 24 to 32 teams with significant increases in attendance and a six-time increase in overall revenue. The choice may be controversial as he was the instrumental figure in the pro players (including Americans) not appearing in the last Winter Olympics.  It was also under Bettman’s watch that an entire NHL season (2004-05) was lost. Incidentally, this follows Bettman’s induction last year into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Brian Gionta:  A veteran of 1,026 NHL Games, Rochester, New York native, Brian Gionta played for the New Jersey Devils, Montreal Canadiens, Buffalo Sabres and Boston Bruins scoring 595 Points.  Gionta would help the Devils win the Stanley Cup in 2003 and would play for Team U.S.A. in three World Hockey Championships and in 2006 at the Olympics.  Rather than play professionally in 2018, he would play again for the Americans in the 2018 Olympics.

Neal Henderson:  Henderson co-founded the Fort Dupont Ice Hockey Club, which is the oldest minority hockey club in North America.  A fixture in advocating hockey in the Washington D.C. and Baltimore areas, he was a part of the NHL’s “Hockey is for Everyone” campaign.

Tim Thomas:  From Flint, Michigan, Tim Thomas was a late bloomer in the professional ranks as he did not reach the NHL until he was 28 in the 2002-03 season.  The Goalie would become Boston’s starter a few years later and in both the 2008-09 and 2010-11 season he was a First Team All-Star and Vezina Trophy winner.  In that latter season, Thomas would backstop the Bruins to the Stanley Cup in 2011 where he would win the Conn Smythe Trophy.  

On the International Level, Thomas (who was still playing college hockey at the University of Vermont) was a member of the 1996 Bronze Medal winning team and would play in five World Hockey Championships.  He was also a member of the 2010 Silver Medal winning Olympic Team.

Krissy Wendell:  Wendell was a star player at the University of Minnesota where she was the Patty Kazmaier Award as the nation’s top female hockey player in 2005. Wendell represented the United States often winning Gold at the 2005 World Hockey Championship and Silver in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004 & 2007.  She also won Silver in the 2002 Olympics and Bronze in 2006.

The group will be honored on December 12 in Washington.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate the newest members of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame.

We are excited here at Notinhalloffame.com that we are unveiling a new section, which looks at the top active players in the big four of sports and how they are positioned at the start of each seasons in regards to Hall of Fame credentials.

We are beginning with Pro Football, and how perfect is that considering the seasons kicks off this week.  Rather than list everyone directly, we have isolated them based on their position and with the exception of Special Teams, we have created a new stat based on the last five modern players (not senior inductees) of their respective position and how the current player compares with that.

This will be updated annually, so this 100 was finalized this week. We will not be updating again until the end of the season.

The new section begins here

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to thank you all for your continued support and we hope that you enjoy this new section!

It was announced today that Pro Football Hall of Famer, Jim Langer passed away today at the age of 71 due to a heart related issue.

An undrafted player from South Dakota State, Langer signed with the Cleveland Browns in 1970 but was cut in pre-season.  The Miami Dolphins would sign him after and Langer made the team.  In his third season, Langer was the starting Center and this was the year that the Dolphins would go undefeated and win Super Bowl VII.

Langer would help Miami win Super Bowl VIII the following year but he would also go on a six-year streak of Pro Bowls, four of which would see him named a First Team All-Pro.  He played with the Dolphins until 1979 and finished his career with the Minnesota Vikings for two seasons.  He would enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987, his first year of eligibility.  

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to extend our condolences to the friends, fans and family of Jim Langer at this time.  

Step by Step Guide on How to Become A Sports Betting Professional

As fun as it may sound to bet on sports for a living, nothing about being a sports betting professional is easy or stress-free. Professional sports betting requires a lot of hard work and can be incredibly stressful. 

That said, for the right person, professional sports betting can be the ultimate, rewarding career. But it’s certainly not something you should rush into just because you’re bored with your usual work routine. If you think you have what it takes, pay close attention to this guide on how to become a professional sports better.

Step 1: Gain A Thorough Understanding of Betting on Sports

Whether you are a complete beginner or have a little experience, it’s important to start with the basics. To make the most educated bets, you have to have a thorough knowledge of the subjects you are betting on. In the case of sports betting, you need to research and develop in-depth understanding of how sports betting is conducted, as well as the various sports you will be betting on. 

Many popular US sportsbooks offer guides and tutorials that can help you to become more familiar with betting practices and the way sports betting is conducted. Some sites even provide free advice for increasing your chances of winning. 

Step 2: Money Management

Before you start making bets, it’s important for you to properly manage your bankroll. Money management is essential to becoming a successful sports betting professional. Determine how much of your own money you can afford to set aside specifically for betting. Then, decide ahead of time how much you can stake on your bets. Making these decisions before you get started can help you avoid making disastrous financial decisions.

Additionally, when first starting out as a sports better, no matter how seriously it’s taken, it’s recommended that you don’t immediately quit your regular job. It can take a while to get started as a professional sports better and the last thing you want it to dig yourself a financial hole. Before you give up your job, consider the inconsistent income that comes with sports betting, as well as all the bills you still have to pay. Wait until you can truly rely on your winnings from sports betting before quitting your job and betting on sports full-time.

Step 3: Understand the Risks

Becoming a professional sports better comes with its own set of risks. If it were easy, everyone would do it. When it comes to betting on sports, especially in a professional setting, you can and will lose real money that you can’t immediately get back. Additionally, being a professional sports better doesn’t typically provide a consistent flow of income. You may go through periods where you win big, or you may experience a frustrating losing streak. It’s all part of the process, but you should be aware of the risks beforehand. 

Step 4: Know Where to Place Your Bets

One of the most important decisions you will make as a professional sports better is where to place your bets.  There are so many sportsbooks to choose from, it can be overwhelming trying to figure out which one is right for you. Do a bit of research into online sportsbooks to see what they have to offer, as well as what other customers are saying about them. 

Many popular online casinos support sports betting and with the numerous bonuses and rewards they offer you could get a great head start by choosing the right site on which to place your bets. Consider some of the top online casinos with sports betting and pay close attention to how to unlock a casino welcome bonus so you get started right away with real money.

Step 5: Practice, Practice, Practice

Especially if you are just starting out, understand that it may take some time before you truly understand how things operate and feel comfortable placing different types of bets. Professional sports betters find a method that works best for them and then stick with it. The more you practice, the better understanding you will gain of what method and which types of bets are most beneficial for you. 

Step 6: Control Your Emotions

Think with your head, not your heart. There’s nothing wrong with being passionate about what you do, but to be a successful sports better, you need to be able to think logically and leave emotions out of it. To do this, you should identify your own emotional weaknesses and take note of how they influence your bets. 

For example, perhaps you tend to pull for the underdogs, feeling the need to give them the benefit of the doubt. Logically speaking, an underdog is less likely to win. So unless your bet is backed by real logic, betting on a team or a person just because you “feel” for them, isn’t a good idea. 

Step 7: Never Stop Learning

When it comes to professional sports betting, the hard work never ends. As fun as it can be, to be a true professional, you can never get too comfortable. Athletics are always changing and evolving, which means you must always be open and willing to learn more and adjust as time goes on. 

Join a community where you can talk to and learn from other sports betters. Keep up with any relevant news and information, as it is released, because you never know what effect it can have on your bets. 

Additionally, continue learning from your own experiences. Consider how things have gone in the past and what you could have or should have done differently to get a better result. To become a truly successful professional sports better, you should never stop learning.