As most of the regular visitors to Notinhalloffame.com are aware we are (very) slowly putting together our top 50 players of every franchise in the “Big 4” of North American sports. After that is completed we will take a look at how each organization honors their past players and executives.

As such, it is important to note the Winnipeg Jets Hall of Fame has announced that they will be inducting former players, Lars-Erik Sjoberg and Ab McDonald to their institution at their February 26 home game.

Sjorberg joined the Jets after playing in his native Sweden for various teams and twice at the Olympics (1968 & 1972). The Defenceman would be 30 when he arrived in Manitoba and he proved himself to be a good playmaker accruing 40 or more Assists in his first four years in the WHA. In the 1977-78 season Sjoberg would win the Dennis A. Murphy Trophy as the league’s best blueliner and he would help the team win three Avco Cups (1976, 1978 & 1979). When the team joined the National Hockey League, Sjoberg would become the first Jets Captain in the NHL. He would retire after the 1979-80 season.

Ab McDonald was a three time Stanley Cup Champion and five time Al Star who played fourteen years in the NHL before he joined the Jets in their inaugural season. McDonald was named the first Team Captain and he was with the team for two years scoring 70 Points with the team.

We do want to point out that while the Jets Hall of Fame includes players from the first incarnation, the current one does not own the history of the franchise hence when we do our all-time 50 for this team we have to base it on the beginning as the Atlanta Thrashers.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate Lars-Erik Sjoberg and Ab McDonald for earning this very impressive honor.

It was announced that Willie Naulls passed away at the age of 84. He had been battling Churg-Strauss syndrome, a rare immunological condition.

Naulls played collegiately at UCLA under Hall of Fame Coach, John Wooden where he was a Second Team All-American in his final season. The St. Louis Hawks in the Second Round of the 1956 Draft would choose the big man but he would only play 19 Games there before being traded to the New York Knicks, which was a much better fit.

In New York, Naulls would find himself as the starting Small Forward and he would be chosen for four All Star Games and he would have five seasons where he averaged over 10 Rebounds per Game and three where he had over 20 Points per Game. He would be traded in 1963 to the San Francisco Warriors and after that he was sold to the Boston Celtics where he was a member of three consecutive Championship Teams (1964-66)

Naulls is ranked #95 on our Notinhalloffame.com list of those to consider for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to extend our condolences to the friends, of Willie Naulls at this time.

Yes, this is taking a while!

As many of you know, we here at Notinhalloffame.com are slowly generating the 50 of each major North American sports team. We have a new one to unveil today, that of the Kansas City Royals, two time World Series Champions.

As for all of our top 50 players in basketball we look at the following:

1. Advanced Statistics.

2. Traditional statistics and how they finished in the American League.

3. Playoff accomplishments.

4. Their overall impact on the team and other intangibles not reflected in a stat sheet.

Remember, this is ONLY based on what a player does on that particular team and not what he accomplished elsewhere and also note that we have placed an increased importance on the first two categories.

This list is updated up until the end of the 2016-17 Season.

The complete list can be found here, but as always we announce our top five in this article. They are:

1. George Brett

2. Bret Saberhagen

3. Kevin Appier

4. Willie Wilson

5. Amos Otis

We will continue our adjustments on our existing lists and will continue developing our new lists.

As always we thank you for your support.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame has announced their 25 Semi-Finalists after being pared down from 103 Preliminary Nominees and there are some familiar faces and new faces who are hopeful to become Finalists when they are announced on January 3.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame Semi-Finalists are:

Steve Atwater, Safety: 1989-98 Denver Broncos, 1999 New York Jets.

This is Atwaters’ eighth straight year as a Semi-Finalist and he is a two time Super Bowl Champion with the Broncos and he is an eight time Pro Bowl Selection. He is ranked #12 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Champ Bailey, Cornerback: 1999-03 Washington Redskins, 2004-13 Denver Broncos. This is Champ Bailey’s first year of eligibility and he has a great chance to become a Finalist. Bailey is a twelve time Pro Bowl Selection and three time First Team All Pro who also led the NFL in Interceptions twice. He is ranked #2 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Ronde Barber, Cornerback/Safety: 1997-2012 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Barber is a Semi-Finalist for the second straight year and he was a five time Pro Bowler with three First Team All Pro Selections. Barber won a Super Bowl with Tampa Bay and was the league leader in Interceptions in 2001. He is ranked #11 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Tony Boselli, Offensive Tackle: 1995-2001 Jacksonville Jaguars, 2002 Houston Texans. Boselli is arguably the greatest Jaguar of all-time and he was a five time Pro Bowl and three time First Team All Pro Selection. He is a Semi-Finalist for the fourth straight time. He is ranked #64 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Isaac Bruce, Wide Receiver: 1994-2007 Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams, 2008-09 San Francisco 49ers. Bruce was a key member of “The Greatest Show on Turf” and won a Super Bowl Ring with them on Super Bowl XXXIV. The four time Pro Bowl Selection is a Semi-Finalist for the fifth straight year. Bruce is ranked #13 on Notinhalloffame.com.

LeRoy Butler, Safety: 1990-2001 Green Bay Packers. Butler was a member of the Packers’ Super Bowl XXXI win and was a four time Pro Bowl and First Team All Pro. This is his second straight trip to the Semi-Finals. Butler is ranked #77 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Don Coryell, Coach: 1973-77 St. Louis Cardinals, 1978-86 San Diego Chargers. Coryell is not necessarily here for his success as a coach but for his innovative offensive style. This is his eleventh Semi-Final appearance and tenth in a row.

Alan Faneca, Offensive Guard: 1998-2007 Pittsburgh Steelers, 2008-09 New York Jets, 2010 Arizona Cardinals. A member of the Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl XL winning team, Faneca would be named to nine Pro Bowls and six First Team All Pros. The Offensive Lineman is a Semi-Finalist for the fourth straight year. Faneca is ranked #4 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Tom Flores, Coach: 1979-87 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders, 1992-94 Seattle Seahawks. Flores has a career coaching record of 105-90 (including the post-season) and as a Head Coach he would take the Raiders to a win in Super Bowl XV and XVIII. He also won a Super Bowl as a player (IV) and another as an Assistant Coach (XI).

Tony Gonzalez, Tight End: 1997-2008 Kansas City Chiefs, 2009-13 Atlanta Falcons. Tony Gonzalez has the best statistics of any Tight End in the history of the NFL and on his first year of eligibility he is probably a lock for an induction. He is a fourteen time Pro Bowl Selection and is also a six time First Team All Pro. Gonzalez is ranked #1 on Notinhalloffame.com.    

Torry Holt, Wide Receiver: 1999-2008 St. Louis Rams, 2009 Jacksonville Jaguars. Like Isaac Bruce, Holt was a member of the St. Louis Rams team that would win the Super Bowl XXXIV. Holt went to seven Pro Bowls and he would lead the NFL in Receiving Yards twice. He is a Semi-Finalist for the fifth straight time. Holt is ranked #10 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Steve Hutchinson, Offensive Guard: 2001-05 Seattle Seahawks, 2006-11 Minnesota Vikings, 2012 Tennessee Titans. The Offensive Guard was chosen for seven Pro Bowls and five First Team All Pro rosters and he was twice named the NFL Alumni Offensive Lineman of the Year twice. He is a Semi-Finalist for the second time. Hutchinson is ranked #26 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Edgerrin James, Running Back: 1995-2005 Indianapolis Colts, 2006-08 Arizona Cardinals, 2009 Seattle Seahawks. An elite Running Back, James was a four time Pro Bowl and he would lead the NFL in Rushing Yards twice. This is his fifth straight year as a Semi-Finalist. James is ranked #18 on Notinhalloffame.com.  

Jimmy Johnson, Coach: 1989-93 Dallas Cowboys, 1996-99 Miami Dolphins. Jimmy Johnson won 80 Games in the NFL and he was a two time Super Bowl Champion (XXVII & XXVIII) with the Dallas Cowboys. Johnson is a Semi-Finalist for the sixth time.

Ty Law, Cornerback: 1995-2004 New England Patriots, 2005 & 2008 New York Jets, 2006-07 Kansas City Chiefs, 2009 Denver Broncos. Law was a three time Super Bowl Champion with the New England Patriots and he was also a five time Pro Bowl and two time First Team All Pro Selection. He also led the NFL in Interceptions twice and this is his fifth straight time as a Semi-Finalist. Law is ranked #28 on Notinhalloffame.com.

John Lynch, Free Safety: 1995-2003 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2004-07 Denver Broncos. Lynch would go to seven Pro Bowls and was also a two time First Team All Pro but more importantly he is a Super Bowl Champion with the Buccaneers. This is his seventh straight year as a Semi-Finalist. Lynch is ranked #34 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Clay Matthews, Linebacker: 1978-93 Cleveland Browns, 1994-96 Atlanta Falcons. Matthews is a four time Pro Bowl Selection and this is third time as a Semi-Finalist, the previous ones being in 2012 and 2017.

Kevin Mawae, Center/Offensive Guard: 1994-97 Seattle Seahawks, 1998-2005 New York Jets, 2006-09 Tennessee Titans. Mawae was an eight time Pro Bowl who was also a three time First Team All Pro. This is his fifth straight year as a Semi-Finalist. Mawae is ranked #16 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Karl Mecklenburg, Linebacker: 1983-94 Denver Broncos. “The Albino Rhino” was a six time Pro Bowl who spent his entire career in the Denver Broncos. The Linebacker was also a three time First Team All Pro. He is a Semi-Finalist for the eighth straight year. Mecklenberg is ranked #62 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Sam Mills, Linebacker: 1986-94 New Orleans Saints, 1995-97 Carolina Panthers. From undrafted to five Pro Bowls is a hell of a story! This is his second Semi-Final, the last being in 2016. Mills is ranked #66 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Ed Reed, Free Safety: 2002-12 Baltimore Ravens, 2013 New York Jets, 2013 Houston Texans. The longtime Safety helped the Baltimore Ravens win Super Bowl XLVII and he was a nine time Pro Bowl and five time First Team All Pro. Reed is the all-time leader in Interception Return Yards and is a three time Interceptions leader. The 2004 Defensive Player of the Year is on his first year of eligibility. Reed is ranked #3 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Richard Seymour, Defensive End/Defensive Tackle: 2001-08 New England Patriots, 2009-12 Oakland Raiders. Seymour is a three time Super Bowl champion with the New England Patriots who went to seven Pro Bowls. He is a Semi-Finalist for the second time. Seymour is ranked #50 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Zach Thomas, Linebacker: 1996-2007 Miami Dolphins, 2008 Dallas Cowboys. Thomas is a seven time Pro Bowl and five time First Team All Pro. This is the first time that he has made the Semi-Finals.

Hines Ward, Wide Receiver: 1998-2011 Pittsburgh Steelers. Ward would help the Steelers win two Super Bowls, and was the MVP in the first one. He was a four time Pro Bowl and a five time Second Team All Pro. Ward is ranked #32 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Darren Woodson, Safety: 1992-2003 Dallas Cowboys. Woodson would help the Cowboys win three Super Bowls and he is also a four time First Team All Pro. This is his third appearance as a Semi-Finalist, the previous ones being 2015 and 2017.

The 15 Finalists will join two Contributor Finalists (Pat Bowlen and Gil Brandt) and Senior Finalist (Johnny Robinson). A Finalist requires 80 percent of the vote from the 48 member committee.