Committee Chairman

WWE HOF Weekend

Mar 29, 2015

The WWE Hall of Fame has come a long way hasn’t it?

While they have yet to create a physical Hall of Fame, the profile has been raised immensely and has been a tool to mend fences with past performers. As part of Wrestlemania weekend, the Hall of Fame ceremony has become not just a huge part of the festivities but a vital part of the Wrestlemania experience. Seriously, can you imagine a Wrestlemania without it?

Last night gave us another great Hall of Fame night, and considering that many felt (including us) that it was an underwhelming class, it was a magical night.

The Usos gave a humorous tribute their father, Rikishi, who was a former Intercontinental and Tag Team Champion in the WWE. Rikishi spoke of being part of the legendary Anoi’a family and the legacy that the Samoans have had in wrestling. Fittingly, Rikishi danced his way off the stage.

Larry Zbyszko was inducted by Bruno Sammartino, his mentor and friend who he headlined Shea Stadium with 1980. “The Living Legend” was a former WWWF Tag Team Champion, AWA World Heavyweight Champion and WCW Tag Team and Television Champion. Zbyszko, who for years had been open about his hatred towards Vince McMahon in the past, gave a great speck and summed up how he was happy to be just a wrestling fan again.

Alundra Blayze was inducted by Natalya, which was not a bad choice as she is arguably the most talented female performer on the WWE roster. Blayze addressed the elephant in the room about how she threw away the WWE Championship in a trashcan on an episode on WCW Nitro. It was a fun speech and definitely one signifying female empowerment.

Dana Warrior, the widow of the Ultimate Warrior came out to present the “Warrior Award”, the first inductee of which was Connor Michalak, an eight year old superfan of the WWE who died of paediatric brain cancer. Michalak touched the hearts of the WWE roster and especially Daniel Bryan, who thanked him immediately in the stands after he won the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at Wrestlemania last year. Bryan was then brought out and after his speech he introduced Connor’s father, Steve Michalak who did a great job considering he had never spoke publically before.

John Laurinatis came out to introduce the Luke Williams and Butch Miller, The Bushwhackers. The New Zealand tag team had a relatively speaking short speech, but touched comically on how they felt they would not be considered good looking enough to be good guys in the WWF.

Ric Flair came out to induct former WWF Junior Heavyweight Champion, NWA Champion and IWGP Champion, Tatsumi Fujinami. Fujinami, who has limited english, gave a brief speech, but considering how the WWE views themselves as a global brand, this was a nice way to continue that evolution.

Hulk Hogan came out next to induct Randy “Macho Man” Savage. Considering how the acrimonious relationship that the two had for over ten years, it was a bit of a curious choice, but considering that the two were at one time great friends and great in ring rivals, the two are intertwined. Lanny Poffo, Randy’s brother came out to accept the award and gave a nice speech honouring his late sibling.

Triple H inducted Arnold Schwarzenegger, this year’s celebrity inductee. The “Governator” spoke about the bond between bodybuilders and wrestlers and it was clear the affection and respect he had for the WWE.

The final inductee of the night was former WWF and WCW World Champion, Kevin Nash, who was inducted by Shawn Michaels, the man who he acted as a bodyguard for two years for when he debuted in the WWF. As expected, Nash gave a very entertaining speech and as was also expected, the fellow members of the clique (Sean Waltman, Scott Hall and Triple H) came out to close the show.

As you can expect, we here at Notinhalloffame.com will be updating our WWE list shortly.

We have already made the internal revisions and will be unveiling the next list in roughly three to four weeks.

David Ortiz says he is a HOFer

Mar 29, 2015

Published in Not in Hall of Fame News

Three time World Series Champion, David Ortiz was interviewed recently by The Player’s Tribune, and openly decreed that he is a Baseball Hall of Fame worthy inductee. This made a few headlines, so we here at Notinhalloffame.com thought we would take a quick look at his Cooperstown credentials, but first let’s go over a few quotes from the piece:

"I never knowingly took any steroids. And this, too: "I deserve to be in the Hall of Fame."

The “knowingly” part refers to being named in the Mitchell Report where by in 2009 it was released that he was one of the 104 plus players who tested positive for banned substances in 2003.

“I will always be considered a cheater…nobody in baseball has been tested more often for performance-enhancing drugs -- more than 80 times since 2004. I have never failed a single one of those tests and I never will.”

I've won three World Series since MLB introduced comprehensive drug testing. I've performed year after year after year. But if a bunch of writers who have never swung a bat want to tell me it's all for nothing, OK. Why do they write my legacy? In 75 years, when I'm dead and gone, I won't care if I'm in the Hall of Fame. I won't care if a bunch of baseball writers know the truth about who I am in my soul and what I have done in this game. I care that my children know the truth.”

While we have heard of players frustration that their Hall of Fame induction is based on writers, the question that remains is whether Ortiz is truly a Hall of Famer. Taking away the stain of potential PED use, you do have a player with some solid credentials but also has some questions that can be asked.

Owning three rings is very impressive, and far too often the post season accomplishments of baseball players don’t come up in the conversation when talking about the Hall of Fame. Ortiz has not been a playoff bystander, earning an ALCS MVP, and owning a Slash Line of .295/.409/.553 with 17 Home Runs and 60 Runs Batted In.

Ortiz also brings to the table over 450 Home Runs, nine All Star appearances, six Silver Slugger Awards and from 2003 to 2007 was voted into the top five in American League MVP voting, and remember he isn’t done yet.

What works against him is his relatively low career bWAR (47.7), a metric that is increasing in importance, he was a weak defender and is essentially a Designated Hitter, a position that has not yielded one player into the Hall of Fame, unless you count Paul Molitor. This does not even include the PED shadow.

If Ortiz were to retire today, and if we had a Hall of Fame ballot, I don’t know if I would induct him, at least not with the crowded ballot that currently exists and it will be very curious to see if others feel the same way.

Having said that, his book isn’t written yet and we applaud any active athlete who doesn’t give cliché responses to questions and will be watching Ortiz this season to see what he might add to his resume this year.

Oak Ridge Boys headline the Country Music HOF

Mar 27, 2015

Published in Not in Hall of Fame News

We here at Notinhalloffame.com have been open our respect for the growth of the Country Music Hall of Fame. While we have not elected to do a Notinhallofame list of those not chosen for their particular Hall of Fame, we are certainly excited about their progress. With that in mind, the Country Music Hall has announced their latest class, and we are certainly interested in this latest class.

The arguable headliner of this year’s class are the Oak Ridge Boys, who had some crossover Pop success and in the Gospel genre. The actual origins of the group can reach towards the 1940’s but the “Oaks” came into prominence in the late 70’s and for many will always be known for their biggest hit, “Elvira”. The group would have sixteen number one hits on the Country and Western Chart.

They are joined by Jim Ed Brown, and the Browns, who was successful as a solo and with his siblings would become known for the late 50’s smash, “The Three Bells”.

The third and final inductee of the 2015 Country Music Hall of Fame is Grady Martin, a well known session musician for many of the legends of country and rockabilly.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate this year’s new Country Music Hall of Fame class.

Kevin Nash to the WWE HOF

Mar 24, 2015

Published in Not in Hall of Fame News

As long expected, the WWE Hall of Fame has announced that Kevin Nash will be going into the Hall of Fame this year, but not as “Diesel”, the persona he had from 1993 to 1996 in the then named World Wrestling Federation as was originally suspected. Rather, he will enter the WWE Hall under his own name.

Nash first made his mark athletically as a center with the University of Tennessee basketball team and would bounce around in various jobs after before being recruited by World Championship Wrestling, when WCW wrestlers noticed the then bouncer’s size and thought he might be a good fit.

The near seven foot tall Nash, would endure horrendous gimmicks there, first as Master Blaster Steel, Oz and Vinnie Vegas but his star would rise when he would secure his release from WCW and enter the WWF as the bodyguard of Shawn Michaels. The two would become fast friends and the big man (rechristened as Diesel) was in the right place as he would become the first man to win the Intercontinental, Tag Team and World Heavyweight Championship in a twelve month period.

Nash would win the World Title in eight seconds over Bob Backlund in Madison Square Garden and would hold that belt for a full year before losing it to Bret Hart at the 1995 Survivor Series. Along with Scott Hall, Nash would bolt for WCW and would become a founder of the New World Order and launch the famed Monday Night Wars, which resulted in a boom period for the product.

He would become a multi-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion and Tag Team Champion, and easily one of the biggest draws in the company’s history.

Kevin Nash will be inducted by longtime friend, Shawn Michaels and becomes the fourth member of the famous “clique” to enter the WWE Hall of Fame.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate Kevin Nash for entering the WWE Hall of Fame.