Committee Chairman

Kings to retire Peja Stojakovic's number

Sep 19, 2014

The Sacramento Kings have announced that the number 16 that was once worn by Peja Stojakovic will be retired officially on December 16 of this year at their home game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Born in the former Yugoslavia, the Small Forward was drafted 14th overall by the Kings in the 1996 NBA Draft. Stojakovic would join Sacramento in the 1998/99 Season and after two years coming off the bench, he (and the Kings for that matter would have a breakout campaign in 2000. Over the next five years, his Points per Game Average would not dip below 19 and he would lead the NBA in Free Throw Percentage in 2003/04. Stojakovic would also represent the Kings in the NBA All Star Game three times and a Second Team All NBA Selection. Although Sacramento did not win the NBA Championship, Peja was a large reason that they were close to the big dance.

Stojakovic becomes the tenth man in Kings history to receive this honor, and the fourth since the team relocated to the state of California. He remains the all time leader in Three Point Field Goals and Free Throw Percentage for the Kings.

Saku Koivu Retired

Sep 13, 2014

Published in Not in Hall of Fame News

One of the top players from the country of Finland has announced that he will not be returning to play another season of professional Hockey. Saku Koivu has called at a career at the age of 39 and having played 18 seasons in the National Hockey League.

Like most Finnish born Hockey players, Koivu began playing professionally in the Finnish SM-Liga, and would rapidly become the star player for TPS. In the 1994/95 season, Koivu would win the League’s scoring title and the Lasse Oksanen Trophy as the Finnish Leagues Most Valuable Player. More importantly he would also take TPS to win the Kanada-Malja Trophy; the Stanley Cup of Finland, and winning the Jari Kurri Trophy as the Playoff MVP.

Like all great young Scandanavian players, the National Hockey League came beckoning, and Koivu, who was drafted 21st overall by the Montreal Canadians in 1993 was ready to ply his trade in North America.

Koivu proved to be more than ready for the NHL, but his body was not always willing. He would play all 82 games in his rookie season, but in the four years after he would never make 70. Still, he would accumulate 270 Points in 344 Games, which was a more than respectable Points per Game average. Koivu also became a team leader and in 1999, he would become the first European born player to captain the storied Montreal Canadians.

As rough as his multiple leg injuries would be, Koivu was about to face a much bigger foe, Cancer.

Specifically, he was diagnosed on September 6, 2001 with Burkitt’s Lymphoma and was expected to sit out the entire 2001/02 season while he battle the disease. That was what was expected.

Koivu returned to the ice that season on April 9, 2002, the 80th game of the Habs’ season. It was a special moment in Montreal Hockey history as Koivu was showered with an eight minute standing ovation by the devoted fans of the Montreal Canadians. This was not just a comeback for the sake of a comeback. Koivu would be a big part of that season’s playoff push scoring 10 Points in 12 Games and proving that he was not only back, but better than ever. Justly, Koivu won the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy awarded annually to the player who exemplifies perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to Hockey.

The Montreal Captain would go on to have his most productive offensive output the following season and would continue to develop as a very good two way Hockey Player. Koivu would win his second individual award, this time in 2009 as the recipient of the King Clancy Memorial Trophy which is given to the player who shows the most leadership and humanitarian efforts.

He would play the last five seasons of his career wit the Anaheim Ducks and in total, Saku Koivu would tally 832 Points with .74 Points per Game Average and is a one time All Star Game participant.

Koivu would also have a great career with his native Finland in International play, the bulk of which saw him as the team’s captain. Koivu’s trophy case contains an Olympic Silver medal, and three Olympic Bronze Medals (winning a medal in all four Olympics he competed in), a Silver Medal in the 2004 World Cup of Hockey, and a Gold, two Silvers and a Bronze in the World Championships.

As for post career accolades, as much as we respect Koivu’s NHL accomplishments, and his character, he probably will fall short for what the Hockey Hall of Fame is looking for and may fall in the 25 to 35 range once eligible for our list. Despite also tying Jen Beliveau for the longest tenure as a Montreal Canadians Captain, the organization has only retired numbers to date of those in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Still, we can see a spot for Koivu in the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame based on his accomplishments with the Finnish National Team, a spot he should probably get.

We would like to thank Saku Koivu for the memories on the ice and wish him the best in the next phase of his life.

Jabari Greer Retires

Sep 12, 2014

Published in Not in Hall of Fame News

It was announced that Jabari Greer, the Cornerback, most recently with the New Orleans Saints has called it a career in the National Football League.

Greer was an undrafted Cornerback from the University of Tennessee in 2004 who latched on with the Buffalo Bills, eventually securing a starting role with the team. As his skills improved, Greer would sign with the New Orleans Saints and would not just be a starting Cornerback, but become a big part of the Saints defense.

As such, Greer would become a part of the Saints team that won Super Bowl XLIV, and would overall accumulate 13 Interceptions in his career and make ten seasons in the National Football League, a rare feat in Professional Football.

Although Greer is not a legitimate contender for the Football Hall of Fame, nor really someone who will be honored by the New Orleans Saints, we here at Notinhalloffame would like to congratulate Jabari Greer in his professional football career and wish him luck on the next stage of his career.

RIP: Mr. Larson

Sep 11, 2014

Published in Not in Hall of Fame News

We don’t generally discuss the death of actors on this website, but with the launch of our Fictitious Athlete Hall of Fame, we thought we would change our thought process to commemorate the passing of our “fictitious” heroes.

With that said, today we mourn the loss of Richard Kiel, the seven foot plus behemoth that was known mostly as James Bond super villain, Jaws. Kiel’s character had the rare distinction of appearing in two films opposing “007”, The Spy Who Loved Me and Moonraker. However, when you are the size of Kiel, it can be expected that he would appear in some athletic films, two of which were nominees for our Hall of Fame.

Kiel played “Sampson” in Burt Reynolds’ 1974 film, the Longest Yard. Kiel’s role was of one of the prison inmates who were recruited to play Football against the Guards, and was granted a few memorable lines in the film.

Two decades later, Kiel played a brief but memorable supporting role in Happy Gilmore, as “Mr. Larsen”, Happy’s one time employer known specifically for having a large nail in his head. This character actually made the semi-final round for Contributors of our Fictitious Athlete Hall of Fame. Kiel also had a role as a mechanic/driver in the Cannonball Run II.

We would like to extend our condolences to the friends of family of Richard Kiel and invite you to have a Richard Kiel film fest. It will be entertaining, we guarantee!