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Committee Chairman

Committee Chairman

Kirk Buchner, "The Committee Chairman", is the owner and operator of the site.  Kirk can be contacted at [email protected] .

For millions of adults, the thrill of sports is something that generates significant excitement and anticipation on match day. Going to see your favorite team play can be a truly thrilling experience, especially when they have a close match or play a local rival team. Cheering your team on to victory can be the highlight of a weekend and watching your side lift a trophy can be an extremely memorable moment. It is interesting to consider that the worlds of professional sports and online casinos share some similarities. At first, the link between the two forms of entertainment may not be immediately apparent. However, take a closer look and you may find that there is a significant degree of overlap between what appears to be two quite different pastimes. In this article, the link between sports and online casinos will be explored using some key examples.

They both share long histories

Whilst online casinos have only been around since the mid-1990s (when online gambling was legalized thanks to legislation passed in Antigua and Bermuda), the history of gambling stretches far further back. For example, a popular game in online casinos is poker. The history of this game is thought to date back to 17th century France when the game of poque was played. However, the early roots of poker that helped to shape the game are thought to date back to ancient China, as long as 1000 years ago. In a similar vein, many professional sports date back hundreds of years into the past. For example, whilst the modern version of football was invented in the 19th century, the pastime of kicking a ball (and not using hands to control it) dates to 50 B.C. Once again, the ancient Chinese may have been the first to make an early form of such a sport with a form of exercise called tsu chu. Here, a leather ball filled with feathers was kicked into a small net. In short, both gambling and sports have long histories and have shaped their modern counterparts.

Similar thrills when winning

Another key comparison between online gambling and sports is that they produce a similar feeling of excitement when the player wins, or the spectator watches their team beat an opponent. For example, the feeling of winning at poker or successfully bluffing all your opponents to win the pot is a similar emotion to scoring a goal in soccer or watching your team defeat a rival. Today, casino fans have a wealth of sites to choose from when seeking to gamble online. In the first instance, they will typically visit a site such as https://ca.crazyvegas.com/ to compare professionally run venues and pick a welcome bonus that suits their needs. This helps gamers navigate the overwhelming choice of online casinos and ensures that they are choosing a site that will cater to their needs. Once the games commence, adults will experience both the highs and lows that come from each round of thrilling gambling action, much like what can be enjoyed when watching live sports.

Casinos sponsor some top clubs

As a brief final point, the overlap between online casinos and the sporting world can be seen in the sponsorship of professional teams. For example, in the soccer premiership in England, BetMGM sponsor one of the top teams in the league, Tottenham Hotspur, in a deal that is thought to be worth £10 million per season. Many teams across other professional sports have casino companies on their sportswear and training kits. This further highlights the link between professional sports and online casinos.

1963 PRELIMINARY RESULTS:

Thank you to all who participated in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project. If you are still determining what that is, we acted like the PFHOF had its first class in January 1946.

We have completed the first 16 years thus far.

For “1963,” a Preliminary Vote with close to 100 players whose playing career ended by 1955. We are also following the structure in that players have 20 years of eligibility, and if they do not make it into the Hall, they are relegated to the Senior Pool.

Each voter was asked to select 25 names from the preliminary list, and the top 25 vote-getters were named Semi-Finalists.

A week later, the voters will be asked to pick 15 names from the 25 Semi-Finalists, and next after, they will pick five from the remaining 15. We will continue this process weekly until we catch up to the current year.

Please note that a significant change occurred “years ago,” allowing voters to submit less than the allotted spots. 

30 Votes took place

This is for the “Modern Era”

Bold indicates they advanced to the Semi-Finals:

*Indicates they have been removed from future ballots

Player

Year of Eligibility

Vote Total

Elroy Hirsch E-HB-DE

1

28

Lou Rymkus T

7

24

Dick Barwegan G

4

24

Pat Harder E

5

22

George Connor T-LB-DT-G

3

22

Marshall Goldberg FB

10

21

Ed Sprinkle DE-E-G-LB

3

21

Ace Gutkowski FB-TB

19

20

Ward Cuff WB-QB-HB

11

20

Bill Osmanski FB

11

20

Frank Gatski C

1

20

Buckets Goldenberg G-BB

13

19

Whizzer White TB-HB

17

18

George Christensen T-G

20

17

Frankie Albert QB

6

17

Vic Sears T-DT

5

17

Woody Strode E

9

16

Spec Sanders TB

8

15

Bruno Banducci G

4

15

Charley Brock C-HB

11

13

Les Bingaman DG-G-C

4

13

George Svendsen C

17

12

George Wilson E

12

12

Frank Cope T                               

11

10

Gaynell Tinsley E

18

9

Bucko Kilroy G-MG-T-DT

3

8

Buster Ramsey G

7

6

Bill Fischer T-G-DT

5

5

George Taliaferro HB-TB-QB-DB

3

5

Dan Towler FB

3

5

Leon Hart E-FB-DE

1

5

Hugh Taylor QB

4

4

Al Blozis T

14

3

Pug Manders HB-TB

11

3

Elmer Angsman HB

6

3

Bob Hoernschemeyer B

3

3

LaVern Torgeson LB-C

1

3

Swede Hanson B

20

2

Jack Manders

18

2

Eggs Manske E

18

2

Pete Tinsley G

13

2

Pug Manders HB-TB

11

2

Baby Ray T

10

2

Tommy Thompson QB

8

2

Otto Schellenbacher S

7

2

Dub Jones B-DB-WB-TB

3

2

Bob Boyd E-DE

1

2

Norm Willey DG-G-E

1

2

Milt Gantenbein E

18

1

Bull Karcis FB-BB-HB

15

1

Parker Hall TB-HB

12

1

Russ Letlow G-T

12

1

Bob Masterson E

12

1

Ki Aldrich C-LB-G

11

1

Billy Dewell E

9

1

Chet Bulger T

8

1

Paul Christman QB

8

1

Ted Frisch FB

8

1

Dick Huffman T

8

1

Vic Lindskog C

7

1

Ray Bray G

6

1

Dick Hoerner E

6

1

Johnny Strzykalski HB

5

1

Cloyce Box E

4

1

Paul Lipscomb T-DT

4

1

Bill Johnson C-LB

2

1

George Ratterman QB

2

1

John Martinkovic DE

1

1

Bobby Thomason QB

1

1

Bill Wightkin T-DE-E

1

1

Potsy Jones G

20

0

Ozzie Simmons HB

19

0

*Bernie Masterson QB

18

0

*Frank Filchok TB-QB-HB

12

0

Jim Lee Howell E

11

0

Dick Plasman E-T

11

0

Glenn Dobbs TB-QB

9

0

Don Paul LB-MG-C

3

0

*Jim Cason DB-HB

2

0

*Tommy James DB-HB

2

0

*John Kissell DT

2

0

*Fred Morrison FB-HB

2

0

Bill McPeak DE

1

0

Stan West DG-G-C

1

0

This is for the “Senior Era”

Bold indicates they advanced to the Semi-Finals:

*Indicates that they will be removed from the ballot permanently.

Player

Year

Votes

Tony Latone

8

18

Hunk Anderson

13

14

Al Nesser

7

15

Glenn Presnell

2

12

Joe Kopcha

2

10

Wildcat Wilson

9

7

Sol Butler

18

6

Gull Falcon

18

6

Joey Sternaman

8

6

Cub Buck

13

5

Gus Sonnenberg

8

5

Father Lumpkin

1

5

Bob Shiring

18

3

Henry McDonald

17

3

Duke Osborne

10

2

Steamer Horning

18

2

Herman Kerchoff

18

2

Henry McDonald

18

2

Duke Osborne

10

2

Two-Bits Honan

8

2

*Stumpy Thomason

2

1

*Keith Molesworth

1

1

*Pete Stinchcomb

12

0

*Luke Johnson

2

0

You have also voted to keep the 50 percent threshold for induction.  60 percent of you made that determination.  That will be put up again in 1966

Next week, we will announce the Semi-Finalists for the 1963 Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project.

Regular visitors of Notinhalloffame.com know that we are slowly working on the top 50 of every major team in the NHL, NBA, NFL, and MLB. Once that is done, we will examine how each team honors its past players, coaches, and executives. As such, it is important to us that the Los Angeles Chargers will be inducting former owners, Alex and Faye Spanos to their franchise Hall of Fame.

This will bring a total of 43 members to the Hall.

Alex Spanos bought the San Diego Chargers in 1984 and oversaw the team until his death in 2018. His wife, Faye, died two months later.

The team is now owned and run by their son, Dean Spanos, who credited their parents for the vision of the team and that the team would not have relocated to Los Angeles.

A Nostalgic Trip Down Memory Lane

Ah, TD Garden – a name that resonates deeply with hockey fans. Located in the heart of Boston, this mecca of sports has become synonymous with epic face-offs, mind-blowing slap shots, and some of the most passionate fans in the sport. Much like fans of combat sports who keep tabs on UFC betting sites for the latest odds, hockey enthusiasts have lined up for generations to get in on the action at this iconic venue. But TD Garden wasn’t always the state-of-the-art arena it is today. Let’s take a skate down memory lane and relive the transformation of this iconic venue.

The Legendary Boston Garden Days

First up, let’s rewind a bit – back to the days when the infamous Boston Garden was the place to be. Opening its doors in 1928, the Boston Garden was more than just a sports venue; it was the cradle of countless memories and emotions for hockey enthusiasts. Originally constructed as a boxing arena, it was soon adapted to house the Boston Bruins, an NHL team bursting with potential. The arena was rugged, raw, and had this inexplicable charm that only 20th-century sports venues could offer.

Legends were made inside those walls. From Bobby Orr’s jaw-dropping goals to Ray Bourque’s indomitable spirit, the Boston Garden was dripping with history. However, as the years rolled on, it became increasingly clear that this hallowed ground needed an upgrade. Not just for the comfort of fans but to keep up with the rapidly advancing technology and demands of modern sports.

Welcome to TD Garden: The Next Chapter

Enter the TD Garden – the new kid on the block, opening in 1995 just a stone’s throw away from the old Boston Garden. Think of it as the older sibling who decided to hit the gym, take some technology courses, and dress up a bit snazzier. With a seating capacity of just over 17,500 for Bruins games, TD Garden was built to thrill, excite, and cater to the feverish fandom of Boston hockey fans.

High-Tech in Hockey Heaven

Let’s talk technology. TD Garden isn’t just a pretty face; it’s got brains and brawn. The HD scoreboard is a monster! Picture this: 6,250 square feet of crystal-clear action replaying every nail-biting moment, zooming in on every crucial face-off and fight. For the older fans who recall the days of squinting at the scoreboard in Boston Garden, this is akin to night and day.

Enhancing the Fan Experience

But TD Garden’s evolution isn’t just about tech upgrades. It’s also about fan experience. The seats are far more comfortable (yes, even for those extra-thrilling overtime games), the concessions have gone gourmet, and the beer selection has expanded beyond the basic brews. Craft beer lovers, rejoice! Plus, there are interactive zones and social spots designed to keep fans in the thick of the action even when they’re grabbing a snack or chatting about the game.

Electric Atmosphere and Timeless Traditions

Speaking of fan experience, who can forget the atmosphere? The Garden has always been a fortress of noise. When the Bruins are on a power play or facing off against a fierce rival, the decibel levels are insane. The chants, the cheers, the collective gasps – it’s a symphony of hockey fervor that’s been beautifully preserved and even amplified with the move to TD Garden.

Among the beloved traditions carried over is, of course, the presence of Blades, the Boston Bruins mascot. This lovable bear has been revving up the crowd since 1995, bringing joy to younger fans and a sense of camaraderie to the seasoned ones. And let’s not forget the iconic “Goal Horn” that sends chills down the spine every time the puck finds the back of the net.

Past Meets Present in Perfect Harmony

The arena's strategic adaptation to modernity while retaining its historic charm is a testament to Boston's ingenuity. The new Legend Suites and upgraded locker rooms show a sleek, modern aesthetic, providing a professional and luxurious environment for players and fans alike. But, the soul remains the same – gritty, passionate, and unmistakably Bostonian.

Conclusion: A Proud Legacy Moving Forward

For the die-hard Bruins fan who’s been there through it all – the glories, the heartbreaks, and the overtime thrillers – TD Garden’s evolution is like watching an old friend grow into something spectacular without losing the essence of what makes them special.

As we look forward, it’s clear that TD Garden is more than just an arena. It’s a monument to the sport of hockey, a beacon for fans, and a stage where heroes like Bergeron and Pastrnak continue to carve their names into history.

So, here’s to TD Garden – for evolving, for adapting, but most importantly, for keeping the passion of hockey alive and kicking in the heart of Boston. Grab your jersey, clutch your favorite drink, and get ready for the next face-off. This is where history is made.