We can’t say we ever thought “Salami” (or the annoying kid in the “Master”) would ever become an acclaimed TV director, but that’s our fault for initially doubting him because he was named for lunch meat.

Actually, Salami may have been one of the coolest characters on 70’s television. He was a white basketball player who was friends with, and respected by his black teammates. Despite his nickname, “Salami”, was not a geek, and possibly the coolest white kid in a predominately black High School. Actually, let’s change that too definitely; as he was the kid from Carver who banged his sexy teacher. Game, Set, Match: Salami.



The Bullet Points:
TV Show Appeared:
The White Shadow (1978-1981)

Actor:
Timothy Van Patten

Position Portrayed:
Bench

Played for:
Carver H.S.

Why you should vote for him:
For a guy named Salami, he owned it!

Why you should not vote for him:
Ever watch him in that Lee Van Cleef debacle; “The Master?

Although Track and Field was not really featured here, we thought we would add Omar Epps on the ballot (again). As Malik Williams in “Higher Learning”, Epps was the lead in an ensemble film about race issues on a university campus. Williams was a track star at the fictitious Columbus University, which allows us to place Epps on the ballot one more time. We grant that this was a very good role for Epps, but is it enough of an athletic one to merit this Hall?



The Bullet Points:
Movie Appeared:
Higher Learning (1995)

Actor:
Omar Epps

Raced for:
Columbus University

Why you should vote for him:
Epps is on this ballot so many times, without a strong candidate. Maybe we can throw him a bone here.

Why you should not vote for him:
Track is far from the focal point of this movie.

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As much as boxing may struggle to find relevancy in the new sporting landscape, we wager that the boxing film will never die. It is the perfect sport for a movie; two combatants, great visuals and dramatic storytelling. Perhaps this is why transferring this to women’s boxing; a sport that never gained mass popularity (and probably never will) can still work in a major movie.

Of course it doesn’t hurt to have one of the best directors (Clint Eastwood) and a fine actress (Hilary Swank) to pull it off. Swank played Maggie Fitzgerald, an Ozark born natural pugilist with a mother who berates her, and Eastwood played Frankie Dunn, a hard assed trainer who has no relationship with his own daughter. You can see where this is going can’t you? The path may be obvious, but the road is a wonderful one, with a bit of twist at the end. We will say though that if our Fictitious Athlete Hall of Fame is based on acting, this is a strong contender.



The Bullet Points:
Movie Appeared:
Million Dollar Baby (2004)

Actor:
Hilary Swank

Why you should vote for her:
This was an Academy Award winning performance.

Why you should not vote for him:
As mentioned, for a boxing movie this is no Rocky ending.

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In one of the many retelling of the 1902 novel of the same name, Richard Pryor starred as Monty Brewster, a down on his luck baseball pitcher who stands to inherit 300 million dollars, providing he can spend 30 million in 30 days. Brewster had a very brief stint with the Chicago Cubs, and was flaming out with the minor league, Hackensack Bulls. While he was in the process of spending his 30 million he funded a game with the Bulls in an exhibition against the New York Yankees, where Monty again showed the pitching skills of (insert your least favorite pitcher here….we are going with Joey Hamilton). Actually, despite the film starring a lot of funny people (with the exception of Yakov Smirnoff, who was NEVER funny), the film wasn’t full of a lot of laughs, and Pryor was not exactly convincing on the mound.



The Bullet Points:
Movie Appeared:
Brewster’s Millions (1985)

Actor:
Richard Pryor

Position Portrayed:
Pitcher

Played for:
Hackensack Bulls

Why you should vote for him:
It won’t be often that you have a bona fide comedy legend you can vote for.

Why you should not vote for him:
Brewster’s baseball skills were limited, and when we did see him, he wasn’t any good.

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