2025 Pre-Season Rank #54, 2024 Pre-Season Rank #79, 2023: Pre-Season Rank #102. Peak Period: 2021-25

Here is what we wrote about Micah Parsons last year:

“What he does in 2025 and beyond will skyrocket Parsons up this list and into Hall of Fame territory, and we wager it will be incredible.”

And it was, though not without cost.

After four incredible seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, Parsons was shockingly moved to Green Bay, and he dominated in Lambeau the same way he did in Arlington. Going into Week 15 last year, he was already at 12.5 Sacks, and was disrupting the minds of opposing Offensive Coordinators, but he tore his ACL, which ended his season; though he still was named a First Team All-Pro for the third time and was third in voting for Defensive Player of the Year.   He did skyrocket up this list as predicted, but that won’t happen in 2026.

With the exception of the injury, Parsons’ first five years were about as good as you can get, and there is nobody with less experience ahead of him on this list.  He is not due back until mid-season, and hopefully, for all football fans, he returns to pre-injury form.

When there’s no NASCAR racing to watch, and you don't drive race cars yourself, then the best alternative is to play a racing video game. Thankfully there are dozens of truly brilliant car racing video games at the moment, with superior graphics, more realistic handling, and better cars than ever before. We're going to take a look at five of the best car racing games, from casual pick up and play, to more in-depth career mode games. So, buckle up, it's set to be a wild ride.

Forza Horizon 5

It makes sense to start off with perhaps the most beloved car racing series of all time, Forza. The fifth instalment takes place in Mexico, with a map that's considerably bigger than its predecessor, taking you into the backstreets of quiet Mexican villages, then out into the wide open desert and through sweeping canyons. This game is perfect for those who enjoy a little variety in their racing, with straight-up racing mode, co-op mode, campaigns, stunt mode, and the seasonal championship.

You can compete in just about any vehicle you could imagine, from a souped-up pick-up truck to a state-of-the-art racing machine. This is a game that will keep you busy for hundreds of hours with the many possibilities it presents.

Mad Cars

If you're looking for something that's a bit more pick-up-and-play than Forza then Mad Cars is a brilliant choice. Mad Cars is a simple slot game developed by Push Gaming. This game invites you to a post-apocalyptic, Mad Max style environment, where you’ll be invited to drive all kinds of wacky vehicles as you watch those reels spin. If you're into cars that are as much about looks as they are about performance then you'll love these spiky, punk-styled vehicles.

In terms of gameplay, expect a five reel slot, with an option to bet from $0.10 up to $100 per spin. This is a super volatile slot, with potential for big wins, but also dry streaks, making it as exciting and unpredictable as speeding through the desert in an armoured truck.

Wreckfest

Our next choice is less about racing and more about smashing cars up. Fans of demolition derbies will love Wreckfest, a breakthrough game for PS5. In this game, you'll be invited to smash, crash, and burn in the most realistic way possible thanks to its incredible true-to-life physics engine. Like Forza, there are several different modes to choose from, which makes for varied and exciting gameplay. Install your car with reinforced bumpers and roll cages, or get in a monster truck and smash things up. The choice is yours!

NASCAR Heat 5

We love a bit of NASCAR here at Not in Hall of Fame, so it was essential to give a mention to NASCAR Heat 5, the official racing game of NASCAR. You're invited behind the wheel in this game, something that's a dream for many of us. It's up to you to use all of your racing know-how to make it to the 2020 NASCAR Cup Champions podium. You can play as a member of all of the official teams and race on more than three dozen tracks.

Dirt Rally 2

Finally, Dirt Rally 2 is the perfect game for do-it-yourself enthusiasts. This game requires you to know everything there is to know about cars and racing. You'll need to pay attention to tracks like you won't have thought possible in a game before. Hairpin bends could spell disaster for you and your car if you aren't approaching things in the right gear and at the right speed. It's a serious racing game that serious racing fans will get hours of enjoyment from.

2025 Pre-Season Rank #33, 2024 Pre-Season Rank #53, 2023 Pre-Season Rank #121. Peak Period: 2021-25

And in 2024, he became a champion.

Jalen Hurts and the tush push brought the Philadelphia Eagles their second Super Bowl, and while he has only been in the NFL for five years, it feels like a long time coming.

Jalen Hurts was the runner-up for the 2019 Heisman, and there were a few questions that surrounded him in the following draft. There should not have been.  Hurts won the Bert Bell Award in 2022 and has an AV/G well over the MPA in his brief career, which, based on modern metrics, a QB needs to have to sniff Canton.  Hurts has the skills and talent around him to become the first Quarterback to rush for 100 Touchdowns (unless Josh Allen beats him to it), and this does not take into account his excellent passing skills.

Whenever a QB wins a Super Bowl, the Hall of Fame buzz accelerates, and the Eagles are a squad that could win several.  The scary thing is that Jalen is just entering his prime.

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 intend to look at how each team honor their past players, coaches and executives. As such, it is important to us that the

New York Mets have announced that next season that they will retire the numbers of Dwight Gooden and Darryl Strawberry.

In the 1980s, the Mets had the two most exciting players in the sport in Gooden and Strawberry, and they would lead the team to victory in the 1986 World Series.

Drafted fifth overall in 1982, Gooden shot up from High-A to the Majors in 1984 while still a teenager, winning the Rookie of the Year (17-9), the Strikeouts (268), FIP (1.69) and WHIP (1.073) Titles and was second in Cy Young voting. “Doc” won the Cy Young in 1985, leading the league in Wins (24), ERA (1.53), Strikeouts (268) and FIP (2.13). This was his peak, as he dealt with injuries and substance abuse, which culminated in his suspension for the entirety of the 1995 Season. The four-time All-Star never played for the Mets after, leaving behind a 157-85 record and 1,875 Strikeouts.

Strawberry was the dynamic power hitter of the squad, using his tall and lanky frame to go deep and his gifted athleticism to become one of the most popular players of his day. The first overall pick of the 1980 Draft, Strawberry joined the Mets in 1983, winning the National League Rookie of the Year. The Outfielder then embarked on an eight-year streak of All-Star Games (the last was as a Dodger) with his peak period coming from 1987 to 1990. Strawberry joined the 30-30 club in 1987, and in 1988 was the runner-up for the MVP, winning the Home Run (39), Slugging (.545) and OPS Titles (.911). In 1990, his last year with the Mets, he was third in MVP voting. With the Mets, Strawberry belted 252 Home Runs, with a .520 Slugging Percentage, while also collecting two Silver Sluggers.

Gooden and Strawberry were not without controversy, as both had dealt with off-field issues that hampered their overall performance and arguably cost themselves a spot in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate Darryl Strawberry and Dwight Gooden for earning this impending honor.