In an interview today with the NFL Network, former Jacksonville Jaguars Running Back, Fred Taylor, decreed that he belongs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.  He specifically had this to say:

“Obviously I think I belong.  It’s not in my hands. I think the voters, after doing a deep dive, they’ll understand that I belong there too. I really believe I had a solid career, and hopefully the writers will understand that one day.”

Taylor, who has been eligible for Canton since 2016, has yet to make the Semi-Finalist cut.  He likely never will.

Taylor was a very good player, who would accumulate 11,695 Rushing Yards, placing him 17^thall-time as of this writing.  In terms of Yards from Scrimmage, he is 35^thall-time with 14,079.  While these are more than respectable numbers, at no point was Taylor ever considered to be the best Running Back at his position.  Generally, he was never in the discussion.  Taylor made it to the Pro Bowl only once (2007) and his highest finish in Rushing Yards was sixth, which he did twice (2000 & 2003).

This is not to say that he was not good and at times great player, as he certainly was, but to be considered for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, you need to be elite, or at least have been in that debate.  If you are not, you need to have the longevity that has few equals.  13 years is very good, but in his case, not good enough.  

We are in the process of expanding our list to 300.  Taylor was considered, but did not make the cut.  When we get to the all-time Jacksonville Jaguars, he will have a high rank, likely in the top three.

With the announcement of the Modern Era candidates for the Baseball Hall of Fame, it is now time for us to look at the upcoming ballot for the Baseball Writers, who will be voting for the Class of 2020.

What we know so far, is that there is no way that this will be an empty class.  We have a sure-fire first ballot inductee in Derek Jeter, who with his 3,465 career Hits, a career Batting Average of .310 and five-time World Series Champion could become the second former player following Mariano Rivera, to receive a unanimous vote.  Should that happen, it will mark a back-to-back of two former New York Yankees teammates earning that distinction.

Last year, Curt Schilling received 60.9% of the vote last year in a very strong field (especially for pitchers) says Paruk from SportsBettingDime.com.  Less tainted by PEDS than the likes of Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds, Schilling should crack 75% if the outspoken Trump supporter doesn’t rub writers the wrong way in the next couple months.

As for Bonds and Clemens, they are both entering their eighth year of eligibility.  What once was thought as an impossible mountain to climb, the two stars both approached 60% last year.  While enshrinement this year seems unlikely, a continued rise could bode well for them in the next two years.

As for us, the one we are looking at the most is Larry Walker.  The Canadian slugger seemed to have no chance for Cooperstown a year ago, but he rocketed from 34.1% to 54.6% last year, and with him facing his final year of eligibility, we could see the first player inducted with a Colorado Rockies cap.

One thing, we know for sure is that we will be paying attention!a

The Toy Hall of Fame has announced that Magic the Gathering, Matchbox Cars and the Coloring Book comprise their Class of 2019.

Housed at the Strong Museum in Rochester, New York, these toys were chosen and pared down from 12 Finalists.  

The other finalists were Care Bears, the Fisher-Price Corn Popper, Jenga, Mattel’s Masters of the Universe, action figures, My Little Pony, the Nerf Blaster, Risk, the Smartphone and the Top.

Since 1998, 71 toys have been chosen for the Hall.  This is always a fun Hall of Fame, and we look forward to how they expand next year.

The Songwriters Hall of Fame announced the Finalists for the Class of 2020.  It comprises of 24 candidates from a very diverse musical spectrum.

The Performing Nominees are:

Mariah Carey:  Carey was nominated last year and co-wrote 17 of her 18 number one songs.

Gloria Estefan:  Estefan wrote or co-wrote most of her hit songs and she helped pen Shakira’s hit, “Wherever, Whenever.”

The Eurythmics (Dave Stewart and Annie Lennox):  The Eurythmics had many hits, which included the number one smash, “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This).

David Gates & Jimmy Griffin (Bread):  Bread would have five top ten hits, which included the number one song, “Make It with You.”

Vince Gill:  Gill charted over 40 songs on the Country Chart and was inducted in the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2007.

The Isley Brothers:  The Isley Brothers had multiple number one hits on the R&B Chart, and they would enter the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992.

Journey:  The successful arena rock band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017.

Mike Love:  Love wrote or co-wrote many of the Beach Boys songs, though is not yet in the Songwriters Hall of Fame, though Brian Wilson is.  

The Neptunes (Pharrell Williams & Chad Hugo):  In addition to their own work, they have written hits for Jay-Z, Beyonce, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, and Usher.

Outkast (Big Boi & Andre 3000:  The influential Atlanta based hip-hop duo had many hits, including “Hey Ya”.

R.E.M.:  From Athens, Georgia, the Alternative Rock band had a lot of chart success in the 1980s and 90s and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007.

Patti Smith:  Very influential in the 1970s in the Alternative and Punk scene, Smith was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007.

The non-performing nominees are:

Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty:  Ahrens and Flaherty have written many musicals and have won a Tony.

L. Russell Brown and Irwin Levine:  Brown and Levine penned many hits, their biggest being “Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Old Oak Tree” and “Knock Three Times” for Tony Orlando and Dawn.

Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart: Boyce and Hart would write hits for the Monkees, Jay & The Americans and Paul Revere & The Raiders.

Sonny Curtis:  Curtis wrote songs that were covered by The Everly Brothers, Bobby Fee and is best known for writing, “I Fought the Law.”

Kye Fleming and Dennis Morgan: Fleming and Morgan have already been inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Jerry Fuller:  Fuller penned many hit songs, his biggest success being “Travellin’ Man” by Ricky Nelson.

Tony Macaulay:  Some of Macaulay’s hits include “Build Me Up, Buttercup, “(Last Night) I Didn’t Get to Sleep at All” and Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Grows).”

Bob McDill:  McDill wrote over 30 number one hits in the Country Music Charts.

Roger Nichols:  Nichols wrote or co-wrote many songs, including The Carpenters hit, “We’ve Only Just Begun.”

Rick Nowels:  Nowels has written hits for Belinda Carlisle, Dido, Stevie Nicks and Madonna.

Mickey Stevenson:  Stevenson wrote or co-wrote many songs for Motown, which included “Dancin in the Streets”, “It Takes Two” and “Devil With the Blue Dress.”

Songwriters are eligible for induction after writing hit songs for at least 20 years.  Six of these nominees will be selected.  

The Songwriters Hall of Fame Class of 2020 will be inducted on June 11, 2020.