Hypocrite:
A person who claims or pretends to have certain beliefs about what is right but who behaves in a way that disagrees with those beliefs.
Wow did I miss this one. I once told my niece, “when dealing with guys, what they do shows their heart. What they say shows what they want you to think. Always look at what they do.”
During the time when the mild controversy regarding the NFL HOF Nomination of convicted serial rapist and ex all pro safety Darren Sharper was going on, famous SI sportswriter Peter King took to twitter to defend the HOF voters. I was taking some time off and relaxing and I didn’t comment on it or write about it. Recently though people have shown things that Peter King said and I was floored.
I’ve given the Deadspin article link to you; the only one that I could find; that repeated Kings serial tweets.
Here are some of his EXACT quotes.
The 46 HoF voters are asked to consider only on-field factors for ex-players. That is what I do.
We would be shirking our duties if we did not consider him. What has happened since should not be factored in.
The bylaws of the Pro Football Hall of Fame forbid the 46 voters from considering players’ off-field lives.
If I said, “I will not consider Sharper for induction because he has been accused of multiple rapes,” I would resign from the committee.
For the sake of not giving Peter King’s worshipers fuel, I say don’t even read the article. Just read his comments.
http://deadspin.com/peter-king-defends-hall-of-fame-s-right-to-honor-allege-1683701729
Ken Stabler and Peter King Ties:
For almost 3 decades starting in the 70’s, the most popular teams in the NFL were the Cowboys and the Raiders. Their ratings were always on top. People loved them or hated them. Sports Illustrated sold a lot of magazines with Raiders stories. Here is a great one on Ken Stabler from 1977 after the Super Bowl win.
http://www.si.com/nfl/2015/07/10/si-vault-ken-stabler-oakland-raiders
That all changed though after Ken Stabler was falsely accused of planting cocaine on Sportswriter Bob Padecky after a terrible year by the Snake in 1978. Here is my popular article on that story:
Paul Zimmerman was a friend of Bob Padecky. He was the king of east coast media and was a voting member of the HOF and senior committee until his stroke in late 2008. He was the first expert to be used by ESPN during the NFL draft coverage. He was the man at SI (Sports Illustrated) and is revered today by most sports writers. He was the one that had a vendetta against Ken Stabler because of the incident with Bob. Peter King every year honors Paul Zimmerman for an entire week near the time of the HOF ceremonies. He did it again this year.
Below is Peter Kings article trashing Ken Stabler’s HOF credentials. He said that he only had 5 good years. Remember one of his best friends and his mentor is Paul Zimmerman.
http://mmqb.si.com/2015/07/13/ken-stabler-hall-of-fame-nfl-peter-king
Peter King probably didn’t vote for the Snake but he was in the minority. Players, coaches, owners and teammates all said he was HOF worthy a long time ago.
Why Peter Kings Words Are So Hollow:
Peter King brags about his integrity. He sticks out his chest saying that if he took into account things off of the field, he should resign as a voter in the HOF.
The Hall of Fame Voters should be called out. Their votes SHOULD ALL be released to the public. There is no accountability in their votes and there needs to be transparency. I respect the fact that you don’t vote people in; but the fans, media and teams need to know why.
Cris Carter was left out of the HOF for 5 years. Why? Carter was a tool at times. Even fans didn’t like him.
After his first 4 years in Philadelphia, the media, team, and the fans were sick of him. He was their leading WR and he was cut. He also took a beating from writers who talked about his drug use of marijuana, ecstasy, and cocaine. He stopped talking to the media.
He regrouped in Minnesota and had amazing numbers. At the end of his career some said he softened to the media because his numbers might be HOF worthy and he wanted to find favor with them. Sportswriters have long memories though Cris.
Terrell Owens was another one. Of course he’s a HOF player. But he was dramatic, demanding and nasty to the media. One year during a contract dispute in Philly, he refused to LOOK AT media members let alone talk to them. He threw teammates under the bus, blamed coaches for losses and even told Playboy that QB Jeff Garcia was gay.
Why do I bring these 2 up? These are just 2 examples of obvious HOF players who weren’t voted in by the writers. I thought anything off the playing field didn’t matter? Well obviously it does.
Stabler is the worst example of all. Anyone that is buds with Zimmerman knows how much he hated Ken, blaming him for the Bob Padecky fiasco. How can you leave Stabler out of the Hall? Only 5 good years? Are you kidding me?
Are Hall of Fame Voters Really Biased?:
I was being interviewed by a small radio station in Pennsylvania and they thought I was nuts. “Jim you actually believe that HOF voters will hold grudges for years against a player?”
My answer was simple.
“Yes. Look at people who are staunch Republicans or Democrats. They would blindly support Charles Manson if he was part of their political party. And if Mother Teresa was in the other political party they’d rip her to shreds with negativity. They have grudges for a lifetime.
Same with some HOF voters. I’m giving you facts not opinions. Zimmerman said in an SI article in 1979 after the Bob Padecky situation that he would NEVER vote Ken Stabler into the HOF as long as he lived. He also admitted Stabler was the only player he ever lobbied AGAINST. Zimmerman was one of the most; if not the most; powerful writers in the country. SI was king and ESPN was just starting and he was chosen as their NFL and draft guru. Thirty years later in 2009, Zimmerman told the NFL Network again; “I’ll never vote Ken Stabler into the HOF. Facts gentleman; facts”.
Jim drops the mic. Ok I didn’t do that, but I would have if I was in studio!
Just the very fact that Zimmerman; after 30 years; STILL said he wouldn’t vote for Stabler into the HOF shows how right I am about some sportswriters. Most are great I’m sure; but some?
New Information:
Frank Cooney; who has covered football for over 5 decades; wrote a great article earlier in the year. EVERYTHING I said from Randall Watson to Padecky, to Dr Z to Nick Dudich was confirmed by Frank; and countless others; and my articles were written way before theirs, last summer.
A tidbit that I never knew was Frank finding out that the voters to the HOF “innocently” received a huge binder of information on this years candidates.
One piece was a blog from 2012 by Andy Barall of the NY Times with the famous quote that supposedly Dave Casper said. “Ken took football back 50 years. He didn’t work hard enough at it. He fooled em his whole life”.
Yes I found the blog. Here it is. Magically it has a link to a book by………..Paul Zimmerman, one of his buddies. This stuff writes itself friends.
Dave Casper has been very angry over being misquoted. “I’ve never said Ken set back football. I would vote him into the HOF”. Below is Franks article with Dave Caspers angry retort.
Jims Jamz:
I’m a realist, and I know nothing is going to change in the voting process. So what needs to happen is that if you are a fan of a player that is deserving of the NFL HOF, it’s time to act. Through petitions, writing emails, responding to social media posts and articles; in reality it’s up to you. So many are working hard for players from the Raiders that deserve to be in the HOF. But everyone needs to be involved. Think of the loyal fanbase, families and children of these great players.
Some will say Ken got in so get over it. But I remember the pain in the Stabler’s families eyes. I don’t want ANY other Raider or NFL family to go through that. If you grew up in the bay area the Raiders were not our team; they were family.
How a petition for a Ken Stabler or a Cliff Branch can’t get 50,000 signatures in a month is beyond me. I see a lot of posts online talking about fan loyalty, but in reality it’s going to be up to ALL fans actions to carry the torch. Keep doing what you are doing to inspire others. And for those that haven’t been a part of the support, it’s never too late to get on board. Do your part for these players that gave generations of people so much enjoyment and pride. Make NFL HOF voters do the right thing; because without you; some won’t.
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