MAX SPORTS: Hall of Fame

Showing posts with label Hall of Fame. Show all posts

Tuesday, 3 February 2026

PATRIOTS OWNER ROBERT KRAFTS REPORTEDLY GETS VERDICT ON HALL OF FAME

The New England Patriots are 0 for 2 in Hall of Fame entries for the 2026 class.

About a week after news leaked of legendary Patriots coach Bill Belichick’s Hall of Fame snubbing, The Athletic reported Tuesday that Patriots owner Robert Kraft would not be a part of the class of 2026 either.

Kraft has owned the Patriots since 1994 and has overseen a record-setting 11 AFC championships, including their most recent this season. Kraft’s six Super Bowl rings are the most of any individual owner.

The Pats can surpass the Pittsburgh Steelers for most Super Bowl wins by a single franchise with a win over the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl 60 on Sunday at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.

The full list of 2026 Hall of Fame inductees will be announced at NFL Honors on Thursday.

Robert Kraft Was Denied Entry Into The Pro Football Hall of Fame

The case could be made Kraft is the second-most influential owner over his tenure, behind only Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys.

Aside from the unprecedented success overseeing two modern-day Patriots dynasties — and counting — Kraft built the Patriots’ new home Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, which opened in 2002. He has also been influential in helping the NFL’s growth by advising commissioner Roger Goodell through media-rights negotiations.

Yet, all that could not land the 84-year-old a bust at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio on the first ballot. So even though he was a finalist for Hall of Fame induction, like his coach-turned-nemesis Belichick and Super Bowl adversary Eli Manning, Kraft will not get a gold jacket in 2026.

Entry Into The Hall of Fame Was Made More Difficult This Year

It used to be that the NFL would induct five-to-seven honorees annually to Canton. Yet, apparently those days are over.

According to The Athletic’s Chad Graff, the induction process was made more difficult for the class of 2026.

“The Pro Football Hall of Fame changed its rules this year, which made it more difficult for candidates to be enshrined,” Graff reported. “There are 50 Hall of Fame voters, each of whom casts three votes among the five candidates; a candidate must receive at least 40 votes to gain entry.”

The 80% majority is now even more stringent than the 75% required of Baseball Hall of Fame, though it is hard to imagine 11 high-profile football watchers who could reasonably deny Kraft or Belichick entry based on their resumes.

Instead, as ESPN reported, Kraft and Belichick being denied on their first year on the ballot likely is due to the Spygate and Deflategate scandals. Longtime NFL executive Bill Polian reportedly influenced enough voters to negate Belichick’s candidacy.

“A voter who spoke on condition of anonymity said that Polian, an ardent Kraft supporter and former general manager of the Buffalo Bills and Indianapolis Colts — a chief Patriots rival during their dynasty — told some voters he believed Belichick should “wait a year” before induction as penance for Spygate,” ESPN’s Seth Wickersham and Don Van Natta Jr. reported Jan. 27.

Despite the snubbing of both Kraft and Belichick, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell feels both will end up with a bust in Canton.

“Bill Belichick’s record goes without saying,” Goodell said at his annual state of the league press conference. “Same with the Patriots’ Robert Kraft, who is also a candidate. They are spectacular. They contribute so much to this game, and I believe they’ll be Hall of Famers.”

- Pat Pickens

Sunday, 24 August 2025

SERENA WILLIAMS INTRODUCES MARIA SHARAPIVA INTO THE TENNIS HALL OF FAME

Friday, 14 June 2024

RICKY HUTTON, MICHAEL MOORER INDUCTED INTO BOXING HALL PF FAME

Michael Moorer, right, in his IBF heavyweight world championship boxing match against Germany's Axel Schulz. AP Photo/Christof Stache, File

Ricky Hatton laughed his way through his Hall of Fame induction speech, marveling at the places boxing took him and the thousands of his fans that would always follow.

"I had some wars, didn't I?" Hatton said Sunday. "When I think back at the Kostya Tszyu fight, Floyd Mayweather fight, Manny Pacquiao fight and my toughest fight, my divorce."

Michael Moorer took a more serious tone with a plea for safer conditions for boxers during and after their careers.

Hatton and Moorer, both champions in two weight classes, were the headline names when the International Boxing Hall of Fame class of 2024 was inducted during a ceremony at the Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York.

Moorer won the light heavyweight title in just his 12th pro fight and later moved up to become the first southpaw heavyweight champion. Noting the size of present-day heavyweights who sometimes weigh more than 250 pounds, with former champion Tyson Fury fighting above 270, Moorer called for the advent of a super heavyweight division.

Moorer, who went 52-4-1 with 40 knockouts, said he has undergone 28 surgeries and been left without the ability to smell or taste. He said it was imperative for boxing's sanctioning bodies, managers and promoters to prioritize the welfare of fighters.

"The toll on a fighter's body persists long after they hang up their gloves," Moorer said. "I am just one of the many retired fighters who have been left to deal with a long list of injuries without any meaningful insurance assistance."

Ivan Calderon and Diego Corrales, who died in 2007 two years after rallying in a memorable 10th round to beat Jose Luis Castillo in boxing's "Fight of the Year," were the other headline fighters in the class that will be enshrined in the hall's museum in Canastota, New York.

Calderon, a two-division champion from Puerto Rico who still works with fighters from there, noted the presence of the heads of three boxing organizations, who were also Latin American.

"So they're here like a family and I'd like them to keep on working like a family for all these boxers," Calderon said. "That's what we need. We need a family. All together we can do a lot of things."

Women's champions Jane Couch of Britain -- who fought to allow women to box at home -- and Ana Maria Torres of Mexico were elected from the women's modern category. Luis Angel Firpo in the old-timer category and Theresa Kibby in the women's trailblazer category were the other fighters in the class.

Trainer Kenny Adams, Jackie Kallen -- the first female manager inducted -- longtime publicist Fred Sternburg, broadcaster Nick Charles and journalist Wallace Matthews rounded out the 13-member class. Matthews noted his preference for boxing over other sports he covered because of what fighters endure.

"There is a code among boxers -- 'We will fight until we can't fight anymore' -- and there's no other sport where that happens," Matthews said. "There ain't no timeout, there ain't no tapping out, there's no relief pitcher, you're not skating off the ice for a shift change. That's it. Once you're in there, you're on the ship, you're taking the ride until the very end."

It was quite a ride for Hatton, the Manchester, England, product who upset Tszyu in 2005 to rise to the top of the junior welterweight division and would lose high-profile welterweight fights in Las Vegas against Mayweather and Pacquiao. He recalled the thousands of his fans who flew from Europe for those weeks -- saying there were so many that the MGM Grand once ran out of beer -- just the way they supported him at home.

Now they can see Hatton (45-3, 32 KOs) hang in the Hall of Fame, where he said he became emotional when he saw that his plaque will hang two away from Roberto Duran, the fighter who was his hero.

"I always said my fan base was my greatest-ever achievement," Hatton said, "so it's been great to spend the weekend with the fans."

- Associated Press

Thursday, 30 May 2024

DREW BREES TO BE INDUCTED INTO THE #SAINTS HALL OF FAME

Sunday, 7 April 2024

VINCE CARTER, CHAUNCEY BILLUPS HIGHLIGHTS 2024 HALL OF FAME CLASS

Chauncey Billups. USA Today Sports

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Final Four Saturday began with the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2024 announcement in Glendale, Ariz.

The 13 honorees include former NBA stars Chauncey Billups (now head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers), dunk specialist Vince Carter, former Los Angeles Lakers defensive guru Michael Cooper and Phoenix Suns legend Walter Davis.

Carter, an eight-time All-Star who scored 25,728 points in 22 seasons, found the day to be highly emotional.

"It's mind-blowing for me," said Carter, the 1999 Rookie of the Year with the Toronto Raptors. "I enjoyed playing the game of basketball every day. I'm just overjoyed."

Billups was known as "Mr. Big Shot" as a player due to his clutch nature. Billups was a five-time All-Star and the 2004 NBA Finals MVP when he led the Detroit Pistons to the title.

"It really is crazy," said Billups, who played 17 NBA seasons. "I've spent a lot of the past few days being speechless knowing I was going into what I call 'Basketball Heaven.'"

Cooper was one of the NBA's top defenders during his 12 seasons. He was part of five championship teams with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Davis was a six-time All-Star during 15 NBA seasons. The 1978 Rookie of the Year is still the leading scorer (15,666) in Phoenix Suns history.

Former New York Knicks star Dick Barnett also was inducted.

Former Wisconsin head coach Bo Ryan and Louisiana high school coaching legend Charles Smith are to be inducted as coaches. Ryan won 747 overall games as a college coach, while Smith won nine high school championships in Louisiana.

Four-time WNBA champion and eight-time All-Star Seimone Augustus also earn induction into the Hall of Fame.

The late Harley Redin, who coached the Wayland Baptist women for 18 seasons, also will be entering the Hall of Fame.

Former WNBA star Michelle Timms was chosen by the Hall of Fame's International Committee. Former coach, player and broadcaster Doug Collins, Indiana Pacers owner Herb Simon and player/executive Jerry West were named as contributors.

West is the first member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame to be inducted as a player and contributor.

The induction ceremonies are Aug. 16 and 17 in Springfield, Mass., and Uncasville, Conn.