No, I didn't watch TO's Hall of Fame speech at UT Chattanooga this afternoon. I will, however, watch the formal induction ceremony of the seven guys who actually showed up in Canton to celebrate the honor at, you know, the actual Hall of Fame. Not that I'm surprised Terrell Owens, the ultimate "Look at Me" athlete, found a way to make the Hall of Fame induction for eight people all about himself.
TO explained his decision to skip the ceremony, saying "I know what I'm doing" about his "protest." Yeah, sure, that's why. We all know the real reasons. You don't want to share the spotlight. And you're peeved that the voters had the audacity to make you wait three years to be elected. (For the record, fellow Class of 2018 inductee Jerry Kramer played in Super Bowl I and retired in 1968. Is he bitter that it took 45 years for his long-overdue enshrinement? No.)
When Owens made his announcement, the Hall of Fame responded by saying that they would respect his decision and would only include him in materials promoting the entire class. He won't be recognized individually this weekend. Nor should he be. He doesn't want to be there. That's his prerogative. Just like it's the Hall of Fame's prerogative to ignore him. Which is a decision many people, including a number of Hall of Famers, agree with.
Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, however, disagrees. And he was pretty vocal about it. Although, I still don't understand what his problem is or why he's such a vehement TO supporter. His issue seems to be more with the Hall of Fame itself than with their treatment of Owens. More specifically, Florio seems to have an issue with the Hall of Fame voters (something he isn't, but desperately wants to be). He was particularly critical of longtime voter Gary Myers, who implied he would've voted for someone else if he knew Owens didn't plan on showing up for the ceremony.
In explaining the decision to "snub" Owens this weekend, Hall of Fame Executive Director Joe Horrigan said it's "about the guys who are there." Critics like to point out that players who are inducted posthumously aren't there either. But that situation's a little different. And deceased players only have a video played and their bust presented. No speech, which drew plenty of ire a few years ago when Junior Seau's daughter wanted to give one and they said no, only to cave somewhat and do an interview with her (that she turned into an induction speech).
Meanwhile, Michael Irvin is one of the many players who've spoken out in defense of the Hall and its decision. Tony Dungy I think put it best. He said he "feels sorry" for TO and noted it will be his (Owens') loss, not the Hall's. Dungy's complete tweet was: "I feel sorry for Terrell Owens. If he chooses not to attend the Hall of Fame induction ceremonies he will be missing one of the most moving and emotional experiences someone could have in football. Indescribable moments. It will be his loss, not the Hall's."
This weekend is about the entire class. Eight individuals who had such an exceptional body of work that they achieved football's highest honor. This weekend is about Bobby Beathard, Robert Brazile, Brian Dawkins, Jerry Kramer, Ray Lewis, Randy Moss, Brian Urlacher AND Terrell Owens. Yes, it's a tremendous honor for each of them individually. But it's also an honor for them collectively. They're forever linked as the Class of 2018. And they're being honored together. Just like the six baseball players honored last weekend in Cooperstown will forever be linked.
Ray Lewis is the Head of the Class this year. But he's not above sharing the stage with six other people. Because they're all Hall of Famers. They've all earned the right to stand on that stage. Yet Terrell Owens and his ego need their own stage. Well, they were provided with one in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
The Hall of Fame isn't acting like TO isn't being inducted. His bust will still be in the Head Room, he's still getting the ring and gold jacket, and he'll still be invited to attend future induction ceremonies (as if he actually plans on attending). All they're doing is honoring his request to celebrate his enshrinement elsewhere while not letting his absence take over the weekend. Because, as I said, this weekend is about the entire Class of 2018.
Why should the Hall of Fame go out of their way to acknowledge a guy who doesn't want to be there? And why should they draw attention to the fact that he isn't by making a presentation, only to end it with "he's not here?" That would be giving him exactly what he wants. Terrell Owens wants attention. They're refusing to give it to him. They're saying "If you don't want to be here, that's fine. But don't expect us to make a big deal about it."
He had a well-documented terrible attitude during his playing career. And his relationship with the media wasn't great, either. Was that a factor in his not being a first- or second-ballot selection? I'm sure it was. But the fact that he was in the discussion shows that the voters were willing to overlook that and consider his career on its merit. It's a good thing for him I don't have a vote. Because I, for one, think he was a very good player, but not a Hall of Famer. Yes, his attitude comes into play. But I haven't considered TO to be one of the five best players on the ballot in any of the three years he was on the ballot.
For a guy with a career-long reputation for being selfish, we probably shouldn't be surprised that Terrell Owens had one last selfish move in him. Because whatever his perceived slight or the "change" he wants to implement (and I do agree with him that the Hall of Fame voting system could use a tweak or two), that's not the reason he's not in Canton. It has nothing to do with him feeling disrespected, either. Like everything else in his career, it has everything to do with Terrell Owens. Mr. "Look at Me" wants people to do just that.
Even TO's Hall of Fame induction has to be all about TO. And the Hall of Fame simply wasn't having that. Eight men are being inducted into the Hall of Fame. It's about all of them. Not just one.
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