Bo Knows Cycling? Apparently

Four days and 300 miles later, Bo Jackson's charity bike ride across the state of Alabama came to an end Saturday and along the way, the former two-sport star raised more than $400,000 for the Governor's Emergency Relief Fund.

"Bo Bikes Bama" was designed as a way to raise money and awareness for the continued recovery from storms that devastated Alabama one year ago.

"I hope we can keep this going," the Bessemer, Alabama native said following the event. "The people out there who have lost loved ones, their homes and their jobs because of this storm are going to appreciate it more than we will ever know."

Hundreds joined the former Heisman Trophy winner for the ride, including former Major Leaguer Ken Griffey Jr., NBA star Scottie Pippen and all-world cyclist Lance Armstrong. 

Riders could join Jackson for $200 a day.

Tom Brady...SuperBowl Catcher?

During Sunday's SuperBowl, much of the focus is going to be on the two quarterbacks...Tom Brady and Eli Manning.

You're going to hear a ton about the Manning lineage and let's face it, with a father like Archie and a brother like Peyton...Eli was destined to be an NFL quarterback.

That wasn't the same for Tom Brady.

All dude had were the tales of Junipero Sierra High School alums Gregg Jefferies and Barry Bonds looming over him.  Yes, Brady was looking to step out of the shadows of All-Star baseball players.

“I thought Tommy was a sure thing as a baseball player,” his former high school coach Pete Jensen said.  “Even more a sure thing than Gregg or Barry, believe it or not. As good a football player as he was, I thought he was a better baseball player in high school.”

In the 1995 draft, Jensen's thoughts became a reality...the Montreal Expos took a chance on Brady, selecting the then-catcher in the 18th round.

And since we know now that Brady was destined to become, well, Tom Brady and not, say, Michael Barrett...it's interesting to look at some other notable recent NFL players that turned their back on baseball.

Famously, future Heisman Trophy award winner Ricky Williams spent four years as a professional baseball player in the Philadelphia Phillies organization, compiling a .211 batting average in 613 Minor League plate appearances.  A shortstop in high school, he became an outfielder in the pro ranks.  His former runningmate in Miami, Ronnie Brown also has a baseball past...having been selected by the Seattle Mariners out of high school.

In the 2000 MLB draft, the Colorado Rockies made current Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick the 887th overall pick.  The kicker...dude hadn't played baseball since he was a 13-year-old eighth grader.

Current Pittsburgh Steelers teammates Hines Ward and Mewelde Moore were drafted in 1994 by the Florida Marlins and 2000 by the San Diego Padres respectively.  Former Steeler, Antwaan Randle El, was picked by the Chicago Cubs of the 1997 draft.

And yet another Steeler, backup quarterback Dennis Dixon was also a highly recruited baseball player and found himself drafted twice...initially by the Cincinnati Reds in 2003 and again, in 2007, by the Atlanta Braves.   Dixon went on to hit just .176 in 74 at bats with two Atlanta Braves rookie league teams before returning to college.

Free agent wide receiver Roydell Williams was selected by the Reds in the fifth round of the 2000 draft.  A year later, Cincinnati Bengals runningback Cedric Benson found himself snatched up by the Los Angeles Dodgers. 

Journeyman quarterback Kerry Collins saw himself get drafted three separate times.  He was first drafted by the Detroit Tigers in 1990 and was one of three straight future NFL players (Greg McMurtry and Rodney Peete were the others) they picked.  The next year, Detroit tried again taking him in the 60th round.  Lastly, he found himself again selected in the 1994 draft...this time by the Toronto Blue Jays.

But I guess it isn't all that uncommon for high school quarterbacks to be two-sport stars.  Consider the 1979 MLB Draft. John Elway, Dan Marino and Jay Schroeder (all quarterbacks), were selected ahead of future New York Yankees great Don Mattingly.

Oh...what could have been?

Deion Sanders' Daughter Goes Off!

As 2011 winds down, can we safely call the 32 tweet barrage by Deion Sanders' daughter (naturally named Deiondra, of course), the Twitter Rant of the Year?

It all started when the current (and future ex) wife of the former big league outfielder and NFL Hall of Famer claimed she found out about her pending divorce via TMZ.

Suffice it to say, Deiondra didn't take Pilar Sanders' actions all that well...and knew her famous pops would be none too happy with her outburst.

FIRST&FOR MOST I WOULD LIKE 2 APOLOGIZE FOR WHAT IS BOUT TO HAPPEN MY DAD IS GOING 2 BE VERY UPSET AT ME 4 HE ALWAYS TAKES THE HIGHER ROUTE

Some choice samples:

LIES! LIES! ALL PILAR DO IS LIE!! wait till i leave this office

NORMALLY I JUST SIT BACK & WATCH ALL HER LIES & MESS BUT ITS TO WHERE SHE'S GETTING PERSONAL. SHE IS TRYING 2 SLANDER MY DADDY NAME. #STOPIT

Pilar stop tryna play the VICTIM. MAYBE IF U WOULD OF ACTUALLY LOVED MY DAD AND NOT LOVED THE LIFE HE GAVE YOU WE WOULD BE HERE TODAY!!

Two thoughts.

First...finding out "Prime Time" named his daughter "Deiondra" might be one of my favorite acts of narcissism (or is it nepotism?) since George Foreman named all his kids after himself.

Next...is it safe to say Deiondra and Pilar probably didn't exchange presents this holiday season?

***Props to Black Sports Online for posting all of Deiondra's tweets.***

Obligatory Football Post...Part Two

As the NFL season continues to chug along...it's time to, again, break out the obligatory football post.  The Hall has randomly hooked up with Brian Tinsman from the Washington Redskins to bring to you, yes, you...the "Redskins Hall of Very Good".

Here's Brian's second installment!

The Washington Redskins have gotten a lot of attention from the Pro Football Hall of Fame in recent years. In the last four years alone, the team has celebrated the inductions of Darrell Green, Art Monk, Russ Grimm and now Chris Hanburger in 2011.

Each player, however, had to wait more than the minimum fives years before being inducted. Hanburger alone had to wait 28 years.

Today we continue a multi-part series on Very Good Redskins and why they might possibly belong in Canton.

Len Hauss, Center

Career: 1964-1977, Redskins: 1964-1977

Why: Hauss was a dominant offensive lineman in the late 1960s and 70’s, earning five Pro Bowls in seven years. He protected great Redskins quarterbacks Sonny Jurgensen, Billy Kilmer and Joe Theismann in his career, ensuring their success.

Here’s Why Not: His impact will never be fully appreciated as he didn’t play for a champion Redskins team, but that does not detract from his own performance as a player. He has some accolades as a player, but again, does not have the historical impact necessary for the Hall of Fame.

What do you think?

 Brian Tinsman is a graduate of Marymount University and works in the front office for the Washington Redskins and owner Dan Snyder as the team’s associated writer and chief team blogger.

It's Obligatory Football Post Time!

For whatever reason, I get asked, from time to time, why The Hall doesn't cover football.  My answer...this is a site (and I use that term loosely) that focuses primarily on baseball.

Makes sense right?

Until now.

In honor of the 2011 football season, The Hall has randomly hooked up with Brian Tinsman from the Washington Redskins to bring to you, yes, you...the "Redskins Hall of Very Good".

See what we did there?

Here's Brian's first installment!

The Washington Redskins have gotten a lot of attention from the Pro Football Hall of Fame in recent years. In the last four years alone, the team has celebrated the inductions of Darrell Green, Art Monk, Russ Grimm and now Chris Hanburger in 2011.

Each player, however, had to wait more than the minimum fives years before being inducted...Hanburger alone had to wait 28 years.

And with that in mind, today we start a multi-part series on Very Good Redskins and why they might possibly belong in Canton.

 

No. 7: Larry Brown, Running Back
Career: 1969-1976, Redskins: 1969-1976

Here’s Why: Brown piled up remarkable statistics and recognition in his career, proving to be an al-purpose threat. He twice led the league in rushing yards per game, once led the league in total rushing yards, and was also named NFL MVP in 1972. He was named to the Pro Bowl four times and was a workhorse during his time with the Redskins.

Here’s Why Not: A simple lack of longevity. He was recognized as one of the best in his prime, but played in only 102 games over eight seasons. While he put up numbers comparable to Marcus Allen and Eric Dickerson early in his career, injuries derailed him and he just didn’t pan out the same way.

What do you think?

 

Brian Tinsman is a graduate of Marymount University and works in the front office for the Washington Redskins and owner Dan Snyder as the team’s associated writer and chief team blogger.

SuperBowl XLV Tweet of the Night

I purposely stayed away from social media tonight because, frankly, I don't care that you like (or don't like) the Packers (or Steelers) or think Ben Roethlisberger is a rapist (or not).

BUT...when I re-emerged from a Facebook and Twitter-less night, I was greeted with the best tweet I've seen in a while.

Maybe forever.

So, without a doubt, I'm naming it the "SuperBowl XLV Tweet of the Night"...and it came from (naturally) Chicago White Sox skipper Ozzie Guillen.

Watching the game and eating my jello http://twitpic.com/3xae4f

I'd like to close this post with something clever, but let's be honest...nothing tops Guillen eating JELL-O while watching the SuperBowl.

Deion Sanders to Enter Cooperst, er...Canton

Not that long ago, The Hall broke down some current pro football players that had also been selected in the MLB draft.

While the two sports have seen their fair share of two-sport stars, one player can now puff his chest out a little more than the rest, instead of just boasting (or in the case of THIS VIDEO...rapping) about it.

Why?

Because Saturday night, professional "jack of all trades" Deion Sanders has been elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

"Prime Time", while he wasn't as highly touted as Bo Jackson, put together a pretty respectable pro baseball career.  Over nine seasons (he played 641 games as an outfielder with four different teams), he batted .263 and swiped 186 bases...twice finishing second in the league in the category.

Given his future gold jacket and bust, it was as a cornerback and returner where Sanders was more successful.

During his career, he intercepted 53 passes for 1331 yards, good for an amazing 25.1 yards per return.  Dude amassed 7838 all-purpose yards and scored 22 touchdowns...nine interception returns, six punt returns, three kickoff returns, three receiving and one fumble recovery.

His 19 defensive and return touchdowns are an NFL record.

In the 1996 NFL Playoffs, Sanders added a rushing TD to his resume...becoming one of only two players in NFL history (Bill Dudley was the other) to score a touchdown six different ways.  Sanders brought home two SuperBowl rings (XXIX and XXX)  and was selected to eight Pro Bowls (1991-1994 and 1996-1999).  In 1994, he was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

And oh yeah, the other six cats who will be enshrined in Canton...first-time nominee Marshall Faulk, defensive end Richard Dent, tight end Shannon Sharpe, NFL Films founder Ed Sabol and linebackers Chris Hanburger and Les Richter.

Now Batting...Michael Vick?

Sometimes...it's fun to play "what might have been"?

On this, the opening weekend of the NFL Playoffs, we're reminded that Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick once had a chance at becoming another one in a long line of two-sport stars...joining the likes of Bo Jackson, Deion Sanders or even Brian Jordan.

You see, following his spectacular freshman season at Virginia Tech (you know, the one where he led his Hokies to the BCS National Championship Game), the Colorado Rockies made him the 887th overall pick in the 2000 MLB draft.

''The way he ran around the field we figure he could track down some balls in the outfield at Coors Field,'' Rockies scouting director Bill Schmidt following the draft. ''It really wasn't a big risk taking him at that point.''

Here's the kicker...dude hadn't played baseball since he was a 13-year-old eighth grader.

''I didn't believe them when they told me,'' said Vick in a 2000 interview with USA Today.  ''I didn't think anyone would be interested in me for baseball.''

Since we know now that Vick was destined to become, well, Michael Vick and not, say, Juan Pierre...it's interesting to look at some other notable current NFLers that turned their back on baseball.

Famously, Miami Dolphins runningback Ricky Williams spent four years as a professional baseball player in the Philadelphia Phillies organization, compiling a .211 batting average in 613 Minor League plate appearances.  A shortstop in high school, he became an outfielder in the pro ranks.  His current teammate Ronnie Brown also has a baseball past...having been selected by the Seattle Mariners out of high school.

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receivers Hines Ward and Antwan Randle El were drafted in 1994 by the Florida Marlins and 1997 by the Chicago Cubs respectively.  Another Steeler, Mewelde Moore was picked in the fourth round of the 2000 draft by the San Diego Padres.

And yet another Steeler, backup quarterback Dennis Dixon was also a highly recruited baseball player and found himself initially drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in 2003. 

Washington Redskins wide receiver Roydell Williams was selected by the Reds in the fifth round of the 2000 draft.  A year later, Cincinnati Benglas runningback Cedric Benson found himself snatched up by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Tennessee Titans quarterback Kerry Collins saw himself get drafted three separate times.  He was first drafted by the Detroit Tigers in 1990 and was one of three straight future NFL players (Greg McMurtry and Rodney Peete were the others) they picked.  The next year, Detroit tried again taking him in the 60th round.  Lastly, he found himself again selected in the 1994 draft...this time by the Toronto Blue Jays.

And lastly, yeah, even that shaggy-haired quarterback in New England has a baseball past.  Then a high school catcher in San Mateo, California, Tom Brady was taken in the 18th round of the 1995 MLB Draft by the Montreal Expos.

Twitter Tuesday: NFL Week One

With Week One of the NFL season officially in the books, it is clear that not all big leaguers are concerned about the upcoming baseball pennant races.

Thankfully, most were talking NFL and not the MTV Video Music Awards.

@LoMoMarlins (Logan Morrison): Wait..Favre retired.. No wait, he's back.

@jonadkinsWV (Jon Adkins): Ok I'm already sick of hearing bout och cinco n TO! Making me dislike the Bengals already. Sorry to all my Reds followers but it's too much

@just_ice23 (David Justice): Get yo popcorn ready! My Bengals are ready to roll!

@MattAntonelli9 (Matt Antonelli): Man Pats laying the smack down!

@JarrodBParker (Jarrod Parker): Cmon colts!

@MattAntonelli9 (Matt Antonelli): I still don't believe NFL players are human beings (except for maybe the kickers)...freaky athletes

@just_ice23 (David Justice): Calvin Johnson's catch was a TD! He still should've secured the ball to remove all doubt!

@cjbeatty44 (CJ Beatty): Man that Cowboy game was boring! But atleast i was filled up on some good wings...i had to leave before i lost my mind! BORING!!!!

@OkieFields (Josh Fields): After that first half, I'm gonna have 2 go purchase my first chiefs hat tomorrow

@BarryEnright54 (Barry Enright): Chargers not looking too good.

One of my favorite tweeps (is that what the kids are calling them nowadays?), Padres minor leaguer Matt Antonelli, posted his Week One picks over at his site.
And how’d he do?

Well, the second baseman didn’t exactly set the world ablaze. Straight up, Antonelli was 4-11…against the spread he was 5-9-1.

We’ll see what Week Two brings.

Oh...why the picture of Ray Lewis you ask? Because he did the following to Dustin Keller Monday night.

Someone died today...I think

I want to apologize up front for deviating from the norm…but I think the news of the day warrants it.

Apparently Brett Favre died today.

I know what you’re thinking “ummm, I believe he just retired”…but I’d have to disagree. You see, I have two TVs in my office (yes, I’m THAT much of a prick that I believe one just isn't sufficient) and while one was tuned to whatever local affiliate I had on, the other was on ESPN or one of its subsidiaries.

Why?

Not because I was recently mentioned in one of Rob Neyer’s blogs on espn.com (check it out HERE), but because, like I said…apparently Brett Favre died. ESPN had around the clock coverage of this news story, but let’s face it…it wasn’t like this was a surprise.

I’m pretty sure that every year after the Green Bay Packers bow out of the playoffs or whatever lackluster season they just had, EVERYONE and their mother ASSUMES that Favre MIGHT not be coming back. Well, this year, evidently, he’s “mentally tired” and is saying goodbye.

Haven’t we heard this before from this guy?

Pretty much.

As sports fans, haven’t we heard this before from plenty of other athletes?

Yes…we have.

Pull out the crayons and color me skeptical, but I’m not 100% sold on the fact that we won’t see Brett Favre lace ‘em up and throw another one of his all-time leading interceptions (a record that people seem to forget that he holds)…but we’ve heard this song and dance before.

If it is indeed over, maybe it was fitting that Favre ended his career with an overtime turnover versus the Giants. Instead of picking up his ball and going home, he just heaved it down the field to the opponent.

And then, like Warren Sapp (who, by the way, ALSO retired today), he quit.

After all the tributes come and go (and there WILL be plenty), I guess Packers linebacker A.J. Hawk summed it up best when he said “the state of Wisconsin is going to be in mourning for a while”.

I’m just not sure why.