On Saturday, my wife and daughter drove to Winston-Salem, North Carolina to attend a family event, which I hoped to make, but I had work that kept me home. At least that’s what I thought. Then I received news that my grandmother passed away.
By Sunday morning I was on the road for an 11-hour trek to Cleveland, Ohio for a Monday funeral. Despite the unexpected and somber circumstances, it was nice to reconnect with several members of family. I hope my wife and I can make our way to Ohio soon for a future visit to include time with those family members I didn’t get to see.
As I reviewed my route online, I realized I would be going through Canton, which got me thinking about the possibility of seeing the Pro Football Hall of Fame. When I saw its unmistakable football-shaped roof whiz by my window on I-77, it occurred to me that if I had time on my way home that this was another family I needed to reconnect with. A family that had not only added many new members, but had also made additions and renovations to its house since I was last there. A family I hadn’t seen in at least 35 years as a six- or seven-year-old who couldn’t remember much or really appreciate the time spent.
I don’t think I’m wrong to say that for most of you there’s a sense of a familial connection to many of the players in Hall of Fame. It might not be a connection by blood, but the legends and heroes of our youth has created a deep and everlasting bond. Realizing that this was a golden opportunity, I made it a priority on the way home.
With the current labor strife I think we all need a reminder why we love football. And within the confines of this building are the players, coaches, owners, and commissioners who made this game great. If I could I’d take the owners and players on a tour to remind them that it was a collective effort that made this game great, I’d do it in a heartbeat. Unfortunately I don’t have that kind of money and I arrived equipped with only a cellphone camera. However, I think I did the exhibit enough justice to share them with you (105 photos with captions). If you value the game like me then this is your family, too, and many of you might never get a chance to pay a visit. I hope you get a chance to come, but if not I hope my “photo tour” will give you a better idea of what its like.
As you can imagine, it is well worth the visit. The time flew faster than Darrell Green chasing down Eric Dickerson (which you can also see on video here). In fact, I could have stayed another four hours if not if I didn’t need to return to Athens for work the next day. Hell, I could have stayed another four hours in the post-exhibit area that’s filled with Madden games, a football throwing cage, and guess-the-play, bar games. Hopefully I’ll be back again but if I’m not, this was a visit I’ll actually remember and with players I treasured watching.
The view just outside of Fawcett Stadium
Couldn't think of a better player to greet you as you pull into the parking lot.
Future renovations.
The lobby past the ticket window.
The great Jim Thorpe.
There's an entire booth devoted to Thorpe and his exploits in the history exhibit.
Marshall Faulk perhaps had the best run of production of any back at the turn of the millennium.
What the giant football roof looks like from the inside.
The first room provides a visual, aural, and written history of the game.
Pennsylvania should be called the birthplace of football and...
...Ohio the cradle (although Pennsylvania is still the cradle of NFL QBs).
I wish the owners and players could treat this game like a baby they loved.
One of the first helmets.
Just a few curves shy of a basketball if you ask me.
Another early helmet. I thought he was a Rams mascot.
The full shot of the early uniform.
You'd think I was obssessed with Jim Thorpe. I promise it's the last one of the Canton Bulldog.
Shoulder pads from the early years.
Canton Bulldogs jersey. Let's see more throwback jersey weeks in the NFL.
If you don't know who Ernie Nevers is I suggest you look him up.
The exhibit dedicated to Nevers, who once scored 40 points in a game.
Nevers also kicked 4 extra points in addition to those 6 touchdowns in that contest.
Your 2011 Super Bowl Champions before Aaron Rodgers was a twinkle in his grandpa's eye.
The birth of the NFL Draft before Mel Kiper was a dollop of hair gel on his grandfather's comb.
I'm still game for returning the Colts and Browns to their rightful owners. Indianapolis, you can have the current Browns organization.
Cleveland/LA Rams MVP QB Bob Waterfield. Who, after winning the MVP in Cleveland, split time with Norm Van Brocklin during a season where the team average 39 points per game. Imagine that flying today.
Jerseys of Forrest Gregg, Ray Nitzschke, Jim Brown
I may not be obsessed with Thorpe, but I am borderline obsessive with runners in general. Brown tops that list.
For Jene Bramel and John Norton. I still think a penny cut in half might have been more symbolic.
The tragic story of Brian PIccolo, who was played by James Caan in one of the better football movies around, "Brian's Song."
Lance Alworth, an unbelievable receiver. In that era, 83 career TDs is no joke.
The great DL Jim Marshall, who provides an audio account of his inexplicable "run the wrong way," for a safety. Even that can't tarnish is career.
The commissioner who ushered the NFL into the modern era...with a typewriter.
Bob Griese's glasses and Steve Christie's shoe. Next? Plaxico Burress' slug.
Sing it Archie and Edit: "When girls were girls and men were men..."
When the NFL began to incorporate fashion into its brain scramblers.
Heard more than a few visitors say, "maybe the NFL should go back to these."
Not without my disability insurance.
1917 - when pro wrestling was more popular than pro football. Hey NFL, keep this up and we might see the same change in 2011.
A real frying pan for scrambling those eggs.
The incomparably clutch, Doak Walker.
Off the field a hall of shamer, but on the field he earned his ticket.
I wish I could have gotten a better photo of his cleats that were on display in another area of the building. His left cleat had a cast around it for the turf toe that eventually ran him out of the game. Lambert was a big reason I loved to hate the Steelers growing up.
Allen's jersey marks the history exhibit's entrance into the `80s.
His dad is right that Jim Brown was a better RB, but Sanders is one of the few allowed in the conversation in the first place.
Something about Derrick Mason reminds me of Joiner, but he won't have the QBs to produce the numbers.
This display shows the play-by-play detail of "The Drive." There's also a spit bucket next to the Elway jersey for Cleveland fans to show their appreciation. Okay, not really. But I still had the urge.
The player who might have saved Cleveland if Modell could have landed him.
A commemoration of one of Jerry Rice's many records, plus a carving of his hands.
Dan Marino, all the time. I could still watch his highlights all the time.
Big Play Shannon Sharpe. Great receiving tight end and trash talker.
Better player, older brother Sterling Sharpe. His bust should be here, too.
Tom Dempsey exhibit that includes his unique kicking boot. Coincidentally, this was my 63rd photo.
The Eric Dickerson display. Another player I wish I could watch and appreciate all over again.
This play wristband belonged to Colts FB Tom Matte
Giants coach Steve Owen had a stamp for his vaunted A formation, which helped him diagram plays quickly. I think Bengals owner Mike Brown bought these at surplus a few years ago. Someone tell him that picking in the top 10 every year more than counteracts this cost savings.
When is the last time you bought something for 10 cents?
The first NFL President.
The types of action photos you get to see around the Hall.
James Brooks (pre-Bengal).
The team room provides an informational display for the history of every organization with one of its seminal players from history as the photo.
RIP Monk.
Perhaps the scariest runner to ever tote a football in the NFL.
Imagine "Night at The Museum" here. I could dig that.
The busts of the enshrinees. Perhaps the coolest room in the hall.
Papa Bear George Halas
Slingin' Sammy Baugh, stud QB and DB.
Rugged FB Bronko Nagurski.
Don Hutson. His stats as a WR in the pre-modern era explain his greatness.
As Christopher Walken would say, "We need more cowbell!" How about a "bell cow?"
Busts of (diagonal from l-r) Jim Brown, Vince Lombardi, and Bronko Nagurski at the Pro Football Hall of Fame last summer.
Joe Greene - the orginial badass. Another reason I had Steelers envy growing up.
Still remember him anticipating a snap and leaping over the center on a goalline play in the playoffs vs. Miami in the `70s.
Another (no ordinary) Joe...
Lott's bust even looks fierce. Might be the best rendition of any player in that sense.
Informational monitors in the room. A great feature.
There are four large video displays in the room to access every enshrinee.
The player capsule that include info, video bio, personal profile and a map to his bust.
Jim Brown highlights
Chuck Bednarik
Pro Football's black history display includes video footage of players discussing the game, their struggles, and their triumphs.
Before blacks were excluded from the game.
Paul Robeson. Walter Camp said he was the greatest DE he ever saw. He was FAR more than a football player. Look him up if you don't know that.
Tap the video screen that matches the football and you learn more about the player it represents.
Cleats from different gridiron greats. The monitors give fun info about the players. Lamberts' cleats with the cast on the left foot is on the top row and third from the left.
Old cleat of Bronko Nagurski's.
Arian Foster's jersey from his opening day 200-yard rumble in 2010.
Displays of modern record holders: Ed Reed and Marvin Harrison. Busts coming soon...
Display of career record holders.
A telegram of a Vince Lombardi draft day move.
One of Brett Favre's record-breaking days with the lineup card to the right of the jersey.
