More TO Woes

Terrell Owens made news a few weeks ago when he said that he wouldn't be taking part in his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Instead he was going to have his own ceremony at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, where he played college football, to induct himself. It's been assumed that lil T's tantrum has been over it taking three ballots to get into the Hall of Fame. It's a safe assumption but you never really know with Owens. Maybe he just wanted his own stage. In response to Owens' desire to go it alone, the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced yesterday that they are essentially going to ignore Owens throughout the various events of induction weekend. Executive director Joe Horrigan said the Owens will not be introduced at either the Gold Jacket Dinner Friday, August 3, and Saturday's induction ceremony. "There's no reason to bring him up as an individual," Horrigan told Clark Judge of the Talk of Fame Network, "He's not here." Horrigan did go on to say that Owens' name will be included when the 2018 Hall of Fame class is referenced as a unit. So, Owens has that going for him.

When I heard about Owens' boycott of the festivities in Canton my first thought was that I wouldn't have to listen to his speech. I saw that as a good thing. I'm going to be on the field of Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium that night in Canton and I wasn't really looking forward to listening to Owens talking about T.O. As I thought more about Owens skipping an event that celebrates him I started to get annoyed. His actions are a hard slap in the faces of the people of Canton and Stark County, the volunteers, everybody that spends an entire year to make everything perfect for all of the returning Hall of Famers and especially the new Hall of Famers. They go out of their way to make the Hall of Famers feel celebrated. Owens' decision is so disrespectful. It's unprecedented. The only inductees that have ever skipped their inductions were dead. If Owens truly has a problem with waiting two years then his problem is with the voters. It's not with the people of Canton and the Hall of Fame. I've never been a fan of Owens and I actually didn't think that three ballots was a long enough wait for a receiver that had a real problem catching a football. Sure, when he did manage to catch the football he was a nightmare for a defense but every pass was a challenge for him. Horrible hands. Hall of Fame receiver. The two don't go together. That doesn't even address his locker room issues. Wrecking teams from the inside isn't a Hall of Fame quality.

While I understand why Joe Horrigan, and perhaps all of Canton and Stark County, are upset over lil T's antics I don't like the decision to ignore him. They are stooping to his level. No one should ever want to do that. Owens and the Hall are reacting to perceived slights. No one is doing the right thing. I can't imagine it being too difficult to include his name when appropriate. Maybe they can even drop something in recognition of those sad hands.