In Or Enshrined In The Pro Football Hall Of Fame

There seems to be more than one way to get into the Pro Football Hall of Fame (HOF).

Players, coaches, commissioners and others can be in the hall in displays or galleries. 

They can be enshrined in the HOF, with a bronze bust commemorating their lives and achievements.

The presence of a person in the HOF can be in different categories.

For example, many of the NFL players are listed in a display in the HOF because they served in the military.

A question about the definition of "served" was posed to a HOF guide.  The question was asked because I know of an outstanding NFL player who served in the military although he did not participate in combat.

Once the question was repeated, I was told that many families have written the HOF to ask that the display be corrected and be made more complete.

In America, we celebrate both Veteran's Day and Memorial Day.  If you think about the meaning of those days, you realize that we honor those who "served" and returned to civilian life. 

We, also, honor those who died in the military. Honor is given to those who were killed by the enemy or by friendly fire.

Pat Tillman's display is an example of a man who has been honored in the HOF, although he is not yet enshrined.

Also, the HOF does not appear to have a "yo-yo" type of decisioning. O. J. Simpson, whose problems have been public and legal, still has his space in the great hall.

Paul Tagliabue's name is in the HOF, on NFL footballs and in NFL history, but, again, he is not enshrined. Tagliabue was the NFL commissioner from 1989 to 2006. He is lauded for his great contributions to the NFL.

The absence of an NFL team in Los Angeles has tangled the reputation of Tagliabue's career.

Tagliabue was a Rhodes scholar finalist who graduated the New York University Law School with honors in 1965. 

An attorney who had superior NFL legal and administrative experience before he assumed the role of NFL commissioner, Tagliabue demonstrated tremendous leadership qualities during his college and corporate career.

His place in the grand hall of bronze busts is yet to be found.

The HOF website says:

"Any fan may nominate any qualified person who has been connected with pro football in any capacity simply by writing to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The only restriction is that a player and coach must have last played or coached at least five seasons before he can be considered. For example, a candidate for the 2010 class must have concluded his career not later than the 2004 season."

So, the issue may be "Is your favorite player, coach or commissioner in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?"

The answer could be yes, in so many ways. 

Some historical African American players are in a prominent display.  Other great men, like Tillman, have a place of honor in the HOF.

Others have their memorabilia stored among the 20 million archival records and artifacts in the basement of the HOF. 

Another fact is that sometimes it takes several attempts and several years for some men to get enshrined.  Al Davis, for example, is in the HOF, and it took more than one year to get him enshrined.

In or enshrined?  That is the question:  To be or not to be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame is a question with many answers. There are many categories of honor and recognition in America's Pro Football Hall of Fame.