John Riggins Missing from Russ Grimm's HOF Induction

With former Hog Russ Grimm finally being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, Redskin Nation has been a buzz all weekend. A Hog has finally made it.

Sadly, amongst all the hoopla, there as been another buzz. 

Where was honorary Hog John Riggins this weekend?

I heard yesterday on the Sports Reporters on ESPN Radio 980 that Riggo was at a Sports Memorabilia Show this weekend in Maryland signing autographs starting at a $100 per picture.

Host Steve Czaban and I were a bit shocked and disheartened by this. 

John Riggins was a great running back, but unlike Walter Payton or Barry Sanders, he wasn't a finesse guy; he was a power guy. 

He depended on his offensive line to get a push or create a hole for him to hit, and he hit it hard.

Even without the offensive line, Riggins would have been good, but he probably wouldn't have been Hall of Fame good, and might not have a shiny Super Bowl ring.

Despite my shock at him not being in Canton this weekend, I doubt that he is unhappy for his former teammate. In fact, I'm willing to bet he is ecstatic that a Hog finally was recognized by the Hall of Fame committee. 

However, it still would have been nice to see him there.

Still, I can see this from Riggo's point of view as well. 

For those of you who don't know the history, Riggins used to be employed by Dan Snyder on his Sports Talk radio network. 

Riggo had his own program that aired on the afternoon drive time, I believe it was 4:00-7:00 p.m.

There was one other station in D.C. with sports talk and that was Sportstalk 980. Not liking the competition, Snyder bought that station and kept its afternoon program, The Sports Reporters, and let Riggo go.

Since then, it has seemed that Riggins has had a bit of a grudge against Snyder. 

Throughout last season, he'd appear on WTOP in D.C. to criticize the franchise and any move they made (good or bad), and he's continued to do so into the offseason.

What does this have to do with Grimm's weekend you ask? 

Well the whole party after the induction was thrown by Dan Snyder.

I don't know if the party was invitation only or not, but if it was, Riggins might not have been invited. If he was invited, his animosity towards Snyder and the franchise might have made him uncomfortable showing up.

Also, Riggins could have made this autographing commitment in Maryland long before Grimm was elected to the Hall of Fame and couldn't get out of it. 

Who knows?

Despite my shock and disappointment that Riggins wasn't there this weekend, I won't vilify the man either. 

I hope at some point in the week or month we hear a story that Riggo sent Grimm a nice card, flowers, chocolates, case of beer, or something saying "congrats."

Either way I believe that Riggins is very proud and happy for Grimm, and I'm sure he'll express it in some way.