02-10-2020, 07:04 AM
CANTON, Ohio -- The inclusion of former NFL safety and convicted rapist Darren Sharper on the Pro Footballs Hall of Fame nomination list shocked some people Friday and has started a national debate over who should be eligible for induction.Sharper, a five-time Pro Bowler, appeared on the list released Thursday because at least one Hall of Fame selector nominated Sharper. He also was nominated last year -- before he pleaded guilty in a case in which he was accused of drugging and raping up to 16 women in four states. Last month, U.S. District Court Judge Jane Triche Milazzo sentenced him to 18 years in prison.Hall of Fame spokesman Joe Horrigan explained there is no character clause in the bylaws, which are approved by the Hall of Fames board of directors. To be eligible for the nominating process, a player or coach must be retired for at least five years. Forty-eight voters nominate and select the players, coaches and contributors to appear on the ballot based solely on the contributions they have made to the sport, Horrigan said.To make the first of several cuts, a candidate must be nominated by at least one selector. Horrigan said he didnt know who nominated Sharper this year or last, and that everyone must abide by the rules that are approved by the Halls board of directors.We do have a committee that reviews the process every year, not just from that kind of question, but who can be elected, the number of selections we can have and how the system worked or if it could work better, Horrigan told The Associated Press on Friday. So I would anticipate this would always be part of the question. But I dont anticipate any groundswell (to change the rules) based on this one case.Sharper, who won a Super Bowl with New Orleans in 2010 and also played for Green Bay and Minnesota, is not likely to be elected. But its certainly not the first time the character question has been raised in regard to Hall of Fame selections.One of the most notable honorees is O.J. Simpson, who has been incarcerated in Nevada for the past eight years due to robbery and kidnapping following a 1995 acquittal on the infamous double-murder. Despite calls for his removal more than two decades ago, Simpson remains a member of pro footballs most prestigious club.And linebacker Lawrence Taylor, who has had a series of run-ins with the law -- mostly involving drugs or alcohol -- also remains in the Hall of Fame. He pleaded guilty to charges of sexual misconduct and patronizing a prostitute who was 16 years old. He was sentenced to six years of probation in 2011.We had to abide by our bylaws, and our bylaws do not have any provision for removal, Horrigan said, recalling the debate about Simpson. That was probably the highest-profile case that caused us to have discussions on the incident. But ultimately our board voted that it had to be determined on how he played the game.The public may not see it the same way. Fans and journalists expressed dismay with Twitter posts on Friday.This is not a character flaw, however. This is something even Sharper described at his sentencing as heinous, Sporting News columnist Mike DeCourcy wrote after the nominees were released Thursday. This is not someone who was mean to reporters or undermined his teammates or got in one too many bar fights. This is someone who has acknowledged he drugged women -- notice the plural there -- for the purpose of forcing himself on them while they were incapacitated. Vapormax 2019 Uomo . -- The proud fathers huddled near the Dallas Stars dressing room, smiling, laughing and telling stories while wearing replica green sweaters of their sons team. Vapormax Plus Blu . -- Matt Kuchar and Harris English ran away with the Franklin Templeton Shootout, shooting a 14-under 58 on Sunday in the final-round scramble to break the tournament course record. http://www.scarpevapormaxscontate.it/vap...saldi.html . -- Matt Ryan needed one of the best games of his career to lead the Falcons and their depleted offence out of their three-game losing streak last week. Vapormax Plus Italia . PAUL, Minn. Vapormax Off White Italia .J. -- New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz will miss the rest of the season after having surgery on his left knee. Larry Collmus has stepped down as the wintertime racetrack announcer at Gulfstream Park. No replacement has been named.Collmus, 49, who began calling the races at Gulfstream in January 2007, cited the desire to lessen his workload, which includes calling races at the New York Racing Association tracks -- Aqueduct, Belmont, and Saratoga -- seven months of the year as well as being the voice of the Triple Crown and Breeders Cup. Collmus informed Gulfstream Park management of his decision Wednesday morning.I will not be returning as the announcer for the winter meet at Gulfstream, Collmus said. Its been a good 10 years, but I feel at this time of my career that its in my best interests to cut back my schedule. Ill be 50 years old in October, and the wear and tear of nearly year-round race-calling will catch up to my body and brain eventually.A winter break will boost my energy levels and give me an opportunity to keep the creative juices flowing. I am extremely fortunate to work for the NYRA and for NBC Sports, and I think I owe it to them to be the best I can be for many years to come.Pete Aiello calls the races at Gulfstream from early April through November. Though Gulfstream officials said Wednesday that no decision has been made on Collmuss replacement, it is expected thaat Aiello will be offered the wintertime position.dddddddddddd Last winter, Aiello called the races at Oaklawn Park, which means that track could need an announcer for the 2017 meet.In a statement, Gulfstream Park president and general manager P.J. Campo said: We totally understand where Larry is coming from. Hes under tremendous stress each day with everything hes doing, and Larry is a perfectionist. We appreciate everything Larry has done for Gulfstream. Hes been a true professional and a great friend to Gulfstream. We wish him all the best moving forward.Collmus, who has called races at a plethora of tracks starting in 1985, said he worked at Gulfstream on a year-to-year oral contract. In the summer of 2014, Collmus signed a five-year contract to call the races at NYRA, taking over for the retiring Tom Durkin.In April 2015, Collmus began his NYRA duties. He calls the races at Aqueduct, Belmont, and Saratoga from April through October.Asked if he planned to pick up any more work from NYRA, Collmus said, At this point, nothing changes with my NYRA schedule.From November to March, John Imbriale and Travis Stone split the race-calling job at NYRA. ' ' '