And it starts

[JohnTurney]

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/colu ... M.facebook

Borges: Patriots owner Bob Kraft merits place in Pro Football Hall of Fame
Ron Borges Sunday, August 06, 2017

CANTON, Ohio — Last night the Pro Football Hall of Fame belonged to Jerry Jones. Before long the same should be true for Bob Kraft.

Generally, I’m not a strong believer in putting owners into halls of fame. While they serve a central role, as any paymaster does, generally their overall contribution was once best described by Hall of Fame lineman and longtime executive director of the NFL Players Association, Gene Upshaw.

“Owners?” Upshaw said. “Without the players all they own is a bunch of tight pants and jocks!”

[bachslunch]

John, interesting reading, and thanks for the link.

While I'm not in a rush to see more owners get in the HoF, I can definitely see the argument in Kraft's favor. I think Borges actually lays his case out pretty convincingly, and except for Ralph Hay, Kraft strikes me as the most Hall-worthy owner not in. I'm also happy to see Borges say that it takes more than winning to make a good owner HoF case -- and I agree.

Hay wasn't an owner for a long time, but his teams did well in winning (if not financially). And his role in founding the league is hugely important. For me, that makes him first on the depth chart.

Kraft's teams have been undeniably successful on the field and financially, arguably more so than Ed DeBartolo, whose only HoF argument is team success. And his committee work accomplishments rival those of Jerry Jones, arguably about as distinguished as a recent owner can get.

Art Modell has some noteworthy committee work credit of his own, but not much winning success. Pat Bowlen has some of both, but not to Kraft's extent. Bud Adams has AFL trailblazing credit, though not as much team success. For me, Kraft has a much stronger case.

[BD Sullivan]

I did find it amusing that during Jerry Jones purported $16 million HOF party on Friday night, the musical talent, Justin Timberlake, said this at one point during his performance: ""We're stoked to be here tonight. Greatest owner in the history of sports being honored tonight."

[JohnTurney]

http://www.talkoffamenetwork.com/21238-2/

Let's just put all owners in, I guess

[JuggernautJ]

I was curious as to who are the "owners" in the Hall of Fame.

When I went to the HoF website it has a new category for "Owner, President, GM" with only one listed: Jerry Jones.
All the others are still listed as "Contributors."
http://www.profootballhof.com/heroes-of ... positions/

Those whose listings include (only) Owner/Founder:
Jerry Jones (I am assuming)
Charles W. Bidwell, Sr.
Ed DeBartelo, Jr.
Tim Mara
Wellington Mara
George Preston Marshall
Dan reeves
Art Rooney
Dan Rooney
Ralph Wilson, Jr.

Owner Plus...
Bert Bell
Al Davis
George Halas
Lamar Hunt

Technically, didn't Paul Brown own a piece of the Bengals? Should he be considered an "owner" (although he is not listed as such). And likewise (though only briefly) Lombardi with the Redskins?

And conversely, Lambeau was never really the "owner" of the Packers (although he almost served as such for yers)?

[BD Sullivan]

I was curious as to who are the "owners" in the Hall of Fame.
Technically, didn't Paul Brown own a piece of the Bengals? Should he be considered an "owner" (although he is not listed as such). And likewise (though only briefly) Lombardi with the Redskins?

Brown also had part ownership of the Browns, presumably one of the reasons he was so tight with the cash.

With Lombardi, he was given the opportunity to BUY five percent of the Redskins--which was expected to cost him $575,000!

[bachslunch]

What annoys me in particular with articles like these is not as much the advocacy as it is the partisanship of the advocacy. My willingness to consider HoF fitness from a particular source shuts down immediately when being pushed by an obvious connection of this kind, especially when it's short on specifics and long on narrative.

When it's advocacy with a basis in specifics with a really cogent argument, I'll give it a real look and see what I think. These kinds of things seem tough to find, however.

What's interesting in the Borges piece is that while there's a partisan connection, it also looks like a reasonably cogent argument is presented. The Elway piece is heavy on partisan puffery, sorry to say.

[BD Sullivan]

What annoys me in particular with articles like these is not as much the advocacy as it is the partisanship of the advocacy. My willingness to consider HoF fitness from a particular source shuts down immediately when being pushed by an obvious connection of this kind, especially when it's short on specifics and long on narrative.

When it's advocacy with a basis in specifics with a really cogent argument, I'll give it a real look and see what I think. These kinds of things seem tough to find, however.

What's interesting in the Borges piece is that while there's a partisan connection, it also looks like a reasonably cogent argument is presented. The Elway piece is heavy on partisan puffery, sorry to say.

When the AFL History doc was shown on Showtime back in the day, I noticed that the big push for Gino Cappelletti to be elected to the HOF in it came from one of his radio partners and the Remember the AFL guy. In other words, objectivity was flung out the window.