No Brainer!!

In lieu of the Superbowl being today and all the revelry that goes with the week before and what not, the Pro Football Hall of Fame has announced its upcoming Class. This group of outstanding players consist of Jerry Rice, Emmitt Smith, John Randle, Russ Grim, Rickey Jackson, Floyd Little, and Dick LeBeau. For many of us, the names after the first two don't really mean a whole lot. For the most part, we don't know who they are and what there achievements were on the gridiron. But the first two, Rice and Smith, are the leaders in yards at there respective positions.

Everybody, and I mean everybody grew up idolizing Jerry Rice. How many times did you play a backyard football game and try to emulate the 'Montana to Rice' touchdown combo? Seriously, like a million times. I was never apart of that combo. I was a little portly and not fast enough. I was like one of those guys who goes out for the route and just stands there with nobody covering him, waiving my arms, waiting on the ball, yelling, "I'm Open". All that aside, I eventually got my shots, but we aren't here to talk about my reception records at the Little Red schoolhouse park. This is for Jerry. Never was a doubt that he would be a first ballot selection for the Hall. I mean the guy is the all time leader in receiving touchdowns and yards.

Rice, the perfect receiver for the West Coast offense, played 20 seasons for San Francisco, Oakland and Seattle. He made 1,549 catches for 22,895 yards, had 14- 1,000-yard seasons and scored 208 touchdowns. You just can't argue with that type of production. I could go on and on about this guys accolades, but what made him so special to all of us was that he played just right down the road in Itta Bena at Mississippi Valley State University from 1980 - 1984. During that time he acquired the nickname, "World" because there wasn't a ball in the world he couldn't catch.In addition, he amassed truly amazing numbers. He finished his career at 'The Valley' with 301 catches for 4,693 yards and 50 touchdowns.

Lets not forget who was throwing the ball either. None other than Willie Totten aka "Satellite". In a recent interview that I saw with Rice, he gave the origination of those before mentioned nicknames. In the interview, Rice said the game announcer for MVSU gave both Rice and Totten those names because when Willie threw the ball it seemed like it hung up in the air like a "Satellite" that was beaming down on the "World". A little corny, maybe, but you can't argue with what they accomplished. In honor of Jerry, highlights.....