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John Wooten, Chairman of the Fritz Pollard Alliance (an advocacy group that works in conjunction with the NFL) is featured on “H-Town Sports Talk with Lenny Moon”. The show airs on Sports Radio America (www.sportsradioamerica.com) from 2:00 PM- 3:00 PM cst. Wooten played nine seasons in the NFL (1959-1967) and helped paved the way for perhaps the greatest player the game has ever seen in the legendary Jim Brown. This contingent led the Browns to the 1964 NFL Championship, which was the last time a Cleveland professional spots team had won a title prior to the LeBron James-led Cavaliers in 2016.

The Fritz Pollard Alliance monitors the interview process for minorities in the NFL in the areas of head coaches, front office personnel and referees among others.

On the surface, when a professional football player has authored a whopping 16 NFL Records then unquestionably we’re talking about a first ballot hall of famer. That’s unless the athlete in question is Terrell Eldorado Owens (aka “T-O”). Despite the mercurial 6-3, 225 pound wide receiver that can still post a 4.4 40-yard dash at 44-years of age, Owens was overlooked in 2017 during his first year of eligibility. At this point, a lot of the attention shifted to “TO’s” reputation as being somewhat self-centered with publicity driven antics whose comments often suggested the “first person” point of view during his sessions with reporters. Who will ever forget the time after he scored a TD, immediately racing to midfield where the Dallas Cowboys star is painted to stand supreme over the image before being blasted by one of the poke’s defenders. Or the infamous statement of “I love me some me” that went viral; both aforementioned incidents while a member of the San Francisco 49ers (his first of five teams).

The attention should have shifted to the process. What is the criteria for earning Hall of Fame status? When one proves himself as eclipsing most of the league’s existing standards in his category and never created any reasons to be judged as anything other than a law-abiding citizen, then why impose the punishment of having him wait an extra year only to appear to prove to him who actually has the last say. Well Owens has countered that notion by announcing that when it comes to his Hall of Fame acknowledgement, he has chosen to make his speech at his alma mater of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Why is this being perceived as bad judgement when one decides to choose their own path when it comes to the biggest day in their professional life? “TO” can be labeled quite a few things during his colorful NFL career. But one thing he can’t be deemed guilty of is “not” being his own man. As 8-time Mr Olympian Lee Haney once proclaimed when I had the privilege of interviewing him some two decades back “There are too many sheep and not enough shepherds in our society”.

When Muhammad Ali was judged to be “anti-establishment” when he refused to accept being drafted due to religious beliefs during the View Nam conflict in the 60’s, he was publicly excoriated and stripped of his World Heavyweight Championship title, along with his passport taken so he could not earn a living outside of the country as well. Curt Flood challenged Major League Baseball in the courtroom and was “black-balled” from the sport for his fight for freedom of movement for MLB players. Although Flood never personally benefitted, he eventually won his case and “free agency” was born from this effort and mult-million dollar contracts soon followed when teams had to bid for talent. What about John Carlos and Tommy Smith’s black glove salute during the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City who were highlighting impoverished conditions in minority communities along with police brutality back home in the USA. They were promptly bounced from the confines and banned from participating in the Olympics for life. In recent times, we’ve seen similar sentiments surrounding the Colin Kaepernick case.

Regardless of which side of Owens situation one stands, he certainly has every right to make the decision that he’s made. As with the small sampling of cases mentioned above, that is one of the aspects that will always make this country great if one is bold enough to exercise their constitutional right and at times, accept the consequences.

2018 Pro Football Hall of Fame selection Robert “Dr Doom” Brazile was roasted on Monday night at the Improv Comedy Club-Houston by several former teammates along with area HOFamers. Among the roasters were Warren Moon, Kenny Houston, Curley Culp, Elvin Bethea, Mean Joe Green, Dan Pastorini, Billy “White Shoes” Johnson among others. This event was a prelude to “Dr Doom” being officially inducted in Canton, Ohio in August.

Brazile was the 6th pick of the 1975 NFL Draft and played his entire 10-year NFL career with the Houston Oilers, earning pro bowl status seven times. The Mobile, Alabama native was a member of the NFL 1970’s All-Decade Team although only playing half of those seasons.

Former Alcorn State All-American quarterback Steve McNair has been selected as a finalist for the 2019 College Football Hall of Fame. The mercurial Mt Olive, Ms native posted unworldly career numbers and would become only the second Heisman Trophy candidate from a Historically Black College and Universities (HBCU) that played the quarterback position in 1994 (Doug Williams of Grambling was the first in 1977). McNair raised the bar while at Alcorn, a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference, which participates in the Football Championship Series or 1-AA. His 16,823 career yards and 14,496 passing yards are still records that have now stood for nearly a quarter of a century.

With that said, I had the privilege of broadcasting football in the conference all of Steve’s four years during his stay “on the Reservation” as it was known by SWAC foes. I can’t remember a player entering the league with as much advance hype as McNair prior to his taking his first snap. But upon my initial witnessing of this ultra-talented and ultra-athletic signal caller, I was quickly convinced why this type of reputation was an accurate fit. Sure his brother Fred was tabbed as “Air McNair” and it was only natural that the “Air II McNair” moniker was attached to Steve. Covering sports on a multitude of levels for several decades, one tends to readily identify special athletes when they cross the path. Whatever that “it factor” is supposed to be, then McNair possessed that element in abundance. Some attempted to counter with the competition level or lack thereof. But only a couple of decades prior, Jackson State (SWAC member) provided the NFL with the 4th pick and the 6th pick of the 1975 NFL Draft (Walter Payton and Robert Brazile) from the same team and both are Pro Football Hall of Famers.

Placing the labels to the side, special is special. This guy was not only a prolific passer, but one of the most elusive athletes I’ve seen on the gridiron (regardless of position). Steve was one of the most electrifying runners in college football as well when coverage broke down. I could easily go on, but the College Football Hall of Fame would be elevated by adding one of their brightest stars to their prestigious hall.

Former NBA Coach of the Year (1991) Don Chaney talked with Lenny Moon about his participation in one of the most significant college basketball games ever, that transpired in 1968. Chaney’s second ranked Houston Cougars hosted defending national champions and top ranked UClA before a record crowd and a rare national televison audience for that era. The game featured the two future hall of famers in Lew Alcindor (aka Kareem Jabbar) of the Bruins and Elvin Hayes of the Cougars. Many credited this contest as a prelude for what we know recognize as the “March Madness”.

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M346hyIfUdo