Two Legends Show Families of 96 They'll Never Walk Alone #YNWA

Regular readers will know that as a Liverpool fan of some 36 years there is one newspaper that I don't even mention let alone link to on this blog. Although its namesake has been very welcome in our sky the last few days and long may it remain visible.

Well two heros of the Kop have put the reason that Liverpool fans and players boycott that publication before personal gain when they were invited to host RTÉ's Premier Soccer Sunday. So it is hats off to Ronnie Whelan and Ray Houghton two of the players from the team on that day at Hillsborough. That certain newpaper was sponsoring the show that the Liverpool and Republic of Ireland greats had been due to appear in.

These two are saying to the fans and the relatives of the Hillsborough 96 You'll Never Walk Alone as we're walking there with you all the way.

NFL Hall or Fame Inductees 2010

Each year on the eve of the Superbowl the NFL announce new inductees into the Hall of Fame. They can be players, coaches or media personalities within the game. So here is the class of 2010. It includes a winner of Superbowl XXX and the Defensive Co-ordinator who tried to stop him. The only two non-kickers to score 1000 points in their careers, the leading wide receiver. A man most associated with the team making their Superbowl debut tomorrow.

Emmitt Smith

Running Back
Dallas Cowboys 1990-2002
Arizona Cardinals 2003-4

The final of 'The Triplets' (after Troy Aikman 2006 and Michael Irvin 2007) to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. He is All Time career leader in rushing yards 18,355 and Rushing TDs 164, plus having a the All Time record of 100+ yard rushing games 78, as well as attempts 4,409 . In 1993 he became the only running back to ever win a Super Bowl championship, the NFL Most Valuable Player award, the NFL rushing crown, and the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player in one season.

Of course the Triplet have three Superbowl Rings XXVII, XXVIII, XXX.

He also holds a number of post-season records. ncluding rushing touchdowns (19), consecutive games with a rushing touchdown (9) and 100-yard rushing games (7). His 1,586 yards rushing is also top on the NFL postseason chart, and he shares the total playoff touchdown mark of 21 with Thurman Thomas. He is also one of only 5 NFL players to have amassed over 10,000 rushing yards and 400 receptions.

When he annouced his retirement from the Cardinals he was given a one day no pay contract back in Texas so he coud retire a Cowboy.

Jerry Rice

Wide Receiver
San Francisco 49ers 1985-2000
Oakland Raiders 2001-2004
Seattle Seahawks 2004
Denver Broncos 2005 (Off season and practise squad only)

Jerry was always going to be an automatic first year eligible inductee when the time game for him to end his career (like Emmitt above). Even after his 16 years with San Francisco. He holds all the major wide receiver records too numerous to list here. As well as the all time leader in the NFL in touchdowns 208. Only in his last 2 seasons with the 49ers did he fail to reach 1000 yards when he was fit to suit up for every one of the 16 games.

He won three Superbowls XXIII, XXIV, XXIX. Was selected to the Pro-Bowl in 13 seasons, name first team All-Pro on 11 occasions.

He was a legend in his own career.
1,549 receptions
22,895 yards

Russ Grimm

Guard
Washington Redskins 1981-91

Grimm was one of the famous Redskins' 'Hogs' offensive line from the late 80s to 90s before it lost it's supremacy to the massive men of divisional rivals the Cowboys. But the hogs were deemed one of the best front fives of all time. He led the Skins to the Superbowl 4 times and picked up rings on three occasions. XVII (1983), XXII (1988), XXVI (1992).

Upon retirement he started coaching at Washington. Through to 96 and Tight end coach, then to 2000 as the offensive line coach. In 2000 he moved to the Pittsburgh Steelers as Offensive Line coach and picked up a 4th ring in 2005. In 2007 he moved to the Arizona Cardinals as assistant head coach and offensive line team coach.

Rickey Jackson

Linebacker
New Orleans Saints 1981-93
San Francisco 49ers 1994-5

In the year that the Saint's finally make the big show their all time career sack leader (with 123) is a worthy inductee in the Hall of Fame. In six different seasons he recorded 10 or more sacks. His final career stats are 136 (8 unofficial in the 1981 strike season), 8 interceptions which he returned for 68 yards. He also recovered 29 fumbles, at the time of his retirement this was the second most.

When he moved to the 49ers in 1994 he got the the Superbowl and lifted the ring, he may be hoping his beloved Saints all do the same tomorrow.

His #57 shirt has been retired by the Saints.

Dick Le Beau

Corner Back/Free Saftey
Detroit Lions 1957-72

Coach
Philadelphia (special teams) 1973-5
Green Bay Packers (defensive back field) 1976-9
Cincinnatti Bengals (defensive back field) 1980-3
(defensive co-ordinator) 1984-91
Pittsburgh Steelers (defensive back field) 1992-4
(defensive co-ordinator) 1995-6
Cincinnatti Bengals (defensive co-ordinator/assistant head coach) 1997-2000
(head coach) 2000-2002
Buffalo Bills (assitant head coach) 2003
Pittsburgh Steelers (defensive co-ordinator) 2004-present

As a player he was drafted by the Cleveland Browns but was cut before the season but the Lions swooped on his as a free agent. In his 14 seasons he was a leading interceptor in the back field. 62 career interceptions (7th all time) for 762 return yards and 3 touchdowns, and holds the NFL record for consecutive game appearances for a cornerback with 171. He also recovered 9 fumbles, returning them for 53 yards and a touchdown. It is for his playing career that he is inducted.

As a coach five time he has been involved in winning AFC Championships (1981, 1988, 1995, 2005, 2008), in the latter two he added the next game winning Superbowls XL and XLIII.

Floyd Little

Running Back
Denver Broncos 1967-75

In what was the first combined NFL-NFL draft he was the 6th pick for the AFL Broncos, the first time a first round draft pick had signed for an AFL side. From 1968-73 he led the NFL in rushing. He retired as the 7th leading career rusher with 6,323 years and 54 touchdowns. In 1970 he led the AFC with 901 yards, but the following year was the first AFC 1000 yarder with 1,133 leading the entire league.

He was the smallest back to lead the league in rushing since before World War II but was also versatile in that he was the only player to return punts for Touch Down in both 1967 and 68.

His #44 shirt was the first to be retired at the Broncos, and he finally joins the 6 rushers who were ahead of him in career yards when he retired.

John Randle

Defensive Tackle
Minnesota Vikings 1990-2000
Seattle Seahawks 2001-3

Originally undrafted before being picked up by the Viks at training camp. IN 1993 appeared in his first of 7 Pro-Bowls after 11.5 sacks, he reached double digit sacks in a season on 8 separate occasions including a career-high and league leading 15.5 in 1997. He had sacked future hall of famer Brett Farve more than any other player.

When he retired his career 137.5 sacks ranks him 5th in the all time list. This was the second year he was eligible for induction.

It's Friday...so..Superbowl

Yeah it is that time of the week again (only a bit later than normal I was too busy to pre-write it), but it is also Superbowl weekend. One of those odd occassions where the first four Roman numeral demarkers are used and only once each. It is Superbowl XLIV in Miami on Sunday night.

So first up lets look at some past Superbowl highlights.



Of course for many the hightlight is the half time show. Here are the guys from America's Whose Line is is Anyway with the worst possible Half Time Shows.



But one of the best had to be U2 in the 2002 Superbowl. Not only was it the world's biggest rockband put it managed to pay tribute to those who feel in the line of duty and merely from turning up to work or their flight on 9/11 only months before.

Spectacular, Spectacular, End to Wild-Card Weekend

The American Football wildcard weekend was looking like producing a number of lopsided results.

First up the New York Jets picked up a 10 point lead they never looked like surrendering winning 24-14. Then later on Saturday the Dallas Cowboys picked up where they left off from the week before and again trounced divisional rivals the Philadelphia Eagles 34 -14. Sunday afternoon saw Baltimore Ravens put another nail in the coffin of the recently proud New England Patriots as not even Tom Brady could step up to prevent a 33-14 drubbing.

However, the last game of the weekend turned into an epic. The highest scoring postseason NFL game on record. Pushing the game to overtime. But it didn't always look like this game too would not just end up a one-sided battle. The Green Bay Packers were trailing 24-10 at the half and seemed incapable of stopping Arizona Cardinals QB Kurt Warner and his offence. The fact that Arizona first punted the ball away in the 48th minute shows how with one exception until then, a fumble, they had got to the end zone apart from one field goal.

Green Bay had to come out in the second half to mix things up a little. This they did with an early onside kick in the third quarter, after they scored their touchdown, going for the onside kick. It caught the Cards napping. However it was one of the five consecutive plays started in the 3rd that ended in TDs.

The punt early in the 4th by the Cards lead to a three play 56 second drive to a Packers tying TD at 38-38, but with 10:57 remaining on the game clock there was still plenty of action to come. Both sides exchanged another TD to bring it to 3:03 remaining and 45-45.

The Cardinals had to start on their own 20 after the kick off, but moved the ball and the chains to within field goal range. Getting to the Green Bay 16 yard line, before using their last timeout to stop the clock with 9 seconds remaining. However, Rackers pushed his 34 yard attempt wide left. So overtime beckoned.

Arizona however had to kick off, giving the ball to the Green Bay offence. However, on 3 and six of the first possession they was a sack on the quarterback and the subsequent fumble was recovered by Arizona's Danesby and run in to the end zone for the winning score. A spectacular way to end a spectacular game.