After years of writing and petitioning, Ray Guy has finally received the call into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. It was an incredible moment to see him walk across the stage at the NFL Honor Awards and finally be recognized for his achievements.
I want to thank the writers over the years who took up interest in Guy's cause that I was so passionate about. These men helped garner attention for him, as well as his Hall of Fame credentials:
- Chris Gay - Augusta Chronicle
- Mike Beacom - Pro Sports Weekly
- Les Carpenter - Yahoo Sports
I would like to thank NFL fans and Raider Nation for backing this campaign from day one, and doing so with enthusiasm. People started Facebook pages, fans shared stories, they began to write letters themselves, and it was obvious the people believed that the Hall was more than ready for a punter.
Lastly, I want to thank the Hall of Fame selection committee members who took their time to communicate with me over the years and update me on the situation regarding Guy. I especially want to thank the Senior Committee members for recognizing Ray Guy's impact on the game, and nominating him alongside Claude Humphrey.
The induction of Ray Guy means a lot; not just for Guy, but for punters at all levels of the game. They now know that the position is recognized, not just as a punter, but as a football player. Better yet, the new generation of kids playing the position will have faith that if they play well enough, they can be recognized just like every other position. The punting position has never been given enough respect, and Guy's induction changes all of that. The barrier has been broken, and it should only help special teams players past, present and future.
I look forward to attending the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, and hope to see a lot of you there. I have been wanting to walk into the room full of busts one last time to see Ray Guy's likeliness among them. John Madden famously stated that he believes that when the lights go off at night, the busts talk to one another. It sounds silly of course, but a part of me wishes it was true, too...
The lights go off. The sound of footsteps fade away into the distance. The doors slam shut.
Silence.
Al Davis looks across the room at Guy...
'...and to think people thought I was crazy'...
