Frank Gifford called it ”a very special fraternity, something to share all your life with your children and grandchildren.”
Willie Davis said: ”It`s wonderful coming back to this event. The bonding and camaraderie are like nothing else in sports. It transcends the time frame.”
”Being here,” said Marion Motley, ”is like being elected president of the United States. When you (new inductees) go out on the dais tomorrow, it can bring tears and it can bring joy. Whatever it brings, it will change your life forever.”
Pretty heady stuff. Melodramatic, perhaps, but passionately sincere.
That`s the way Pro Football Hall of Famers feel about their sport and their exclusive society.
The above comments were but three of those directed by present members of the Hall toward the five men who will be inducted Saturday-Stan Jones, Earl Campbell, John Hannah, Jan Stenerud and Tex Schramm.
Twenty-seven Hall of Famers were joined by the new inductees at lunch in a posh country club. Under the rules, only those already enshrined are permitted to speak at this private affair.
”You guys get your chance next year,” said Y.A. Tittle, the former San Francisco 49er and New York Giants quarterback who was here for his 20th reunion.
”I`ve learned there are three stages of life,” Tittle said. ”You`re young, you`re middle-aged, and then people start telling you, `You`re looking good.` ”
”You look pretty good, Y.A.,” former Green Bay linebacker Ray Nitschke interrupted.
”I came out of Chicago (Proviso East),” Nitschke said. ”I wasn`t a very nice guy. I decided I wanted to make something of myself. I dedicated myself to football, the greatest sport because it`s a team sport.”
Former Giants defensive end Andy Robustelli, who with Tittle represented the class of 1971, confessed that ”the most difficult part of retiring from the game is the void it leaves in your life. It`s very important to fill that void.”
Tittle said he enjoyed being reunited this weekend with his 49er teammate, running back John Henry Johnson.
”John could never remember my initials,” Tittle recalled. ”In one game, he came into the huddle breathing hard and said, `Hey, A.Y, or X.Y.Z., or whatever your name is. I`m tired of carrying that ball. You gave it to me nine straight times!` ”
Lou Groza of the Cleveland Browns, who played offensive tackle in addition to kicking, needled Stenerud, the first pure placekicker elected to the Hall.
”The rulesmakers made it easy for you when they moved the hashmarks in during the early 1970s,” Groza told Stenerud.
”Probably so,” replied Stenerud before the gag rule went into effect.
”I admit it was easier, being able to concentrate on nothing but kicking. Anyway, you had a good career.”
”I can`t kick” Groza said, dragging out one of his favorite lines.
Oldest Hall of Famer to show up was end Red Badgro, 88, who was inducted in 1981 with Davis, George Blanda and Jim Ringo.
Badgro, who played for the Giants and Yankees and scored a touchdown against the Bears in the 1933 championship game, drove to Canton with his wife from their home near Seattle.
