Pro Football Hall of Fame

Greeting from the Troutts

If you aren’t familiar with Harry and Kitten Troutt, they are among the most extraordinary 49ers fans in the known universe. Harry, in fact, is in the fans’ wing of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. They have approximately 7 million items of memorabilia displayed in their Santa Rosa home, know just about everyone in Niners history on a first-name basis, and have a habit of showing up for every big event. Like the Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
The Troutts were in Canton this weekend to honor Jerry Rice. Here, reprinted by permission, is Kitten’s dispatch to me:

August 9, 2010
0 comment
Read More >>

Breaking down Jerry Rice’s greatness

I made a guest appearance on a radio show in Miami today to talk about Jerry Rice’s induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this weekend. The segment was short, so I’m going to foist all my well-rehearsed lines on you. Four things I’ll always remember about Jerry Rice:
THE JOY
I was a young editor/writer working for NFL Publishing sometime around 1990 when I first got to see Rice in person. It was at the Pro Bowl in Honolulu, where I had the plum assignment of interviewing several players for future GameDay magazine stories in between sips of daiquiri.

August 6, 2010
10 comments
Read More >>

Plenty of 49ers to see Rice’s induction

When Jerry Rice looks out upon what promises to be a reverent crowd at Fawcett Stadium in Canton, Ohio, on August 7, he will not be the lone 49er in the wilderness. According to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, at least nine former Niners will be there to see Rice inducted – the most of any NFL team. Attendance by existing Hall of Famers has become one of the…

July 27, 2010
4 comments
Read More >>