Sports

Auggie

(31,173 posts) Fri Aug 1, 2014, 10:47 AM Aug 2014

Ray Guy's long wait ends with his Hall of Fame induction

San Francisco Chronicle / 8-1-14

If Ray Guy waited 22 years to get elected to the Hall of Fame because voters thought punters weren't "real" athletes, then it's obvious they weren't fully informed.

After all, the 6-foot-3, 195-pound Guy was a starting safety at Southern Mississippi and was a good enough pitcher that he was drafted by the Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds and Houston Astros. In fact, on the first day of Oakland's training camp his rookie year in 1973, Guy thought nothing of it when he ran on the field with the defense.

"I jumped up and ran in to cover (Fred) Biletnikoff, just like I would have in college. I guess old habits are hard to break," Guy said, laughing. "Man, John (Madden) went ballistic."

"I asked him what the heck he was doing," Madden said. "And he said that (director of player personnel) Ron Wolf told him he could play defense. I told him that Ron lied to him."

MORE: http://www.sfgate.com/raiders/article/Ray-Guy-s-long-wait-ends-with-his-Hall-of-Fame-5661315.php

Guy was awesome

7 replies

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Highlight:

Ray Guy's long wait ends with his Hall of Fame induction (Original Post) Auggie Aug 2014 OP

He and Reggie Roby... trumad Aug 2014 #1

Probably One and Two ProfessorGAC Aug 2014 #6

I always thought the "not real athletes" argument was stupid. hughee99 Aug 2014 #2

It's an argument to expect from a douchebag Auggie Aug 2014 #3

When they have to create new stats to show your influence on the game SwankyXomb Aug 2014 #4

Bout damn time. bluedigger Aug 2014 #5

Chris Kluwe is outspoken about a lot of things, and one was that Ray Guy joeybee12 Aug 2014 #7

trumad

(41,692 posts)

1. He and Reggie Roby...

Reply to Auggie (Original post)

Fri Aug 1, 2014, 04:36 PM

Aug 2014

two of the best.

ProfessorGAC

(65,068 posts)

6. Probably One and Two

Reply to trumad (Reply #1)

Mon Aug 4, 2014, 07:34 AM

Aug 2014

I know Baugh had the record for a long time, but he was kicking a rounder, softer ball.

My dad was a good punter in HS. He held the state record for punting average for a really long time until some kid broke it in the early 80's. He said it was way easier to punt the ball in the late 40's when he was in HS compared to the footballs i had in the 60's and early 70's.

BTW: The punting gene obviously skips a generation. My dad averaged almost 41 yards from scrimmage his last year in HS. If i kicked one 35 yards total it was rare. That would be a 22 yard punt from scrimmage. Of course, at the football factory i went to, i wouldn't have made the team as a punter, even if i was as good as my dad. They hardly ever punted.

hughee99

(16,113 posts)

2. I always thought the "not real athletes" argument was stupid.

Reply to Auggie (Original post)

Fri Aug 1, 2014, 05:54 PM

Aug 2014

If punters aren't real athletes, then why doesn't every team just take some guy of the street, give him the league minimum and let him punt for 30 years. Punting is a significant factor in NFL games, and having a good punter can be the difference between having to drive an extra 20 yards for a score.

And leaving that all aside, you have owners, coaches, league executives and the founder of NFL films, so the idea that someone needed to be a "real athlete" to get into the HoF is ridiculous anyway.

Guy should have been in long ago, Roby should be in too.