Top 10 outrageous hall of fame exclusions

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Phil Helm / AskMen.com
Induction into any sports hall of fame is the culmination of a lifelong dream; it is the ascension to the pinnacle of organized competition. A hall of fame represents the cream of the crop and the best a sport has to offer in its storied history. Life suddenly becomes more meaningful for the inducted.

Sometimes life is unfair, and a fine candidate is inexplicably excluded. Most of us would not bat an eyelash at their induction, but it's easy to be on the outside looking in. The following is a list of 10 athletes who were outrageously exluded from their respective hall of fames (the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the Hockey Hall of Fame, the National Baseball Hall of Fame, and the National Baseball Hall of Fame).
10. Tex Winter

The first thing to say about Tex Winter is that he has nine NBA Championship rings. The next thing to say is that he is widely considered to be the innovator of the triangle offense. This offensive scheme was the one used by the Chicago Bulls during their run of six championships in eight years during the 1990s, and also with the Los Angeles Lakers during their run of three straight championships from 2000 to 2002. The triangle offense has changed the way that teams defend, and many still use a version of the offense. Tex was also awarded a lifetime achievement honor by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
Reason for exclusion: Winter may have innovated the offense, but the man who implemented it each time was Phil Jackson ??? this fact probably lessens Winter's accomplishments in the eyes of voters. Also, Winter never accomplished much in the NBA either as a player or a coach. His resume at Kansas State was impressive; he won nearly 70 percent of his games and went to two Final Fours.

 

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9. Thurman Thomas

Thurman Thomas played 12 of his 13 NFL years with the Buffalo Bills and was a part of their AFC domination during the 1990s. Statistically, he was one of the most successful running backs ever to play the game: He has more than 12,000 yards rushing, he led the league in yards from scrimmage for four straight years (a standing NFL record), he went to five consecutive Pro Bowls, and he was the NFL's MVP in 1991. He was also a skilled receiver and nabbed more than 400 balls in his career. Thomas was the lynch pin of the Jim Kelly-led K-Gun offense that appeared in four straight Super Bowls from 1991 to 1994.

Reason for exclusion: Unfortunately, Thomas was not himself on football's biggest stage. His numbers were Super Bowl MVP-like against the Giants in 1991, but Scott Norwood saw to it that the Bills lost the first of those four straight Super Bowls. Thomas performed miserably in the next three, as he only compiled a total of 69 rushing yards. Hall of Fame voters no doubt remember the sideline images of the withdrawn, dejected and embarrassed Thomas ??? not the characteristics of one of the game's best. 8. Dino Ciccarelli

The former Minnesota North Star played 19 seasons in the NHL, scored 1,200 career points and collected 608 goals. Many point to Ciccarelli as the best player to never win a Stanley Cup. In 1981, he dominated the NHL playoffs by scoring 21 points in 19 games. He had more than 100 points in two seasons and he appeared in four All-Star Games. When he retired, Ciccarelli was ninth all-time in goals scored; a remarkable feat for a man that was never drafted by an NHL team.
Reason for exclusion: Ciccarelli is not high on the list for either career points or play-off points. He also failed twice with the North Stars and once with the Red Wings to win the Stanley Cup. More notably though, Ciccarelli was a thorn in the side of the media and tarnished his image when he pled guilty to indecent exposure. He also went to jail for a day when he was convicted of assault.

 

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8. Dino Ciccarelli

The former Minnesota North Star played 19 seasons in the NHL, scored 1,200 career points and collected 608 goals. Many point to Ciccarelli as the best player to never win a Stanley Cup. In 1981, he dominated the NHL playoffs by scoring 21 points in 19 games. He had more than 100 points in two seasons and he appeared in four All-Star Games. When he retired, Ciccarelli was ninth all-time in goals scored; a remarkable feat for a man that was never drafted by an NHL team.
Reason for exclusion: Ciccarelli is not high on the list for either career points or play-off points. He also failed twice with the North Stars and once with the Red Wings to win the Stanley Cup. More notably though, Ciccarelli was a thorn in the side of the media and tarnished his image when he pled guilty to indecent exposure. He also went to jail for a day when he was convicted of assault

 

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7. Dale Murphy

One of the most outstanding players to step onto a major league diamond during the 1980s, Dale Brian Murphy was a menace at the plate and in the field. In an era before home runs came a dime a dozen, the former Atlanta Braves outfielder smacked 398 career dingers and batted in 1,266 RBIs. Murphy was also a seven-time all-star, in no small part because of his excellent fielding ??? he owns five Gold Glove Awards. From 1983 to 1985, he led the league or was near the top of almost all offensive categories: He was the league's home-run leader in 1984 and 1985, and he was the NL MVP in 1982 and 1983. Murphy was also a model citizen off the field, and has earned both the Lou Gehrig and Roberto Clemente awards for his unparalleled character and integrity.

Reason for exclusion: Because of baseball's recent penchant for home runs, Murphy's career round-tripper numbers have been dwarfed. Also, his less than stellar hitting average of .265 is below average and certainly not up to Hall of Fame standards. Don't forget that he had 1,748 career strikeouts. 6. Don Nelson

In Nelson's 14 NBA seasons he averaged a solid 10.3 points a game and won five NBA Championship rings with the Boston Celtics. Nelson's jersey was retired by the Celtics and it hangs in the arena's rafters. However, Nelson is better known as a coach who has won more than 1,200 career games and who is widely credited for inventing the point forward position. He won NBA Coach of the Year in 1983 and 1985, and led Dream Team II to an Olympic Gold Medal.
Reason for exclusion: The supposed inventor of "Hack-a-Shaq" was never a star as a player and routinely sat on the bench to give way to Bill Russell and company. Primarily, however, his exclusion has to stem from the fact that he has never won an NBA Championship as a coach

 

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5. Doug Gilmour

Killer, as he was affectionately named by former teammate Brian Sutter, played 21 seasons in the NHL for seven different teams, and he captained for both the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Chicago Blackhawks. Doug Gilmour was known throughout hockey as one of the great players that excelled at both ends of the ice. In 1994, he earned the Frank J. Selke Trophy for best defensive forward while he topped 100 points. He also ranks as 16th for all-time points with 1,414. Even more impressive was his 188 total play-off points, which rank him seventh on the all-time list.
Reason for exclusion: Gilmour's exclusion most likely originates from both the view that his career was more journeyman than anything, and his alleged impropriety with his kids' babysitter in 1988. Supposedly, his trade to the Calgary Flames in 1988 was directly related to the incident. 2006 was his first year of eligibility for the Hockey Hall of Fame, and the slew of big names on the 2007 ballot may keep him out indefinitely

 

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4. Jim RiceThe former Red Sox left fielder played 16 seasons in Fenway Park, and he compiled 2,452 hits, 382 home runs and 1,451 RBIs. Rice is an eight time all-star, and he was named the AL MVP in 1978. Rice was a gifted player, and in 1981 he was on the list of 100 greatest baseball players of all time. He also holds the distinction of being the only MLB player to have 200 hits and 39 home runs in a season for three straight seasons. He also batted for .300 or better seven times during his career.

Reason for exclusion: Aside from Rice's 1978 MVP season, he did little to stand out from his peers and was overshadowed by players of his era such as Reggie Jackson, Mike Schmidt and Dave Parker, who each won a World Series ring during their playing days ??? something that Rice never accomplished. Finally, Rice batted a paltry .225 in his three career post-season series. 3. Art Monk

James Arthur Monk played 16 years in the NFL, mostly for the Washington Redskins. At one point, Monk was the all-time leader in receptions; his record was broken by Jerry Rice. Monk also held the record for most receptions in a year (106), but that title now belongs to Marvin Harrison. He ranks sixth on the all-time NFL receptions list, which is remarkable considering the modern adoption of pass-happy offenses. Additionally, outside of football, Monk helped found The Good Samaritan Foundation. Tack on four Super Bowl rings, and you have yourself what seems to be a lock for the Hall of Fame.
Reason for exclusion: Monk's failure to be inducted is a mystery, but supposedly the thinking goes that Monk was never spectacular on the field (he only led the league in receptions once and never led in receiving yards) and did not change the way defenses played against the Skins. He simply caught a lot of passes on an already great team. The modern offense has also hurt Monk and it is no longer uncommon for a wide receiver to catch 100 balls.

 

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2. John Jordan ''Buck" O'Neil

O'Neil was one of the best players to play in the Negro Leagues in the '30s and '40s. He led the league in batting twice and played in three all-star games while with the Kansas City Monarchs. Buck also kept the Monarchs at the top of the league when he managed them. One of Major League Baseball's first black scouts and coaches with the Chicago Cubs in 1962, O'Neil was credited with some superb scouting finds, including Ernie Banks, Lou Brock and Joe Carter. Most notably in O'Neil's life was his position as Chairman of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, where he helped expose the masses to greats such as Satchel Paige and Josh Gibson.
Reason for exclusion: No one can definitively state why O'Neil has not been enshrined; the prevailing feeling is that he was a relative unknown outside of baseball die-hards until 1994 when a baseball documentary thrust him into the limelight. With his passing in October 2006, there is bound to be a groundswell of support to have him inducted

 

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1. Derrick Thomas

Thomas was one of the most feared defenders of his time, and offensive coordinators routinely had to account for his presence to execute any sort of game plan. He had 127.5 career sacks and was named to nine straight Pro Bowls from 1989 to 1997 with the Kansas City Chiefs. Thomas set the record for most sacks in a single game (seven) in 1990. He also amassed a remarkable 20 sacks in the same year. He (along with Lawrence Taylor) changed the way linebackers play the position, and paved the way for many teams to switch to a more successful 3-4 defensive scheme. Not surprisingly, Thomas was also named to the NFL All-Decade team for the 1990s.
Reason for exclusion: Tragically, Thomas' career was cut short by an icy road and his failure to wear a seat belt while driving to the airport. Thomas was a dominant force for the Chiefs, and if not for a player named Lawrence Taylor, could be considered as one of the best at the position

 

[JOHNYORK]

why the hell is derrickt homas not inthere?!!!?!!! im not sure bernard king is in there either could be wrong tho

 

[Double D]

Derrick Thomas is in there.

 

[JOHNYORK]

i thought minos list had him as number 1 snub??

 

[Double D]

He is the number 1 snub I thought you didnt notice he was in there at all?

 

[goandykid]

Art Monk by far, and no one knows why.

 

[goandykid]

3. Art Monk

James Arthur Monk played 16 years in the NFL, mostly for the Washington Redskins. At one point, Monk was the all-time leader in receptions; his record was broken by Jerry Rice. Monk also held the record for most receptions in a year (106), but that title now belongs to Marvin Harrison. He ranks sixth on the all-time NFL receptions list, which is remarkable considering the modern adoption of pass-happy offenses. Additionally, outside of football, Monk helped found The Good Samaritan Foundation. Tack on four Super Bowl rings, and you have yourself what seems to be a lock for the Hall of Fame.
Reason for exclusion: Monk's failure to be inducted is a mystery, but supposedly the thinking goes that Monk was never spectacular on the field (he only led the league in receptions once and never led in receiving yards) and did not change the way defenses played against the Skins. He simply caught a lot of passes on an already great team. The modern offense has also hurt Monk and it is no longer uncommon for a wide receiver to catch 100 balls.

 

[Goodfella9783]

He is the number 1 snub I thought you didnt notice he was in there at all?

I think he means "why is he not in the hall of fame?"

 

[JOHNYORK]

He is the number 1 snub I thought you didnt notice he was in there at all?

ic

 

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To me it's Jim Rice.
Cough *homer* Cough

 

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I think it means "why is he not in the hall of fame?"

Your half right.