I admit, I am depressed. Most if not all of you know how important this cause is to me. However, somehow, I am not surprised.
I am not surprised not because I have become a cynic about the lack of ability of MOST sports writers to make a fair and informed decision. This is not a surprise to me in this regard, notwithstanding the fact that each time a group (I do not use the loose term "class") is inducted, the election itself speaks as much of the players as it does about the voters.
I am not surprised because I maintained all along this season that in order for Art Monk to make it, the Redskins needed at least to make it to the Superbowl. We didn't. He didn't go through. Period.
You see folks, this is not only about Art Monk the receiver, the fantastic stats, the great clutch player, the pillar of his team in the league and society after that around him. No.
This outcome was long predicted BECAUSE, for as long as we do not make the voters in the media have to EAT CROW, nobody is going to do so voluntarily.
1) The old voters biased against Art will not change as a matter of PRIDE. Yes, these are the A$$HOLES from Sports Illustrated and others.
2) The newer voters DID NOT WATCH ART PLAY. They are told stories about Joe but did not really know him. They ONLY have one year, this year to go by and THAT was not enough.
3) The past between the two Joe Gibbs tenures left us with an UNEDUCATED OWNER who rather than surround himself with great staff and teams, made the Washington Redskins become the laughing stock of the NFL. Nobody respected the Skins until Joe came back and to be precise this last season.
4) Danny Snyder is a powerful and insanely rich man. But he has picked fights with MANY of the media members who oppose Art the most. You may say that this is unfair and even unethical. You would be right. Why would a good man, a great player, and somebody that did not ever pick a fight with any of these media types pay now for the ridicule and fights entered into by Dan Snyder? No, it does not make sense to you and me. But this is the ONLY way several of them can get at Dan Snyder and the Skins.
Last but not least, I am not optimistic. Players like Jerry Rice will become eligible soon. The "new" standard by which others before Jerry will be judged will be set too high.
But I am a patient man. There is a Chinese proverb that applies in this case. It goes something like this:
"When you REALLY have a BAD enemy, when somebody has done you very WRONG; DO NOTHING!
Seat outside by the door of your house and... wait.
One day, sooner than you expect, the coffin of your enemy will pass in front of you on its way to the graveyard.
I am waiting in front of my door. I am waiting for the coffins of the likes of Peter King and Paul Zimmerman to pass bye in order to throw a party.
Something is TRULY VERY sick with this process when people of this low caliber can judge the worth of a MAN and a PLAYER of the HIGH CLASS and GREAT QUALITY as that of Mr. Art Monk.
Daniel Snyder has defined incompetence, failure and greed to true Washington Redskins fans for over a decade and a half. Stay away from football operations !!!
