The Haggar Gold Jacket Report - Issue 10

The Haggar Gold Jacket Report is a weekly update on recent news surrounding the very select group of men who’ve earned a place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Class of 1983 enshrinee BOBBY BELL will help the Pittsburg Family YMCA in Pittsburg, Kan. celebrate its 125th anniversary with a gala event in the Pittsburg Memorial Auditorium on April 11.

“A highlight of the evening will be the presentation of 10 individuals into the Pittsburg YMCA’s Hall of Fame,” said Jack Bache, executive director.

Bell, the first Kansas City Chiefs player to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, will be the featured speaker for the event. His words will add to what is to be a special night for the Pittsburg Family YMCA and their Hall of Fame Class.

Hall of Fame linebacker RICKEY JACKSON teed off Wednesday morning at 8 a.m. as one of the celebrity amateur golfers at the pairings party for the 2012 Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic at the IP Casino.

The event which leads into the main tournament set for Friday through Sunday at Fallen Oaks featured professional golfers like Tom Kite, Jim Gallagher Jr., Bernhard Langer, Fuzzy Zoeller, Craig Stadler and Tom Lehman.

Jackson, a Class of 2010 enshrinee was paired with two other amateurs and professional J.L. Lewis. He was excited to put his golf game up against the pros near his home turf of Louisiana.

“Just to have these guys down here is great,” Jackson said. “They are also seniors and we’re loyal to our fans … I know a lot of these guys and have followed their careers.”


Northwestern State University will host their first Legends Dinner on Sunday evening at the Riverdome of the Horseshoe Casino and Hotel in Bossier City, La. Pro Football Hall of Fame tight end JACKIE SMITH is headlining the roster of Demon football greats to be in attendance to give back to their alma mater.

The NSU Legends Dinner and Golf Scramble maintains the Demon Victory Fund’s initiatives to provide scholarship assistance and support to nearly 375 young men and women who represent Northwestern State in NCAA Division I athletics.

The Legends Dinner will feature an open question-and-answer roundtable discussion with several former and current NFL players, including Smith, who was inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1994; current Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Demetrius Bell, 17-year head coach Sam Goodwin, 12-year NFL veteran offensive lineman Marcus Spears and seven-year NFL veteran quarterback Craig Nall.

The event will conclude with the golf scramble on Monday afternoon at Shreveport Country Club.


Hall of Fame quarterback JOE NAMATH attended a spring training baseball game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Miami Marlins at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Fla. on Tuesday, March 20. The Class of 1985 Hall of Famer was invited as a guest of Rays' manager Joe Maddon, who like Namath, grew up in Pennsylvania. The Jets famous quarterback was one of Maddon's childhood heroes.

The Rays manager was pretty excited to say the least. "You have no idea," he said. "I'm normally pretty cool about things, but this is different."

"Like I wrote to him the other day, I've been wanting this moment to happen for many, many years," continued Maddon, who hopes to have Namath as a guest at Tropicana Field once the regular season starts. "As a kid growing up, I modeled myself after him as a football player. I started out when I was 10 and wore number 12. … I'm not normally star struck, but I have been today."

Namath, outfitted in a Rays' spring training cap and jersey, was introduced as the "guest assistant manager," Maddon added, "he's in charge of whatever he wants to be in charge of," as he took out the Rays' lineup card.

"I am a baseball fan, but I wasn't aware of Joe's history. When I became aware of it, I got a big kick out of it…I like Joe's style and what I read about him, and was flattered he invited me to practice," Namath explained.


Each member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2012 has been taking part in site surveys of Canton in preparation for the annual Enshrinement ceremony on Saturday, Aug. 4.  Former New Orleans Saints and Kansas City Chiefs tackle WILLIE ROAF took this turn this past Monday as he spent the day meeting with Hall of Fame staff members, learning the lay of the land and receiving a personal tour of the museum from President/Executive Director Steve Perry.

Roaf also visited the Hall of Fame’s Archives and Information Center where he reminisced about his own playing day and the history of professional football. Before leaving Willie sat down to share some thoughts on his upcoming enshrinement. See the video linked below.

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Links Related to this story:

HOF Bios: Bobby Bell, Rickey Jackson, Joe Namath, Willie Roaf, Jackie Smith
More: Interview with Willie Roaf | Roaf visits the HOF | Broadway Joe first to throw for 4,000 yds

Archived:

Issue 9 (Mar.16) | Issue 8 (Mar. 9) | Issue 7 (Mar. 2) | Issue 6 (Feb. 24) | Issue 5 (Feb. 17) | Issue 4 (Feb. 10) | Issue 3 (Feb. 3) |  Issue 2 (Jan. 27) | Issue 1 (Jan. 20)