Reader Rob Stein of Springfield writes that he's "not optimistic" about Art Monk being elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame when the distinguished group of 39 selectors gather in Jacksonville, Fla., on Saturday to choose up to six former NFL players for induction.
Stein is correct in his grim assessment of the upcoming vote, and he would be even more pessimistic had he read respected Sports Illustrated writer-voter Peter King's case against Monk on SI.com.
King writes that while Monk has 940 receptions (fifth among all-time receivers) for 12,721 yards and 68 touchdowns in a career that spanned 16 seasons (all but two with the Redskins), "numbers should be considered significant, but shouldn't be the god of election to the Hall." King writes that Monk was the leading receiver, all-time, when he retired after the 1995 season, but since then four receivers have passed him.
King adds that the Redskins of Joe Gibbs Era I should have three offensive players in the Hall: guard Russ Grimm (a contender), tackle Joe Jacoby and John Riggins (already enshrined), as well as Gibbs, who wonders, "Am I still in there?"
"Monk was about the fourth most dangerous skill player," King writes of the Gibbs I teams, behind Gary Clark and to a "lesser degree" Ricky Sanders, adding that Monk only made the Associated Press all-pro team twice and was voted to the Pro Bowl only three times, further noting he was not "considered one of the very best receivers of his era either by his peers or the media."
While King himself declared he is not the "gatekeeper" to the Hall, he is a respected committee member who apparently has the ear of many voters and now the scorn of Joe Theismann, a former Redskins quarterback (1975-85) and current ESPN commentator who calls King's observations and influence "a travesty."
"Art Monk is the fourth [sic] leading receiver of all-time and was an integral part of our team," Theismann said, his voice rising with emotion as our interview progressed. "He made all the catches, made all the blocks, made all the practices. He helped us to four Super Bowls, three of them we won. We got to those championship games because of Art Monk. He was tireless, bright and showed a work ethic that was Jerry Rice before there was Jerry Rice. If Monk did not do what he did, made all those catches, Clark and Sanders would not have done what they did. He made us all better players and people. You're going to tell me Michael Irvin [first-time eligible] is better than that? I'm not buying it."
Gibbs added: "We often played [Monk] as an inside receiver as part of our pass protection on a number of plays in which he not only caught the ball but was blasted before going out for the pass. But he still caught a ton of balls, and while he didn't say much, he led by example and was a true professional and student of the game. He was a leader; when he did say something, everyone listened."
With glamour QBs Steve Young and Dan Marino eligible for the first time, as well as Irvin, all TV regulars, does that leave only three spots, or would the world stop if Young and Marino have to wait a year and Irvin is relegated to a special comeback performance of "Crossfire" with Theismann on the NFL Network? Or on which scroll is it written to cap inductions at six?
All the politicking sounds as petty as adults selecting preteens for a traveling team, or choosing a Rotisserie lineup -- demeaning to the dignity of Monk, who only says "it's not up to me" but has the respect of fans here who watched him play pro football as well as you can for 14 seasons. Art Monk deserves to be in the Hall of Fame.
Wizardry
The NBA being the NBA, success is fleeting, the last game being the benchmark and the next game the most important. But Washington's best start in 25 years, getting nine games above .500 in the final days of January, has the town buzzing even more than the heady days of Michael Jordan's two seasons here, because Eddie Jordan's Wizards are better than MJ's Wizards.
GM Ernie Grunfeld cobbled the team together over the past two years, with smart acquisitions such as Gilbert Arenas two years ago and this year's additions, Antawn Jamison, Michael Ruffin and Anthony Peeler. Grunfeld also was fortunate that Charlotte passed on Juan Dixon in the expansion draft and that currently injured Larry Hughes, a free agent next year, matured into a star.
Grunfeld tapped Arenas because "he's a great athlete with speed, a competitive nature and a chip on his shoulder." Jamison was acquired, Grunfeld said, "because we needed a front-court scorer and he had the reputation as a solid guy." Hughes's future: "At the appropriate time, we'll sit down and do a deal; we like him a lot and he likes it here." And Dixon: "A great competitor who has made the most of his opportunity."
And Wizards President Susan O'Malley, who thought she'd be selling visiting NBA stars all season, now finds herself with a hot home team. "Everything is clicking," she said, believing a winning team fills seats but selling the "entertainment experience" is as important.
Touching the Bases
• Major kudos to the Orioles on their likely acquisition of slugger Sammy Sosa from the Chicago Cubs for the versatile Jerry Hairston and two minor league prospects, with the Cubs paying some of Sosa's salary. Sosa, an exciting player when healthy, had worn out his welcome in Chicago. He should hit a lot of home runs in Camden Yards, if everyone involved passes their physicals and Commissioner Bud Selig approves the deal. That's the same Bud Selig who has been trying to get Orioles owner Peter Angelos to sign a deal that gives him millions because the Montreal Expos moved to Washington -- a territory Angelos and the Orioles never had any legal right to. Perhaps Angelos will now sign that agreement, so the Nats can conclude their radio/TV deals and get on with the business of satisfying some unhappy fans who don't like their seats at RFK Stadium.
• If the Philadelphia Eagles ignore the advice of a medical specialist and allow WR Terrell Owens to play in the Super Bowl on a bum ankle, why send the player to a medical specialist?
• Cardozo High School will host the third annual Maury Wills Invitational Baseball Tournament March 24-26 at Banneker Baseball Field. Coach Frazer L. O'Leary Jr. wants to name the field in honor of Wills, a former Dodgers great and Cardozo alum, but has been told by D.C. officials Cardozo can't do that while Wills is alive. Hmmm. Need to consult with Feinstein about that.
• Don't know what to make of Maryland's guys winning at Duke, Georgetown's January Surprise, GW's slump, Virginia Tech pulling upsets in basketball and family members raising eyebrows at my watching the Australian Open, day and night, live and taped, wishing I was schvitzing in Melbourne.
Have a question or comment, reach me at talkback@washpost.com.
