Lib Attacks Lynn Swann's Football Credentials

Lynn Swann Does Not Deserve To Be In the Hall of Fame by Chris Bowers, Mon Apr 03, 2006 at 02:30:42 PM EST

Does Lynn Swann, Republican candidate for Governor of Pennsylvania and retired wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers, deserve to be in the pro football Hall of Fame? When hearing this question for the first time, I imagine that most fans of professional football will probably say yes. The first thing that will probably come to their minds are the endlessly repeated replays of two or three spectacular catches he made during a Super Bowl game. However, a player's worthiness for inclusion in the Hall of Fame should not be based upon two or three spectacular catches. If that was the case, then journeyman wide receiver Joe Jurevicius would be a lock for the Hall considering his remarkable Monday Night Football reception against the Eagles three years ago. Few doubt that catch was one of the ten most spectacular of all-time, but I also seriously doubt that anyone will argue that Joe Jurevicius deserves to be included in the Hall of Fame upon his eventual retirement from the NFL. Also, in his nine years in the NFL, Jurevicius has been on three Super Bowl teams, including the championship Tampa Bay team. That total is only one short of Lynn Swann's four Super Bowls in nine years, yet once again I don't imagine that there will be a major outcry for Jurevicius to be in the Hall upon his retirement.

I'm a Vikings fan (she said with a whisper...). I live in 'Steeler Country' and was pleased to see them go to the SuperBowl, but I wouldn't say I'm an avid fan. Swann was beautiful to watch, they say he took ballet to get more flexibility - remember how big that was in the later 70's? He could block and take a hit, too. I remember watching as a kid and hearing or saying, throw it to Swanny. But they ran the ball a lot.

Swann was the #1 receiver. Stats don't tell half of it.

They really don't. And Swann was, and is, a classy guy off the field as well.

In the early 70's ANY use of hands by the O-linemen was holding, a FIFTEEN yard penalty. Also, much more chucking of receivers was allowed

I remember this well, I've always enjoyed football. It was a different game then, and there were definitely throwing teams and running teams. I remember Swann taking some pretty solid hits as he attempted to catch the ball, but he was so graceful and he got right back into it. Franco Harris got a lot of press for his running game. Is Franco in the HOF? I can't imagine the media trying to smear his good name by claiming he, Franco, didn't deserve the HOF, should Franco be in a political race. But then Franco is a solid democrat, in a solidly dem city. And not nearly as classy.

I visit Pittsburgh from a few times a year, being in PA. I've never seen Swann, but a few of my relatives have. He is like the regular guys, I'm told, and is always gracious when a fan stops him. My brother in law spoke with him at a McDonald's while their kids played. We saw Franco in the airport, heading to the same short term lot as we were, he blew off the fans who approached him. He could have been in a hurry. But it was a stark contrast.

The libs are afraid of Swann, he can win PA and that can't happen outside the black group Swann should be a part of.

They have to cripple any black guy that thinks he can make it off the plantation. Otherwise the idea might catch on. It might set a trend and put the professional "exploiters" out of business. Life for them without victims could become unbearable.

His was a borderline case -- he was defeated for election to the Hall of Fame what -- maybe 9 times? before he succeeded.
His career numbers were low compared to other receivers of the same era, so yes, there was good argument for voting against him. (I'm saying this as a Steeler fan).

Myron Cope resigned from the Hall of Fame committee because he had nominated and made the case for Swann so many times that he was afraid the other commitee members were tired of hearing it from him.

Hey, Jim Bunning failed for election to the baseball hall of fame at least 15 times. The Old Timers' Committee finally voted him in. So Swann may have a future in politics after all.

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