CANTON, Ohio — If you love pro football and all of its history, the Canton Civic Center was the place to be Friday night.
There was LeRoy Butler getting his gold jacket, put on by his wife, Genesis. Yet that was just one of the stories told that evening.
More than 100 of the living Hall of Famers were in attendance Friday night. All of them got their names called and had a chance to bathe in the applause one more time. They helped build this game. And the wear and tear on many of their bodies was evident.
Still, it was fun to see their names called and remember back to games and moments of years past.
When Ted Hendricks was introduced, I didn’t think of his years with the Baltimore Colts or the Oakland Raiders. I thought of his 1974 season with the Green Bay Packers. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen one guy be so dominant on defense and special teams. He intercepted five passes, blocked seven kicks and scored a safety.
And there was Dave Casper from Chilton, Wisconsin. When I think of him, my mind goes back to two iconic plays with the Raiders. The “Ghost to the Post” pass from the late Kenny Stabler in a 1977 playoff game against the Colts. And “The Holy Roller” when he kicked and fumbled the ball into the end zone for a 1978 victory over the San Diego Chargers.
I haven’t been a kid for a long time. I felt like one again for a few hours Friday night in Canton.