Grog
Semper Gumby
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I thought this article was too cool not to share with my fellow football fans. Elvin Bethea was one of the greatest Defensive players ever to play the game and it should not have taken this long to get into the HOF. Many feel that if sack records had been kept for the first 15 years he played, he might be the all time sacks leader today and would have gone into the Hall as soon as he was eligible.
Aug. 4, 2003, 3:38PM
'ONE OF THE GAME'S ELITE'
Former Oiler's Hall of Fame induction comes with a surprise
By JOHN McCLAIN
Copyright 2003 Houston Chronicle
CANTON, Ohio -- On what he called "the greatest day of my life," former Houston Oilers defensive end Elvin Bethea was sitting on a stage at Fawcett Stadium, preparing to make the most important speech of his 57 years, when he received an unexpected surprise.
Fifteen years after he became eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Bethea thought he had planned for everything possible, that he had left nothing to chance, but in his wildest imagination, he never considered that his oldest son -- Navy Lt. Lamonte Bethea -- would participate in the flyover to start Sunday's festivities.
"No one in my family told me because they wanted it to be a surprise, and it sure was," Bethea said after the induction ceremony and his coronation as one of the greatest players in professional football history. "I knew Lamonte was here with the rest of my family, but I had no idea that he'd be part of the ceremony. What a nice surprise. I'm so proud of him, and that made today even more special."
Lamonte Bethea, who instructs Navy and Marine fighter pilots in Meridian, Miss., was stationed in Bahrain in January when he learned his father had been elected to the Hall of Fame.
"We were watching CNN when we saw my dad had finally made it," Lamonte Bethea said. "One of my commanding officers said right away that I should be part of the flyover, and he got on the phone immediately and got the wheels turning. I didn't even know there'd be a flyover. What an honor to be part of such a special time in my father's life."
Bethea, Marcus Allen, Joe DeLamielleure, James Lofton, and Hank Stram made up the Class of 2003.
"They told us that over 18,000 players have played pro football, but only 221 of us are enshrined in Canton," said Elvin Bethea, who played in eight Pro Bowls during his 16-year career, all with the Oilers. "To be inducted on an anniversary weekend like this is almost overwhelming."
On the 40th anniversary of the original class of the Hall of Fame -- of which Sammy Baugh, 89, is the only survivor -- 116 members returned to Canton for four days of activities that culminate tonight with the preseason game between Green Bay and Kansas City, a reunion of Super Bowl I teams.
"I'd never watched an induction ceremony," Bethea said. "I never thought I'd be part of the Hall of Fame in my lifetime. I figured if, by some miracle, I ever made it, I'd be dead and gone. Now my children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren will be able to see me in Canton long after I'm gone.
"To look at the list and be able to say that I'm one of 221 -- one of the game's elite -- is such an incredible feeling."
Bethea said one of the most exciting things about his trip to Canton was meeting former Eagles linebacker Chuck Bednarik.
"When I was a senior in high school in Trenton (N.J.), Bednarik spoke at our sports banquet," Bethea said. "He was the first professional athlete I'd ever seen in person. He was larger than life to me, and now I'm in the Hall of Fame with him. It's hard to describe what that means to me."
During his time in Canton, Bethea saw a lot of old friends and made some new ones.
"I used to think Elvin was the biggest jerk because he never said anything when we played, but now that I've gotten to know him, he's one of the nicest guys I've ever met," said DeLamielleure, a guard during his 13-year career with Buffalo and Cleveland.
Joe Namath played quarterback for the New York Jets during Bethea's first nine years with the Oilers.
"When Elvin put on his uniform, he underwent a personality change," Namath said. "He smiled a lot off the field, but when he strapped it on, he was out to get you. He caused me a lot of sleepless nights."
Bethea retired in 1983, the year after quarterback sacks started being recorded in NFL statistics. He is believed to have taken Namath and other quarterbacks down 105 times, including 16 in 1973. He took a spot in the Hall alongside Deacon Jones, Joe Greene and other master pass rushers.
"You know, I've been asked by a lot of people what's been the most memorable thing I've done since I got to Canton," Bethea said. "Getting the gold jacket Saturday night is something I'll never forget, but let me tell you something. Standing on that stage while 116 members of the Hall of Fame walked by us and shook our hands was the most unbelievable thing I've ever experienced."
Aug. 4, 2003, 3:38PM
'ONE OF THE GAME'S ELITE'
Former Oiler's Hall of Fame induction comes with a surprise
By JOHN McCLAIN
Copyright 2003 Houston Chronicle
CANTON, Ohio -- On what he called "the greatest day of my life," former Houston Oilers defensive end Elvin Bethea was sitting on a stage at Fawcett Stadium, preparing to make the most important speech of his 57 years, when he received an unexpected surprise.
Fifteen years after he became eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Bethea thought he had planned for everything possible, that he had left nothing to chance, but in his wildest imagination, he never considered that his oldest son -- Navy Lt. Lamonte Bethea -- would participate in the flyover to start Sunday's festivities.
"No one in my family told me because they wanted it to be a surprise, and it sure was," Bethea said after the induction ceremony and his coronation as one of the greatest players in professional football history. "I knew Lamonte was here with the rest of my family, but I had no idea that he'd be part of the ceremony. What a nice surprise. I'm so proud of him, and that made today even more special."
Lamonte Bethea, who instructs Navy and Marine fighter pilots in Meridian, Miss., was stationed in Bahrain in January when he learned his father had been elected to the Hall of Fame.
"We were watching CNN when we saw my dad had finally made it," Lamonte Bethea said. "One of my commanding officers said right away that I should be part of the flyover, and he got on the phone immediately and got the wheels turning. I didn't even know there'd be a flyover. What an honor to be part of such a special time in my father's life."
Bethea, Marcus Allen, Joe DeLamielleure, James Lofton, and Hank Stram made up the Class of 2003.
"They told us that over 18,000 players have played pro football, but only 221 of us are enshrined in Canton," said Elvin Bethea, who played in eight Pro Bowls during his 16-year career, all with the Oilers. "To be inducted on an anniversary weekend like this is almost overwhelming."
On the 40th anniversary of the original class of the Hall of Fame -- of which Sammy Baugh, 89, is the only survivor -- 116 members returned to Canton for four days of activities that culminate tonight with the preseason game between Green Bay and Kansas City, a reunion of Super Bowl I teams.
"I'd never watched an induction ceremony," Bethea said. "I never thought I'd be part of the Hall of Fame in my lifetime. I figured if, by some miracle, I ever made it, I'd be dead and gone. Now my children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren will be able to see me in Canton long after I'm gone.
"To look at the list and be able to say that I'm one of 221 -- one of the game's elite -- is such an incredible feeling."
Bethea said one of the most exciting things about his trip to Canton was meeting former Eagles linebacker Chuck Bednarik.
"When I was a senior in high school in Trenton (N.J.), Bednarik spoke at our sports banquet," Bethea said. "He was the first professional athlete I'd ever seen in person. He was larger than life to me, and now I'm in the Hall of Fame with him. It's hard to describe what that means to me."
During his time in Canton, Bethea saw a lot of old friends and made some new ones.
"I used to think Elvin was the biggest jerk because he never said anything when we played, but now that I've gotten to know him, he's one of the nicest guys I've ever met," said DeLamielleure, a guard during his 13-year career with Buffalo and Cleveland.
Joe Namath played quarterback for the New York Jets during Bethea's first nine years with the Oilers.
"When Elvin put on his uniform, he underwent a personality change," Namath said. "He smiled a lot off the field, but when he strapped it on, he was out to get you. He caused me a lot of sleepless nights."
Bethea retired in 1983, the year after quarterback sacks started being recorded in NFL statistics. He is believed to have taken Namath and other quarterbacks down 105 times, including 16 in 1973. He took a spot in the Hall alongside Deacon Jones, Joe Greene and other master pass rushers.
"You know, I've been asked by a lot of people what's been the most memorable thing I've done since I got to Canton," Bethea said. "Getting the gold jacket Saturday night is something I'll never forget, but let me tell you something. Standing on that stage while 116 members of the Hall of Fame walked by us and shook our hands was the most unbelievable thing I've ever experienced."
