Notes on a trip to the Super Bowl.Sports Illustrated NFL writer Paul Zimmerman, better known as Dr. Z, has a reputation as the old curmudgeon of the football writing business. I met him today, and he lived up to that reputation.
I introduced myself to Zimmerman and told him I'd been reading his work for my entire life. He replied, "That makes me feel old."
I then asked Zimmerman about the upcoming Pro Football Hall of Fame selection meeting, which is on the day before the Super Bowl. Zimmerman is one of the selectors, and he recently changed his mind about former Redskins receiver Art Monk, saying that after years of being the most vocal opponent of Monk's enshrinement, he will now vote for Monk. So what changed his mind?
"I figured, just put him the f--- in already," Zimmerman told me. "I'm tired of being the a--hole."
So there you have it. Monk has his best chance yet of getting into the Hall of Fame because one of America's most respected football writers is tired of being an a--hole.
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. oh he's still an a$$hole
Posted at 2:52PM on Jan 30th 2008 by CT
2. or maybe the guy who retired the all time leader in receptions deserves to be in. Especially if a coke fiend who played the same position got in last year
Posted at 3:56PM on Jan 30th 2008 by Huh?
3. I'm tired of Dr. Z being an A-hole too.
Posted at 4:42PM on Jan 30th 2008 by nganassim
4. Mr.Zimmerman, I was at the game when Art Monk broke the [then] all-time reception record and Art showed his normal unselfish way...let's just go to the next play attitude.
However, I never felt RFK stadium rock more...simply electric! Why his isn't in the Hall of Fame is criminal. Vote YES Mr.Z
Posted at 7:15PM on Jan 30th 2008 by Tim Nelson
5. Oh, come off it, commenter. I've always felt Monk should be in the hall, but good lord: he has not been the selection committee's most egregious error.
Dr. Z's one of the best.
Posted at 8:07PM on Jan 30th 2008 by BlueStarDude
6. @ BlueStarDude, he retired leading the NFL in receiving yards. Thats pretty strong support.
Posted at 9:08PM on Jan 30th 2008 by Compare Event Tickets
7. I'm with BlueStarDude on this. I too think Art Monk belongs in the HoF, but there is precedent for his waiting a while before getting in. Please note, for example, that Billy Howton retired in 1964 with what was then the career record for receptions -- and he's still not in the HoF and probably should be. It didn't help that Ray Berry passed him a year later.
There's no shortage of egregious Pro Football HoF omissions and I don't think Monk is necessarily the worst of them.
Posted at 12:53AM on Jan 31st 2008 by bachslunch
8. Check out http://www.coachmike.net/artmonk/artmonk.htm. I try to answer all the people who hate Monk and the Redskins there. It's a real shame that Dr. Z and King had so much influence over the process for so many years. I believe very strongly that Monk's omission is the most glaring omission from any HOF in any sport.
Posted at 2:08AM on Jan 31st 2008 by Mike Frandsen
9. Who isn't tired of Dr. Z being an old a--hole.
Posted at 10:47AM on Jan 31st 2008 by bmf1314
10. Zimmerman is neither "well respected" nor "one of the best" certainly not anymore. He's like a 70 year old comic who has been doing the same tired schtich for 40 years. Enough about "the Redhead"!!! Monk, Gary Zimmerman and Ray Guy are all glaring omissions. But THE most glaring omission is the fact that The Ventures are not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Posted at 10:51AM on Jan 31st 2008 by Tim
11. Tim, you'll be happy to know that the Ventures just got elected to the R&RHoF this year along with Madonna, Leonard Cohen, John Mellencamp, and the Dave Clark 5.
Agreed that Gary Zimmerman should also be in the HoF, but he's got several more years of eligibility left. He'll likely get in several years down the road.
Ray Guy's HoF consideration difficulties are well documented on the web, but to rehash them yet again: some voters argue that a punter contributes to at most 6 plays per game and doesn't belong in any more than a long snapper or other special teams player does. Others have a problem with Guy's punting in general, arguing that he was more concerned about distance and hang time and less about pinning the opposition deep, that he had way too many touchbacks. Dr. Z is on record as saying as much, and prefers someone like Tommy Davis for the HoF.
Posted at 5:43PM on Jan 31st 2008 by bachslunch
12. I have always been more partial towards putting in Gary Clark in instead of Art Monk. I feared Clark more, and I know teams gameplanned for Clarm more.
Posted at 5:46PM on Jan 31st 2008 by David
13. ABSURD!! Of the top 100 players by the Sporting News, there are 11 wide receivers and Monk is the ONLY one not in it!!! DOLTS!!!
He was a GREAT receiver, great blocker and wonderful person. YET they allow a coke head--Irvin--in and many others with lesser credentials in and whose feats were not as spectacular based on period played. This is ludicrous. Jerry Rice patterned himself after this man---GET SMART!!!
Posted at 6:21PM on Jan 31st 2008 by Budo
14. Budo, character issues are considered totally off base for Pro Football HoF consideration, expressly stated per the HoF's own guidelines. While I also think Art Monk belongs in, his being a "wonderful person" or lack of drug use has no bearing here.
Posted at 7:48PM on Jan 31st 2008 by bachslunch
15. Monk might not be most glaring error, but certainly among those in contention his omission is the most glaring error.
Also, in a time when the NFL is cracking down on players for off field behavior, I think now is the time for Monk's sterling personal reputation-both while a player and while retired-has a bearing in HOF considerations.
As far as Gary Clark and the like go, no one considers how much Art Monk did for them...if you look at Coach Mike's analysis, you see that guys like Charlie Brown and Gary Clark had their best years while playing with Monk...they needed the all-around threat that Monk posed to help them get open...and while they often did, those of us who were around back then remember that neither of these guys had great hands and dropped more than their fair share of balls...
Posted at 8:24AM on Feb 1st 2008 by Bwana
16. I am glad Zimmerman has come around. But I think his statemets are insane. I love Art Monk, he was more than a great player he was a great person. I guess to be in the hall you have to be selfish and a bit of a self center guy. 81 was never that. To bad he is being penalized for being a good person
Posted at 9:27AM on Feb 2nd 2008 by Jacksonreston