There’s no question that retired NFL receivers Isaac Bruce and Terrell Owens went about their business in different ways.
Owens was a noted diva who irritated coachers, teammates and fans. Bruce was a quiet taskmaster who let his big plays do most of his talking.
NFL Hall of Fame voters are misguided in letting Owens’ histrionics cloud their judgement and, so far, rejecting his bids for enshrinement.
Ironic as it might seem, Bruce should be Owens’ lobbyist when it comes to the Hall of Fame because, until Owens gets in, Bruce most likely won’t either.
During Super Bowl weekend last February in Houston, 46 media members and two Hall of Famers, James Lofton and Dan Fouts, trimmed the list of finalists to 10 and then five Saturday. Owens reportedly did not make the final 10.
Among those who were selected and then enshrined in August was former St. Louis Rams quarterback Kurt Warner.
Owens was a five-time All-Pro member and six-time Pro Bowler. He had nine 1,000-yard seasons during his 11-year career and eight seasons with double-digit touchdown receptions. He led the NFL in touchdown catches three times with 16 in 2001, 13 in 2002 and 13 in 2006.
“When you just look at what he accomplished, everybody looks and says, ‘C’mon.’ The numbers are there, the impact is there,” Warner said after Owens did not receive enough votes.
Owens is second in NFL receiving yards with 15,934 and third in all-time TD receptions with 153.
Bruce’s outstanding career has him fifth in receptions with 1,024, fourth in receiving yards with 15,208 and 12th in receiving touchdowns with 91.
He was a four-time Pro Bowler and led the NFL in receiving yards with 1,338 in 1996. Bruce was 1-1 in Super Bowl appearances, while Owens was 0-1.
Yes, Bruce is deserving of a Hall of Fame nod – but Owens should go in before him and his antics should not be a reason for stubborn HOF voters to block his enshrinement.
Owens and Bruce also have another factor to deal with when it comes to the Hall of Fame.
Randy Moss, certainly no choir boy himself, is eligible for selection in 2018 and most of his career numbers surpass both Owens and Bruce. It will be interesting to see if voters view Moss in the same light as Owens and let incidents that have nothing to do with the game of football skew their respective judgement.
Bruce Gala Sept. 21
Along with being a first-class football player and gentleman, Bruce continues to serve the St. Louis region through his Isaac Bruce Foundation.
His “Gridiron Gala” fundraiser will be held on Thursday, Sept. 21 at the Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis.
The event will feature music, beverages and food from some several St. Louis restaurants, including Annie Gunn’s, Yolklore, 801 Fish, Cielo, Ruth’s Chris, Bristol, J Gilbert’s, Millie’s Barbeque and Helfer’s Pastries.
Isaac and other former Rams and NFL players will be in attendance and the evening will feature a question and answer session. All guests will receive an autographed item.
Gridiron Gala tickets are $100. Tables of 10 are $1,200. Contact Tiffani Burris at tiffani@isaacbruce.org or 314-369-4074 for additional information.
Sloane Opens up
Last January, Sloane Stephens underwent surgery to address a nagging stress fracture in her left foot. By the time Wimbledon rolled around in July, she was barely ranked among the top 1,000 women tennis players in the world at No. 957.
But for two weeks in early September, Stephens showed that she is not only back – but most likely here to stay.
Stephens steamrolled fellow American Madison Keys 6-3, 6-0 to win the U.S. Open and capture her first Grand Slam title last Saturday. Her nearly perfect match required just 61 minutes. Four U.S. women comprised the tournament’s semifinalists and an African-American finalist was guaranteed because Stephens faced Venus Williams in that round.
The youthful Stephens topped the gallant Williams 6-1, 0-6, 7-5 to set up the finals match against her close friend Keys.
“I mean, there is no words to describe how I got here, the process it took or anything like that, because if you told someone this story, they’d be, like, ‘That’s insane,’” said Stephens from the court after the match.
“Just like, ‘Wow, how insane? I actually won the U.S. Open. Wow. What a moment.”
She gave hints that she would be a factor at the Open by reaching the semifinals at tournaments in Toronto and Cincinnati in August. She had reached No. 83 in the world, but when new rankings are posted, Stephens will be No. 17.
“I’m going to totally put this in my bio, U.S. Open champion. I think when anyone has a Grand Slam champion in front of their name, it changes things a little bit,” she said.
And with a laugh she said, “I should just retire now, I’m never going to be able to top this.”
Alvin A. Reid is a panelist on the Nine Network program, Donnybrook, is a weekly contributor to “The Charlie Tuna Show” on KFNS and can also be heard on Frank Cusumano’s “The Press Box.” His Twitter handle is #aareid1.
