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(Arizona Athletics graphic)
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It’s one of the most popular debates in sports: Who should be in a hall of fame who is not there yet despite the necessary credentials?
The University of Arizona released its 2015 class for its Sports Hall of Fame last week. Among the group are three baseball-related figures: Former coach Andy Lopez (2001-15) and players David Baldwin (1957-59) and Trevor Crowe (2002-05).
Two women’s golfers — Susan Slaughter (1988-90) and Erica Blasberg (2002-04) — will also be inducted into the hall of fame along with four men’s and women’s swimming relay teams.
All are certainly deserving. As is the case with any hall of fame announcement, however, questions arise of who else should be honored.
This blog is by no means meant to be critical of the Arizona Wildcats administrators who determine the hall of fame. Dr. Phoebe Chalk Wadsworth, the chair of the Sports Hall of Fame Committee, and her staff do a credible job of determining the honorees annually.
This slideshow simply shows the athletes and coaches who deserve recognition in the hall of fame sooner than later. Wadsworth and Co. undoubtedly already have these individuals on a list and we should see them in the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame in the relatively near future.
I based my findings on the following criteria set forth by Arizona:
— Inductions occur 10 years after completing their athletics eligibility (hence no Ka’Deem Carey yet).
— Former student-athletes who play professionally on a team sport (i.e. NFL, NBA, WNBA and MLB) are eligible for nomination once they have completed their professional career.
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Site founder and award-winning sports journalist Javier Morales has published his first e-book, “The Highest Form of Living”, a fiction piece about a young man who overcomes a troubled upbringing without his lost father and wayward mother through basketball and hope. His hope is realized through the sport he loves. Basketball enables him to get past his fears. His experience on the court indirectly brings him closer to his parents in a unique, heartfelt way. Please order it at Amazon (for only $4.99) by clicking on the photo:
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— First-team All-American, NCAA champion, world-record setter, Olympic medalist, NCAA statistical leader, professional athletic success, distinguished him/herself as a “pioneer” student-athlete or significant contributor to Arizona athletics while in school or after graduation.
Specific criteria for coaches is not listed although they can fall into the categories of being a pioneer and significant contributor to Arizona athletics.
Now on to the slideshow (click on the next) that shows my opinion of who should be in the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame …
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