Terrell Owens inducted himself into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday afternoon at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. We can guarantee you haven’t seen an induction ceremony quite like this one.
T.O. received his gold jacket, which was mailed to him, and delivered his acceptance speech at his alma mater. He explained why he didn’t travel to Canton like the rest of the inductees and trashed the writers who made the first ballot hall of famer wait three years before voting him in.
Terrell Owens puts on his Gold Hall of Fame jacket that was delivered in the mail today
Hear from @terrellowens on @6abc at 5 and 6 tonight about boycotting Canton#TerrellOwens#Eagles#FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/NUeeBJTopA
— Jeff Skversky 6abc (@JeffSkversky) August 4, 2018
“So I want to address the elephant in the room. Many of you may be wondering why we’re here instead of Canton. There’s been a lot of speculation and false reports as to why I chose not to be there. I would like to set the record straight. It’s not because of how many times it took for me to be voted into the Hall. It’s about the mere fact that the sportswriters are not in alignment with the mission and core values of the Hall of Fame. These writers disregarded the system, the criteria and bylaws which guides the induction and ultimately the true meaning of the Hall of Fame and what it represents. I wanted to take a stand so the next guy coming after me would not have to go through what I and others have gone through. Whether it’s three years or 45 years, you should get what you rightfully earned.”
I can’t say I blame him. Owens put up first ballot hall of fame numbers and shouldn’t have been made to wait. The writers didn’t like him as a person and took it out on him.
The writers who didn’t vote him in on the first ballot should have their voting privileges revoked. They’re not fit to determine who should be in the hall of fame.