He followed that performance with a career-high 87 receptions in 1994. To eat the animals that I ate. He said, I dont know how much youre going to play, I dont know if youre going to play. I know Wilt and my father are in heaven smiling down upon us. One of my best friends that is already in the Hall of Fame is Michael Irvin. I forgive you for all those white suits that you got us for Easter that made us look like John Travolta. His place in these halls tells you what kind of player he was. I guess I never realized this but he's absolutely right. I'd also like to thank the fans of these two great franchises, without you, there are no Super Bowl rings, no receiving records, no bronze bust. He's trained to bring clay to life with his hands. Do you want to eat or do you want light to see so can you do your homework? It's no secret how Shannon Sharpe feels about his older brother Sterling, who he heaped endless praise on during his 2011 Pro Football Hall of Fame speech. For a seven year period of the guys that are in the Hall of Fame at the receiver position, and the guys that have the potential to be in this building. Id also like to recognize the elite seven, that is the number of tight ends that have already been enshrined. She wanted to be in Bible study every Wednesday. Shannon Sharpe: Hall of Fame Speech 2011 Shannon Sharpe Considered by many to be the Greatest Tight End of All-Time. Then I asked her, Are you proud? I said, Granny, are you proud of your baby? He broke down the night before, the moment he saw his older brother crying as Shannon formally put on the gold sports coat. Sharpe is the #1 Social Media influencer in football both active and retired. He had two receptions for 26 yards in the game. I embraced it. No chance. At this moment, I'm extremely proud and excited where my 14 year NFL journey has taken me and my family. The next time you go in that room, you think about Sterling Sharpes numbers for seven years. He was emotional as he apologized to his wife and children for not always being there for them while he was playing and said he was motivated to make sure their lives would always be happy and fulfilled. He also reflected on how fortunate he was to play the greatest game and the game he loved -- baseball. I know my family's proud. Raiders Jan. 9, 1994), Ravens records held by Sharpe That drove me. He was the 29th-round pick and had to choose between football and baseball. People often ask me how does a small town kid from Glennville, Georgia, who went to Savannah State College now Savannah State University, who won three Super Bowls and at one time owned all significant receiving records for a tight end? Of the three of us you've had the toughest job so my brother and I could live out our dreams, you took care of the most important person in our family, our grandmother. That just didnt start two and a half years ago. I know my grandmothers proud. Thank you, guys. This brought tears u too my eyes. He drives 65 miles one way to get to school. You want to go to bed and not get wet when you wake up. See, baseball didn't come easy for him. I wanted to be so much like my brother that when I went to college, my brothers first college girlfriend when I went to college, my first college girlfriend looked exactly like his (laughing). I didn't want my kids to live one night, not one hour, not one hour in the life that I had let alone a day. I want to take a moment to tell you what kind of man he is. [1st] Most Receiving Yards, Career 309 The other days she wanted to be on a fishing creek. ", Honorable mention: Kirby Puckett (2001); Hank Aaron (1982); Billy Williams (1987); Tommy Lasorda (1997); Ryne Sandberg (2005); Cal Ripken Jr. (2007); Andre Dawson (2010); Pudge Rodriguez (2017); Bert Blyleven (2011). Almost, we almost quit. But I'm not here to apologize for that because it got me here and it got them to a life they never would have enjoyed had it not been for that. [Tied for 3rd] Most Pass Receptions, Game 12 (at Kansas City Oct. 20, 2002) I said Im fine. I just want to lay here, and I just want to think. All these years later, nothing makes me prouder than when people call me a self made man. Your babys in the Hall of Fame. From 1996 to 2007, Thomas would have one of the most storied careers for any . Shannon Sharpe discuses the most surprising speech from the Pro Football Hall of Fame Ceremony. Shannon do your homework. All of these people have something in common. Thats all she wanted. Rodman used his honor to help get closure on some things in his life. My fullbacks knew the rule was if you see me lying on the ground because I usually pop right back up after I get hurt; if you see me laying on the ground, I'm probably dazed or knocked out or something. To all my former teammates at Glennville High, Savannah State, Denver, Baltimore, hopeful you, hopefully you thought I was a good teammate and you enjoyed me as much as I enjoyed you. [1st] Most Pass Receptions, Game 5 (at Pittsburgh Jan. 20, 2002) I mean, I even hit three home runs at Wrigley Field, tell me about it.". But then I knew my grandmother, knowing her like I know her, after pausing for five or six minutes. I'm not proud to say I was cutting everything that moves. ", Funniest line: "Bryon Russell came over to me and said, 'You know what, man, why'd you quit? [1st] Most Pass Receptions, Game 13 (vs. L.A. That's all I ask. Cheryl, you've a lot of people wish that they could be in a house with the greatest of anything. Sterling, you are my hero, my father figure, my role model. I didn't take vacations, I didn't own a yacht, I didn't have a whole bunch of hobbies other than working out and getting ready for the upcoming season.". Thank you, Ms. William Hall, my high school football coach, track coach, and driver's ed teacher. Tracking fifth-year options for 2020 first-rounders: Which were picked up, and which were declined? Youll never know. So then and there in that moment on that plane, I was determined for selfish reasons to get to this point to acknowledge how important he was. Nobody ever knew how much this five alarm fire raged inside of me. I made it. I had to leave Glennville. Don't hope someone gives you an opportunity, create one for yourself. My grandmother didnt believe in that. Shannon Sharpe is an American former tight end who played in the NFL for 14 seasons, primarily with the Denver Broncos. The people from the Hall of Fame tell me I only have eight to ten minutes to do this. Shannon, don't drink. And I stood there for about 20 seconds and I could see her smiling. Last but not least, I think this is where I start to get emotional, my granny. Keels. He didn't know a lot about it, he came from the old country. It took a great deal of acceptance to come to terms with being an alcoholic, but acceptance was the key to my sobriety. He realized that I was going to be a big guy, and I remember he made me memorize three names that he would quiz me on. He also reminisced about how he enjoyed playing at iconic stadiums like Fenway Park and Wrigley Field. It was my brothers and my job to make sure she can do that for the remaining days of her life. I gotta say it; in 1995, as you saw in the video, yeah, I pushed. See, my grandmother, if you give a man your word, you do what you say youre going to do. That drove me. I don't know if he wouldn't have said that to me if football would have gotten out of me what it got out of me. He spoke about how hard work, not luck, leads to success. My grandmother never told me when I was getting ready to leave for Savannah State, Shannon, dont do drugs. I said, now Granny, I promised these people I would do this, but if you say no, I think they'll understand. Shannon Sharpe gave one of the most emotional and heartfelt Hall of Fame speeches I have seen since Michael Irvin. '', Funniest line: Thanking his teammates with the Lakers, Shaq saved the best for last. Mom, I know how my grandmother gets, my brother and I talk about her a lot, but this day doesn't happen without you. I just gave you the formula in who was really standing before you because I was trick or treating, and it wasn't even Halloween. I'm here today for a lot of reasons. And I neglected my kids. And one day, sitting there on the couch, you took a bat and hit the TV. Eligibility restrictions apply. Someone once said other things may change, but we start and end with family. [Tied for 2nd] Most Touchdown Pass Receptions, Career 2 Hall of Fame enshrinement speech of Shannon Sharpe, Super Bowl winning tight end for the Denver Broncos and Baltimore Ravens from from 1990-2003: Thank you, everyone. I remember that. Thats all she wanted. Smith's 849 and Shannon Sharpe's 675. . So we're playing the Raiders and I get hit downfield. Sterling, you are my hero, my father figure, my role model. Bad place to pitch. He was drafted in the 1996 NFL Draft by then-head coach Jimmy Johnson, who was also the person to let Thomas know he had finally been voted in. Sharpe left the Broncos in 2000 and signed with the Baltimore Ravens as an unrestricted free agent. Ms. Elaine Keels, my high school remedial reading and Spanish teacher. Katy, thanks for your love and support. Thanks for being there for my grandmother and me. Thank you. I want to leave you with this: My position coach who is sitting right there in the stands, Les Steckel once asked me, son, why do you work so hard? I said, you dont know what its like, Les, to grow up like I grew up. OK, I'll do that.' Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA (select parishes)/MA/MD/MI/NH/NJ/NY/OH/OR/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. I know some of you might be in awe of the number of years, but it's the number of miles. . What can I say? That's all I wanted to do. I want all you young people to listen to my answer. You taught me everything I know about sports and a lot about life. His breakout year came during his third season when he led the Broncos in receiving with 53 catches for 640 yards to earn his first of eight Pro Bowl nods. Zach Thomas, Miami Dolphins, (Fifth Round, Pick 154) Zach Thomas has finally been voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. 2121 George Halas Drive, Canton, Ohio. [3rd] Most Receiving Yards, Game 156 (vs. L.A. My mama said, 'That's fine, but until then, you get that lawnmower and go out there and cut that grass.'". The focus was supposed to be on him for his accomplishments in basketball, but he made it about everyone else and how they helped get him where he is. The 44 men and women that I thanked and congratulated earlier for giving me and bestowing this prestigious honor upon me, all I do is ask all I can do is ask, and the most humblest way I know how, is that the next time you go into that room or you start making a list, look at Sterling Sharpes accomplishments. That's a decent home for my grandmother. Mr. Art Modell, former owner of the Baltimore Ravens whose wife, Pat, is a little under the weather, and I want to take this opportunity to wish her a speedy recovery. Full list of Mr. Irrelevants in NFL draft history: Is Brock Purdy already the best final pick? The Denver Broncos selected Shannon Sharpe out of Savannah State in the seventh round of the 1990 NFL Draft.
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