Should Outside Life Get a Person into Hall of Fame?

[erpowers]

Do members of DU think the good deeds of a person outside of their sport should get that person into their sports hall of fame? Should a person who did some great things outside of their sport that helped increase the greatness of their sport be allowed in the hall of fame even if their stats do not rise to the level of hall of fame greatness? David Zirin supports the push to have Don Barksdale put into the basketball hall of fame even though he only had a four year career and only averaged 8 rebounds and 11 points during that time period. Zirin and other feel that since Barksdale broke many color barriers during his college and professional basketball career and started a program that helped keep sports in poors schools in Oakland California he should be inducted in the basketball hall of fame.

I think there should be something about Barksdale in the hall of fame, but I do not think he should be inducted into the hall of fame. I lean toward that arugment that a person's bad behavior should not keep them out of a hall of fame if the have the stats. Therefore, I think it is only right to keep people out of a hall of fame if their stats do not live up to hall of fame status. So, what do others think?

[northzax]

1. if your actions outside the sport can deny you a spot

then your actions outside shoud enhance your candidacy, right?

[rinsd]

2. I present to you Kirby Puckett

Who was elected to the HOF largely on feelings of his being an ambassador of the game and sentimentality at his being rendered blind.

Turns out he was a douche bag woman beater.

Now I know Kirby had a fine career cut cruelly short. But so did Mattingly.