Florida Sports Hall of Fame

Freddie Solomon 1953-2012

2012-02-14T07:30:00.000-08:00

By JOEY JOHNSTON | The Tampa Tribune
Published: February 13, 2012
Updated: February 14, 2012 - 6:47 AM
Link to www.tbo.com
TAMPA --
They called him “Fabulous Freddie.’’

Once, he was an electrifying quarterback at the University of Tampa. His broken-field, improvisational running style was ahead of its time. Once, he was a cornerstone of the 1980s-era San Francisco 49ers, when the franchise went from laughingstock to perennial Super Bowl champions.

Freddie Solomon’s stunning athletic ability was enough to immortalize him. Yet he stood for so much more.

Solomon was a man for others.

Solomon died Monday afternoon after a nine-month battle with colon and liver cancer, his family said. He was 59.

Solomon’s health recently took a turn for the worse and he was hospitalized on Feb. 4 at South Florida Baptist Hospital in Plant City.

“Freddie Solomon is irreplaceable,’’ said Vin Hoover, who was Solomon’s football teammate at UT. “He was my friend. He was everyone’s friend.’’

Solomon worked for two decades in community relations with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, serving as a mentor for youths while blending football fundamentals with life lessons. He rarely spoke about his accomplishments. For some, he dished out tough love. To all, he was simply “Coach Solomon.’’

“I am deeply saddened by the passing of my dear friend Freddie Solomon,’’ former 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo, a Tampa resident, said in a statement. “My heart goes out to (Solomon’s wife) Dee, his family, the 49ers football family, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and football fans everywhere.

“Freddie and I have been friends for 35 years, and he was one of the most gentle and best men I have ever met in my life. Scores of generations will remember Freddie through their children and the youth he has helped over all these decades. I have never met a man who cared so much about the human race, and there will never be another Freddie.’’

Each winter for a dozen years, Solomon, DeBartolo and the sheriff’s office organized a Christmas celebration for foster children. The kids got wrapped toys, dolls or games. Their stunned caregivers, usually struggling to make ends meet, were screaming or sobbing in disbelief after opening gift envelopes filled with hundreds of dollars.

He was constantly stopped in his daily travels by people who remembered his glory days. Solomon obliged with a handshake, a hug, an autograph or a quick photo.

“Freddie Solomon was a treasure for us in San Francisco,’’ said former 49ers safety Ronnie Lott, a Pro Football Hall of Famer. “What a humanitarian he has been for the city of Tampa.’’

The city gave back on Nov. 30, when the DeBartolo family, UT and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office combined to produce “Freddie and Friends,’’ an evening affair at Falk Theatre. More than 500 people heard testimonials from Solomon’s friends and former teammates.

Approximately $200,000 was raised to help fund the endowment of a UT scholarship in Solomon’s name.

“I can’t think of another person who is so revered in this community,’’ UT president Ronald Vaughn said that night.

On Jan. 11, his 59th birthday, Solomon was honored during the dedication of the Hillsborough County sheriff’s annex in Ybor City, which was named the Freddie Solomon Annex.

“His is a story not of fame and fortune, but one that unlocks the human spirit,’’ Hillsborough County Sheriff David Gee said.

Hall of Famer Jerry Rice, the former 49ers receiver who is often considered the best ever at his position, said Solomon taught him how to be a professional. Dwight Clark, another former 49ers receiver, said he didn’t expect to make the team as a rookie but felt Solomon’s post-practice instruction and guidance helped him establish an NFL career.

“There was no one who gave more on and off the field than Freddie,’’ Hall of Fame 49ers quarterback Joe Montana said. “The warmth of his smile will be forever imbedded in my mind and heart.’’

Solomon grew up in Sumter, S.C., where kids sometimes laughed at his stuttering problem. He was self-conscious and withdrew from others, rarely saying a word. Some people confused the silence for arrogance. He was actually scared.

“Except for Friday night," during high school football season, Solomon once said. “I wasn’t frightened then.’’

In 1999, a Columbia, S.C., newspaper named Solomon the state’s No. 1 hig school athlete of the 20th century. Solomon originally signed to play for the University of South Carolina but couldn’t get the test scores. Officials suggested junior college. Instead, he jumped to the University of Tampa, where his impact was immediate.

Solomon accounted for 5,803 yards of total offense, then 16th all-time in the NCAA, while rushing for 3,299 yards, then first among all-time college quarterbacks. After his senior season of 1974, Solomon finished 12th in the Heisman Trophy balloting and received 13 first-place votes, even while playing for a small-school program that finished 6-5.

“He was the best player in the country,’’ Hoover said. “Had he played for Oklahoma, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Ohio State, some place like that, he would’ve won the Heisman. Freddie was a phenomenon.’’

He was Michael Vick – before Michael Vick was born. He had elusive, jet-quick moves that resembled Gale Sayers or Barry Sanders.

Typical story: In a loss at San Diego State, Solomon took a quarterback draw for an 81-yard score. He broke an estimated 12 tackles, escaping twice from a few players.

Wrote Jack Murphy, then sports editor of the San Diego Union: “He’s the most exciting collegiate runner since O.J. Simpson, and he moves faster than anything that doesn't burn fuel.’’

In 2002, Solomon and Tino Martinez, a Major League Baseball All-Star and four-time World Series champion with the New York Yankees, were named UT Athletes of the Century.

Solomon wasn’t given an opportunity to play quarterback in the NFL. Instead, in 1975, coach Don Shula drafted him in the second round as a wide receiver for the Miami Dolphins. Three seasons later, Solomon was traded to the 49ers. In 11 NFL seasons, Solomon had 381 receptions and 48 touchdowns. He was part of San Francisco’s first two Super Bowl teams.

Solomon never sought attention for his football career, nor did he want much fuss made over his recent health battle, when he had surgery to reconstruct his colon and underwent 12 rounds of chemotherapy.

“It’s just another football game for me,’’ Solomon said in December. “I don’t feel sorry for myself. I just keep fighting. And I know I’m not alone.

“This teaches me about me. I have no regrets. How you handle something like this tells you who you are. In reality, I’m just one of thousands of people who have to compete in this game.’’

Solomon is survived by his wife of 33 years, the former Delilah (Dee) Jeffers of Tampa; his mother, Bessie Ruth Solomon of Sumter, S.C.; brothers, Richard, Oneal and Roger, also of Sumter; mother-in-law Mae Jeffers of Tampa; nephew Godfrey Robinson (wife Christine and children Jasmyn and Trey) of Tampa; and brother-in-law Lanness and sister-in-law Patricia Robinson.

Florida Sports Hall of Fame

2012-02-14T07:22:00.000-08:00

Florida Sports Hall of Fame, a set on Flickr.

2012 Florida Sports Hall of Fame Enshrinement Schedule

2012-02-13T21:20:00.000-08:00

Florida Sports Hall of Fame Legends Golf Scramble

2012-01-25T13:05:00.000-08:00

2012 Florida Sports Hall of Fame

Legends Golf Scramble

Avila Golf & Country Club

Tampa, Florida

Tuesday March 20, 2012

8:30 a.m. Shotgun Start

Sponsored by

18 Hole Team Scramble Format

Florida Sports Hall of Fame Member Paired with 3 Patrons

Top Two Gross and Top 2 Net Teams Win!
Special Team Handicap System to determine Net Scores.
Closest to the Pin and Long Drive Contests
Win an Ed Morse Cadillac Hole in One!
Entry Fee $250 Per Player or $675 per team includes:

Golf, Continental Breakfast, Lunch, Commemorative Tee Gift, and Prizes!

Highlights will be featured in 90-minute Bright House Sports Network Broadcast Greater Orlando & Tampa Bay Markets.

Field Limited to 18 Teams – First 54 Paid Patrons

Return Entry Form to:

Florida Sports Hall of Fame Marketing

315 Plant Avenue, Suite "A",

Tampa, Florida 33606

Attention Legends Scramble

Direct Questions to:

John Reger, Jr., PGA,

Tournament Director

john@briefcasegolf.com

__________________________________________________

(Entry Form Please Print)

Name:_________________________________________________________________

Address:_________________________________City________________Zip_________

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Credit Card On –Line:
Single Entry Fee $250____________ Team of (3) Entry Fee $675________

All Team Members must each fill out an individual entry form.

Please list your teammates:

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Pay Your Entry Fee On-Line:

Florida Sports Hall of Fame Press Conference

2012-01-24T21:04:00.000-08:00

Highlights from the

Florida Sports Hall of Fame

51st Enshrinement Press Conference
Tuesday January 24, 2012

hosted by

Tampa Bay Lightning

Tampa Bay Times Forum

Rick Dantzler

President, Florida Sports Hall of Fame

(L-R) Russ Cozart, 2012 Inductee

Henry Lawrence, 2012 Inductee

Russ Sloan, FSHOF Board Member

Jack Youngblood, NFL HOF & FSHOF

Barry Smith, President
Florida Sports Hall of Fame Marketing

Major TV & Radio Coverage

Nice flat screen TV's at the
new Bud Light Party Deck!

(L-R) Rob Higgins, Tampa Bay Sports Commission
Barry Smith, President FSHOF Marketing
Fran Curci, FSHOF Member
Russ Cozart, 2012 Inductee
Henry Lawrence, 2012 Inductee
Jack Youngblood, NFL HOF, FSHOF Member
Rick Dantzler, President, FSHOF
Steve Griggs, Tampa Bay Lightning
Russ Sloan, FSHOF Board Member

FSHOF Press Conference Team (L-R)

Barry Smith, President FSHOF Marketing

Lisa Brock, Brock Communications

Bill Wicketts, Tampa Bay Lightning

John Reger, Jr., PGA, Briefcase Golf

What is Childhood Obesity by Dr. Denise Edwards, Director of the Healthy Weight Clinic, USF

2012-01-23T11:59:00.000-08:00

Dr. Denise Edwards

Director of the Healthy Weight Clinic

University of South Florida

§ What is Childhood Obesity?

· Obesity is an excess percentage of body weight due to fat that puts people at risk for many health problems. In children older than two years of age, obesity is assessed by a measure called the Body Mass Index (BMI). This is calculated using weight and height and is plotted on a graph to get a percentile.

§ When are children considered overweight or obese?

· Children and teens with a BMI over the 85thpercentile, but less than 95th percentile, are considered overweight and those with a BMI greater than the 95th percentile are considered obese.

§ What are the problems associated with being overweight or obese?

· Overweight or obese children and adolescents are at risk for many health problems. Some of the negative health outcomes are asthma, sleep apnea, skin infections, and complaints of joint pain. All of these are significant health problems and need attention by a doctor; however, in addition to these there are other serious health risks associated with obesity, such as high blood pressure and Type 2 Diabetes. These conditions can have serious long-term health effects and may require ongoing medical treatment and management. The bottom line is that obesity can cause immediate health problems as well as a number of very serious chronic health conditions.
· In addition, research shows that obese children have lower self-esteem and self-confidence than their peers. Low self-esteem and self-confidence have been linked to poor grades, fewer friends, and depression. For all of these reasons it is important to try to identify overweight and obese children quickly so they can begin treatment and attain and maintain a healthy weight. It is never too early or too late to make healthy changes.

· About Dr. Denise Edwards, Director of the Healthy Weight Clinc, USF

Dr. Edwards served as Chief Resident of Internal Medicine at the University of South Florida College of Medicine after completing her training in the combined Internal Medicine/ Pediatrics residency program. She joined the University of South Florida faculty in 2006. Dr. Edwards is the Director of the Healthy Weight Clinic – a clinic that she established in 2007. The Healthy Weight Clinic is a multidisciplinary clinic that treats the entire spectrum of eating disorders including obesity in children and adults. Dr. Edwards also helps direct a bariatric pre-operative assessment team which prepares patients for bariatric surgery. Her primary interests are obesity and the metabolic syndrome, and she has received several grants related to the prevention of childhood obesity. In addition to her activities related to weight control, Dr. Edwards serves as medical director of the Transition Planning and Assessment Team of the Children’s Medical Service,

Nominations for the Class of 2013 Florida Sports Hall of Fame Now Being Accepted!

2012-01-23T11:26:00.000-08:00

Criteria and Rules for Membership

Florida Sports Hall of Fame

To be eligible for membership in the Hall of Fame, a nominee must be a native Floridian, have attended a Florida school, have been a resident of Florida during a major portion of his/her career, or otherwise been identified with Florida in a sports capacity in a manner which has brought recognition and acclaim to the state. Furthermore, to be eligible for membership an individual must have had a sports career that spanned a minimum of 15 years or have been retired from that endeavor for at least a year.

Nominations should be sent to:

Rick Dantzler, President

Florida Sports Hall of Fame

P.O. Box 2529

Winter Haven, FL 33883

Florida Sports Hall of Fame 2012 Fame for Fitness Award

2012-01-23T03:52:00.005-08:00

2012

Fame for Fitness Award

Ryan Nece

In Recognition of Outstanding

Contribution and Commitment

to Fighting Childhood Obesity and Children's Diabetes

Son of NFL Hall of Fame safety Ronnie Lott, Ryan Nece has spent his entire life in the place where sports and business intersect.

Nece received his Bachelor’s Degree in business economics from UCLA, where he starred on the football field as a linebacker for the Bruins in the late 1990's, when they were nationally ranked and Pac-10 Champions.

After graduation, Nece signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent on April 22, 2002.Â During his rookie season, NeceÂ was awarded Rookie of the Year honors with Tampa Bay the same year they won the World Championship at Super Bowl XXXVII in San Diego.Â What followed wasÂ seven seasons in the NFL, including six years with Tampa Bay and a year with the Detroit Lions. Nece was a three-time team elected Captain and served four years as the team elected NFLPA Player Representative while with the Buccaneers.

In Detroit, Nece was the only player in the NFL to be a starter and lead his team in special teams snaps and tackles.

Nece has stayed active in business and charity life in parallel with his NFL football career. He sits on the board of the Tampa Bay Sports Authority and Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo.Â He has alsoÂ completed NFL Business Management and Entrepreneurial Programs at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and Harvard Business School.

In 2006, he created The Ryan Nece Foundation in an effort to better the communities where he lives and works. His foundation strives to provide physical, financial, and spiritual assistance to those in need through various foundation programs for youth and families. Also, Nece launched the Power of Giving campaign in June 2009 to encourage individuals to become involved in the needs of their community.

Florida Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2012 - Vince Coleman

2012-01-23T03:52:00.004-08:00

Class of 2012

Vince Coleman - Baseball

National League Rookie of the Year in 1985, Vince Coleman was born September 22, 1961 in Jacksonville, Florida, best known for his years with the St. Louis Cardinals. Primarily a left fielder, Coleman played from 1985 to 1997 and set a number of stolen base records. Coleman is Sixth all time for career stolen bases with 752. He was a switch-hitter and threw right-handed.

Coleman compiled the best season of his major league career in 1987, when he posted a .289 batting average and a .363 on base percentage while totaling 180 hits, 109 stolen bases, and 121 runs scored. He played in the World Series that year, the only one he would appear in. He was with St. Louis in 1985 when they went to the World Series, but did not play due to a freak injury that he suffered when the automatic tarpaulin at Busch Stadium rolled over his leg during stretching exercises prior to a National League Championship Series game. The injury sidelined him for the rest of the postseason, and his Cardinals eventually lost a controversial World Series to Kansas City.

Coleman is the last man to steal 100 bases in a season, when he did it for the third consecutive year in 1987 and a two-time All-Star in 1988-89.

Florida Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2012 - Kelly Slater

2012-01-23T03:52:00.003-08:00

Class of 2010

Kelly Slater -

Watersports: Surfing

Kelly Slater's impact on surfing mirrors the 90s Internet revolution. A piece of new technology originally dismissed as a cute, space-age toy that ended up changing the world in every conceivable way -- from performance to money to records to design to longevity. Before Kelly, surf stars were just that: surf stars. After? They were highly paid, professional athletes with international appeal and limitless possibilities. The scariest fact? He's still not finished.

Slater got his feet wet on the bunny slopes of Cocoa Beach, a sleepy Central Florida town made famous by a sexy, prime-time genie in the '60s. Cocoa Beach, in Slater's estimation, is as good a place as any to inherit a solid foundation as a surfer. "It breaks farther out," he says, "so it's easier to learn. If I had the choice of learning in Florida or Hawaii, I'd choose Florida. You don't try to run before you can walk."

And given his resume, no one would argue. As a preteen, Slater showed flashes of the right stuff. Tossing his freakishly limber frame around like a gymnast and equipped with an insatiable lust for perfection, he quickly entered the spotlight.

As a perennial amateur champion -- six Eastern Surfing Association and four national titles -- Kelly Slater surfaced in the media with his brother Sean in Sundek boardshort ads during the mid-'80s. By the time he was ready to join the pro ranks in 1990, he was a household name. After a well-publicized bidding war that included some major mainstream apparel companies, he kept true to his surfing roots and went with Quiksilver. Kelly Slater in Black and White, a 30-minute Quiksilver promo video, was the first public offering of his explosiveness and creativity.

In his first full year on the tour, at age 21, Kelly Slater solidified the hype by claiming the world title -- the youngest ever to do so. But more than that, he ignited a revolution. Exposed by videographer Taylor Steele's Momentum flicks, Slater ushered in the New School of surfing. Gone were the days of letting the wave dictate the ride. Slater drew lines never before imagined, not even from drawings on your high school notebooks.

The best surfers in the world, mesmerized and feeling inadequate, studied his every heat. To the point of boredom, he would almost play dead in the early stages before mounting an inconceivable late-heat comeback. Everyone else looked silly.

But Kelly Slater could look silly as well. On land, he tested the opportunities afforded him through his hero status and Hollywood looks. A stint as Jimmy Slade on "Baywatch", the most popular show in the world, satisfied his curiosity for acting outside the occasional cameo. A musical endeavor with friends Rob Machadoand Peter King, where the trio adopted the hokey name "The Surfers," yielded a major record release and a U.S. tour. An off and on relationship with Pamela Anderson Lee kept his name rolling in the mainstream press.

Meanwhile, Slater continued to rack up world titles. After an unprecedented six - including five consecutive crowns -- he eased into semi-retirement at age 26 with nothing left to prove. Or so he thought.

Engaging in extremely limited competition in 1999, Slater returned to Hawaii for the season-ending event -- the Pipe Masters. In maxing conditions, he greased the field -- including new world champ Mark Occhilupo-- for his fifth Masters crown, repeating the effort in 2000 at Teahupoo. But he'd already beaten the old guard once. It would take a new generation of young punks to fully stoke his competitive fires.

Enter Andy Irons. While world CJ Hobgood would be the first post-New School world champ, Andy Irons was the first to trumpet a true regime change. After winning his first title in 2002, the year Kelly flirted with coming back, Irons added his second straight world title by beating Slater in a 2003 Pipe Masters Showdown, following a year when both surfers were on fire, each winning four comps before Hawaii. For the first time in his life, Kelly had a true rival. A competitor who didn't melt before he ever hit the water.

"To get that close," he later understated. "To lose in the end like that was a tough thing to take."
Rattled by the loss, a worthy foe and new feelings, he used the next year as a learning process, then decided to let go of the pressure. And the second he started focusing on having fun, the wins came to him. Kelly took both the 2005 and 2006 crowns. And when he won six events in 2008 for his ninth world title, he'd officially beaten four distinct generations of surfers over 16 years: the 80s power brokers; his own crew of innovative New Schoolers; the Coolie School/Generation Now; and finally, the Jordy Smith /Dane Reynolds future squad.

Along the way, Slater stockpiled an insurmountable mountain of records: both the oldest and youngest world champ; most WCT Victories (41); six Pipe Masters Wins; the highest two-wave total (20 points); the most prize money (more than $2 million) and the first 'seven-figure' salary -- not to mention 14 Surfer Poll wins and a Quiksilver Eddie Aikau big wave victory.

He also proved himself to be the biggest surf star ever of the water. People Magazine named him one of their " 50 Most Beautiful People." Hollywood embraced him, linking the bachelor to super models (Gisel Buchen, Bar Refaeli) and movie sirens (Cameron Diaz.) Co-wrote two books (Pipe Dreams and For the Love). Designed his own video game. (Kelly Slater Pro Surfer). Worked on a 3D IMAX film. (The Ultimate Wave Tahiti). Created the Kelly Slater Foundation to benefit philanthropic causes. Even came close to launching his own damn pro circuit -- the so-called "Rebel Tour" or "Champions Tour" -- which, in 2009, threatened to steal the sport's hugest names by promising bigger bucks, fewer surfers and a shortened schedule until the ASP quashed it by making similar changes.

But looking forward, Kelly's longest lasting impact -- and most personally fulfilling creative project -- may end up being his love affair with surfboard design. A foam-and-fiberglass philosopher throughout his career, in 2007 he put more than 20 years experience riding for Al Merrick into shaping is own equipment. He immediately began working on shorter, stouter, more maneuverable blades. Long crucified for popularizing the 90s trend toward ultra-thin 'chip' boards that were almost impossible for average surfers to paddle, much less ride this new approach seemed to be a more user-friendly reparation for past sins.

As he told Surfing Magazine: "I could see you riding any wave of any size on a board as tall as you are."

When he won the 2008 Pipe Masters on a four-fin 5'11" -- later dubbed "The Wizard Sleeve" - pundits predicted the coming year to be make-or-break for his ideas, only to finish sixth in 2009, despite switching back to more traditional boards midway through.

Some argued the writing was on the wall: Nine is enough. Time for Kelly to finally retire -- for real. Play some golf and guitar. Settle in with his longtime San Clemente girlfriend, visit his daughter back and Florida, show up at the big parties and keep tinkering in Al Merrick's tool shed.

But there's something they're not considering. The thrill of the challenge. Guys like the deadliest combo of staggering style, power and stunt-punts to hit the 'CT yet: guys like Dusty Payne and Owen Wright, who threaten to redefine pro surfing. Surfers who promise to come every new season. It's just that type of rebellion that's drawn King Kelly back into the ring in years past. And as Slates himself has already stated: "Ten does have a nice ring to it."

-- Jason Borte (updated, March 2010)

Florida Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2012- Fred McGriff

2012-01-23T03:52:00.002-08:00

Class of 2011

Fred McGriff - Baseball

Drafted by the New York Yankees on June 8, 1981, in the ninth round of free-agent draft; played for the Toronto Blue Jays, 1982-90; San Diego Padres, 1990-93; Atlanta Braves, 1993-97; Tampa Bay Devil Rays, 1998

Fred McGriff's ability to hit home runs has amazed and delighted baseball fans throughout his career. The Tampa Bay Devil Rays first baseman will start his 15th year in baseball at the start of the 2000 season. In that time, he has compiled career statistics that are comparable to those achieved by players enshrined in Major League Baseball's Hall of Fame. McGriff has enjoyed a career that many major league baseball players only dream of, while conducting himself with a calm professionalism.

Humble Beginnings

Taken in the ninth round of the free agent draft by the New York Yankees in 1981, McGriff was traded the following year to the Toronto Blue Jays. That transaction marked the beginning of his workmanlike approach to professional baseball. He toiled in the minor leagues for six seasons, averaging .249 and demonstrating a potential for greatness. After paying his dues in the minors, McGriff eventually graduated to the big leagues. He would quickly make the most of this opportunity.

McGriff was named to Toronto's major league roster in 1986. To improve his hitting abilities, he sought the advice of Blue Jays manager and former slugger Cito Gaston. Gaston taught McGriff to be more patient at the plate, and helped him to overcome his fear of left-handed pitchers. This guidance paid off handsomely for McGriff. After hitting his first major league home run off of Boston pitcher Bob Stanley on April 17, 1987, McGriff quickly established himself as a home run threat. He went on to hit 20 home runs during the 1987 season, which set a club record for rookies.

In 1988, McGriff continued to develop at the plate and replaced Willie Upshaw as Toronto's regular first baseman. He enjoyed a stellar 1988 season. McGriff finished second in the American League with 34 home runs, and second in slugging percentage (.525) and extra-base hits, with 73. He also lead American League first basemen with a nearly flawless .997 fielding percentage.

McGriff's assault on American League pitching continued in 1989 as he led the American League with 36 home runs. This was an especially impressive feat because McGriff battled a slump at the end of the season and did not hit a home run during the last 24 games of the season. On June 5, 1989, he hit a two-run blast against the Milwaukee Brewers that marked the first home run in Toronto's new ballpark, the Sky Dome. He also drew a total of 119 walks, a Toronto Blue Jays record.

Traded to San Diego

In 1990, McGriff enjoyed another successful season. He hit .300 for the first time in his career and ranked fourth in the American League in home runs with 35. He also reached a career-high in hits (167), and had three two-home run games against Boston, Cleveland, and California. Following the conclusion of the 1990 season, McGriff was traded to the San Diego Padres.

During McGriff's first season in San Diego, he smacked 31 homers and batted in 106 runs. In August of 1991, he hit grand slams in back-to-back games. McGriff became only the third National League player in the 20th century to accomplish this rare feat. His second consecutive grand slam was hit off of Jim Deshaies, who hadn't allowed a grand slam in his five full major league seasons. Former Blue Jays teammate Lloyd Moseby summed up McGriff's talent in a 1989 Sports Illustrated article, "Fred...has a good eye and power, a combination you don't see too often anymore. And the power. You know that highlight reel that shows the Willie Mays catch and then switched to the fan, who grabs his head with his hands in amazement? Fred McGriff does that to you when he hits a home run."

McGriff continued to shine in San Diego, thanks to his strong bat and an even stronger chemistry with his teammates. In 1992, McGriff and teammate Gary Sheffield became an intense one-two punch for the Padres. That year, the duo formed the National League's best home run combination. McGriff batted .286 with 35 home runs, while Sheffield hit .330 with 33 homers. For the second time in three seasons, McGriff led his league in home runs. Despite his consistently stellar performances, he remained humble. As McGriff told Ralph Wiley of Sports Illustrated, "You know what I always dreamed? I dreamed of being a ballplayer. I guess all kids dream that, don't they? But you know, I dreamed that dream even when I was awake. Now when I hit some of my longest home runs, I don't even swing hard. How I do it, I don't know. But baseball will humble you real quick. I stay prepared for that." In addition to Sheffield, McGriff teamed with Tony Fernandez and future Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn to anchor San Diego's formidable offense. The four men, who were eventually dubbed The Four Tops, continually punished opposing pitchers. As the Padres entered the final week of the 1992 season, each of The Four Tops was hitting over .300.

McGriff began the 1993 season with the Padres. He belted 18 home runs and batted in 46 runs before being traded to the Atlanta Braves during mid-season. The move to Atlanta did not adversely affect his performance at the plate. McGriff blasted another 19 home runs and batted in 55 runs for the Braves, finishing the year with a career-high 37 homers.

McGriff smacked 34 home runs for the Braves in 1994, making him just the ninth player in baseball history to hit more than 30 home runs in seven consecutive seasons. By doing so, he joined the elite company of Hall of Famers Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx, Ralph Kiner, Mickey Mantle, Eddie Matthews, Hank Aaron, and Mike Schmidt. In addition to hitting 34 home runs, McGriff was named to the 1994 National League All-Star team. He earned the All-Star Game's Most Valuable Player award when he hit a game-tying homer off of Lee Smith in the ninth inning to lead the National League to a 10-9 win. On June 7, 1994, he hit a career-high five RBIs in one game against the San Francisco Giants. During the last 10 games of the season, he hit seven home runs and batted in 13 runs. At the end of the 1994 season, McGriff placed fourth in the National League in homers (34), RBIs (94), total bases (264) and slugging percentage (.623).

During McGriff's next three seasons with the Atlanta Braves, he hit 27, 28 and 22 home runs respectively. In 1996, he achieved a personal milestone by hitting his 300th home run. By finishing that year with 28 home runs, McGriff achieved his 10th straight, 20-plus home run season.

Following the end of the 1997 season, McGriff was traded to the expansion Tampa Bay Devil Rays. The trade to the Devil Rays marked a homecoming for McGriff, who was born and raised in Tampa. He lived only four blocks from Al Lopez Field, the former spring training home of the Cincinnati Reds. "I can't remember going to my first game," McGriff told Riley. "I mean, I was always at a baseball game. I lived at ball games. I always loved the game."

McGriff, who was born on October 31, 1963, is the youngest son of Eliza and Earl McGriff. Along with his other siblings, sisters Sandra and Terrie and brothers Michael and Dexter, McGriff received a great deal of love and guidance from his parents. "Freddie's well adjusted," Earl McGriff told Sports Illustrated, "They all are. We let our children produce at their own speed. We didn't push them. We didn't hold them back. There are no bad children, only bad parents."

Holds major league record for most grand slam home runs in consecutive games with two, 1991; First player in modern era to win a home run title in both the American and National Leagues, with 36 homers in the AL (1989) and 35 in the NL (1992); named Most Valuable Player in All-Star Game, 1994.

Florida Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2012 - George Smith

2012-01-23T03:52:00.001-08:00

Class of 2012

George Smith - Football

George Smith’s 34 years as Head Coach @ St. Thomas Aquinas has recorded 361 wins, 66 losses, 6 state championships, 7 runner-ups, Two National Championships (2008 and 2010). Won 24 district titles and had 12 unbeaten regular seasons as well as three perfect seasons. George was the first Florida high school coach to win 350 games at same high school.

Smith grew up in Lafayette, Indiana, playing football for Lafayette Central Catholic until graduation in 1966. He also played college football for Butler University for two years before moving to Purdue University and pursuing a degree in physical education, which he obtained in 1971.

St. Thomas hired Smith as a history teacher, assistant football and track & field coach, and head wrestling coach in 1972. As a coach of the new wrestling program, he had an overall record of 86-30 over the next seven years, and was the Wrestling Coach of the Year in 1973-74 for the Miami Herald and twice for the South Atlantic Conference.

Smith became the head football coach in 1975 and quickly built the program into a powerhouse winning numerous district championships and undefeated regular seasons with one perfect 14-0 season. Smith is a multiple winner of both The Miami Herald and the South Florida Sun-Sentinel Football Coach of the Year awards, and has coached many players who have excelled in college and professional sports, most notable former Dallas Cowboy and NFL Hall of Fame member, Michael Irvin. Smith is the first Florida football coach to register 250 wins with one school.

Smith also took on the role of athletic director in 1982. The St. Thomas Aquinas athletic program has won more than 50 state championships during his tenure, and has won its classification in the Dodge Sunshine Cup FHSAA Floyd E. Lay All-Sports Awards each year since it began in 1995. It has been The Miami Herald Athletic Program of the Year for more than 30 straight years, and in May 2005 was designated the third best high school athletic program in the nation by Sports Illustrated.

Smith is a 2005 Inductee into the Florida High School Athletic Hall of Fame, a member of the Florida Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame and the Broward County Sports Hall of Fame. He is a member of the American Football Coaches Association and has served on its school and public relations committees. Smith is also a popular football speaker across the country.

Additional Highlights of George Smith's Career Include:

Named national coach of the year in 2008 by USA TODAY as well as ESPN and Schutt

Named national coach of year in 2010 by National High School Athletic Association

Received The Power of Influence Award from the American Football Coaches Association in 2008

Inducted into Club 35 by the American Football Coaches Association in 2012

The Miami Dolphins High School Coach of the Year Award is named the George F. Smith High School coach of the Year Award

Florida Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2012 - Russ Cozart

2012-01-23T03:52:00.000-08:00

Class of 2012

Russ Cozart - Wrestling

If you are familiar with high school wrestling you have probably heard of the Brandon Eagles high school wrestling team out of Brandon, Florida. They are led by 35 year veteran Head Coach Russ Cozart. Coach Cozart has amassed an amazing list of accomplishments at Brandon as a coach and while also personally competing on the National level.

He has won the “Triple Crown” in the Veterans category of wrestling as a competitor. The “Triple Crown” is a name given for winning each of three National events in Folkstyle, Freestyle, and Greco. Overall, Coach Cozart has individually won 11 National titles - 8 in freestyle, 2 in Greco, and 1 in folkstyle. Coach Cozart is passionate about the sport of wrestling as it has encompassed much of his life. He has won ten world medals in FILA Vetrans World Competition of which, 7 where Championships and 3 were Runner-Up finishes.

His coaching accomplishments are as follows:

Head Coach at Upland H.S. in Upland, CA 1976-1978
Head Coach at Chamberlain RS. in Tampa, FL 1978-1980
Head Coach at Brandon RS. In Brandon, FL 1980-Present
Twenty One (21) time Florida State Champions
Brandon HS is the national record holder for any high school sport for consecutive winning streak: 459 consecutive wins 1974-2008
Dual Meet record at Brandon HS 460-2 overall Coaching record 496-15
2004 Team Ranked #3 in the Nation
2005 Team Ranked #1 Public High School in the Nation by Intermat
Coached 86 State Champions and 116 State Place Winners
20 out of the past 25 years Brandon has finished season ranked #17 or higher nationally.
National Coach of the Year Honors
Records set at Junior Nationals, Fargo, ND
Most finalists from one high school – 8 (5 in Greco, 3 in Freestyle)
Most Champions from one high school – 6 (3 in Greco, 3 in Freestyle)
Featured on the Regis and Kelly show – 10/26/07
Head Coach of Brandon Wrestling Club for 30 years
Coached 91 Athletes to Individual National Championships and 163 to All-American
Multiple student athletes have gone on to receive collegiate wrestling scholarships and win All-American Honors.
Featured on documentary, “The Streak” by ESPN, nominated for an Emmy in 2008.

Florida Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2012 - Joan Joyce

2012-01-23T03:51:00.006-08:00

Class of 2012

Joan Joyce - Softball

Florida Atlantic University Head Softball Coach Joan Joyce is one of those rare people to enjoy success as both a player and a coach. After concluding an illustrious playing career that spanned parts of four decades in numerous sports, Joan Joyce was named head coach at FAU in 1994. Joyce is the only head coach Florida Atlantic softball has had in its 15-year history. Under Joyce the program's accomplishments are unparalleled: eight-consecutive Atlantic Sun Conference Championships (1997-2004)--nine in all (2006)--and six-straight NCAA Tournament appearances (1999-2004)--seven in all (2006). In FAU's first season as a member of the Sun Belt, the Owls were crowned regular season and conference tournament champions.

Three times the Owls have won 56 games or more, most recently in 2004 when their 56-18 mark was the third-highest win total in program history. FAU's defense of its A-Sun title that year was not an easy one, as it took a dramatic doubleheader sweep of UCF in the regular-season finale to clinch the top seed for the A-Sun Championships.

Joyce began planting the seeds of success immediately upon taking the reins of FAU softball. She spent nine months creating a program from scratch, and the result was an impressive 33-18 record in year one. Not only did that first year earn Joyce her first A-Sun Coach of the Year award, but she was also named Palm Beach County Coach of the Year.

The building effort continued in 1996, as the team finished 37-32 and advanced to its second-straight A-Sun tournament. That year also saw Joyce take on the role of Senior Woman Administrator at FAU, a position she held until 2001.

The record run of championships began in 1997 with not only the program's first conference championship, but FAU's first A-Sun title in any sport. That success resulted in Joyce's second A-Sun Coach of the Year award. In 1998, the team repeated as A-Sun champions.

In 1999, the A-Sun was given an automatic bid to the NCAA postseason tournament for the conference champion. The Owls won their third straight A-Sun Championship and appeared in the NCAA Tournament for the first time. FAU posted a 49-20 record, good enough to earn Joyce another A-Sun Coach of the Year award and her entire staff the Southeast Region Coaching Staff of the Year award by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.

In 2000, FAU would win its fourth-consecutive A-Sun title and return to the NCAA Tournament. The season also featured an 18-game winning streak and another A-Sun Coach of the Year award for Joyce. The 2001 season ended with similar results, an A-Sun title and a trip to the NCAA Tournament while finishing with a 46-21. In all, Joyce has coached 25 First-Team All-Conference selections and 27 Second-Team honorees.

In 2002 FAU set a team record and led the nation with 62 wins. It resulted in Joyce's fifth A-Sun Coach of the Year award. It was also in 2002 that FAU received its first no. 1 seed, one of eight in the nation, for an NCAA Regional.

In 2003 FAU won 31 of its last 41 games en route to the same postseason success. From 2003 to 2004, FAU's schedule was one of the toughest in the nation as the Owls faced at least three teams that went on to the Women's College World Series.

Each year Joyce continues to raise the expectation level for a program that, since its inception, has averaged 45 wins per year, making FAU softball one of the top programs in the nation. FAU was undoubtedly one of the best programs during its time in the A-Sun Conference, claiming more championships (nine) than any program in the 27-year history of the A-Sun.

With so much success, sometimes a season simply cannot match the high expectations. For Joyce and FAU, that season was 2005, when the Owls went 37-32, clinched the second seed for the A-Sun Tournament but saw their streak of conference titles and NCAA berths come to an end. Of the 32 losses, 19 came against teams that eventually qualified for the NCAA Tournament.

2006 saw a return to the top as FAU captured its ninth conference crown in 10 years during its final A-Sun campaign, and returned to the NCAA Tournament where the Owls advanced to the regional finals, picking up a pair of shutout victories over the University of Florida.

In 2007, the Owls came from behind to take the Sun Belt's regular-season title on the final day of conference play, and after being upset in the opening round of the conference tournament, won five straight games including a triple-header on the tournament's final day to edge Troy 1-0 in the championship game for the program's first Sun Belt Tournament championship.

FAU sought to defend its Sun Belt regular season and tournament titles, and actually had a better conference record (17-7) than it did its first year in the conference (16-8). However, the Owls were supplanted as regular season and tournament champions by eventual Women's College World Series participant Louisiana-Lafayette.

In 2009 the Owls struggled to a 7th place finish in the Sun Belt during the regular season, but made a run all the way to the Championship Game of the Sun Belt Tournament. Coach Joyce had two players named to both the all-conference and all-tournament teams and Caitlyn Bliss was just the fourth player in program history to be named to the NFCA All-Region First Team.

Individually, Joyce helped sculpt the career of Nikki Myers, who finished her four-year run in 2002. Myers twice received Second-Team All-America honors and finished her career third in NCAA history in strikeouts. Joyce has coached four A-Sun Players of the Year, with Myers receiving the honor three times and Alana Klaus being recognized in the inaugural 1995 campaign. She has also coached an A-Sun Pitcher of the Year in Candice Freel and twice, the conference Freshman of the Year. In addition, she added a Sun Belt Pitcher and Player of the Year to her resume in 2007. The Owls currently have Callie Piper and Jen Musillo playing in the National Fastpitch League.

Joyce's duties at FAU have not been limited to softball and administration. Since 1996 she has been head coach of the women's golf team. Much like the softball team, Joyce has led the golf team on a continual path of improvement. She has coached three A-Sun Golfers of the Year in Cecilie Lundgreen (1997), Jessica Polus (2002) and Natalia Navarro (2004) and one Freshman of the Year, Praewnapa Phol-Uayporn (2005).

Outside FAU, Joyce has been involved both as a coach and as a player at the highest levels of softball. Her coaching experience includes a four-year stint in the women's professional softball ranks, winning the World Series in each of those seasons. She has also coached and played softball with many of the nation's top collegiate coaches.

A member of the National Amateur Softball Hall of Fame, Joyce holds a career pitching record of 753 wins and 42 losses. Included in her totals are 150 no-hit, no-run games and 50 perfect games. At the plate she posted a career batting average of .324. Joyce counts striking out Ted Williams in 1961 as one of her most notable achievements.

A multi-sport athlete, Joyce has now been inducted into nine halls of fame. Her enshrinements include the Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame, Connecticut Women's Hall of Fame, the Connecticut Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, the Hank O'Donnell Hall of Fame, the Fairfield County Sports Hall of Fame, the International Softball Federation Hall of Fame, the National Amateur Softball Hall of Fame, the Greater Waterbury Hall of Fame, and is one of only three Americans who have been inducted into the International Women's Sports Hall of Fame. In 1976 she was a runner-up for the Women's Sports Magazine Athlete of the Year. Her story is familiar to the fastpitch world and to most anyone who has followed the games of softball, basketball, volleyball or golf.

Joan Joyce has left an indelible mark on women's athletics and is creating a legacy that will help to define FAU, Owls athletics and collegiate softball for decades to come.

Florida Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2012 - Charlie Ward

2012-01-23T03:51:00.005-08:00

Class of 2012

Charlie Ward -

Football & Basketball

A truly amazing athlete, Charlie Ward is one of the finest all-around performers in the Hall of Fame roster. In his freshman season, Ward played little quarterback, as he was the Florida State punter. He then sat out the 1990 season while he became the starting point guard on the FSU basketball team. As a sophomore, he was still experiencing more success on the basketball court. As a quarterback he only attempted nine passes and his athletic skills were even used at wide receiver.

In 1992, Ward finally received an opportunity at quarterback. He led the Seminoles to an ACC title, Orange Bowl win and was named as the Conference Player of the Year. He became a second team All-America, was a finalist for the O’Brien Award, and finished sixth in the Heisman voting. His senior year saw Ward lead FSU to its first national championship as he captured the Heisman Trophy and the Maxwell, Camp and O’Brien awards. At the time, his victory margin in the Heisman vote was the largest ever. In that 1993 season he threw 27 scoring passes with only four being intercepted. While highly desired by the pros, he cast his lot with basketball enjoying an 11season career in the National Basketball Association. Ward was such a complete athlete that he was also drafted in the major league baseball draft even though he did not play college baseball. While at FSU he served as student body vice president.

Florida Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2012 - Dave Roberts

2012-01-23T03:51:00.004-08:00

Class of 2012 Dave Roberts - Track

Olympic bronze medalist Dave Roberts, won three straight NCAA pole vault titles for Rice from 1971-73, was inducted into the USA Pole Vault Hall of Fame.

Roberts, who won bronze at the '76 Games in Montreal, was the first man to win three straight NCAA titles outright in the vault. He cleared 17-6.5 in 1971, and followed with winning heights of 17-3 and 17-4. He still holds the Rice school record at 18-0.25.

The Conroe High School product set his first world record on March 28, 1975 in Gainesville, Fla., soaring over 5.65m/18-6.5, and he added another world record on June 22, 1976 in Eugene, Ore., when he cleared 5.70m/18-8.25. Roberts won U.S. national championships in 1972 and 1974, and was the Pan American Games silver medalist in 1971 at Cali, Colombia.

Florida Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2012 - Gary Koch

2012-01-23T03:51:00.003-08:00

Class of 2012

Gary Koch - Golf

Gary Koch enjoys success as a world-class player, noted golf course designer and television broadcaster. As an amateur, Gary won the Florida Open in 1969 at the age of 16. He won the U.S. Junior Amateur in 1970. He was a three-time All American at the University of Florida and member of the 1973 NCAA Championship Team. Gary represented the United States in the 1973 and 1975 Walker Cup Matches and was a member of the 1974 World Amateur Cup team.

Gary won six events as a professional on the PGA Tour. His career year in professional golf came in 1984 when he captured two of the Tour’s most prestigious non-majors: the Isuzu-Andy Williams San Diego Open and the Bay Hill Classic. In November 2002, Koch began playing on the Champions Tour and continues to compete on that tour today.

Koch’s career as a sportscaster started in 1990 with ESPN as a commentator and analyst on ESPN golf telecasts. Since 1997, Gary has been a member of the golf announcer team at NBC-TV Sports for PGA Tour events, USGA major tournaments and the Ryder Cup matches.

Florida Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2012 - Henry Lawrence

2012-01-23T03:51:00.002-08:00

Class of 2012

Henry Lawrence - Football

John Madden will never forget the first day he saw Henry Lawrence. It’s a reason he is an NFL Hall of Fame coach and Lawrence went on to win three Super Bowls.

Then the head coach of the Oakland Raiders, Madden was at the 1974 Senior Bowl to check out Ed “Too Tall” Jones, a heralded defensive lineman who would become the number one pick in that year’s NFL draft.

Madden saw what others didn’t. He was more impressed how Lawrence blocked Jones and kept him under check during the Senior Bowl practices.

“I went there to see Too Tall and I see Henry constantly blocking him and holding him back,” Madden said. “We couldn’t get Jones because we weren’t high enough up in the draft, but I said we are going to get the guy who can block the number one guy in the draft.”

The Raiders drafted Lawrence with their first pick (19th overall) and Lawrence went on to have the best NFL career of any player to come out of Manatee County, earning several Pro Bowl honors along with his Super Bowl rings.

The 60-yard Lawrence was recently voted into the Florida Sports Hall of Fame and on March 20th will be inducted during ceremonies at the Mainsail Conference Center in Tampa. Miami Dolphins great receiver Nat Moore will introduce him.

Lawrence will join a litany of football giants, who were either born in Florida or reached their greatness playing in college or professionally in the state. Among those inducted last year was Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Derrick Brooks.

Madden, who coached Lawrence for most of his career, hopes this induction will eventually lead to his entrance into the NFL Hall of Fame.

Madden has always had a special place in his heart for offensive lineman and players who overcame long odds to become successful at the highest level.

“Henry was one of the best I ever coached and one of my favorites probably because he was like a son to me,” Madden said via phone. “I felt like I discovered him, which I didn’t because he was a talent. But we stayed close. Some people are just special to you and that’s the way I feel about him. He was a big, strong tough guy who played with a lot of pride.”

Lawrence had to overcome several obstacles to earn that number one draft pick and earn the starting right tackle spot for the Raiders.

He was an All-American at the old Lincoln High in Palmetto, but when he transferred to Manatee High in 1969 under the first year of integration he rarely played for a coaching staff that didn’t know how to deal with a difficult situation.

Today, most folks who follow local sports will tell you Lawrence’s benching at Manatee was the biggest coaching blunder in the history of Manatee County sports.

It cost Lawrence in the pocketbook. Instead of going to a major college program he had to settle for FAMU when the big college programs that were courting him backed off. After getting drafted, Raiders owner Al Davis used that against Lawrence telling him players coming from small black schools didn’t get as much money as other draftees.

The two Raiders picked after Lawrence that year, tight end Dave Casper (Notre Dame) and running back Mark van Eeghen (Colgate) got more money, Lawrence said.

Despite being an All-Pro caliber player during his 14 years in the NFL, Lawrence’s best pay check was $350,000, a pittance compared to what present day players earn.

“The attitude then was if you came from a small black college you weren’t ready for the NFL and needed more coaching and that affected your contract,” Lawrence said.

As with many long time NFL players, Lawrence paid a heavy price for his long career. He says not a day goes by when some physical ailment reminds him of his days in the trenches.

“I hurt all the time depending on what day it is,” Lawrence said. “One day it might be my knees, or an ankle, foot or back and then my head. When I played I had a couple of concussions and had my bell rung a few times. Back then they gave you smelling salts and put you back in the game. I have a lot of headaches these days.”

Lawrence has always been a fighter for justice even in that tumultuous year at Manatee High in 1969 when tensions were high and a riot closed the school for a few days. He always fought to establish peace looking for justice over taking a side because of race in those stormy days.

Today, Lawrence’s heart is with the NFL players of his era. He feels they have not been treated correctly and blames some of it on the late Gene Upshaw, his teammate with the Raiders and former president of the NFL Players Union.

“I played with Upshaw and he was like a brother to me. I don’t know what happened with him. Somewhere along the line he got caught up with his power,” Lawrence said. “I go to meetings today with former NFL players and see the older guys walking with canes and rollers and half can’t get up without any assistance. Guys are in wheelchairs and get turned down for benefits.

“You have players today making $4-5 million and they won’t take 10 percent off the top to help the older players. There was no focus (under Upshaw) on improving benefits and conditions for the older players.”

Lawrence spends these days speaking at prisons to help troubled youth and does a lot of singing engagements, sometimes with his Henry Lawrence Band. Every year he sings with the NFL Gospel choir prior to the Super Bowl and will be in Indianapolis this year for the game.

Though he and Al Davis went through quite a few contentious contract negotiations, Lawrence went to his funeral and sang the national anthem at the Raiders game with Cleveland this past season after Davis died.

Lawrence played his entire NFL career with the Raiders (from 1974-1986) and Davis was the owner and general manager during the entire period.

“We had our times, but I was pretty close to the Davis family. Al was made out to be a villain by a lot of people, but he did a lot of good things,” Lawrence said. “Though sometimes he would punish you if he felt you did something wrong, he was always there for you. The Raiders will never be the same because Al was different. It was his M.O. to go against the grain. But I am a Raider for life.”

Florida Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2012 - Dick Anderson

2012-01-23T03:51:00.001-08:00

Class of 2012

Dick Anderson - Football

Richard “Dick” Anderson became the third Colorado Buffalo to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, entering in 1993, reaching the perfect pinnacle for his football career. He was a consensus All-American in 1967, when he also earned all-Big Eight honors. He had 266 tackles and 14 interceptions in his career, numbers at the time were the most in CU history when recorded (and still rank 18th and third, respectively). He was a member of CU’s All-Century team (1989), and has been inducted into the Big Eight Hall of Fame and the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame. He was a third round draft pick by the Miami Dolphins in the ’68 AFL-NFL Draft, and he went on to have a 10-year career with the Dolphins where he was a three-time all-pro performer and member of the undefeated ’72 Super Bowl champion team. A successful businessman in the Miami area, Dick has also made a name for himself on the Celebrity Golf Tour. His son Blake also attended CU and played on the football team in the early 1990s.

Florida Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2012 - Alonzo Mourning

2012-01-23T03:51:00.000-08:00

Class of 2012

Alonzo Mourning - Basketball

Alonzo Mourning was born in Chesapeake, VA and graduated from Indian River High School. As a senior, he was named Player of the Year by USA TODAY, Parade, Gatorade, and Naismith. Mourning attended Georgetown University where he led the nation in blocked shots his freshman year and was an All-American his last year there. He was selected second overall in the 1992 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets. Mourning was named to the league’s all-rookie team in 1993 after averaging 21 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 2.37 blocks. He became the Hornets’ all-time career leader in blocked-shots. After three seasons with the Hornets, Mourning was traded to the Miami Heat where he played for the next seven seasons. He averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds per game.

He won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award twice and was named into the All-NBA First Team in 1999 and All-NBA Second Team in 2000. Alonzo won Gold at the 2000 Olympic Games with the US National Team. Prior to the 2000-2001 NBA season, Mourning was diagnosed with kidney disease and in 2003, after signing with the New Jersey Nets, he was forced to retire from the NBA due to complications. In December of 2003, Mourning underwent a successful kidney transplant and in 2004, he returned to practicing with the Nets. After brief stints in New Jersey and in Toronto, Mourning returned to the Heat in 2005 and claimed the NBA Championship in the 2006 NBA Finals. During the 2007-08 season, he became the Heat’s all-time scoring leader. Mourning is a seven time NBA All-Star and is the only member of the Miami Heat organization to have his jersey (#33) retired. Throughout his sixteen year career in the NBA, he accumulated a total of 14,311 points, 7,137 rebounds, and 2,356 blocked shots. In 2009, he returned to the Miami Heat as Vice-President of Player Programs and Development. Also in 2009, Mourning had a new high school named in his honor as a result of his charity work done in South Florida.

Florida Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2012 - Roland Martin

2012-01-23T03:50:00.000-08:00

Roland Martin

Watersports - Fishing

On the screen and off, Roland Martin is one of the most recognizable fishermen in fishing. That is because his TV career spans nearly three decades, and he is one of the most legendary figures in the professional bass fishing arena.

Martin's BASSMASTER Tournament Trail career includes an unprecedented list of achievements. He holds the records for most tournaments won at 19 and most B.A.S.S. Angler-of-the-Year titles at nine. In addition, he has made 25 appearances in bass fishing's world championship event, the BASS Masters Classic.

Bass fishing is the common thread of Martin's angling career by virtue of his early dominance of tournament fishing. In the early years of the sport, he commandeered the winner's circle the same way the New York Yankees reigned over Major League Baseball, the way the Green Bay Packers once owned the National Football League.

Martin is credited with inventing a technique called "pattern" fishing for bass, the very basic formula for successfully catching this species. It involves a process that involves a strategy of equating seasonal conditions with relevant habitat preferred by the bass.

Martin's incomparable level of enthusiasm is a big part of his personality. He has the vitality of a child when it comes to fishing that is refreshing to viewers.

Known mostly for his bass fishing, he is adept at catching all species of game fish - an attribute that adds variety to his show. A professional angler and lure inventor by occupation, he enjoys hunting in his spare time.

Join the Growing List of 2012 Florida Sports Hall of Fame Enshrinement Sponsors

2012-01-22T20:29:00.000-08:00

If you are interested in becoming a

sponsor for the upcoming

2012 Florida Sports Hall of Fame

Enshrinement March 19th - 20th

Contact

Barry Smith, President

Florida Sports Hall of Fame Marketing

813.244.0238

barry@fshofmarketing.com

A.T.A.P. Companies

Diamond Crown Cigars

Premier Beverage

Tampa Bay Lightning

Tampa Bay Sports Commission

ESPN Florida

Bright House Sports Network

Briefcase Golf

Avila Golf and Country Club

Mainsail Hotel and Conference Center

Brock Communications

Florida Sports Hall of Fame Release of our New Quick Response Code

2012-01-21T05:03:00.001-08:00

Scan Here and Enjoy!

Register & Pay - Florida Sports Hall of Fame Box Office

2012-01-20T19:07:00.000-08:00

Florida Sports Hall of Fame
51st Enshrinement Activities

Special Note: When you make Payment thorough our Pay Pal Links below, please note that we will receive a confirmation of payment and then we will also follow up directly to you with a welcome e-mail to gather the names of the golfers/and or attendees at the dinner.

Participate as a Sponsor in Three Ways:

*Enter as Single/Team in Golf Tournament
*Attend Memorabilia Auction and Dinner
*VIP Reception, Golf, and Dinner Package

Choose from One of the
Three Options Below

Legends Reception, Golf & Dinner

$1,500 Sponsorship Includes:

VIP Invitation for (2)

Legends Reception &

Lightning Game Watch Party

Monday March 19 @ 7:30 PM

Tampa Bay Times Forum

Team of (3) Golf with FSHOF Member
Tuesday March 20 @ 8:30 AM
Avila Golf and Country Club

Table of (10)

FSHOF Memorabilia Auction and Enshrinement Dinner Tickets

Tuesday March 20 @ 6:00 PM

MainSail Conference Center

Hall of Fame Sports Celebrities Participating;

Dave Andreychuk, Derrick Brooks,

Lou Piniella, Fran Curci,

Jack Youngblood, Otis Birdsong,

Scot Brantley, Ron Sellers,

Fred McGriff, Gary Koch,

Charlie Ward, Ryan Nece,

Nat Moore, Donnie Allison,

Chuck Foreman, Alonzo Mourning,

Bobby Allison, Henry Lawrence,

Dick Anderson, Roland Martin

_____________________________

Legends Golf Scramble
Tuesday March 20th
8:30 a.m. Shotgun Start
Avila Golf and Country Club
Tampa, Florida

Single Entry $250
Team of (3) Entry $675

Includes:
Player Gift, Continental Breakfast,
Beverages,Awards Luncheon
& FSHOF Member as Team Captain

__________________________

Florida Sports Hall of Fame
Memorabilia Auction
& Enshrinement Dinner

Tuesday, March 20 @ 6:00 PM
MainSail Conference Center
Tampa Florida

Includes:
Open Bar, Dinner & Drawing for
Weekend Getaway for Two at
MainSail Beach Inn
Anna Maria Island, Florida

Individual Patron Dinner Ticket

$125

Patron Table for Ten (10)

$1,000

Florida Sports Hall of Fame Press Conference Tuesday January 24th 10 a.m. Tampa Bay Times Forum

2012-01-20T05:21:00.000-08:00

(L-R) Barry Smith, President, FSHOF Marketing, Lisa Brock, CEO, Brock Communications, Bill Wickett, Sr. VP of Communications, Tampa Bay Lightning, John Reger, Jr,. PGA, FSHOF Marketing

Florida Sports Hall of Fame Athlete of the Month

2012-01-18T04:18:00.000-08:00

Nominate for the

Florida Sports Hall of Fame

Athlete of the Month

Simply click on our Nomination Chairman's

email link below and make your nomination.

Feel welcome to provide additional
information and tell us why your pick
should be our candidate for
"FSHOF Athlete of the Month"

Barry Smith

President, FSHOF Marketing

Nominating Committee Chairman

Click on the Link Below

barry@fshofmarketing.com

About the Florida Sports Hall of Fame

“Athlete of the Month” Award

The FSHOF has created a monthly recognition award for any male or female athlete, all ages, amateur or professional, and is a current Florida resident. The Athlete of the Month Award will create an opportunity for the grassroots sports fan to make nominations and to learn more about the mission of the FSHOF to help fight childhood obesity and children’s diabetes. A special panel made up of FSHOF Enshrined Members, FSHOF Staff, and local media will review nominations and vote to determine the award winners. For additional information about the award, contact Barry Smith, President, FSHOF Marketing at 813.244.0328 or barry@fshofmarketing.com

FSHOF Member Update - Pat Bradley

2012-01-13T20:18:00.000-08:00

FSHOF Inductee

Pat Bradley - Golf

There has not been a more consistent performer or dedicated individual in Ladies Professional Golf Association history than Pat Bradley. This is a woman who made it on course management, patience and dogged determination, who experienced the highest of highs and the lowest of lows, and then came back to become the 12th woman enshrined in the LPGA Hall of Fame. "Commitment was the key," Bradley said. "You can have success, failure, setback and defeat, and rise above it."

During her prime, Bradley competed in 627 tournaments, posting 312 top-10 finishes, with 208 of those in the top five. She became the first woman golfer to surpass the $2 million (1986), $3 million (1990) and $4 million (1991) marks in career earnings and was the first woman to win all four of the modern major golf championships. In 1986, she won the Nabisco Dinah Shore, the LPGA Championship, the du Maurier and finished fifth at the U.S. Women's Open, three strokes out of the Jane Geddes-Sally Little playoff.

That was the year that defined Bradley's career. "I have been a very consistent and very good player, but I really believe that in 1986 I was tapped to be a little bit more distinguished than the other players," Bradley said. "I think somewhere, someone up above picked me to have a year that will go down in golfing history and will make me just a little more special than other people. I honestly wish everyone could experience what I did in that dream-come-true year. I was invincible."

After every one of her victories, it became a tradition for Bradley's mother to stand on the porch of their home in Westford, Mass., and ring a Swiss cow bell. Kathleen Bradley rang it and rang it, starting in 1975 when her daughter won the Colgate Far East Open, and ending in 1991 when Pat won for the 30th time to qualify for the LPGA Hall of Fame. The bell was retired and is part of an exhibit at the World Golf Hall of Fame in St. Augustine, Fla.

Qualifying for the Hall was a goal of Bradley's father, Richard, who died in 1988. That was the same year that Pat was diagnosed with Graves Disease and had plummeted to 109th on the money list with barely more than $15,000 in earnings. "I had a fear of failing him," Bradley said. "For many years I felt in my heart I was Hall of Fame material, but not in my mind. I was not completing the mission."

Bradley rebounded from the emotional loss of her father and the overactive thyroid in 1989, winning the Al Star/Centinela Classic. Three more victories followed in 1990, then three more in 1991 leading up to the MBS LPGA Classic at Los Coyotes C.C. in Buena Park, Calif. Bradley had won the SAFECO Classic the week before in Seattle and was ready to get it over with. She started the final round four strokes back, took the lead on Sunday with a birdie at the 13th hole and won by a stroke. When she was told that she had won, Bradley broke down in the scorer's tent and cried. The mission had been completed.

"I may not be up there attracting publicity or may not be a household name," Bradley has said. "I may be far behind in superstar quality, not as acceptable as some others, but in facts and figures, I'm up there with the greats."

FSHOF Member Update - Bob Murphy

2012-01-13T20:08:00.000-08:00

FSHOF Inductee

Bob Murphy - Golf

A Bob Murphy appearance at the1965 US Amateur Championship led him to win the title, after playing golf for only four years. It proved to be the biggest achievement of his career. Back in college, he also won the 1966 NCAA championship. There was a Bob Murphy appearance at the professional golf scene a year after. Murphy won five times on the PGA Tour and was a member of the 1975 Ryder Cup team. He has won 11 times on the Senior PGA Tour. His other victories include the 1967 Florida Open, 1970 Australian Masters, 1979 Jerry Ford Invitational, and the 1995 and 1996 Diners Club Matches with Jim Colbert.

FSHOF Class of 1996 - Joe Fields

2012-01-10T04:58:00.000-08:00

Class of 1996

Joe Fields -

Basketball Coach

Joe Fields was head basketball coach at Columbia HS in Lake City. He moved on to become head basketball coach at Lake City Community College where he served for many years.

In 1970, his team won the state junior college basketball championship. They went on to participate in the national junior college championship at Hutchinson, Kansas, where his team finished 3d in the nation, defeated only by Vincennes (Indiana) Community College who went on to win the national championship

FSHOF Special Award Winner 2011 - Fame for Fitness

2012-01-08T06:01:00.000-08:00

Special Award Winner 2011

Fame for Fitness

Annika Sorenstam

In Recognition of Outstanding Contribution and Commitment to Fighting Childhood Obesity and Children's Diabetes

Annika is the greatest female golfer of our generation, and often regarded as the best of all-time. During her 15 year Hall of Fame career, she rewrote the LPGA and Ladies European Tour record books, won countless awards, and changed the way women's golf was played, viewed, and covered. She amassed 89 worldwide victories, including 72 on the LPGA, ten of which are Major Championships. She has a record eight Rolex Player of the Year awards and holds the record for the lowest scoring average in a season (68.6969 in 2004). She has a record six Vare Trophies for the year's lowest scoring average. She is the only female to break 60 in an official event, which garnered her the nickname, "Ms. 59." Annika was the first and only female to cross the $20 Million mark for LPGA career earnings and her total of over $22 million is nearly $6 Million more than the next closest competitor. Annika was the Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year from 2003-2005, and the Golf Writers Association of America Female Athlete of the Year in 1995, 1997, and from 2000-2005.

Annika stepped away from competitive golf at the end of the 2008 season to further pursue a family and the ANNIKA brand of businesses. She authored her second book Golf Annika's Way and partnered with Cutter & Buck to develop the ANNIKA Collection,, her very own high-end female golf apparel line. The collection has done very well and has grown from two to three lines per year. Annika also has a growing Golf Course Design business with eight projects at various stages of development around the world.

As part of a continuing legacy, the ANNIKA Academy opened in spring of 2007. A 5,400 square foot state-of-the art- teaching facility at Reunion Resort, outside of Orlando, Fla., the Academy allows Annika to share her passion for golf and fitness, along with her own personal coaches. The Academy's lead instructor Henri Reis, Annika's golf coach since 1987, focuses on all aspects of the swing as well as mental training. Kai Fusser, Annika's fitness trainer, helps guests focus on cardio and core strengthening exercises as well as helping them strengthen on-course focus and confidence. Their simple, proven methods allow golfers of any age, gender, or skill level reach their fullest potential. Annika, who is very involved in all aspects of the Academy, participates at various levels in three different packages.

Annika feels very strongly about giving back, and in 2007 she started the ANNIKA Foundation to help children live a healthy, active lifestyle through fitness and nutrition and to offer aspiring junior golfers new playing opportunities. The foundation has an award winning AJGA tournament each year for 72 of the top female juniors from around the world and has partnered with the Florida Hospital and the First Tee to create the Nine Healthy Habits, a healthy lifestyle curriculum which will be rolled out into The First Tee's 4,000 schools by 2012. Annika also represents SPARK, School Specialty's nationally renowned Physical Education Curriculum and hopes to get the program into all elementary and middle schools in her home state of Florida.

In 2008, along with New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning, Annika was named the"Most Caring Athlete" by USA Weekend Magazine. That same year Annika joined Arnold Palmer as only the second ever Ambassador of the United States Golf Association with the goal of making the game of golf more accessible and more relevant to players of all skill levels. In 2009, along with Jack Nicklaus, she was named a Global Ambassador by the International Golf Federation and helped them successfully get golf into the 2016 Olympic Games. Appointed Advisor to the LPGA Commissioner in July 2009, Annika assists the LPGA with on-going discussions with tournaments and sponsors to ensure that the LPGA remains the pre-eminent women's sports association in the world. An eight-time ESPY award winner, Annika was also named an honorary member of the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness in late 2009.

Annika and her CFO created the ANNIKA Financial Group as a result of Annika's passion to help other professional athletes protect their wealth while assuring their peace of mind. Annika also has a limited edition, namesake fragrance that is sold on her online retail shop, www.shopannika.com. Each Thursday Annika is a guest Analyst on the Golf Channel's Morning Drive.

Annika has always had a passion for food and fine wine and in 2009 she launched a signature wine label with Wente Vineyards. The 2006 high-end Syrah debuted in 2009 with 611 cases and in 2010 she introduced her 2008 Chardonnay. Annika also shared her passion for cooking by releasing her first cookbook in Sweden and hopes to introduce the book to the United States in the coming years.

Annika's love of sports was nurtured by her parents Tom and Gunilla and was strengthened by a healthy rivalry with her sister Charlotta. Annika remains close with her family, including her sister who is the Director of Golf Operations ANNIKA Academy. In January 2009, Annika married then golf sports agent, Mike McGee, the son of former PGA TOUR and CHAMPIONS TOUR golfer Jerry McGee. Mike has served as Managing Director for the ANNIKA brand of businesses since Dec. 2006. Annika and Mike welcomed their daughter, Ava Madelyn McGee, on September 1, 2009, and their son William Nicholas McGee on March 21, 2011.

Throughout Annika's many successes on and off the course, she remains a sincere, down to earth, and approachable person. With her unrelenting drive, storied golf career, and burgeoning business career, Annika is determined to bring women's golf and sports to the mainstream.

Annika represents ADP, Callaway, Cutter & Buck, Golf Digest, Lexus, Lipton, Oakley, Rolex, and Wente Vineyards.

FSHOF Class of 2011 - Mary Wise

2012-01-08T05:44:00.000-08:00

Class of 2011 - Mary Wise

The architect of one of the most storied programs in NCAA Division I volleyball history is in the midst of her second decade of excellence in leading the Florida volleyball program. The accomplishments of Mary Wise since being named head coach of the Gators in 1991 have been nothing short of unprecedented.

Wise At A Glance:

Hometown: Evanston, Ill.

Education: B.S. Physical Education, Purdue University, 1981

Coaching Experience: Iowa State: Head Coach, 1981-1984, Kentucky: Assistant Coach, 1986-1990, Kentucky: Associate Head Coach, 1989-1990, Florida: Head Coach, 1991-present

Coaching Highlights: AVCA National Coach of the Year, 1992, 1996; USA Volleyball All-Time Great coach; 12-time SEC Coach of the Year (1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2007, 2010); Only female in NCAA history to coach in the national championship match; Only female in NCAA history to coach in more than one Final Four; Fastest female head coach to 500 career wins; At age 21, became the youngest Division I head coach ever hired

Coaching Record:
713-132 (.844) career record (24 seasons); 81-63 (.563) record at Iowa State (four seasons); 632-69 (.902) record at Florida (20 seasons)

Family:
Husband: Mark; Children: Matt (22), Mitchell (17)

The list of achievements is long and cements the fact that if there has been one constant to Wise's 20-year tenure at Florida, it is unparalleled success. There hasn't been a single coach in the history of Division I men's and women's basketball, football or baseball with at least 15 seasons of coaching who can claim a better winning percentage than Wise has at Florida (.902).

Consider this: Wise became the first coach in NCAA history to win 100 consecutive games, the first to win 130 consecutive regular-season conference matches and the only coach ever to win 90 percent of her matches in her first 20 seasons at one school. She is the nation's winningest coach since the 1991 season with 632 victories to her credit since her hire at Florida.

Those accomplishments led USA Volleyball to bestow on Wise the title of "All-Time Great Coach" in 2006.

Since arriving at UF in 1991, Wise has propelled a once lackluster program into the epitome of excellence. That was never more evident than in 2010, when Wise's squad – not voted to win the Southeastern Conference for the first time since 1991 – engineered one of the finest campaigns in program history.

The Gators spent eight weeks at the No. 1 spot in the AVCA poll, battling through a grueling schedule to post 10 wins against top-25 opponents during the season. The early part of the schedule proved to be a gauntlet, as Florida faced nine ranked teams in its first 12 matches – winning eight of those contests. Wise's 2010 Gators became the first team in SEC history to post a perfect 20-0 league record, as the conference instituted a 20-match double round-robin format prior to the start of the 2006 campaign. Wise's prize pupil – junior right-side/setter Kelly Murphy – earned AVCA First-Team All-America honors and was named the 2010 SEC Player of the Year. The Gators placed four players on the AVCA All-South Region team and Wise was named both the SEC Coach of the Year and the AVCA South Region Coach of the Year.

Wise joined the exclusive 700-win club during the 2010 season, becoming just the 16th head coach in NCAA Division I history to eclipse that milestone. She ranks 16th all-time among the winningest coaches in NCAA Division I history and is the eighth-winningest active coach all time with 713 career victories.

The Gators hold the nation's longest streak of consecutive 25-win seasons at 20 and also have been ranked among the nation's top-15 in the final AVCA poll each of those 20 years.
It was in 2008 that Wise's proficiency as a true teacher of the game shined. Her squad captured an unlikely 18th consecutive league championship, which broke an NCAA Division I record for the most consecutive conference titles in the sport of volleyball. Wise guided a young squad that featured five freshmen regularly playing in the rotation to the outright league championship and an NCAA Regional Semifinal appearance.

Under her direction, Murphy, a freshman, became the first player in school history to be named the AVCA National Freshman of the Year and senior Kelsey Bowers was named the SEC Volleyball Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

Florida has so dominated the SEC in her tenure that Wise is one of only two coaches in conference history in any sport, men's or women's, to win as many as 18 consecutive conference titles.

Florida's success in the Wise Era, however, hasn't been limited to the conference level. The Gators went more than 10 seasons from 1994-04 without losing a regular-season SEC match – a feat unmatched by any school in NCAA women's volleyball history. In 2003, the Gators won 105 straight games during the course of the season, smashing the previous NCAA record by 36 games.

A pioneer with tremendous vision, passion and enthusiasm for the sport of volleyball, Wise is the only female coach to appear in more than one national semifinal, and she reached the 500-win plateau faster than any other Division I female coach. A 12-time winner of the SEC Coach of the Year award (1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2007, 2010), Wise also has been named the national coach of the year twice (1992, 1996).
Her penchant for prosperity on the court has transcended into the regional community. Florida ranked among the top-10 schools in the nation in attendance for the 19th time in the last 20 years in 2010, as countless Gator fans moved through the turnstiles at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center to provide Florida with one of the most electric, intimidating and inspiring volleyball venues in the country.

The NCAA recognized the enthusiasm of Gator fans by awarding Florida NCAA Regional hosting duties in 2006 and 2007, as UF became the first school to host back-to-back regionals and the first to host three total regionals since the pre determined format was adopted in 2003. Florida again hosted a regional in 2009 and is scheduled to host the event in both 2011 and 2013.

As strong as the reputation that has built for her program is in the state of Florida, it extends far beyond the borders of the Sunshine State. On the forefront of increasing awareness and exposure for volleyball, Wise has ushered in a philosophy of innovation when it comes to rules changes and youth volleyball opportunities, and she is routinely regarded as one of the finest resources for coaching in collegiate volleyball.

In April of 2008, Wise helped blaze another trail for the women's volleyball community, as she played an integral role in the organization of inaugural SEC Coaches Beach Volleyball Championships, which marked the first beach volleyball tournament held by an NCAA Division I conference. Later that month, the Birmingham News named her one of the 10 most influential women's sports coaches or administrators in conference history.

Due to the advocacy of Wise and others in the coaching community, the sport of "sand volleyball" was added to the NCAA's list of emerging sports for women in the spring of 2009.

Wise served as the president of the American Volleyball Coaches Association during the 2008 year and held the position of past president until Dec. 31, 2009.

Wise's expertise and intuition have led to numerous appointments on international coaching staffs. Most recently, Wise served as the team leader of the U.S. National Team in the Pan American Cup during the summer of 2010. In May of 2006, she guided the USA Volleyball A2 Team at the U.S. Open Championships, as the volleyball community became one of the first groups to compete in a large-scale event in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. She also directed the U.S. National "B" Team at the 1995 World University Games.

Along the way, multiple players under Wise's tutelage have gone on to earn invitations to national teams and compile individual honors. In the summer of 2005, four Gators trained with the USA Women's Volleyball National Team - more than any other school in the country that year.

A Florida player has earned the title of SEC Player of the Year in 14 of the last 16 seasons, including Angie McGinnis in 2006 and 2007, when she became the first setter in league history to claim the honor and one of just five players in the league to win the award on multiple occasions. Since Wise's arrival at UF, 25 players have earned a sum of 59 All-America honors, including a record six combined honors by a trio of players in 2007.

Dating back to Wise's first season, 53 UF players have been named All-SEC a staggering 106 times – an average of 5.3 selections per year. Florida upped the ante even more in 2003, 2006, 2007 and 2010, as a whopping six players were named All-SEC in each of those campaigns.

While the accomplishments of many teams end on the court, that's simply where Florida's begin. With her emphasis on academics in addition to athletics, members of the Gator volleyball team under Wise have combined to earn 126 Academic All-SEC honors since 1991. In 2009, 10 players were named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll and another two earned SEC Freshman Academic Honor Roll recognition. Additionally, six UF players have combined to receive nine Academic All-America honors in Wise's career at Florida.

The Gators have also shown a commitment to playing an active role in community leadership and involvement. Each year members of the Gator volleyball team visit children at nearby Shands Hospital during the Thanksgiving holiday, while players also participate in the Goodwill Gators program. In 2003, Wise helped raise $7,500 for the Children's Miracle Network after more than 4,000 Gator fans packed the O'Connell Center for a match against South Carolina. She also organizes and operates the annual Mary Wise Scramble, a golf tournament that benefits PACE Alachua, which provides guidance to young girls who are experiencing conflict in school or at home.

Since winning the SEC Championship in her first season in Gainesville, Wise's affect on volleyball in the state has been nothing short of amazing. UF's annual summer camps typically draw nearly 1,700 eager athletes from all levels who travel to the UF campus in order to learn from one of the finest coaches in the country.

Fittingly, several of Wise's former players and assistants have successfully ventured into coaching, including Michelle Chatman (UCF), Arlisa Hagan (Georgetown), Jeni Jones (Missouri State), Claire Lessinger (South Florida), Prentice Lewis (TCU), Nicole McCray (Panola College), Nikki Shade (South Florida) and Ryan Theis (Ohio), to name a few. Her influence stretched even farther after Wise was the lead editor for the book "Volleyball Drills for Champions." She also produced a series of videos titled "Foundations for Successful Volleyball."

Prior to guiding the Gators, Wise honed her talents at Kentucky as an assistant for five years from 1986-90. During her progression from a graduate assistant to associate head coach, the Wildcats won a pair of SEC titles and advanced to the NCAA Championship three times. Before moving on to Lexington, Ky., Wise had previously served as the head coach at Iowa State from 1981-84. At the time of her hire, she became, at 21 years of age, the youngest Division I head coach in history before eventually guiding the Cyclones to an 81-63 record, which also included a second-place finish in the Big Eight Conference in 1984.

Wise graduated from Purdue in 1981 with a bachelor's degree in physical education after a standout career as a setter for the Boilermakers. A dean's list student, Wise was a member of Purdue's 1979 and 1980 Big Ten championship teams. A native of Evanston, Ill., Wise resides in Gainesville with her husband, Mark, and their two sons, Matt (21) and Mitchell (16).

FSHOF Class of 2011 - Dave Andrechyuck

2012-01-08T05:31:00.000-08:00

Class of 2011 - Dave Andrechyuck

Dave Andreychuk entered the NHL as an 18-year old for Buffalo, close to his home in Hamilton that he could still pretty much live at home. He scored a goal in his first game, and in his first full season he scored 38 goals, establishing himself as a natural scorer.

During his first ten years with the Sabres, the team won only one of nine playoff series. Midway through the 1992-93 season he was involved in a major trade that sent him to the Toronto Maple Leafs with Daren Puppa and a draft choice for Grant Fuhr and a draft choice. The move rejuvenated his career, as he finished the season with 54 goals, one of the few times a player has hit the 50-mark during a year he was traded.

Andreychuk scored 53 the next year to break Frank Mahovlich's team record for a left-winger, but again in Toronto he didn't win a Cup and GM Cliff Fletcher sent him to New Jersey for two draft choices. He signed with Boston as a free agent but was traded to Colorado in the same deal that involved Ray Bourque, but still the Avs made it no farther than the semi-finals in the spring of 2000.

After a return stint with Buffalo in 2000-01, Andreychuk signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning. He is one of only four players to score 30 or more power-play goals in a season and is the second-highest scoring right-winger in league history, surpassing the 600 goal-mark in 2002-03 and the 1,300 point mark the following year while captaining the Tampa Bay Lightning to their first Stanley Cup title in franchise history and Andreychuk's first of his illustrious 22-year career.

Following 42 games of the 2005-06 season the veteran forward was waived by the Tampa Bay Lightning on January 10, 2006 bringing an end to his long career.

Internationally, he has won a bronze medal with Canada at the 1983 World Juniors and three years later won another bronze at the World Championships

FSHOF Class of 2011 - Gino Torretta

2012-01-08T05:22:00.000-08:00

Class of 2011
Gino Torretta - Football

Gino Torretta was the most celebrated football player in the University of Miami and NCAA history. A 1991 graduate with a degree in Business Management, Torretta won both athletic and academic awards during his prolific career as a Hurricane.

He became only the second player in Hurricane history to win the coveted Heisman Trophy Award as the nation’s top collegiate football player. He was also honored as the Walter Camp Football Foundation’s Player of the Year.

The Associated Press, Kodak, Walter Camp and The Football News named Torretta first-team All-American. He also won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, The Maxwell Trophy and the Davey O’Brien national quarterback awards.

Torretta was a unanimous selection as BIG EAST Offensive Player of the year for two consecutive seasons, the NCAA Today’s Top Six Award winner, Toyota Leadership Award winner and Chevrolet Offensive Player of the Year.

Torretta finished his Miami career with eleven school passing records, including career attempts (991), completions (555), yards (7,690), total offense (7,772), longest pass (99 yards to Horace Copeland vs. Arkansas, an NCAA record) and most passing yards in a game (485 vs. San Diego State).

He was tapped into Iron Arrow, as one of the University’s best ambassadors. He has also been inducted into the Orange Bowl Hall of Honor and the University of Miami Hall of Fame.

Originally from Pinole, California, Gino and his wife Bernadette reside in Miami. In 2006 he founded Touchdown Radio, nationally broadcasting a college football game of the week. He is also the Manager of Institutional Sales with Gabelli Asset Management.

Torretta has been a color commentator for collegiate and professional football games, and is currently a host on the South Eastern College Football Today Show on CSS. Among his charitable works, he hosts the Gino Torretta Celebrity Blue Tee Weekend benefiting The Torretta Foundation, which aims to find a cure for ALS and Myasthenia Gravis.

He is also a Past-President of the National University of Miami Alumni Association, a member of the Orange Bowl Committee, and in 2008 was inducted into the University of Miami’s Ring of Honor. It was announced on April 30, 2009, that Gino Torretta has been selected for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.

FSHOF Class of 2011 - Derrick Brooks

2012-01-08T05:02:00.000-08:00

Class of 2011 - Derrick Brooks

Brooks became the second first-round draft choice of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1995 after Miami's Warren Sapp, and many observers around the NFL thought the six foot, 235 pound linebacker would be too small to be an effective professional player. When it came time to play, Brooks proved all of his doubters wrong. In his first professional season Brooks started 13 games and played in all 16 contests. He did not start every game because Tampa Bay started another defensive back instead of the bigger, less mobile linebacker against teams that primarily used the pass as a way to attack the defense. By the second year of his career, he had remedied that one weakness and started in all sixteen games for Tampa Bay. He even turned the element of his game which kept him out of the lineup into a strength for the team. Brooks is so fast and can cover so much ground that the Buccaneers can keep two linebackers in the game at all times unlike most NFL teams which have special packages to defend the pass but are then vulnerable against the run.

In his second NFL season Brooks led the team with 133 tackles, but was next to last in recognition from the outside world. Then Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy told John Oehser of The Florida Times Union about Brooks' value to the team: "He had a very good year for us. Unfortunately, if you're not an outside linebacker who's a blitzer, or who gets a lot of sacks, the recognition can be slow to come. Derrick played well for us, and I think he'll play at a real high caliber for a long time."

Brooks continued his quiet excellence in 1997 starting all 16 regular season games and tallying 182 tackles. He was starting to get some recognition around the league as one of the NFL's premier linebackers and was selected to play in the first of his many Pro Bowls. The following season continued in the same way except that Brooks was now starting in the Pro Bowl and was named an All Pro by nearly every sports publication in America. He recorded the third highest tackle total in team history with 189 including double-digit stops in nine games.

FSHOF Class of 2011 - Tony Boselli

2012-01-08T04:24:00.000-08:00

Tony Boselli - Class of 2011

Tony Boselli, Jr, is ranked as one of the greatest Offensive Lineman to play in the NFL. Boselli, Jacksonville Jaguars #71, has the distinction of being the first draft pick in the Jaguars franchise history and was referred to as the cornerstone of the team. Boselli was a 4 time Associated Press All Pro selection and a five time NFL Pro Bowl selection. Boselli was named NFL Lineman of the Year twice; was named All NFL Team in 1997, 1998, and 1999; he was named to the All-Decade Team of the nineties and NFL All Pro Dad. Tony Boselli was selected as the first pick of the 2002 Houston Texans Expansion Draft. However, due to frequent injuries over the previous two years, he retired from the Texans in 2004. In 2006, Boselli re-signed and then immediately retired as a Jacksonville Jaguars player. He was honored in October 2006 as the first inductee into the Pride of the Jaguars, where his name, number and years of playing are permanently displayed on the interior ring of the stadium. In 2007, Boselli was a first time nominee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and ranked number 2 as a Fox television NFL broadcast team, with his partner Ron Pitts, by Dr. Z at SI.Com.

Tony, who grew up in Boulder, Colorado, graduated from the University Of Southern California School Of Business, and played football for the Trojans. While at USC, Boselli was a first team All American and All PAC-10 choice in 1991, 1992 and 1994, the first three time Playboy Pre-Season All American in 1992, 1993, and 1994, won the Morris Trophy, an award to the best offensive or defensive lineman in the PAC-10 and was honored as USC Athlete of the Year in 1994/1995.

Boselli is an accomplished businessman owning several corporations, sits on non-profit boards, as well as building his and Angi’s dream of Helping Children become Champions through The Boselli Foundation and the Tony Boselli Youth Life Learning Center, an after-school program developed by football great Daryl Green in Washington DC. Tony has recently been tasked by Mayor John Peyton to lead the Neighborhood Safety and Stability committee for the Jacksonville Journey initiative.

On the personal side, Boselli and his wife Angi and their five children have made Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida their home. Tony is active in his church, and off the field, Tony’s humanitarian focus is on children. Through the programs of The Boselli Foundation, Tony and his wife Angi are striving to fulfill their mission: helping children become champions at home, at school and in the community! Tony serves as President of the Board of Directors of The Boselli Foundation and provides much of the impetus which drives foundation programs.

Florida Sports Hall of Fame Slide Show Update

2011-12-08T04:59:00.001-08:00

Florida Sports Hall of Fame's photostream on Flickr.

FSHOF Slide Show now updated with the latest pictures from the Smoke on the River presented by The Orlando AFLAC Office of Steve Perry

Thanks to our Official Photographer Barry Lively, visit his website at www.LivelyNow.com

The Brickhouse Cigars Smoke on the River Presented by the AFLAC Office of Steve Perry

2011-10-10T02:54:00.000-07:00

Look for us at UNATION this Fall!

2011-07-27T04:08:00.000-07:00

FSU Voted Home of College Football's Best Tradition

2011-07-13T04:48:00.000-07:00

Florida State University Voted

Home of College Football's Best Tradition

Osceola and Renegade rode to victory today over the University of Michigan in the championship round of the EA Sports NCAA Football Traditions contest.

Florida State defeated Florida, LSU and Notre Dame to advance to the title round. After some "poll tampering," voting was moved to the SportsNation facebook page where the Seminoles won by an astounding 15,000 votes.

EA Sports released NCAA Football 12 today and if you have not seen the open with Osceola and Renegade you can do so by clicking the link below.

Winners of the Rays Suite Tickets at the Florida Sports Hall of Fame

2011-05-28T13:35:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all who visited the Florida Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday May 28th at the Auburndale Centennial TECO Family Day hosted by Lake Myrtle Sports Complex.

We held a drawing for Tickets for Two to a Home Rays Baseball Game in a luxury suite!

All winners will be contacted by Barry Smith, barry@fshofmarketing.com, for instructions on the date and time of the Rays Home game that was selected, and on how to receive your tickets. Please visit our homepage at www.floridasportshalloffame.com to sign up for your eletter so we can email you additional information.

Congrats to the 8 Winners of the Rays Baseball Suite Tickets for Two:

Bill L., Peter K., Amber G., Debbie B., Brianne O., Darrel R., Al J., and Mike McD.

Visit the Florida Sports Hall of Fame Preview Center during the Auburndale Centennial Celebration

2011-05-17T04:40:00.000-07:00

Centennial Celebration
May 25-28
The City of Auburndale is celebrating its 100th Birthday!

Saturday, May 28th the fun continues beginning at 10:00 AM, at Lake Myrtle Park off of Berkley Road. The Kids will enjoy Touch A Truck and the Kid Zone and the parents can participate in various activities, food and entertainment including a Car Show (by invitation only) and Motorcycle Show, BBQ Cook Off, Fantasy of Flight Activities, Florida Sports Hall of Fame Exhibits and memorabilia from the State of Florida finest athletes & celebrity appearances, Entertainment on the Auburndale Stage featuring: Carl Chamber & The Dizzy Rambler Band, Royal City, John Summerall, Danny Pate along with Cactus Jack & the Cadillac’s.

At 5:00 PM the entertainment will continue on the Centennial Stage with lawn seating for the Legendary JC’s, 6:30 PM the Centennial Choir and at 7:30 PM Country Singer Lee Ann Womack Performs, followed by a Fireworks show.
All exhibits, parking and entertainment is Free of Charge.

FSHOF Update- Class of 1995

2011-05-17T03:30:00.001-07:00

Class of 1999 FSHOF Inductees

2011-05-15T11:27:00.000-07:00

Class of 1998 FSHOF Inductees

2011-05-15T11:16:00.000-07:00

Class of 1997 FSHOF Inductees

2011-05-15T10:47:00.000-07:00

Class of 1996 FSHOF Inductees

2011-05-15T03:33:00.001-07:00

Class of 1994-95 FSHOF Inductees

2011-05-14T03:18:00.000-07:00

Class of 1992-93 FSHOF Inductees

2011-05-12T03:30:00.000-07:00

FSHOF Class of 1990-91

2011-05-11T02:53:00.000-07:00

Class of 1988-89 FSHOF Inductees

2011-05-04T03:19:00.000-07:00

Do You Want to Make a Nomination to the Florida Sports Hall of Fame

2011-05-02T12:23:00.000-07:00

CRITERIA AND RULES FOR MEMBERSHIP

IN THE FLORIDA SPORTS HALL OF FAME

Furthermore, to be eligible for membership an individual must have had a sports career that spanned a minimum of 15 years or have been retired from that endeavor for at least a year.

Nominations should be sent to:

Rick Dantzler

President

Florida Sports Hall of Fame

P.O. Box 2529

Winter Haven, FL 33883

Questions should be directed to:

Larry Wahl

Chairman of the Nominating Committee

larry.wahl@gmail.com

561/762-6875

Class of 1987 Inductees

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Class of 1986 FSHOF Inductees

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Class of 1984-85 FSHOF Inductees

2011-04-29T03:13:00.000-07:00

Class of 1982-83 FSHOF Inductees

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Class of 1980-81 FSHOF Inductees

2011-04-22T04:08:00.000-07:00

Class of 1979 FSHOF Inductees

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Class of 1978 FSHOF Inductees

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1976-77 FSHOF Inductees

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Class of 1975 FSHOF Inductees

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1973-74 FSHOF Inductees

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1971-72 FSHOF Inductees

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Class of 1970 FSHOF Inductees

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1965-1969 FSHOF Inductees

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1962-64 FSHOF Inductees

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1961 FSHOF Inductees

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2008 FSHOF Inductees

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2007 FSHOF Inductees

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2006 FSHOF Inductees

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Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer lead off the 2011 Masters

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Great article from the Palm Beach Post

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports/golf/

Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer begin 75th Masters in style

by Edgar Thompson

AUGUSTA, GA. - The cheers began long before Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer reached the first tee at Augusta National.
Once they arrived, the two men with 10 green jackets between them Arnie didn’t disappoint the crowd packed around the No. 1 tee, placing their ceremonial first drives in the fairway.

The 81-year-old Palmer, a four-time champion here, got things going. Looking dapper in khakis, a white shirt and red sweater, Arnie made one practice swing, a couple of waggles and hit a perfect drive with a slight fade down the left half of the fairway.
With a big smile on his face, Palmer turned and walked to the back of the tee box, receiving a high-five from Nicklaus, his longtime rival and close friend.
Not to be outdone, the 71-year-old Nicklaus, who owns a record six green jackets, planted his tee in the ground and joked, “Now I have to get up.”
After two practice swings, a waggle or two and his trademark head cock, Nicklaus, wearing a black sweater, ripped one more than 250 yards down the middle of the fairway - 35 or 40 yards past Palmer’s ball.
Nicklaus and Palmer then shared a few pleasantries with Masters officials.
Jack told his caddy, grandson and local football star Nick O’Leary, “Your duties are over.”
Moments later, the two legends slipped on green jackets and headed back to the clubhouse, the crowd on each side, cheering them the whole time.
After all, no two men, other than maybe Bobby Jones, did more to make the Masters the game’s biggest event.
No one might match Jack’s 1986 win for drama.

2005 FSHOF Inductees

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2011 FSHOF Enshrinement Highlights

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Governor Scott makes a visit to our VIP Reception

2011 Inductee Dave Andrechyuk

Who's your favorite linebacker?

Barry Smith with Dave Cowens and William Floyd

Earl Morrall and Larry Ball

1972 Miami Dolphins

Governor Scott with Barry Smith

PGA Golf Professionals Ron Bakich

and John Reger, Jr.

Barry Lively with Angelo Dundee

Jennifer Steinbrenner and Lou Piniella

FSHOF Inductees in Attendance

Scot Brantley and Gino Torretta

Tony Boselli and Nat Moore

Ron Sellars and Derrick Brooks