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Cris Carter finalist for Hall of Fame
Middletown great will find out in 2 1/2 weeks whether he got pro football's top honor.
COMMENT: Should Carter go into the Hall of Fame?
PHOTOS: Former Middletown, Ohio State and NFL star Cris Carter
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Middletown native Cris Carter is one reception away from Canton.
Carter, 42, was named Tuesday as one of 17 finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. The class of 2008 will be announced Feb. 2, the day before the Super Bowl.
Extras
"It doesn't surprise me," said Woody Withrow, a longtime supporter of Middletown athletics who's been attending games for 60-plus years. "If you saw him in seventh or eighth grade, you would've predicted this. That's how great of an athlete I think he was. I'm tickled to death."
Carter played 16 seasons in the NFL for three different teams (Philadelphia, Minnesota and Miami). He ranks second on the NFL's all-time list in total receptions (1,101) and receiving touchdowns (130).
Carter, who was named to the NFL's All-Decade Team of the 1990s, was selected to play in eight Pro Bowls (1993-2000 seasons).
Before he starred in the NFL, Carter also was a standout for Ohio State.
"I don't see how in the world they could keep him out of there," said former Middletown football coach Jack Gordon, who coached Carter as a sophomore. "It's very good for Middletown. We're certainly rooting for him."
A minimum of four and maximum of seven finalists can be chosen. To be elected, a finalist must receive 80 percent of the 44 votes from the Hall's Board of Selectors.
The other finalists are Fred Dean, Richard Dent, Marshall Goldberg, Randy Gradishar, Darrell Green, Russ Grimm, Ray Guy, Bob Kuechenberg, Randall McDaniel,Art Monk, Andre Reed, Paul Tagliabue, Derrick Thomas and Emmitt Thomas, Andre Tippett and Gary Zimmerman.
Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2506 or jboyle@coxohio.com
Comments
By elaine
January 24, 2008 9:31 AM | Link to this
Stop hating he deserves it,your in our prays chris, love you,your fans and family in troy,ohio
By D.A
January 17, 2008 4:36 PM | Link to this
Congrats, Cris. Even though I couldn’t get a call back. I’m proud to say I know the guy and that he’s from my home town. Anytime Middletown puts something positive about a black man in the paper…THAT’S BIG! And to all that’s complaining about what he’s done for Middletown, think about what Middletown has done for you, if anything. Whatever you’re doing for Middletown and your community, just be proud of that. I that that in respect and in hope that you do get your just for what you do…
By robert
January 17, 2008 12:36 PM | Link to this
See there we go again…always something negative…drugs and partying. This is not a story about his life, its about his football ability..we all have stories to tell…in this case lets keep them between the LINES. That is what determines if you get to the Hall of Fame. Not the crazy stuff we all did as a young person. If thats the case most of us wouldnt have a job.
By Rhonda
January 17, 2008 11:43 AM | Link to this
I went to high school with Cris. He was an elite athlete and took advantage of the opportunities that presented, both good and bad. He wrote about the drugs and partying in a book. But, he turned his life around and serves as a true inspiration to young people. He is great on the field. The thing that amazes me is that he went football instead of basketball. I remember him taking us to state in basketball. This man is a true athlete in every sense of the word. He deserves this honor!
By Robert
January 17, 2008 10:31 AM | Link to this
HALL OF FAME….YES..Did you see some of the catches that man made? Plus he played Old School Football…100% on every play. What bothers me the most is why everyone thinks he owes Middletown anything. He has come back from time to time for events. I suppose you feel he should Live Here….Please cut him a break! He has made Middletown Proud and that is all he really owes the city. He put Middletown on the MAP…Middletown did not put CHRIS CARTER on the MAP. Be happy for him.
By Grumpy
January 17, 2008 7:32 AM | Link to this
Did Chris Carter come back to Middletown and explain what Middletown football meant to him? When our childrens extra curricular activities were on the chopping block, where was he? Where would he be now if Middletown didn’t have a football team back then?
Who Cares!
By scott
January 17, 2008 12:49 AM | Link to this
Are you kidding? What has he done for this town? I cant think of anything good that he has done..I SAY NO..TAKE HIM OUT OF IT!!!!!!
By Seattle nation
January 16, 2008 9:11 PM | Link to this
Definitely he belongs in the Hall of Fame. I’m a big Jerry Rice fan but will agree that Chris has better hands. One of the best pair of hands I ever saw. And I saw a bunch – from the days of Bob Hayes [no hands], Paul Warfield [great hands - go Buckeyes], Art Monk, Harold Jackson, Lynn Swan , Jerry Rice, on up to Randy Moss [just to name a few, and there is a whole bunch more]. Who knows, if Chris had Montana throwing to him for most of his career, he might be the all-time TD leader. Great player. His biggest question would be under which team? Has he ever thought about coaching?
By Terry Hooper
January 16, 2008 2:36 PM | Link to this
Its a no brainer…….he has the best hands to ever play pro football and that includes Jerry Rice….He made the greatest catch I ever saw in the 1985 Florida Citrus Bowl vs. BYU. He was just flat out amazing and I got chills watching him…..Welcome to Canton Cris…….
By Terry Hooper
January 16, 2008 2:26 PM | Link to this
Are you serious?…….he arguably has the best hands who ever played pro football. Even Jerry Rice’s hands dont compare to Cris’.He made the greatest catch I ever saw in the 1985 Florida Citrus Bowl Game vs. BYU. And he made a great catch just about every game. So stop all the nonsense, it is a no brainer, he is a Hall of Famer. Way to go CRIS!!!!!!!
By John G.
January 16, 2008 1:32 PM | Link to this
Great Guy and always played hard and well……….YES
By $140000
January 16, 2008 1:17 PM | Link to this
And why is “Andrew” running into him all the time? He’s a class act ON and (OFF) the field? Sounds gay to me.
By $140000
January 16, 2008 1:14 PM | Link to this
WHO IS THIS GUY?
By Andrew
January 16, 2008 12:46 PM | Link to this
I have met Cris carter three seperate times and he is definitely a class act when he was on and off the field. Let him in!
By buster j
January 16, 2008 12:24 PM | Link to this
Are you kidding? He is not a Hall of Famer by a longshot. You can tell when all the really good players have already been inducted into halls.
By Carolina, middletown, oh
January 16, 2008 12:16 PM | Link to this
He is a very talented man. He has done great things and deserves to get in. No questions about it!
By preacher,franklin,ohio
January 16, 2008 11:54 AM | Link to this
yes,he,will,be,voted,in,geter,done,forjesus,god,bless,you,all.
By preacher,franklin,ohio
January 16, 2008 11:54 AM | Link to this
yes,he,will,be,voted,in,geter,done,forjesus,god,bless,you,all.
By preacher,franklin,ohio
January 16, 2008 11:54 AM | Link to this
yes,he,will,be,voted,in,geter,done,forjesus,god,bless,you,all.
By preacher,franklin,ohio
January 16, 2008 11:50 AM | Link to this
yes,he,will,be,voted,in,geter,done,for,jesus,god,bless,you,all.
By preacher,franklin,ohio
January 16, 2008 11:47 AM | Link to this
yes,he,will,be,voted,in,geter,done,for,jesus,god,bless,you,all.
By Barry
January 16, 2008 11:27 AM | Link to this
Having watched Carter play in high school about 8-10 times I expected him to do good things at OSU and possibly play in the NFL. However to say I EXPECTED him to be a NFL HOFer might be a stretch. I’ll never forget the first time I saw him play. It was a summer scrimmage against Cincinnati Moeller back in 82-83 and some kid just CRUSHED RB DuJuan Francisco who played for ND. I said Wow, who is that? It’s Carter, he plays both ways. He was a hammer as a high school free safety…..
By John Doe
January 16, 2008 10:55 AM | Link to this
doco: HE and
By Doco
January 16, 2008 10:10 AM | Link to this
Yes. Him and Darrell Green are no doubters. This actually might be the worst “question” I’ve ever seen on these boards. There is no question!! He’s #2 ALL TIME in the top 2 recieving categories!!
By John Hill
January 16, 2008 8:50 AM | Link to this
One word, “YES!!!!”.
By Adam
January 16, 2008 8:45 AM | Link to this
I mean come on…..are we really questioning if Chris Carter is going to be in the Hall of Fame? “All the guy does is catch touchdowns”! He is a first ballot Hall of Famer easily. He is arguably the second best receiver in the NFL history behind the great Jerry Rice.
By buckeye
January 15, 2008 11:48 PM | Link to this
CHRIS CARTER DESERVES TO BE IN THE HALL OF FAME. HE IS ONE THOSE RARE ATHLETES THAT WAS GREAT AT EVERY SPORT HE PLAYED.HE HAS GROWN TO BE A OUTSTANDING ROLE MODEL FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. HE UNDOUBTABLY IS ONE OF THE BEST ALL AROUND ATHELETES TO COME OUT OF MIDDLETOWN, IF NOT THE BEST. AS A FORMER MIDDIE I HOPE HE GETS IN. DON FROM CLAYTON, NORTH CAROLINA
By Harvey Poff
January 15, 2008 10:15 PM | Link to this
I remember many years ago when I was coaching Pee Wee football at Smith Park and a close friend of mine by the name of Dick Tibbs was an assistant coach for a Midget level team which would have been in the 9 and 10 year old league. He told me about a youngster on his team named “Cris” and to come and watch this little guy compete. Dick told me,and firmly believed,that this little guy would go on and excel. Dick was correct in his assessment. Cris has made Dick’s predictions a reality.