A Hunter S. Thompson Tribute

Photograph by Kilroy_60
Fear and Loathing in the Blogosphere was conceived as a tribute to Hunter S. Thompson. There wasn't need to have a personal relationship with The Good Doctor to know he wouldn't be the kind to slowly, quietly fade away. Yet, it still came as a shock last February when he blew his brains out.

For Thompson fans celebrating his life, or visitors wondering what the hell Fear and Loathing is all about, a review of what we've covered over the past three months...

--> Hunter S. Thompson in Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

--> The Great Thompson Hunt - What Are You Waiting For, You Swine!

---> A Hunter S. Thompson Biography

--> Hunter S. Thompson - The original GONZO Outlaw

--> As close as any of us can hope to get, Breakfast With Hunter

--> The Columbia Journalism Review presents A Technical Guide for Editing Gonzo

--> The Ralph Steadman homepage

--> This is my attorney...

--> PATRIOT GAMES, Dr. Thompson weighs in on the state of American journalism post 9/11

--> Fear and Loathing, Campaign 2004 from Rolling Stone

--> Ugly, Tasteless, Terrifying and Wild... Count Me In! THIS was Hunter S. Thompson

--> February, 2003 --- A Moment In Time with The Good Doctor

--> A March, 2003 interview conducted after the publication of Kingdom of Fear

--> Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, in Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

--> Dr. Thompson's ESPN Article Archive - linked in the November 2 post - is gone. Search results for Hunter S. Thompson at the ESPN site

--> The San Francisco Chronicle reports on Thompson's Suicide

--> Hunter S. Thompson, George W. Bush and the Free Republic

Gonzo Guilt!

A Steelers Hall of Fame Blowout in '07?

Photography by Kilroy_60
The Professional Hall of Fame celebrated the San Francisco 49ers in 2000. Joe Montana and Ronnie Lott were selected from among the modern era candidates while Veterans Committee selection Dave Wilcox was enshrined.

Could 2007 be such a year for the Pittsburgh Steelers? L.C. Greenwood was a finalist this year; he is long overdue for enshrinement. As long as it took for Lynn Swann, Steel City fans know it's only a matter of time. It took years for NFL career interception leader Paul Krause to get the nod which helps explain the delay in selecting Donnie Shell. These two members of The Steel Curtain could go in together in 2007. Center Dermonti Dawson was among the initial group of 112 considered for the 2006 class; his first year of eligibility. This year The Steelers joined the 49ers - and Cowboys - as the only NFL teams with five Super Bowl championships. Maybe 2007 will be to Pittsburgh what 2000 was for San Francisco.

Closing out this year's predictions, I got three of the six who will be enshrined in Canton this summer. I hit on John Madden, Reggie White and Troy Aikman.

Harry Carson - who I picked from the original 112 to be a semifinalist but did not have on my finalist list - is in the 2006 class. I never had Warren Moon on my list through this process; he was selected. The other Vereran's Committe nominee Rayfield Wright also will be enshrined. The saving grace that comes with the selection of Wright is it strengthens the future case for Greenwood to be enshrined.

"Be ashamed to die until you have won some victory for humanity." - Horace Mann

Celebrating One For The Thumb In The Steel City!

"When the going gets weird
The weird turn pro."
- Hunter S. Thompson

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. And, fairy tales DO come true.

Monday, the Steelers met the press. It wasn't black and gold that a large number of the team was wearing, though, it was green...a replica of Jerome Bettis' Notre Dame jersey.

Jerome Bettis wore a hat and jacket from his hometown Detroit Tigers. He had a broad smile as he said in a quiet voice, "Hello everybody. Welcome to Detroit." Detroit went all out to welcome Bettis; including presenting him with a key to the city.

There was once a Dallas linebacker who questioned Terry Bradshaw's ability to spell cat if he was spotted the c and the t. Bradshaw had all the smarts that were needed. The Steelers won that Super Bowl; Bradshaw collected four rings. How many people remember "Hollywood" Henderson?

This week, a Seattle player spoke about the wonderful story of Jerome Bettis leading into the Super Bowl. How sad that Bettis would be leaving the game without a ring, the Seahawks tight end said. Steelers linebacker Joey Porter didn't take well to the comment. Porter cut through the bullshit. It's not the time to talk about how good the team in the other locker room is. It's time to go to war. If I'm walking down a dark alley, there aren't many people I would want by my side more than Joey Porter.

Jerome Bettis was not a starter for the 2005 Pittsburgh Steelers. He was a player who came in when the tough yards were needed and got the job done. Have no question or doubt, Jerome Bettis was a LEADER of the team.

Last year as the final seconds of the AFC Championship game wound off the clock, Ben Roethlisberger went to Jerome Bettis. If The Bus came back for one more, Roethlisberger said, he would find a way to take him to the Super Bowl.

Through the worst of times this season, taking their future Hall of Famer home for the Super Bowl was a driving force. It was his 13th year and he'd never been to the dance. Over the past week it was time to live the dream.

It's been 26 years since "The Chief" held up the last of the four Lombardi trophies won as the team of the decade in the 1970's. It has been 10 years since Bill Cowher led his team to the championship game.

Bill Cowher is currently the longest tenured Head Coach in the National Football League. In 14 years under Cowher the Steelers have earned postseason berths nine times. Cowher ranks among the top coaches in leage history for time spent coaching one team and for number of playoff appearances. Unfortunately, discussions of Cowher's career had a "Yeah, but..." attached. He had never won a Super Bowl.

Super Bowl XL removed the "Yeah, but..." from any discussion of Bill Cowher's career. There was a classic moment on the podium after the game. Cowher said I've been waiting a long time to do this...handing the Lombardi Trophy to owner Dan Rooney. When he closes out his coaching career, Cowher will join Rooney as a member of the Professional Football Hall of Fame.

A moment for the ages was Jerome Bettis holding the Lombardi Trophy high. This was his last game. The fairy tale that began on the mean streets of Detroit ended on one of the biggest stages in the world.

Hines Ward became the most prolific pass catcher in Pittsburgh Steelers history in 2005. On this night he would catch five passes for 123 yards and one touchdown...good enough to earn Super Bowl XL's Most Valuable Player award. This brought to mind the performance of another Steelers wide receiver who'd been the game's MVP 30 years earlier.

It will be left for history to write the story of Super Bowl XL. There will be talk of a playbook that could have been crafted by Inspector Gadget. Willie Parker's longest run from scrimmage in Super Bowl history will be played and replayed. Ben Roethlisberger's promise to take Jerome Bettis home if he came back for one more season will be remembered; as will the plays he made to seal the deal.

History will also show that there were three Hall of Famers wearing black and gold on this night when Terrible Towels filled Detroit's Ford Field - Bill Cowher, Jerome Bettis and Hines Ward.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. And fairy tales DO come true. Just ask Jerome Bettis.

Photography by Kilroy_60

The Super Bowl XL victory made the Steelers the third team in NFL history, joining the San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys, to have five Lombardi trophies.

Who Will Join L.C. Greenwood in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2006?

"Help others achive their dreams and you will achive yours."- Les Brown

On Saturday the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2006 will be announced. The original field of 112 preliminary nominees was trimmed to 25 in November. My prediction of who would make it from the original field to qualify as semifinalists scored 15 hits on 25 chances.

For the roster of 15 finalists, two are certain. John Madden and Rayfield Wright were selected by the Senior Committee.

My selections for the 13 modern era finalists:

L.C. Greenwood - CORRECT --- Troy Aikman - CORRECT --- Reggie White - CORRECT --- Ralph Wilson Jr. - no --- George Young -no --- Ray Guy - no --- Art Monk - CORRECT --- Bob Kuchenburg - CORRECT --- Derrick Thomas - CORRECT --- Randy Gradishar - no --- Lester Hayes -no --- Roger Wehrli - no --- Ken Stabler - no

I scored 6 ot 13 on these picks.

Finalists that were not among my selections: Harry Carson, Rus Grimmm, Claude Humphrey, Michael Irvin, Warren Moon, Thurman Thomas, Gary Zimmerman

KILROY_60's Picks for the Professional Football Hall of Fame Class 0f 2006: L. C. Greenwood -- Troy Aikman --- Reggie White --- Thurman Thomas --- Art Monk

I predict, again, this will be the year John Madden is inducted in Canton.

The official announcement will be made Saturday.