Will He Get in Today?

Tomorrow is the Super Bowl. Today, the day before the big game, as many as seven people will be voted into the Hall of Fame. For me, today holds more interest. One of the possible inductees is Shannon Sharpe, who set many records playing tight end for our beloved Broncos, then was traded by Mike Shanahan to the Baltimore Ravens, where he got his third Super Bowl ring.

Shannon's brother Sterling was an NFL star for the Green Bay Packers, and was well on his way to becoming a Hall of Famer, until he suffered a career-ending injury. Shannon and Sterling were raised by their grandmother in the south Georgia woods. Every time it rained, it leaked through the tin roof of their house. Shannon used to get picked on by his older cousins, and he would go in and tell his grandmother. Grandmother, who will turn 87 in May, would tell Shannon, "It takes all that to make a man. Go back out there and play."

Shannon brought his infectious, joyous personality to the Bronco locker room,, often bringing smiles to the faces of thousands of loyal Broncos fans in post-game interviews. He wasn't a bad football player, either.