This Day In Sports History; April 27th
The NFL officially recognizes Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio is just about the closest thing to heaven on Earth that I have ever witnessed. On this day in 1961, the NFL recognized Canton, Ohio to be the home of the Hall of Fame. With that being said, I want to tell the story of the time I visited the Hall of Fame.
About nine years ago for my eleventh birthday, my parents and I went to Pittsburgh to visit family friends. When our trip in the Steel City ended, we loaded up the car and were set to leave. I thought we would be driving east back to Connecticut but, my parents had other plans.
Unbeknownst to me, we drove west to the city of Canton, Ohio which houses 71,000 residents and where the Hall of Fame resides. I had my head buried in my iPad and was getting ready for lunch when we pulled in to the Hall of Fame parking lot.
My dad looked in the back seat and said “Is this place good?”, I did a double take and once I realized where we were, I tried to jump out of the car with my seatbelt still on.
We walked to the entrance with our tickets in hand. I was rocking a purple Minnesota Vikings tee, jorts, and a Vikings hat. Once we walked through the doors and I saw the Jim Thorpe statue, I fully believe I became a man. It really was a pivotal moment in my life.
As we waltzed the halls of the best place on Earth, we approached the most sacred room in the entire palace. The Bust Gallery.
When we entered, I went from half mass to FULL STAFF! The dim lighting mixed with the bronze busts made me want to run around and just see every player and coach enshrined but, I knew where I was. I had some class.
I saw horse faced John Elway, The Juice, Mean Joe Greene and so many more greats. It was amazing.
By the time we were leaving, we went into the gift shop and I grabbed a Terrible Towel that was embroidered with the HOF patch and a few Vikings tees.
My parents and I then went outside to the 50 yard turf field outside of the Hall of Fame. My dad and I played catch and then we left but, I have never forgotten about that day. It really was the greatest day of my childhood.