The Time Has Come for Canton to Open the Door for Jerry Kramer
By ChrisWanless
When it comes to Hall of Fame inductions, every industry has its black marks and confounding decisions. Whether it’s baseball voters keeping legends out on their first ballot or rock and roll letting anyone and everyone in, it seems to be a rather arbitrary process across the board.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame has typically done an adequate job of giving deserving players their due, though some missteps remain. Today, the committee has the opportunity to right a 45-year wrong by finally enshrining Packers’ legend Jerry Kramer in Canton.
One of the most recognizable names from Vince Lombardi’s Packers, Kramer was a part of five NFL championships, earned All-Pro honors five times, was named to the NFL’s All-Decade team for the 1960s and stands as the only member of the league’s 50th anniversary team who hasn’t received the call. He was also part of the block that allowed Bart Starr to reach the end zone for the game-winning score in the Ice Bowl, one of the most iconic plays in the history of the league.
That Kramer has been kept out of the Hall of Fame for this long is nothing short of a sports travesty. Finding a player more deserving of the honor borders on impossible, and a strong argument can be made that many lesser players, especially at offensive guard, have been inducted while Kramer has been forced to watch from the sidelines. Now, at 82, he faces what may very well be his last chance at enshrinement.
To his credit, Kramer has been extremely diplomatic on the issue over the years, saying he’s made peace with the results of previous votes and reminiscing on everything football has given him in his life. Earlier this week, though, Kramer talked about what a call from the Hall of Fame would mean.
"I've had so many wonderful moments, and this is the ultimate moment in pro football. This is the peak. This is the top. This is as good as it gets. You can't do any better than this, and if I'm in that class, we'll be remembered for a long, long time."
Kramer has seen success in many facets of his professional life—he was a best-selling author in addition to being an anchor of one of the greatest runs of success in NFL history. He’ll be remembered for a long time regardless of what the voters decide today. But to deny him the pinnacle of recognition after the career he put together would only darken the black mark the committee has created by keeping him out this long.
Comments (27)
worztik
February 03, 2018 at 01:24 pm
I can clearly remember watching “The BLOCK” on my parents little, black and white TV!!! Ahh... the good ol’ days... GOOD LUCK JERRY!!! You deserve it!!!!!!!!!
chugwater
February 03, 2018 at 01:35 pm
He's the definition of a class act. Hoping to hear some good news tonight.
4thand1
February 03, 2018 at 01:38 pm
These old guys are more deserving than anyone. They played hurt, didn't get paid well, and got shafted by the NFL and Goodell when it came to compensation. These players made the NFL what it is today. Who the -uck cares how many Packers from the 60's are in the HOF, Kramer should have gone 1st ballot. These guys didn't use steroids , hell most of em trained on beer and cigaretts! When he gets in, I'm going.
worztik
February 03, 2018 at 01:44 pm
Amen brother!!!!
Coldworld
February 03, 2018 at 02:04 pm
Kramer: no brainer
John Ramble Kirk
February 03, 2018 at 02:31 pm
Jerry Kramer is one of the few former Packers I have a worse impression of than Brett Favre. He's an arrogant credit seeking jerk. Ever watched the ESPN documentary on the ice bowl play? You feel sick for Ken Bowman.
There's a big part of me that hopes he never gets in.
I just hope this subject goes away. It's worse than the old Favre retirement talk.
Tundraboy
February 03, 2018 at 03:03 pm
Really. Wow. Guess you never watched him play.
John Ramble Kirk
February 03, 2018 at 03:31 pm
Other than old highlights and replays of old games like the ice bowl, no I didn't. That wasn't my point.
Guys like TO aren't in because of how they were, not because of how they played. Kramer is in the TO category. I don't know enough about his play to have an informed opinion, I just don't think much of the way Jerry carries himself.
worztik
February 03, 2018 at 03:49 pm
I didn’t mind your comments until now but, wow do you suck!!!!!!!!!!
worztik
February 03, 2018 at 05:26 pm
If you do not know how he played , maybe, just maybe, you shouldn’t open your mouth! Ya know what they say, “it’s better to keep quiet and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth (post) and remove ALL DOUBT!!! Just sayin’ emphatically!!!
John Ramble Kirk
February 03, 2018 at 06:00 pm
I'm not sure why I'm asking but I guess I just have to. Did you read WHY I wouldn't like to see Jerry in the Hall? I said it had nothing to do with his play but rather his person. He's a jerk. I don't like to see campaigning self centered jerks who stole credit for the block get what they desire. He's given himself enough spotlight over the years.
Did you see the clip where Aaron speaks to Urlacher getting in as a first ballot? He said TO deserves it, too. Yes, he does. TO was a great talent but he did not get in. Why? He was thought of as a jerk and idiot and a locker room cancer. Personally, I find that funny that the same wasn't thought of about Deion Sanders who was far worse than TO to me. Jerry Kramer was worse than them all in my eyes as far as the types of people they are based on what I've seen from all three.
Do you know much about Jerry outside of thinking of him as a Packers legend? That's my issue. Did you watch the ESPN documentary on the block? I'm guessing you haven't. Kramer has been a self serving egomaniac over the years. I don't like that trait and would've preferred someone like him get in posthumously.
JerseyAl
February 03, 2018 at 06:13 pm
John you are on a deserted island on this one. I've never heard ANYONE say a bad word about Jerry. Nothing but plaudits of how kind and giving and wonderful human being he is
"self serving egomaniac" is just insane. I guess you must have been slighted by him in some way for you to be the ONLY person I have ever heard with a bad word to say about him. Oh well, there's always one...
worztik
February 03, 2018 at 06:21 pm
Al... you nailed it... and, he’s in!!!!!!! WOO HOO!!!!
John Ramble Kirk
February 03, 2018 at 06:27 pm
I appreciate your response, Al. I'll ask you...Did you see the ESPN documentary on the block and Ken Bowman? You should all give that a watch.
My career spanned several years in media. Jerry was known as a jerk and arrogant self promoter. This is something I didn't write, but there are hundreds of stories out there on what type of person he was:
I think Kramer pretty much shot himself in the foot on this multiple times. He was the first player to really effectively market himself for after-football careers, but he wrote a lot during what even he says was his "I love myself" phase, which according to him ended long ago (like telling Frank Sinatra how to sing), but seems to continue. He has so pissed on so many of his teammates and coaches, and so marketed the Lombardi line that I'd bet the Hall of Fame fears for what he'd do if he were ever elected. You ought to read all of his self-glorifying books...for example, his "Distant Replay" book, it's essentially how he's so great (down to printing a letter from his ex-wife saying he's a good guy) and running down some of his teammates, which is a continuing theme. He'd said horrible things about Henry Jordan in his "Farewell to Football" boook, but in the "Distant Replay" book he tries to make nice to a guy who's been dead for 20 years and can't respond.
The guy's been married a bunch of times, and finds venues to run down all his ex wives, again see his "Distant Replay" book.
I read a book about all time Packers numbers where the author (a 50 year fan) said essentially that Kramer was a good player but a real jerk to fans.
My dad loved Jerry Kramer as a player, and I have to say he was really, really good. But he's a major jerk, and there are too many people from that era that remember that. I'm betting many of the Packer Hall of Famers are part of why he's not there.
EDIT: Here's something from the JSOnline archives about the post locker room scene after the famous block that touches a little on what the documentary hit on:
"The locker room was pandemonium and Lombardi was on the podium with the TV cameras and Vince called for Jerry," Bowman said. "I said, 'Jerry, don't forget to tell 'em it was a double team.' He said, 'Kid, you got 10 years ahead of you. Let an old man have his day.' "
Bowman said he didn't realize the magnitude of the block or the Packers' achievement at the time.
"I was so young and dumb," he said. "I let Jerry go up and have the microphone and receive all the credit."
Former team historian Lee Remmel offered this perspective in a 2007 interview with Packer Plus on the famous block.
"Looking back from 40 year's perspective, I think there's quite enough for both of them to share," Remmel said. "I don't think there's any reason to diminish one's role or the other's.
"They both contributed to the end result, which was a victory in what was voted the greatest game of all time."
Bowman said he's moved on from any controversy on the issue.
"That block happened more than 40 years ago," he said. "I know what it was. My teammates know what it was, so that's good enough for me. I've moved on with my life."
JerseyAl
February 03, 2018 at 06:41 pm
You don't have to go to such great lengths to support your case - it doesn't matter. I'm sure some people would have called me a jerk 40 years ago, but I'm far from that now and whatever I accomplished back then would still stand. You have a strong opinion - I won't try to change your mind.
John Ramble Kirk
February 03, 2018 at 06:54 pm
I wouldn't go to any lengths to support my case had you not dropped by to basically call me crazy. :) I get it, though. Same kinds of things happened to me when Favre was wowing the masses. I got a nice peek into who the guy really was but, of course, to the masses Brett was a god and nothing would ever change their minds. So much about him beyond stories that are known like sending little Lorenzo pics to sideline reporters while his wife is going through cancer treatments were out there unreported for years while he was playing in Green Bay. Brett Favre was a bad guy long before the break up that made people look at him differently. It never ceases to amaze me, though, how a person will be defended for their prowess on a football field.
If someone was to say years ago that Bart Starr was a victim of an awful hazing incident at Bama that hindered him the rest of his life many would balk at you. Finally, the real story comes out on Bart and it was awful. I only go this direction to show there is so much out there that the masses are unaware of. That's fine. What I don't care for is when people who do know things are censored for saying things that others aren't privy to. It's as if you're made to feel you're a liar. Not the case. Oh, and as for Bart, for those of you who don't know his story at Alabama, this might be quite eye opening. It just parallels the lack of understanding of what kind of a guy Kramer was. Just because you don't know about it doesn't mean it isn't factual...
http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2016/02/nfl_legend_bart_starr_was_vic...
WKUPackFan
February 04, 2018 at 06:54 am
1) The Jen Sterger incident was reported immediately after it happened, as opposed to "being unreported for years";
2) You assume that every Packers fan blindly supported Favre during the retirement/unretirement era;
3) The Starr story has no relevance to this issue; and
4) If "there is so much out there that the masses are unaware of" shouldn't you, as an alleged media member, have reported that "so much" thereby educating the masses?
John Ramble Kirk
February 04, 2018 at 10:48 am
I never said the Sterger photo shoot went unreported for years. I said things that were like it did.
It is incredible how you've taken this and removed all context. I was referring to Brett long before the retirement saga.
The Starr story was an example. It is relevant to the idea that there are many things the masses don't know. The masses walk with no understanding because they're unaware. IE: Al saying I'm on a deserted island. I'm made to feel as though I'm wrong because the masses wrongly believe Kramer is a great Packer and class act? Guy is a pompous jerk. If I'd told someone 5 years ago who knew what happened to Bart that they were all alone because I'd never heard the hazing story it would be same thing.
While I miss much from my time in media, I'm probably better off being blissfully unaware of many of the types of things I once was. My media carrier was as an EP/Producer. There aren't many places who will report the actionable stories. You may know it to be true but you can't prove it. It's not really too much different than Wilde not reporting the Ted's health issues angle that McGinn did. Wilde didn't think he had the story COLD, his words, and was MAYBE TOO CHICKEN, his words to report it. My perspective is different from hearing many stories that will never see the light of day. Lots is buried.
WKUPackFan
February 05, 2018 at 05:36 am
"I'm made to feel as though I'm wrong because the masses wrongly believe Kramer is a great Packer and class act?"
You are solely responsible for your own feelings. You are the only person who can make yourself "feel as though I'm wrong".
Everyone has heard Ken Bowman's story. It has been out there for many years. Some of us have been sympathetic to Bowman's position. However, that one incident doesn't prove that Kramer is a horrible human being. Neither does his alleged poor treatment of the press. Jersey Al is pretty pro press. He obviously doesn't have any problems with Kramer.
carlos
February 05, 2018 at 06:33 pm
I watched “ the block” and Starr score at my grandmothers house at the age of 12. On a black and white tv. Forever embedded in my mind. Knew every player on that team, obviously not personally. Glad for Kramer even though he was assisted on the block. Still a great player and read his books several times. Living close to Green Bay I’ve heard many stories of Packer players from people who claim to know first hand. Many Favre stories that I mainly laughed off. No one is perfect. Take it all with a grain of salt. I’ve Met Bart Starr two times and he is a class act. A wonderful human being.
John Ramble Kirk
February 03, 2018 at 05:39 pm
Thanks, Worztik. I don't mind your comment toward me. "Wow do you suck!!!!!!!!!!" was well thought out. It's a revealer, as are all comments.
I'm happy you got to see your legend voted into the Hall.
worztik
February 03, 2018 at 06:20 pm
It was just a moment of weakness on my part... I shouldn’t have said anything and just ignored ya but, my blood boiled for a minute and I expressed what I was feeling... I’m happy for all he’s done for the Packers’ team.... then and continually!!!
John Ramble Kirk
February 03, 2018 at 07:16 pm
That was classy of you. I appreciate it. I'm happy for you.
Can't wait to hear his induction speech and who bothers showing up to see him inducted.
4thand1
February 04, 2018 at 12:54 pm
Sorry John, other than you, I have yet to hear a bad word uttered about Jerry Kramer at present day. Everyone can be judged on there past. Maybe you'd be happy with an asterisk by his bust stating some people think he was a prick, no matter how good he was. An 82 year old man who was one of the best guards 50 years ago deserves no criticism from anyone.
Tundraboy
February 03, 2018 at 03:01 pm
If another Cowboy gets in before Kramer I'm going to lose it. This must be the year
Lphill
February 03, 2018 at 05:13 pm
The door opened finally he is in!
JerseyAl
February 03, 2018 at 06:51 pm
IT. Was. Time. He's in! https://cheeseheadtv.com/blog/jerry-kramer-to-rightfully-be-enshrined-in...