Should've done this, Could've done that

Recently I have noticed a disturbing trend of politicking for Hall of Fame candidates. Specifically in regards to active coaches and players, many people have begun excusing mistakes or mediocrity for feel good stories. The two most recent examples of this are Kurt Warner and the University of Louisville's men's basketball coach Rick Pitino.

This last week during the normal pre-Super Bowl buzz, many commented on Kurt Warner's possibility for the Hall of Fame. A lot of these commentators seemed like they felt that a win in this year's Super Bowl would seal his candidacy for the hall of fame. I respectfully disagree.

I completely agree that Kurt Warner is an exceptionally accomplished postseason quarterback, but he is not a Hall of Fame quarterback for two reasons: inconsistent regular season play over his entire career, and talented surrounding casts in his postseason runs.

For starters, Warner has had more seasons with double digit interceptions than seasons with 20 or more touchdowns. Between 2002 and 2006, he only has one season over 10 touchdowns, and was beat out of three jobs in that stretch. I dare you to find any Hall of Famer that lost three starting spots in the middle of his career. Warner has undoubtedly shown seasons of brilliance, but careers of brilliance are meant for the Hall of Fame.

Some make the case that Warner's exceptional postseason play will put him in the Hall. Isn't it interesting then that in compiling a poll of the top 10 Super Bowl Quarterbacks, Warner was not even on the list. But even in his postseason runs, his supporting casts preclude him from a Hall of Fame run. In 1999, he had two of the premier route running wideouts in the game in Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce and one of the greatest pass catching running backs in Marshall Faulk, not to mention one of the better offensive lines anchored by two pro bowlers in Adam Timmerman and Orlando Pace. Not to mention the threat of Faulk on the ground and a respectable defense on the other side.

In this Super Bowl, Edgerrin James was able to establish a running game and did anyone see how wide open Anquan Boldin was on his 30+ yard completion? How much work did Warner do on the 64 yard touchdown pass to Larry Fitzgerald to give the Cardinals the lead late in the game? Oh, and what a read he made on the last play of the first half trying to stick the ball through James Harrison as if he was a ghost. The truth is that he is a successful postseason performer, not an elite performer, and not worthy of the Hall of Fame that just kept Chris Carter out on the last ballot.

The case for Pitino is a little different. I do think that Coach Pitino will eventually make the Hall of Fame, but many, like broadcaster Dick Vitale, say that he is worthy of it now. There primary contention is that Coach Pitino would have even more gaudy numbers if he had not gone to coach in the NBA. Many baseball players not in the Hall of Fame like Bob Feller and Ted Williams are said to have been robbed by the onset of World War II. Being drafted into war is a legitimate reason to have less prolific numbers, but being paid to coach in the NBA is a professional decision that Coach Pitino made, and Hall of Fame voters should not give him any lenience for the Hall of Fame.

Both of these people have had incredible influence on their respective sports, but heart warming stories or regrettable professional decisions have no place on a Hall of Fame ballots. If anything in sports matter more than championships, it's the Hall of Fame, and nothing hurts the credibility of the institution like letting undeserving players in. I hope that Hall of Fame voters will maintain the tradition of excellence that makes names like Canton and Cooperstown such an integral part of Americana.