Raider Nation is suspicious by nature, conspiracy theorists of the Oliver Stone order. But that doesn't mean it is wrong. Need more proof that the Raiders are overlooked by national media types? Check out Peter King's latest column on SI.com as he forecasts next season's Pro Football Hall of Fame Class (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/peter_king/08/11/mail/index.html)
Of course, a million times of course, Jerry Rice and Emmitt Smith will be enshrined in their respective first years of eligibility...and they should. But in his list of others to consider, there is no mention of another guy who will be eligible for the first time. Guy who is second all-time in receiving yards and third in receptions. Guy who played for the Raiders from 1988 through 2003. Guy by the name of Tim Brown. Yup, that Tim Brown.
King says pass catchers Cris Carter and Shannon Sharpe might deserve more HOF love, while failing to mention Brown.
It's been written here that Tom Flores, Jim Plunkett, Ray Guy, Cliff Branch and Kenny Stabler (in that order) all deserve to have their busts in Canton and now, it appears Brown will join them as Canton-snubs. Too bad. Too, too bad.
In my opinion, it all goes back to the Hall of Fame selection process being one of the most flawed systems in sports, a 44-elector board that many times, according to more than one elector I've spoken with, falls into a vote-for-my-guy, I'll-vote-for-your-guy mentality.
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