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Reactions: NFL Hall of Fame

Users share their memories of 2000 inductees

Joe Montana joked about the length of his speech during his enshrinement Saturday. AP

Howie Long, Ronnie Lott, Joe Montana, Dan Rooney and Dave Wilcox are the 2000 inductees into the NFL Hall of Fame. CNNSI.com users were asked to share their favorite memories of this fantastic five. A sample of the responses received follows:

I was in attendance at the enshrinement, and I must say, it was an experience of a lifetime. I attended to see Joe Montana. But when the past Hall of Famers walked out, I got chills. The biggest chills? Mike Ditka, Joe Namath, & Art Donovan.
Erie, Pa., Dave Irwin

Well, Having grown up with Mr. Lott, I can tell you that I always knew there was something special about my childhood friend. Even when he became famous he was once at an NFL Alumni basketball game at Cal-State Sacremento and I came up to him and called him by his childhood nick-name, "Yellowman." He looked up with a smile, knowing only someone from his childhood would know that name. He realized it was me and after signing autographs came over and spoke with me for several moments.
I was always a fan and followed him all way to the Hall of Fame without a doubt that he would make it into football heaven. Most of all, I can truly say that he comes from a good family and was blessed with the talent to be an inductee without question. He's fearless, hard-hitting and a role-model for all-time and I'm glad to that he's my homeboy!
Michael M. Poindexter , Dallas, Texas

Like many other 49er fans, my favorite moment has to be "The Catch" Dwight Clark made against the Dallas Cowboys in the 1981 NFC championship game.
I stayed up all night in the parking lot of Candlestick Park merely to get a chance to buy one of the remaining window tickets to the game. When I didn't get one, another fan that had been up all night with me in the parking lot gave me one of his.
I still have the 1981 Western Conference Champions "t-shirt". I still have a piece of wither sod that I pulled up from the end-zone after we crashed the field at the end of the game. And, most especially, I remember where I was when Joe threw that pass to Dwight Clark. I was standing at the end-zone line, with a front row seat. With relish, I still remember the stunned silence of all of those obnoxious and arrogant Dallas Cowboy fans. It was stupendous!
William G. Burton , Chico, Calif.

As a lifelong fan of both the Raiders and 49ers, seeing Howie Long and Joe Montana go into the Hall together is fitting. While different personalities, neither had the greatest physical talent at their position, but both worked every day to be their best.
Heyden Pue , Denver

I am very proud of Howie Long, since I was his 10th grade Biology teacher at Milford High School, where he began his football career!
Howie has been an excellent football player and Hollywood star. But most of all, he is a wonderful example for young people and what they can achieve in their own lives when they put their mind to it. He is a great role model for teens that may also need to overcome obstacles on their road to achieving their own ambitions. Howie, You have my vote! My Best to you and your family, Dr. Kalagher
Pauline I. Kalagher , Millbury, Mass.

Howie Long was one of the greatest defensive lineman ever to put on pads. He was utterly relentless in his pursuit of the quarterback. I'll always remember the quote John Elway said about Howie, "In my worst nightmares, I'm being chased by Howie Long." For a period of 6-7 years in the 1980's to early 1990's, he was the most dominant at his position. The Hall of Fame is a much better place today now that Howie Long will reside there.
Michael Bischeri , South San Francisco, Calif.

My favorite Joe Montana moment is the SI cover of when he retired, with his kids and wife: "Daddy's Home". You and your family on the cover of SI? No jinx there.
Leila Rahimi , Denton, Texas

I hated Joe Montana as a player. Being a Dallas Cowboy fan, I hated him because he played for those dreaded 49er's. When I watched him throw "The Catch" to Dwight Clark, with D.D. Lewis and Too Tall Jones in his face, I nearly threw up.
Montana had the luck of playing for a genius, Bill Walsh. Montana played with awesome receivers, especially Jerry Rice and Dwight Clark. Montana also played in a system that was so new (West Coast Offense) that it took the rest of the league most of the 1980's to figure out how to defense it. He also played for a team whose owner did whatever it took to win and the players loved him for it. This is one way to look at Joe Montana's career.
On the other hand, maybe Walsh was a genius, Rice and Clark so talented, and Eddie D. so benevolent BECAUSE OF Joe Montana. I believe great players raise the level of those around them. I believe Montana's greatness rubbed off on the entire 49er organization. I hated watching him beat my Cowboys, but there is no denying that Joe Montana HAS to be in the NFL Hall of Fame. Congrats Joe, from a 49er hater.
Kent Faught , Lowell, Ark.

As a 49er fan and employee with a local San Francisco TV station, I had the thrill of working a couple of Monday Night 49er football games. One was at the N.Y. Giants game where Ronnie Lott assaulted the Giants receivers while injuring both his knees. In the locker room, while players yakked with reporters and pushed past camera crews on the way the shower, I turned and saw Lott silently creeping into the trainer's room, walking like a decrepit old man missing his cane. The welts on his body appeared as if somebody had pummeled him with 2x4's. He looked like he should've been headed to the hospital. By all accounts, this was the way he ended up most games, leaving everything on the field.
The only other time I cried when a favorite player of mine was let go it was when the Giants traded Willie Mays to the Mets. But I was only 8 years old, not 28.
Carlos C., Pleasanton, Calif.

My favorite memory of Montana is his final 4th quarter comeback. It was Monday night and the Chiefs were at Mile High Stadium taking on the Broncos. Montana had never won there, until that night. After Elway's QB sneak put the Broncos ahead with less than two minutes to play. Montana guided the Chiefs right down the field and found Willie Davis in the right front corner of the endzone for the game winning TD with just seconds left. Montana raised his arms in victory and reminded every one why he was nicknamed "The Comeback Kid."
John, Silver Spring, Md.

Howie Long is my all time favorite player. I appreciated his all out effort on every play. He has a great gift of expressing his thoughts, as evidence of all the interviews and commentaries he has done. The saddest day came when he retired from football - it just happened to be the day I got married!!!! He definitely deserves to be inducted, albeit a year later than he should've been!
Todd, Bradenton, Fla.

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