2013 Hall of Fame Inductee: Cris Carter Hall of Fame Enshrinement Speech

Oh age Oh age welcome to the home own professional football Canton Ohio and I happen to be one of the few people have been enshrined in the Hall of Fame who was born and raised in the state of Ohio first of all I must thank the selection committee it's an unbelievable process a tedious task I know the way they go about their job to try to get it right I appreciate the process that you have to go to to be a Hall of Famer I'm so glad regardless of whatever you've done it's not a slam dunk we have the greatest haul of all the halls and and to be able to join these men on this stage in football heaven is the greatest day of my life now I never want any championships but I play for a lot of good teams and the first team I'd like to recognize and I'd like them to stand will be my family members for seated to my left please stand I appreciate everything you've done for me I was very very fortunate my mom raised seven kids by herself and I did look up to you guys as football players I can't lie but my hero growing up was a guy by the name of Butch Carter he was the best basketball player in the state of Ohio he was also my father figured he was my role model as an athlete he did everything the way he is supposed to do it conducted himself dressed in the manner did well in school worked extra jobs helped his mom and Butch Carter today is your baby brother goes into the hall you need to know you're my hero to my lovely sisters who have supported me in so many ways I appreciate the sacrifices you guys have made I appreciate every meal you cooked for me I appreciate every time you did my football pants I appreciate every time you lace up my basketball sneakers and I heard your voice every time in the crowd saying go Chris go ever since I was a little boy you ladies have always taught me how to be a gentleman how about handle a lady and for what you did in my life I'm forever indebted to you Hall of Famers my sisters I love you I'm very very fortunate that my best friend happens to be my brother a guy that I've been in business with a guy that I've idolized he's to let me hang out with him and his buddies John Carter is they just riding me today you're going into the Hall of Fame I've always been on good teams my mom moved us from Troy when I was seven years old and I moved to a place called Middletown because they're supposed to be opportunities there yes I recognize Middletown that's where I'm from 242 miles from George Halas Drive to the housing project that I grew up in people's plays all the support what a great community to grow up in as a youngster but there's four individuals that I met when I was young and they became my best friends Tukey Jimmy ow dude we call him and the white stand up I played football with these dudes since I was eight years old and I still talk to him every week and we've been through some hard times together we have struggled to each other's lives but we have stuck together we made a commitment when we were younger and y'all should know this man it's y'all's boy going to the Hall of Fame you go into the hall tonight [Applause] Ohio State first of all to all the Buckeye fans from the bottom of my heart I sincerely apologize for me signing with the sports agent losing my eligibility my senior year that's the only regret I have in my outlet career is I couldn't play for the Buckeyes as a senior Buckeye fans Chris Carter says I'm sorry to all my Buckeye teammates especially those who took care of me Keith Byars Pepper Johnson Jim Lachey Curt Loudermilk William white Greg Rogan the white Smith guys looked after me I've always had good teams that I played on all you Buckeyes all my teammates all you guys in attendance I greatly appreciated my teammates from Philadelphia I was drafted the Philadelphia Eagles organization they took a chance on me buddy Ryan drafted me he tried to grow me up in the league and actually what Bonnie her buddy Ryan did was the best thing that ever happens for me when he cut me and told me he couldn't I couldn't play for his football team but he told me a story he told me the night before he went home and talked to his wife and he asked his wife what he should do and his wife told him don't cut Chris Carter he's gonna do something special with his life so buddy running and your lovely wife I thank you you're going into the hall with me tonight Minnesota Vikings fans [Applause] there was never a time in Minnesota I felt uncomfortable based on the teammates I played with six guys in the Hall of Fame five of us played at Minnesota Randal McDaniel unbelievable left guard one of the best human beings you could ever mean big zoom left tackle play with him a few years never practice with him at training camp never one to practice big zoom hall-of-famer little muscle Johnny Randell the hardest-working man I ever been around Warren Moon who I played only two years with I only caught 244 passes in 24 touchdowns in two years from Warren Moon I've always had good teams around me and guys you set a standard and I appreciate that standard you set going to work and you guys showed me what it meant to be a pro and you guys helped me in the transition you knew I had tremendous issues but you never held that against me and I appreciated that now I stand here with you and I'm forever indebted to you to the current team I mourn with ESPN chef team or key Tommy coach and boom thank you for your support through the last five years of just missing on getting to the Hall thank you for saying the right things cuz it's tough when you don't make it I appreciate my family at ESPN I appreciate the support you've given me through the years and talking to all the Hall of Famers over the last several days there's been an unbelievable experience for me the one thing that I see is in common is that every one of these guys talks about four or five people they met on their way to football heaven let me introduce you to a few people I met on my way to football heaven cuz that's where I am right now my momma Joyce stand up please now you should know that that woman right there dropped out of high school at 17 has seven kids went back and finished her high school diploma when she was about 40 and when she was 50 she ended up with her master's mom I got to tell you I didn't have to wait to get a call from the hall for them to tell me I was a hall-of-famer you've been telling me since I was little you told me everything that's ever happened in my life has happened but mom I got to tell you I have to apologize I'm so sorry for the bumpy flight in the bumpy ride but I got to tell your mama it's a smooth landing sit down mama you and the Hall of Fame sit down the second person I met that was critical on my way to football heaven was my high school football coach Bill Connolly bill Connolly where are you stand up and be recognized this guy right here came into my life when I was 17 years old I was one of the best basketball players in the state of Ohio I had a brother in the NBA and I was only playing football to stay in shape he told me looked me straight in the eye and said son you have a better chance to be Lynn Swann than you do Isiah Thomas and coach Connolly I appreciate the football you taught me I appreciate you taught me how to play the game I appreciate how you taught me how to prepare for the game and coach Connolly I hate to say it but I wake up every day coaching kids either lies you coach and I try to coach my high school kids just like my high school coach Bill Connolly everybody third person I encountered I saw her going across the campus Ohio State I told my roommate yo man I'm gonna marry that girl been married to her for 23 years through all the things we've been through I appreciate your sacrifice I remember early in my career you told me Chris I had a dream and I was gonna be successful but if you want to pursue pro football I'm willing to put my dream on the back burner because I believe in you now see baby you and the hall the Minnesota Vikings we have one of the best employee assistance programs cutting edge as far as substance abuse people struggling with it and our ownership at the time was a group of people but one of the owners was named Wheelock Whitney when the Vikings acquire at me from Philadelphia like most pro teams they don't know too intel on the player till they get the paperwork but they had already had my contract by then but we like Whitney he hooked me up with a good friend of his his name is Betty trilogy and she happens to be one of the best friends a person could ever have the reason why cuz she didn't teach me how to catch or run routes but she taught me how I could live a life and have power over my life and my demons did not always haunt me and she asked me on September 19 she said Chris can you just not have a dream for one week and since September 19th 1990 because of Betty trilogy and we like Whitney I've been able to keep that program together and for them I would not be going into the hall and I greatly appreciate and I honor them tonight and the fifth person I met was the Minister of Defense and his name was Reggie White I grew up in a single-parent home Reggie White when I was 22 was the first man to tell me he loved me and he said Chris to God all things are possible now there might be a lot of people you might question where they yet but I know big doll I know you looking down and I know you're happy with me I appreciate you Reggie I love you [Applause] four things you should know before you leave the Hall of Fame about Chris Carter I won't apologize I love God put all my heart I love my family and I love my friends who stuck with me and just like these guys I love football I love this game this game gave me identity it gave me a sense of purpose and for an african-american man it's a great opportunity in America the bill to play football and the number four thing that you should know about Chris Carter before you leave here is Buckeye born and bred now HOF er even after I'm dead thank you

Channel: GPTVdotcomv5

Views: 332,000

Keywords: Cris Carter (American Football Player), Pro Football Hall Of Fame (Hall Of Fame), National Football League (Organization), Minnesota Vikings (American Football Team), Speech

Id: rfJUd2OgaUM

Length: 16min 47sec (1007 seconds)

Published: Sat Aug 03 2013