Fame

I take great exception to the letter titled "Phils' Pantheon" (letter, Aug. 7). It seems that the author has some agenda regarding the Phillies and their willingness to recognize the accomplishments of black and Hispanic players. He also seems to think that the Phillies organization has failed to recognize the 1980 World Championship Team, and claims that the club has placed too much emphasis on the 1993 National League Champions. He centers most of his argument on the Phillies Wall of Fame.

The Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame is soliciting nominations from the public for its ninth class of inductees. The nominating process will conclude Jan. 27. The Hall relies heavily on input from fans with the top nominees submitted by the public included on the election ballot. The Hall is open to athletes, coaches, media, administrators and other contributors in all areas of pro, college, amateur, high school and youth sports. Candidates must have been born in or performed in the Philadelphia area and meet certain eligibility requirements.

FORMER PHILLIES reliever Rheal Cormier was selected to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame yesterday. The best of Cormier's 16 big-league seasons came with the Phillies in 2003, when he was 8-0 with a 1.70 ERA, 67 strikeouts and 54 hits in 84 innings. His 683 games pitched for St. Louis (1991-94), Boston (1995, 1999-2000), Montreal (1996-97), the Phillies (2001-06), and Cincinnati (2006-07) are the second-most appearances ever by a Canadian, behind Paul Quantrill (841). Cormier, from Moncton, New Brunswick, represented Canada in a number of international events, including the 1987 Pan Am Games, the 1988 and 2008 Olympics and the 2006 World Baseball Classic.

The only living member who will be honored in July by the Baseball Hall of Fame is a writer - former Daily News scribe Paul Hagen. That is somehow appropriate, considering that the writers are at the forefront of a debate that extends beyond the walls of the Cooperstown, N.Y., museum. "This is the most star-studded ballot in 75 years, and we didn't elect anybody on it," ESPN.com's Jayson Stark said. "It just shows you what a mess Hall of Fame voting has become. " For the first time since 1996, the Baseball Writers' Association of America did not elect anyone Wednesday.

BALTIMORE - John Mackey, the rugged Hall of Fame tight end and union president who later fought for stronger health benefits for retired players and struggled with dementia, has died at age 69. Mr. Mackey's wife notified the team about her husband's death, Baltimore Ravens spokesman Chad Steele said Thursday. No official cause was given. Mr. Mackey played for the Baltimore Colts from 1963 to '71. He helped the team beat the Dallas Cowboys in the 1971 Super Bowl by catching a pass from Johnny Unitas after it deflected off two other players for a 75-yard touchdown.

Former Widener football coach Bill Manlove has been selected for induction to the College Football Hall of Fame. Manlove will be the third person from Widener to receive the honor. Two-time all-American running back and kick returner Billy "White Shoes" Johnson was inducted as part of the Hall's first class in 1996, and three-time all-American defensive back and kick returner Tom Deery was enshrined two years later in the third class. The ceremony will take place during the Enshrinement Festival, July 15-16 in South Bend, Ind. Manlove is one of six who will be honored in the Hall Divisional Class, which includes players and coaches from Divisions I-AA, II, III, and the NAIA.

FUNNY THING about fame, you get a little, and, all of a sudden, you can be a spokesman for anything. Personally, I feel that all politicians are lying, cheating bottom-feeders whose sole purpose in life is to step over the common man as they ascend the ladder of success. That said, I was glad to see Cindy McCain use her 15 minutes of fame wisely. There is absolutely no reason whatsoever to ban same-sex marriage. Although her significant other believes otherwise (says marriage is defined as between man and woman only)

The Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame will hold its annual reception and ceremony to induct its ninth class next Thursday at the Society Hill Sheraton. The ceremony is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m., with doors opening at 5. The inductees are Eric Lindros, the former Flyers center; former 76ers Doug Collins (now the coach) and Wali Jones; Debbie Black, a St. Joseph's basketball star in the 1980s; ex-Eagles Maxie Baughan and Tommy Thompson; Eddie Plank, a lefthander who won 326 games in a career that included 14 seasons with the Philadelphia Athletics; former Phillies all-star Johnny Callison; and Dan Baker, the longtime Phillies and Eagles public-address announcer.

The Philadelphia Big Five will induct five new members - Marvin O'Connor and Angela Zampella of St. Joseph's, Trish Juhline of Villanova, Jen Ricco of Temple, and the late Phil Jasner of the Philadelphia Daily News - into its Hall of Fame at a luncheon Friday in the Palestra. O'Connor made the all-Big Five team three times and won the 2001 Geasey Award as player of the year. He scored 1,678 points in three years with the Hawks, whom he joined after one year at Villanova. Zampella, a three-time all-Big Five pick, led the Hawks to three City Series titles and two NCAA appearances.