What about Bob?

A very odd and potentially disturbing piece in the Dallas Observer, which reporters that the woman who read a letter supposedly written by Bob Hayes before his death about his potential Hall of Fame induction was a fake.

And so was the sister.

The publication reports that Hayes' old friend and former business manager, Ted McIntosh, says Lucille Hester is not Hayes' sister.

"She's a fake," McIntosh said. "A total perpetrator. She's hoodwinked the Dallas Cowboys, the NFL, the Hall of Fame and the national media. But she isn't a member of the Hayes family. And she's about to be exposed."

The Observer reports: Presenting herself as Hayes' older sibling, Lucille served as the deceased receiver's spokesperson over the weekend in Tampa, even producing and reading a letter she claimed Hayes wrote in her presence in 1999. McIntosh, however, says Hester's assertions - right down to the letter - are counterfeit.

McIntosh first aired his startling revelation Sunday on 105.3 The Fan with Ben & Skin. He reiterated his stance to me last night.

"She isn't," McIntosh said, "related to Bob Hayes. She's an impostor."

McIntosh acknowledges that Hester grew up "a block and a half" from the Hayes' house in Jacksonville, Fla. That, however, is where he says the lies begin.

According to McIntosh, Hester only became "close" to Hayes on his death bed and later drew up a falsified will after his death in 2002, presenting paperwork that supposedly had Hayes leaving her his Super Bowl ring and Olympic gold medal.

"The good news is that Bob's next of kin, Bob Hayes, Jr., has possession of those priceless items," McIntosh said. "But that didn't stop her from trying to steal and exploit his name for personal gain."

Hester was in Tampa this week - site of yesterday's dramatic Super Bowl XLIII - trumpeting Hayes' Hall of Fame candidacy, then rejoicing and reading upon his coronation. McIntosh, who lives in Dallas, said the Hayes family was shocked and moved to action by her latest attempt to hijack Bob's legacy.

"When this is all said and done the family will press criminal charges," he said. "She's stolen from them, including that magic moment on Saturday."

Having the honor of being a Hall of Fame selector for the first time, I was told to expect a long day yesterday.

I never knew it would be historically long.

According to Mark Gaughan of the Buffalo News, the meeting lasted six hours and 47 minutes. That's the longest such meeting ever.

It was a fascinating experience, and I gained important insight into the process. We're sworn to an oath of confidentiality as to what goes on in the meeting, so I can't offer any details, other than to say that the voters take the matter very, very, very seriously.

There are many deserving Hall of Fame candidates out there, several of whom did not get into this year's class. These things do have a way of working themselves out, although it often takes years and years for these players to get in. Just ask Lynn Swann of the Steelers and Harry Carson of the Giants.

Randall McDaniel, guard
Rod Woodon, defensive back
Ralph Wilson Jr., Bills owner
Bob Hayes, receiver (senior nominee)
Bruce Smith, defensive end
Derrick Thomas, linebacker

I'll be back with more on this class later and, of coursre, in the newspaper.

Here they are.

* Cris Carter – Wide Receiver – 1987-89 Philadelphia Eagles, 1990-2001 Minnesota Vikings, 2002 Miami Dolphins

* Dermontti Dawson – Center – 1988-2000 Pittsburgh Steelers

* Richard Dent – Defensive End – 1983-1993, 1995 Chicago Bears, 1994 San Francisco 49ers, 1996 Indianapolis Colts, 1997 Philadelphia Eagles

* Russ Grimm – Guard – 1981-1991 Washington Redskins

* Bob Hayes – Wide Receiver – 1965-1974 Dallas Cowboys, 1975 San Francisco 49ers

* Claude Humphrey – Defensive End – 1968-1978 Atlanta Falcons, 1979-1981 Philadelphia Eagles

* Cortez Kennedy – Defensive Tackle – 1990-2000 Seattle Seahawks

* Bob Kuechenberg – Guard – 1970-1984 Miami Dolphins

* Randall McDaniel – Guard – 1988-1999 Minnesota Vikings, 2000-01 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

* John Randle – Defensive Tackle – 1990-2000 Minnesota Vikings, 2001-03 Seattle Seahawks

* Andre Reed – Wide Receiver – 1985-1999 Buffalo Bills, 2000 Washington Redskins

* Shannon Sharpe – Tight End – 1990-99, 2002-03 Denver Broncos, 2000-01 Baltimore Ravens

* Bruce Smith – Defensive End – 1985-1999 Buffalo Bills, 2000-03 Washington Redskins

* Paul Tagliabue – Commissioner – 1989-2006 National Football League

* Derrick Thomas – Linebacker – 1989-1999 Kansas City Chiefs

* Ralph Wilson – Team Founder/Owner – 1960-Present Buffalo Bills

* Rod Woodson – Cornerback/Safety – 1987-1996 Pittsburgh Steelers, 1997 San Francisco 49ers, 1998-2001 Baltimore Ravens, 2002-03 Oakland Raiders

Continue reading "Finalists named for Hall of Fame consideration " »

The former All Pro lineman was once property of the Giants, but he adamantly refused to join the team after the USFL folded in 1985 and was ultimately traded to Minnesota.

Zimmerman went on to star for the Vikings and then the Broncos, and he'll be inducted this weekend into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Giants ended up winning a Super Bowl the year after Zimmerman forced his way out of New York, with journeyman Brad Benson, one of the great characters in a Giants locker room filled with them.

Zimmerman was crotchety in the locker room, showing much disdain for the media and regularly urging his Broncos teammate to give writers the silent treatment. Not that anyone would care about it, because no one should care whether players talk to us or not. But it is interesting to note that media members do the Hall of Fame voting. Correctly, those media members used Zimmerman's on-field performance as the sole criteria for selecting him.

What's even more ironic is that Zimmerman himself now faces a conundrum as he prepares to give his Hall of Fame speech.

"For he first time in my life," he said, "I have too much to say."