Bob Hayes HOF induction tarnished

[ph4ever]

Bob Hayes’ Family Feud Tarnishes a Long-Awaited Hall of Fame Entry for the Cowboys Great
By Richie Whitt
Published on February 11, 2009 at 11:45am
Finally. The defining moment.

After a 34-year wait—capped by a seven-year posthumous push—former Dallas Cowboys receiver Bob Hayes had at long last earned induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Hayes was one of the NFL's most transcendent athletes, his blazing speed leading to two Olympic gold medals, a Super Bowl ring and the evolution of zone defense by secondaries that couldn't cover him man-to-man.

Despite the delay—Hayes retired in 1975 and died in 2002—his enshrinement was justified and glorified.

On the eve of last week's Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa, 69-year-old Lucille Hester strode to the press conference podium to honor her baby brother and, in the process, capture the attention and hearts of the crowded room and a national television audience. Sporting a Cowboys silver cap emblazoned with the red and blue letters "BOB HAYES," Hester produced a letter her brother had written for her in 1999 just in case this climactic day ever arrived.

With grace, elegance and uncanny composure, Hester read:

You know I am not sure I am going to be around if I will get into the Pro Football Hall of Fame...Mother said you would do what I want because you always did. So read this for me.

The letter, which thanked Hayes' Cowboys teammates, the City of Dallas and, in fact, "everyone in the whole world," was dated October 29, 1999, and signed "Bob Hayes."

There wasn't a dry eye in the house or a neck void of goose bumps in front of any TV.

Hester's moment was eloquent. It was compelling. It was poignant. It was...

Fake.


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[C-Dawg]

That's too bad....the man was a great player and classy person, and doesn't deserve this.

[Frank4]

What a pathetic piece of garbage!

[Desdamona]

Yeah, this was on all the local news shows when it first came out.
Bob Hayes brother said that she was a neighbor girl who "attached
herself to him" when they were kids, but hadn't been part of the real
family at all. At the time of the interview, he seemed disappointed
and at a loss for what the family could do about it. I guess it is being
resolved in time for the induction ceremony, thank goodness.

Don't you just love how she didn't know her own mother's name????
When asked by Irvin if she was indeed Bob Hayes' sister, Hester replied,
"Yes." Pushed for clarity, she offered, "Same dad...and we kinda all had
different moms." Her mother? "Her name was Ruth Wise, I think."