About Damn Time: Hall of Famer Bob Hayes!

After 29 years and a failed attempt during Super Bowl XXIX here in his hometown of The Ville, Bob "Bullet" Hayes is now Pro Football Hall of Famer. For those who know him, he was an Olympic gold medalist in track and played for the Dallas Cowboys. His speed caused NFL defenses to step their game up to zone defense. He is the only man to have both an Olympic gold medal and a super Bowl ring. But to me he deserve it because of hi service to the Jacksonville community with his Bob Hayes Invitational. For 39 years schools from around the southeast come to compete in track and field competition and a highlight for The Ville and all those talented enough to compete. Bob Hayes died in 2002, but his spirit lives in the countless students in the track and lightening fast wide receivers on the field. Here is the TU(Times Union) Story on the vote:

Twenty-nine years after he first became eligible, Jacksonville native Bob Hayes was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Saturday.

Hayes was nominated for the second time in five years by the senior committee and he needed at least 36 of the 44 board members to vote in his favor.

The exact number of votes he got was not announced.

The case for Hayes was that he changed the game with his speed that forced defenses to change to zone defenses.

But he was rejected just five years ago, the first time he was a finalist. The fact he had only 371 catches and didn’t have a signature game in the championship games he played in were hurdles he had to overcome.

Hayes is the only man to win an Olympic gold medal and a Super Bowl ring.

He died in 2002.

Joining Hayes in the Hall will be Bruce Smith, Rod Woodson, Randall McDaniel, Derrick Thomas and Buffalo Bills founder and owner Ralph Wilson.

Posted By: Peaches!.