Clan-Members » Instead, that 13,800-seat bask

CANTON, Ohio -- Brett Favre seemed a bit surprised by the question.Asked if he ever imagined himself wearing a gold jacket in Canton, Favre quickly responded: Absolutely not.Hes still not sure he belongs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, which he will enter on Saturday night.Pretty amazing, the record-setting quarterback said Friday. Incredible. I have a tremendous amount of respect for the game. I hold these guys in the highest regard. I just find it hard to believe I am in with those guys.Those guys are the 295 members of the hall that Favre will join, along with Tony Dungy, Marvin Harrison, Orlando Pace, Kevin Greene, Ken Stabler, Dick Stanfel and Ed DeBartolo Jr.That Favre even remotely doubted he belonged after one of the greatest careers in NFL history -- 20 seasons, tons of records, including a stunning 299 consecutive games, an NFL title in 1996 -- is folly to most.The first three-time league MVP (1995-97), Favre has put up numbers that can be overwhelming. Add in his spirit, competitive fire and fun-loving attitude, and he was such a slam dunk in his first year of eligibility that his candidacy wasnt even discussed by the selection committee in February.When he began getting text messages from his heroes, particularly Roger Staubach, Favre said he had to pick his jaw off the floor.It wasnt a goal of mine, Favre said. I have the utmost respect for the players who go in, but I just wanted to play, and people who saw me identified with that. If they paid me $50, I would have felt the same way. What they pay is a lot of money. When Id drive home, I would say to myself, `This is stealing!Favre recalled the first time he visited the Hall of Fame, in 1993, before his third pro season. The Packers were playing the Raiders.His lasting memory wasnt exactly a sporting one.I just remember the Raiders players standing outside the locker room smoking, he said, drawing laughs from reporters. Theres something wrong with this.When Favre dons the gold jacket Saturday night, it might stay on for a while. Asked what he would be doing Monday back in Mississippi, he said mowing the grass -- in my gold jacket.Dungy made history with the Colts in February 2007, becoming the first black coach to win a Super Bowl. He has been a mentor to many other coaches and players, and his insistence on people doing things the right way is as much his legacy as is his coaching record.Dungy doesnt deny his role as a trailblazer in the sport, but he doesnt promote it, either.Others do.Coach Dungy has been a shining beacon of light in every facet of his life and vocation, said John Wooten, chairman of the Fritz Pollard Alliance, an organization of minority coaches, front office, scouting and game day officials in the NFL. He is a man of faith and an inspiration and mentor to countless individuals.One of his stars with the Colts was Harrison, who holds the NFL mark for receptions in a season, with 143 in 2002. Harrison needed three tries before he was elected to the hall, one less than it took Dungy.Harrison, who made 1,102 catches, third on the career list, thought about how he got started in football in Philadelphia.On the street, he said. There were no parks. We played two-hand touch, and we played tackle if it was snowing.A supreme route runner with terrific hands, Harrison excelled against such illustrious defensive backs as Deion Sanders, Aeneas Williams and Darrell Green -- all of them Hall of Famers.I learned to just play hard and everything else falls into place, he said.Greene, a sackmaster with four franchises who stands third in career quarterback traps with 160, added some other characteristics that lead to success -- if not a quick entrance into the hall; he retired in 1999.A lot of things separate people, the former linebacker/defensive end explained. You have to be tougher and meaner than the guys in front of you. You need technique and fundamentals. Then study the game; people dont study the game the way they used to.And heart. Are you doing it for the love of the game or for a paycheck? I think I just played and let it flow. Dont be afraid to let your love and excitement for the game show.Favre couldnt have said it better.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFLBrian Goodwin Jersey . Any real chance at payback wont come until the playoff. Still, Pittsburgh knows its taut 3-2 win over the Bruins on Wednesday night is a pretty good place to start laying the groundwork. "They are a very good defensive team," Penguins forward Brandon Sutter said. Mike Trout Jersey . The Celtics closed out their first preseason under Stevens on Wednesday night with a 101-97 victory over the Brooklyn Nets, who rested a lot of their lineup including former Celtics Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. http://www.baseballangelslockroom.com/jonathan-lucroy-angels-jersey/ . Louis Blues absence from top spot in the TSN. Albert Pujols Angels Jersey . Louis Blues teammates who would also be participating in the Olympics, Alex Pietrangelo felt right at home, no different in some ways to the travel experience of any old road trip – save for the length of the journey, that is. Andrelton Simmons Angels Jersey . With his new coach and six-time Grand Slam singles champion Boris Becker watching him during an official match for the first time, Djokovic appeared tentative early against the Slovakian player, who often appeared content to keep the ball in play.LOS ANGELES -- Three existing venues have been added to Los Angeles bid for the 2024 Olympics, including Long Beach as one of four main sports clusters.LA2024 announced the additional venues Thursday, emphasizing its use of existing venues to avoid costly construction and cost overruns that have plagued Olympic host cities in recent years.Long Beachs arena, convention center, waterfront and pier would comprise one of four main sports clusters scattered around the Los Angeles area as opposed to having a single Olympic Park. The city joins the other clusters of downtown Los Angeles, the South Bay near Torrance and the San Fernando Valley.The LA2024 bid committee said each cluster will be located within a secure perimeter where fans can walk between venues with food, music and celebration sites. The clusters are connected to the regions public transit system.The venue changes will be included in LA2024s second bid file that is due to the International Olympic Committee on Oct. 7. The IOC will select the 2024 host city in September 2017. Los Angeles is competing with Paris, Rome and Budapest, Hungary.Rome Mayor Virginia Raggi on Wednesday rejected her citys bid, although her motion to withdraw the bid would have to be approved by Romes city assembly.Handball would be held in Long Beachs 13,500-seat arena, which recently underwent $10 million in upgrades, along with warm-up facilities at the connected convention center. BMX and water polo would be held in temporary facilities along the citys waterfront, where open-water swimming and triathlon would be held. Sailing would be near the citys Belmont Pier.Long Beachs venues are located 24 milles south of downtown Los Angeles.dddddddddddd The athletes village would be on the UCLA campus on Los Angeles west side.Honda Center in Anaheim would host indoor volleyball, bringing the Olympics to Orange County, with the 18,000-seat venue that is home to the NHLs Anaheim Ducks located about 26 miles from Los Angeles. It would be about an hour drive from the athletes village.In LA2024s original plans, volleyball was to be played at UCLAs Pauley Pavilion. Instead, that 13,800-seat basketball arena would host wrestling and judo.Historic Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles would host mens and womens golf. The course has hosted the U.S. Open, two PGA Championships and the annual PGA tournament since it opened in 1929.Adding sites in Long Beach and Anaheim would bring the Olympics closer to the large populations in Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.LA2024 said UCLAs tennis center and north athletic field have been added to the track and field stadium as part of the training center located at the athletes village in an effort to reduce additional travel for competitors.Were very pleased to add more world-class existing venues to our fiscally responsible and innovative Games Plan for 2024, LA2024 chairman Casey Wasserman said. By relying on Southern Californias wealth of top sports, housing and transportation infrastructure, LA 2024 will minimize construction risk, operational struggles and costs, and can focus on providing athletes with the perfect stage to perform their best, without distraction. ' ' '