Newly minted Hall of Fame wide receiver Terrell Owens will not be attending the August induction ceremony, according to a statement he released on his website. TO said that after visiting Canton earlier this year (when he had his bust created), he, “came to the realization that I wish to celebrate what will be one of the most memorable days of my life, elsewhere.” He will announce his plans at a later date.
This is certainly unusual. I don’t recall any living Hall of Fame honoree skipping the formal induction ceremony. TO has always marched to the beat of his own drum, but this is arguably the most unusual move of his career. But hey, it’s his day and he can do what he wants. Personally, I think he should just throw a sponsored party and sell tickets to fans who want to attend.
The induction ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, August 4th. The Hall of Fame Game is scheduled two days prior, Thursday, August 2nd. We’ll see what TO has up his sleeve.
Here is his statement:
I am so grateful for all of the support my family, friends, and certainly my fans, have shown me throughout my entire career in the National Football League. When it was announced that I was going to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the response received from my fans was overwhelming, and I am truly humbled. I am honored to be included among this group of fellow inducted individuals.
While I am incredibly appreciative of this opportunity, I have made the decision to publicly decline my invitation to attend the induction ceremony in Canton. I have already shared this information with the Hall. After visiting Canton earlier this year, I came to the realization that I wish to celebrate what will be one of the most memorable days of my life, elsewhere. At a later date, I will announce where and when I will celebrate my induction.
I would also like to thank the San Francisco 49ers, the Philadelphia Eagles, the Dallas Cowboys, the Buffalo Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals for the time I was granted with each organization. I am thankful for the relationships forged and the lessons learned while part of each team.
I wish to congratulate all past, current and future inductees. It is quite an honor to be part of such elite company. This honor is something that I will cherish forever.