Basketball Hall of Fame should be all about the players

Maybe you saw that cute video clip of Charles Barkley and Dick Vitale playing a pretend game of 1-on-1 last weekend.

There was no real significance to the contest, other than it helps illustrate why the Basketball Hall of Fame induction ceremony flies so deep beneath the radar every year. It just happens that Barkley and Vitale are both in the Hall. Vitale was inducted in September and Barkley in 2006.

Barkley is definitely one of the 30 greatest NBA players of all time; arguably one of the top 20. Vitale had moderate success as a college coach at the University of Detroit, won 34 games for the Pistons in his brief attempt at NBA coaching, but is best known as a loudmouthed ESPN broadcaster.

Love him or hate him, there is no question that Vitale has been an influential college basketball announcer. But for the love of Vinny Del Negro's hometown, Vitale should not be walking into the Hall of Fame arm-in-arm with a player of Barkley's caliber. Or Patrick Ewing and Hakeem Olajuwon, who were part of Vitale's induction class.

The greatest achievements in any sport belong to the players. The NFL and Major League Baseball understand this, which makes their Hall of Fame induction ceremonies far more relevant.

A dramatic moment such as Cleveland Browns running backs Jim Brown, Leroy Kelly and Bobby Mitchell pushing disabled lineman Gene Hickerson onto the stage in Canton, Ohio, is not followed by a tribute to Chris Berman's greatest nicknames or the induction of studio show pioneer Phyllis George.

Broadcasters, journalists and owners belong in a separate category if they are included in a sports hall of fame. Even coaches should be honored with restraint.

The Basketball Hall of Fame is open to anyone, though - pro, college, men, women, foreign or domestic. This year's induction class included Detroit Pistons owner William Davidson. He's been a successful owner, sure, but he doesn't belong in the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Someone like Syracuse Nats owner Danny Biasone, known as the father of the 24-second shot clock, might merit such an honor based on his unique contribution to the game, but not Davidson, not Jerry Reinsdorf, not Jerry Buss. Davidson should be in the Auto Glass Hall of Fame, one of the industries where he made his fortune.

Here is a rundown by category of those who have been inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame this decade: 15 NBA players; 21 coaches, which includes just four from the NBA; 10 contributors and 2 teams, the Harlem Globetrotters and the 1966 Texas Western squad.

The Hall of Fame has been very kind to college coaches, accepting seven from women's college basketball and six from the men's side since 2000.

The Class of 2007 included no individual players, but five coaches (Phil Jackson, Roy Williams, Van Chancellor and two foreigners you've probably never heard of). The Class of 2005 was Jim Boeheim, Jim Calhoun, Hubie Brown (as a contributor, not a coach), late LSU coach Sue Gunter and a player named Hortencia Marcari.

Is it any wonder people pay so little attention to the Basketball Hall of Fame? The inclusion of the college game is bound to throw things off, because coaches can stick around for 20 or 30 years, while players have to leave after four. Be patient Bill Self and Billy Donovan, your time will come soon.

I don't know that there are a great number of former players deserving entry into the Hall of Fame that have been left out. This year's finalists missing the cut were Bulls broadcaster Johnny "Red" Kerr, the late Dennis Johnson, Chris Mullin and Richie Guerin. Dennis Rodman certainly belongs and he's been out of the NBA longer than the required five years.

I have never been to the actual Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass., so I can't comment on whether or not it is worth visiting. But the sport has had a unique place in America for decades and it's a shame the Hall of Fame induction draws so little attention.

Here's an extreme suggestion: Start all over again. Kick everyone out and resume the process with a class featuring Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan and Red Auerbach. It's never to late to get things right.