DT

A few words on the day of the late Derrick Thomas' posthumous induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, in Canton, Ohio.

We all know about the women, the philandering, the bad-boy behaviors off the field. The cases of $1,000-a-bottle Remy-Martin Louis XIII cognac in hand-blown Baccarat crystal decanters he had stacked in the garage. (Can I have JUST ONE? Please?) The fact that he was driving like a fool on an icy road, not wearing a seatbelt on the day of the accident that claimed his life. His crazy antics with his running mate, Michael Tellis (who died at the scene, in the same accident).

But then there were the other DT's. There were several of them. The philanthropist. The loving son. The efforts to be a father to his disjointed family. The guy who teared up and then tore up quarterbacks on Veteran's Day, after a fly-over. His legacy -- thanks to his "Third and Long" Foundation, and the efforts of his friends and former teammates, like Neil Smith -- will live on in Kansas City for generations.

He changed Kansas City in another way, too. Perhaps no one person was more responsible for bringing sleepy Arrowhead stadium back to life. Kansas City was a baseball town in the 1970's & 80's. George Brett and the Royals were the big dogs. An average Sunday at Arrowhead back then, the vendors nearly out numbered the fans. Your beer guy was almost your personal valet. But after Derrick Thomas -- and that amazing supporting cast that defensive coordinator, Bill Cowher, assembled -- everything changed. The stands turned red and the parking lots began to smoke. Arrowhead became the loudest outdoor stadium in the NFL. It became intimidating. And it smelled GREAT!

Did Thomas deserve induction into Canton? I think that's a silly question. No, he was not "the complete linebacker". He was never particularly great against the run, or in pass coverage. His only HOF stat was sacks. But he OWNS that stat, and likely will for another generation. But he didn't just change games. He changed teams. The Broncos, Raiders and Chargers, in particular, had to make personnel decisions and change game plans to account for him. And he didn't just feast on low-hanging fruit, either. Many of his prime targets will also have busts in Canton. Many already do. He also changed the way the entire league looked at the position of outside linebacker. Anyone who not only changed games, but changed other teams, and changed the position he played, deserves the Hall of Fame. If he had played for a team in New York, or a marquee team like the Cowboys or 49ers, he would already be there.

So, on this day; the day Derrick Thomas will join fellow Chief linebackers, Willie Lanier and Bobby Bell, and the other Chiefs - Buck, Emmit, Hank, Jan, Lenny and Lamar - in pro football's elite shrine, let us remember what Arrowhead looked like before #58 brought that boyish smile, and laser-beam eyes, and "tomahawk chop" and his boiling-over love and passion to the heartland.

Welcome to Canton, DT.