Junior Seau's family won't disrupt Hall of Fame ceremonies, says lawyer: Report

The family of the late Junior Seau will not disrupt the Hall of Fame ceremonies on Aug. 8 despite its disagreement with a policy preventing live remarks during a posthumous induction.

Steve Strauss, legal counsel to the Seaus and partner at Cooley LLP, said in an email Monday night that the family "does not want this issue to become a distraction to Junior's accomplishments and legacy or those of the other inductees."

Seau, who killed himself in 2012, will be saluted with a video presentation in which his daughter, Sydney, will speak. But Hall policy does not allow for live speeches during a posthumous induction.

Before his tragic death, Seau told his family that if he was ever inducted to the HoF, the 14-year NFL veteran wanted Sydney to give his induction speech.

"The Seau family appreciates the overwhelming support for Sydney Seau to be able to accept Junior's induction into the Hall of Fame live and in her own words," Strauss said. "Unfortunately, the Hall of Fame is unwilling to reverse its decision despite communicating to the family earlier this year that Sydney would be able to speak at the ceremony. Contrary to the most recent statement by the Hall of Fame, the family does not support the current policy that prevents family members from delivering live remarks on behalf of deceased inductees.

"The Seau family never intended to use the Hall of Fame as a platform to discuss the serious mental health issues facing the NFL today, which are most appropriately addressed in a legal forum," Strauss said. "The Seau family looks forward to celebrating Junior's extraordinary accomplishments at the Hall of Fame."

Hall representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In a statement from Hall executive vice president Joe Horrigan last Friday, a 2010 policy was referenced.

"The policy of the Pro Football Hall of Fame since 2010 regarding individuals enshrined posthumously provides for an expanded presenting video (longer than the videos of living inductees) followed by the traditional unveiling of the bronzed bust and no additional comments made from the podium," Horrigan said.

The 2011 induction used such a format when former Los Angeles Rams star Les Richter was inducted posthumously.

Reggie Jackson gets into foul-mouthedl confrontation with fan at Cooperstown restaurant (VIDEO)

It's baseball's Hall of Fame induction weekend, and what better way to reminiscence about the past than having Reggie Jackson getting into a heated, physical confrontation in the serene setting of Cooperstown.

And no, it wasn't with a reincarnation of Billy Martin.

According to the New York Daily News, Jackson got into a scuffle with a fan asking for the Yankee-legend's autograph at a Main Street restaurant.

Warning: Video contains explicit language:



The News wrote:

While most of the other Hall of Famers were attending HOF chairman Jane Clark's annual Friday night party at her Cooperstown home, Jackson instead opted to have dinner in town with friends at the Mount Fuji restaurant on Main Street. But before Jackson and his party could sit down, Jackson was besieged by autograph seekers. After apparently accommodating a few of them, he became agitated when at least one of them came back for a second autograph.

"I already signed one," he screamed at the fan, "and you go back to the f------ line and come up again. That's f----- up. Now it's my time to eat dinner with people I seldom see. It's f----- up. Pay for them like everybody else."

The fan then appeared to say something more to provoke Jackson, and at that point the 69-year-old retired Yankee slugger appeared to shove the man, as others in the crowded restaurant tried to intervene. A further tussle ensued, and Jackson continued his profanity-laced tirade.

"I need a f----- body guard," Jackson screamed.

Sounds like the famously combative Mr. October is back in July form.

Report: Reg-gie, Reg-gie! Hall of Famer Jackson has shoving match with fan at Cooperstown http://t.co/p5jihjDNMW pic.twitter.com/2prgYisdYB

— CBS Sports MLB (@CBSSportsMLB) July 25, 2015

Junior Seau's family won't be allowed to speak at Hall of Fame induction: Report

It’s always a bittersweet moment when a former National Football League player gets inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame posthumously. And when Junior Seau enters the Hall next month, the scenario will be way more bitter than sweet.

Before his tragic death, Seau told his family that if he was ever inducted to the HoF, the 14-year NFL veteran wanted his daughter Sydney to give his induction speech.

However, it doesn't look like she will get a chance.

HoF spokesman Joe Horrigan spokesman told the New York Times that Sydney won't be allowed to speak due to a recent policy change. Under the new policy, deceased inductees are introduced with a video that's put together by NFL Network.

"There was an acceptance speech for deceased players but it got redundant," Horrigan told the Times. "The honor is supposed to be for the individual."

Living inductees are also introduced by a video, but after the video's shown, a presenter comes out on stage and gives what usually ends up being a pretty emotional speech.

Presenters used to come out on stage to introduce deceased inductees, but the HoF changed its policy "a few years ago."

David Baker, executive director of the Hall, told the Times that Seau's suicide and his family's pending lawsuit against the NFL had nothing to do with the decision in this case.

“We’re not the N.F.L., but the Pro Football Hall of Fame,” said Baker. “Our mission is to honor the heroes of the game, and Junior is a hero of the game. We’re going to celebrate his life, not the death and other issues.”

Seau’s video will not mention the lawsuit that Seau’s family has filed against the NFL, although the league has publicized its crusade to curb injuries in active players and address brain disease among its almost 20,000 retired players.

Seau’s video tribute will be five minutes, two minutes longer than for living inductees, Horrigan said. It will include parts of an interview his daughter gave to NFL Network before, she said, she learned that no one would be making a speech.

Derek Jeter’s Michigan HOF induction postponed by aircraft troubles: Report

It'll be see ya next year for one hall of fame awaiting Derek Jeter.

The former Yankee captain, who was set to be inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame on Thursday, will have to try again in 2016 after mechanical issues grounded his aircraft and kept him from leaving a New Jersey airport.

The Detroit News reported, not one but two private planes ready to fly out of Teterboro Airport both had "serious" mechanical issues and Jeter had to inform Hall of Fame officials he couldn't make it.

Jeter, who was born in Jersey but went to high school in Kalamazoo before his legendary 20-year career with the Yankees, retired after last season.

ESPN reported that Jeter had planned to take a private plane out on Thursday, but the aircraft encountered mechanical problems. Organizers say the former Yankee shortstop will be inducted next year instead.

"According to the Flight Tracker website, a Journey Aviation flight was scheduled to leave Teterboro just before 3 p.m. and arrive at Detroit Metro shortly before 5," wrote the Detroit News' Tony Paul.

"According to the website, that plane never took off. Hall of Fame officials said one of the planes did take off, but had to return to the terminal."

The event still had plenty of big names to honor Thursday night. The induction ceremony also included baseball Hall of Famer Barry Larkin, Michigan State men’s basketball coach Tom Izzo, NHL greats Sergei Fedorov and Mike Modano, swimmer and Olympic gold medalist Sheila Taormina, bowler Aleta Sill and former Detroit Lions defensive tackle Doug English.

All happening while Jeets schlepped home to his swimsuit model girlfriend Hanna Davis: