Last week I filled out my ballot for the latest induction class at the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame.
There were 43 names on the list. 37 of the nominees were male, and six were female. The sports or categories represented broke down like this: football 17; basketball 9; coaching 4 (all four were football coaches); baseball 2; golf 2; track and field 2; tennis 1; officiating 1; broadcasting 1; football administration 1; multiple sports 1; canoe and kayak racing 1.
It should go without saying that my top vote went to the lone paddler on the list, Mr. Mike Herbert of Rogers, Arkansas. Deciding who would get my remaining four votes took some thought. In the end I voted for a pair of runners, a distance runner (Leah Thorvilson) and a sprinter (Veronica Campbell Brown). I voted for a basketball player with strong Memphis connections: Keith Lee grew up across the river in West Memphis, Arkansas; starred at Memphis State University in the 1980s; and lives in Memphis today. My final vote went to baseball player Johnny Ray, because baseball is the one big pro sport I like.
How good a chance Mike has of being inducted remains to be seen. Last year's induction class consisted of nine people, and I'm assuming this year's class will be similar in size. My heart sank a little when I got my ballot in the mail and saw that his name was but a tiny speck in a sea of 43. All I can do is cast my vote and hope enough other people feel the same way.
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