CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — There were tears, tributes and, of course, an airing of grievances. But in the end, one of the NFL’s most well-known iconoclasts staged his own Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony that ultimately felt rather conventional. Even the traditional gold jacket worn by Hall of Famers eventually made it from Canton, Ohio, and onto the back of Terrell Owens by the time all was said and done. “A lot of people say I may regret not being in Canton 10, 15, 20 years from now,” Owens said during a speech that lasted 40 minutes. “But just like my choice to be here today, I choose not to live in regret. I will leave a legacy that will leave an imprint on this world forever.” As Owens made clear toward the beginning of his remarks, his controversial decision to snub the traditional Hall of Fame ceremony was not rooted in bitterness over having to wait until the third year of his eligibility before being voted in. Rather, he said, coming to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga campus, where he played college football, was a larger statement about a process controlled by a committee of mostly media members that Owens said was “not in alignment with the mission and core values of the Hall of Fame.” It’s clear that Owens, who retired No. 2 in NFL history with 15,934 receiving yards and No. 3 with 153 touchdowns, believes he was unfairly targeted by voters who kept him out of the Hall on his first two tries for his inventive touchdown celebrations, polarizing persona as a self-promoter and reputation as a disruptive locker room presence. Though the committee is not supposed to consider character in its selection, the impact of a player as a teammate is more of a gray area. “I wanted to take a stand so the next guy coming after me will not have to go through what I and others have gone through,” Owens said. “Whether it’s three years or 45 years, you should get what you rightfully earned.” MORE HALL OF FAME: At a news conference following the ceremony, Owens expanded on those thoughts and reiterated he had no regrets about coming to Chattanooga, suggesting that showing up in Canton would have been tantamount to endorsing a false narrative about his career. “You never heard one teammate say these things (about being divisive in the locker room), and I’m not going to do a dog and pony show and smile at people’s faces and be fake,” Owens said. “People bought into what them media told them and I’m not that guy, so I had to harbor all these feelings all these years, and this is the way I wanted to do it.” Most of Owens’ day, however, struck a more inspirational tone. At one point, he even had to stop and wipe away tears as he talked about his deceased grandmother, Alice Black, whom he called “my heart and soul.” He also choked up in speaking to his children, saying, “your dad hasn't always been perfect, but it's been a privilege and an honor to be your dad.” Perhaps the most powerful moment was when Owens, who cast himself as a target of criticism throughout his career for being different, for standing out and being his own man, asked the audience to stand up if they had ever been outcast, isolated, misunderstood, been lied about or mischaracterized. By the end of the speech, of course, the entire room was on its feet, as Owens tried to drive the point home that he was one of them. Of course, given his accomplishments many people would find that hard to believe. Owens, however, has made more of an effort in recent years since his retirement to connect with his alma mater and has come to the homecoming ceremonies at Chattanooga the last couple years. “I felt comfortable here,” Owens said. “I’m proud of who I’ve become.” Though Ray Sherman, Owens’ receivers coach with the Dallas Cowboys, and Larry Kirksey, his first receivers coach in the NFL with the 49ers, spoke at the ceremony, the day was oriented toward his college career here where he played both football and basketball. Many of the speakers who introduced Owens were connected to Chattanooga, including former basketball coach Mack McCarthy, his college receivers coach Frankie DeBusk and the school’s play-by-play broadcaster Jim Reynolds, who ribbed Owens for some of the more controversial moments in his career. “Terrell Owens is guilty of one thing I know of,” Reynolds said. “He’s guilty of being a great marketer and promoter of his favorite product and his favorite product is Terrell Owens. So he had a Sharpie hidden away. So he made a snow angel on the Dallas Star. If you ask yourself who amongst us hasn’t done sit-ups on the driveway of our homes with the national media there?” For someone who promoted a superstar image during his career, however, Owens’ Hall of Fame ceremony came off as a more humble event. Inside the university’s basketball arena, a blue curtain was hung as a backdrop for the ceremony with a large black banner depicting Owens wearing the jerseys of the five NFL teams he played for. The largest and most prominent of those images was Owens in a Dallas Cowboys jersey doing his memorable “Get your popcorn ready” celebration. But for the most part, Owens avoided the popcorn-worthy material until after the ceremony when he insisted he would have been a first ballot Hall of Famer if the committee had stuck to the written criteria. “These writers have never played the game,” Owens said. They have no blood, sweat and tears into what they call the greatest game.” Follow USA TODAY Sports' Dan Wolken on Twitter @DanWolken. If you love talking football, we have the perfect spot for you. Join our new Facebook Group, The Ruling Off the Field, to engage in friendly debate and conversation with fellow football fans and our NFL insiders.<doc-sep>Terrell Owens will not be in Canton, Ohio, this weekend, skipping his Hall of Fame induction party to throw his own in Tennessee, presumably attempting to exact retribution on the Hall's electors even if it angers several of his soon-to-be-peers, the players who have already been enshrined (but don't vote). Many of those who already own gold jackets urged Owens to reconsider, put his beef with the entry process aside and embrace a celebration they think he'll eventually regret missing. Some pundits have accused him of being childish, and others point out that it's T.O. 's prerogative to spend this weekend however he chooses. Had Owens been less of a diva on the field and in the five locker rooms he inhabited over 15 NFL seasons, voters probably would have conferred his bust in 2016, giving him elite first-ballot status. But should they have done so anyway, as Owens — and others — believe? (Only six of the Hall's 27 modern-era receivers went in during their first year of eligibility: Lance Alworth, Raymond Berry, Steve Largent, Jerry Rice, Paul Warfield and Owens' peer, Randy Moss.) More:Pro Football Hall of Fame candidates for 2019: Tony Gonzalez, Ed Reed, Champ Bailey seem like locks More:NFL training camp power rankings: Eagles have competition in NFC It's hard to argue with T.O. 's numbers, though it must also be acknowledged that he benefited from a period when emphasis on the passing game was far greater than it had been in the past. Here's an attempt at putting Owens' career in context, from a purely empirical standpoint (graphic courtesy of USA TODAY Sports' Greg Hester): *** Follow Nate Davis on Twitter @ByNateDavis<doc-sep>Willy Sanjuan/Associated Press Terrell Owens accepted his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday in perhaps the most unique manner of all time. Rather than attending the ceremony in Canton, Ohio, T.O. spoke in front of a large crowd at McKenzie Arena on the campus of alma mater the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, as seen in the following photo courtesy of Yahoo Sports' Eric Adelson: Owens covered a lot of ground in his speech, including an explanation for why he decided to skip the official ceremony at the site of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Per John Breech of CBS Sports, Owens said it had to do with the sportswriters: "Many of you are probably wondering why we're here instead of Canton. I'd like to set the record straight. It's about the mere fact that the sportswriters aren't aligned with the mission and the core values of the Hall of Fame." According to Teresa Walker of the Associated Press, Owens continued, "In my heart I know this is the right thing to do. They say I'm making the wrong decision, but sometimes you got to do what is the wrong thing for the right reason." Despite being one of the top wideouts in NFL history statistically, it took three tries before Owens was given the Hall of Fame nod. Video Play Button Videos you might like Per Tennessee-Chattanooga football recruiting coordinator Chris Cook, Owens added, "Whether it takes three years or 45 years you should get what you've rightfully earned," with regard to his induction. T.O. 's presence was unmistakable, and much of that had to do with his flashy wardrobe choice—a suit emblazoned with Pro Football Hall of Fame logos: Prior to giving his speech, Owens made a blazer change when his mother presented him with the gold jacket awarded to every Hall of Famer: Owens' mother played a significant role Saturday, as he emotionally thanked her for standing by him, according to Sports Illustrated's Greg Bishop: Additionally, T.O. teared up when talking about his late grandmother and said he could "feel her presence" in McKenzie Arena. Owens also gave shout-outs to NBA legends Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant for inspiring him, along with former San Francisco 49ers teammate Jerry Rice, per Breech: "You were an inspiration, beyond my expectations. You were hands down the best receiver in the game, this is for you." The overall theme of Owens' speech was "this is for you," as he repeated the phrase on numerous occasions when thanking those who supported him. Whether right or wrong, Owens gained a reputation in the NFL as something of a selfish player, and he played up to that narrative in a moment of self-awareness. When a fan in the crowd yelled, "I love you," to T.O., the newly minted Hall of Famer answered, "I love you too. I love me more," according to ESPN's Vaughn McClure. That comment notwithstanding, Owens expressed humility and gratitude throughout the speech. In closing, Owens admitted to his imperfections but had a positive message to spread, per Vinnie Iyer of Sporting News: "I am not a perfect man. I've made a lot of mistakes, but I like the man who [I] have become. ... Courageous enough to choose Chattanooga over Canton." Per Nooga.com, T.O. then took the opportunity to inspire those in attendance, just as so many inspired him over the years: During an NFL career that spanned 15 years with the San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals, Owens was a six-time Pro Bowler and five-time selection to the All-Pro first team. He ranks eighth all-time in receptions (1,078), second in receiving yards (15,934) and third in receiving touchdowns (153). By those metrics, T.O. rightfully took his spot among football's all-time greats Saturday, no matter how unconventional the process was.<doc-sep>Shannon Sharpe shares why he’s ‘okay’ with Terrell Owens’ decision to skip the Hall of Fame Ceremony | Undisputed share url email fbmsngr whatsapp sms Shannon Sharpe shares why he’s ‘okay’ with Terrell Owens’ decision to skip the Hall of Fame Ceremony<doc-sep>
Don Wright/Associated Press Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Terrell Owens angered many by opting to skip this weekend's official induction ceremonies in Canton, Ohio, but he is having no second thoughts on his unprecedented decision. Owens once again let it be known Friday, via ESPN's Vaughn McClure, that he stands by his decision to protest the Hall of Fame: "I understand why I've made my decision. I don't expect everyone to agree with me. But again, obviously the criteria and the system put in place for the Hall of Fame in order for guys like myself to be inducted, there are guidelines that the writers—the sportswriters—are supposed to adhere to. "This is not [about] not being inducted the first or second ballot, but it's about the process in which guys are nominated and ultimately inducted. There is a flaw in that system. So this is not only about me, but it's about the guys that went before me, that's going to come after me. And I can make a stand for those guys so they won't have to go through this situation." He continued: "I'm proud of what I've been able to accomplish. I don't expect a lot of people to agree with what I've done. I know what I'm doing. I know who's more important. For me, it wasn't about the Hall of Fame. I never played this sport to be in the Hall of Fame. Everything that I've accomplished was a lot of hard work. It was a lot of blood, sweat and tears. And when I feel like there are certain people put in position to not really adhere and honor and respect what I've done for the game, then that's an issue." Video Play Button Videos you might like There are eight players in the class of 2018. Bobby Beathard, Robert Brazile, Brian Dawkins, Jerry Kramer, Ray Lewis, Randy Moss and Brian Urlacher are the others receiving football's highest honor this weekend. While most people cherish the opportunity to be a part of the festivities celebrating their careers, Owens declined the invitation, instead opting to give his induction speech at his alma mater, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga: He later expanded upon his decision via Twitter: Since Owens has decided not to make the trip to Canton, there will be no official acknowledgement by the Hall of Fame. "The focus is on the guys who are here," Hall of Fame executive director Joe Horrigan said, via Talk of Fame Network's Clark Judge, adding: "There's no reason to bring him up as an individual. He's not here." Owens had to wait until his third year on the ballot to get the call despite putting together one of the greatest resumes in NFL history. He recorded 1,078 catches for 15,934 yards and 153 touchdowns while making six Pro Bowls during his 15-year career. He played for five teams in his career: the San Francisco 49ers, the Philadelphia Eagles, the Dallas Cowboys, the Buffalo Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals.