Doug Benc, Getty ImagesSara White, wife of the late defensive end Reggie White, and his son Jeremy White, react after the unveiling of Reggie White's bust during the Class of 2006 Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement yesterday.
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CANTON, Ohio -- The glory of the newest Hall of Famers' achievements was punctuated by a steady stream of tears and a singular chant:
"REG-GIE, REG-GIE!"
Though a fair share of the crowd sported No. 8 jerseys in tribute to Troy Aikman, their passion yesterday was reserved for the late Reggie White.
The two joined Warren Moon, John Madden, Rayfield Wright and Harry Carson as the newest inductees in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Nearly all of them choked up or cried at the four-hour ceremony, even the usually unflappable Aikman. Most poignant was the way White, also an ordained preacher who died in December 2004, was honored.
His son, Jeremy, was White's presenter, and his widow, Sara, made the acceptance speech. Both crying, they shared a long hug after unveiling Reggie's bust before a rapt audience.
"Reggie was an honest, humble, honorable, dedicated, determined, passionate and caring man," Sara White said. "He is inducted today not only because of his athletic achievements, but because he was a great player on the field in accordance with being a great person throughout life."
Often, the fans chanted Reggie's name. It didn't matter if they were dressed in Green Bay Packers or Philadelphia Eagles green -- a collection of current Eagles, including Donovan McNabb, sat in the crowd wearing White's No. 92 -- or even Cowboys, Giants or Oilers blue or Raiders black.
They all stood and cheered for the Minister of Defense, including Aikman.
"I too am saddened by the absence of Reggie White, a great player and a man who left us too soon," Aikman said. "It's an honor to be a member of the Hall of Fame class that includes five men I have so much admiration and respect for. They played the game the way it should be played, and John Madden coached the game the same way."
White was a two-time defensive player of the year who made 13 consecutive Pro Bowls. He was the career sacks leader with 198 when he retired -- Bruce Smith since has passed him -- and won a Super Bowl with Green Bay in 1997 after starting his illustrious career in the USFL, then moving to Philadelphia.
"It's not how we die, it's how we live," Sara White said. "I encourage you to live like Reggie lived. His legacy will live on through you."
Aikman won 90 games in the 1990s, the most by any quarterback in one decade. The top overall pick in the 1989 draft, he guided the Cowboys to three Super Bowl titles in a four-season span.
Moon became the first black quarterback in the Hall. The only one of the inductees not to win an NFL title, he captured five Grey Cups in a row for the Edmonton Eskimos after being undrafted out of the University of Washington.
"I was not really invited to the combine and no coaches came out to give me workouts," Moon said. "It was a foregone conclusion quarterback was not in my future in the NFL, but changing positions was. I was going to play quarterback and I was looking for somebody who would let me do that. Thank you Canada."
Moon came back to the United States as a free agent in 1984 and spent 10 seasons in the Houston Oilers' run-and-shoot offense. He also played for Minnesota, Seattle and Kansas City in 17 NFL seasons and passed for more than 70,000 yards (over 42 miles) before he retired at age 44.
"A lot has been said about me being the first African-American quarterback in the Hall of Fame," he said. "It's a subject I am uncomfortable with at times, because I want to be judged only as a quarterback.
"But significance does come with that, I accept that. I remember all the guys before me who blazed that trail to give me the inspiration. I always had that extra burden that I had the responsibility to play the game for my people. I carried that burden proudly."
It took nearly a quarter century for Madden to make it to the Canton shrine. When the moment came, he got "goofy."
"I started thinking about this after I was voted to the Hall of Fame, and now I know," said Madden, elected by the senior committee for a 103-32-7 coaching record, no losing seasons and the 1977 Super Bowl championship. "At night, when the fans and visitors all leave, then the workers start to leave, then just one person turns out the light, locks the door, and I believe the busts talk to each other. And I can't wait for that conversation.
"We'll be there forever and ever talking about whatever. That's what I believe will happen, and no one is ever going to talk me out of that."
Carson became the first inside linebacker from a 3-4 defense to enter the Hall. He retired in 1988 after 13 seasons, nine Pro Bowls and a Super Bowl title with the New York Giants. Wright also played 13 seasons, and won two Super Bowls. He retired in 1979 and was voted in by the seniors committee.
Mark Duncan, Associated PressWarren Moon kisses his hall bust after its unveiling yesterday in Canton, Ohio. Moon is the first black quarterback to be inducted.
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First Published: August 6, 2006, 4:00 a.m.
