Junior Seau to be Inducted into Chargers Hall of Fame

by John Gennaro on Aug 24, 2011 1:35 PM PDT in BFTB Editorials

On November 27th, just a few days after Thanksgiving, the Chargers will throw on their powder blue jerseys and welcome the Denver Broncos to Qualcomm Stadium. On that same day, they'll be welcoming long-time Charger Junior Seau into their Hall of Fame.

It's a well deserved honor for the hometown kid, who is the leader in tackles and games played by a Chargers defender. Also, while playing OLB in the Chargers' 4-3 defense, Seau managed to rack up 47 sacks (4th all time for the Chargers) and 15 interceptions (15th all time). He leads the Chargers' defensive players in fumble recoveries and is third in forced fumbles.

I'll applaud Junior when he's inducted, and will appreciate why his name will be plastered inside of Qualcomm and whatever stadium the Chargers play at next, but (like many other Chargers fans) I still have bittersweet feelings towards the man that made offensive players "Say-Ow!"

The way in which Seau embraced the Boston community as a member of the Patriots seemed stronger than what he had done in San Diego, his own home town. It was certainly more than he had done when a member of the Miami Dolphins.

He retired, or "graduated", in San Diego and then un-retired to play with the Patriots. Was it because the Patriots were the only team interested? No, it was because they were the only team that Junior was interested in playing for anymore. The message from Junior to Chargers fans felt loud and clear: The Patriots are my team.

When he was making Pro Bowls (12 times, all as a member of the Chargers), there was nobody more fun to watch before, during and after a play than Seau. That will mean a lot to me one day. I just wish I had more time to think about that and I wish could sit through the ceremony in November without that Patriots wound being so fresh. I don't think I'm the only one.

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Should the Chargers have waited to induct Junior Seau into their Hall of Fame?

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Another thing...

When he was doing his “Jobs” show on Versus, he was a Dodgers bat boy and while wearing that uniform he recorded a spot saying “this is my town” for the Dodgers’ “My town / Dodgertown” ad campaign.

It’s not that huge of a stretch because he went to USC but I can see how us San Diegans would be peeved by that kinda stuff.

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by matthewverygood on Aug 24, 2011 1:42 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

.

It’s almost hard to find a picture of him in Chargers gear. Hopefully he wears something Chargers-related when they induct him into their HOF.

Bolts from the Blue - Destroying your opinions with facts.

by John Gennaro on Aug 24, 2011 1:45 PM PDT up reply actions

Could you imagine if he showed up in a Brady jersey?

6/10/2010 - Tra Thomas signs with the Chargers
8/21/2010 - Tra Thomas retires.

That was fast.

by SD FTW on Aug 24, 2011 1:51 PM PDT up reply actions

VERY begrudgingly, I say they should

He did a lot while he was here, both on and off the field….I wish his quasi-traitorous streak at the end of his career didn’t exist (not to mention the Dodger batboy incident), but for like a solid decade he was very important to the Chargers and San Diego.

by TheFan09 on Aug 24, 2011 2:10 PM PDT reply actions

Didn't he take Michael Turner down near the goal line in the AFCCG?

Ouch. Still, forgive and forget.

by Cake or Death on Aug 24, 2011 2:13 PM PDT reply actions

Yes. That was him.

#feelinacertaintypeofway

by sd_Baby-B on Aug 24, 2011 2:53 PM PDT up reply actions

Say 'ow' indeed.

by Cake or Death on Aug 24, 2011 2:55 PM PDT up reply actions

SD Traded him to the Phins

for a paltry sixth rounder after 12 Pro Bowls because they thought he was done. If he found a home and paycheck somewhere else after the Bolts traded him away for nothing, good for him. When he suited up for the Chargers he was killing it; he totally deserves the Chargers HOF. There were years when he was about the only player worth watching, he played his ass off no matter what the score or the record. He didn’t leave the Chargers, the Chargers left him. He could have handled the four day retirement thing better, but big deal, get over it already.

The play of chance and probability within which the creative spirit is free to roam. -von Clausewitz 'On Football'

by Brian (DaBolts) on Aug 24, 2011 2:16 PM PDT reply actions 9 recs

agreed

by Stephen (shaynes41) on Aug 24, 2011 2:20 PM PDT up reply actions

I'm not mad at him

Seau WAS Charger football for over a decade. The Chargers decided to trade him to MIA to give their younger players a chance to develop with more playing time. The Chargers’ SB run in the ’94 season is still my fondest memory as a Charger fan and Seau led that defense.

When he “graduated”, then signed with NE a few days later, he was clearly chasing a ring and I’m not going to get down on the guy for that.

by Jobumoplata on Aug 24, 2011 2:30 PM PDT up reply actions

Wait for what? Time heals all?

Thank God he didn’t sign with the Raiders! If that had happened we would have never mentioned his name here again. I guess we should take Lance Alworth off the list because he signed with the Cowboys at the end of his career.

Still not sure what this means:

“The way in which Seau embraced the Boston community as a member of the Patriots seemed stronger than what he had done in San Diego.”

What is the measure of this – seems very subjective! I guess he should have just played in NE and took their money and kept his mouth shut. Loyalty seems to be measured in different ways, and Junior’s contribution to the Chargers should be measured by what he did on the field as a player!

You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice.

by BoltFan58 on Aug 24, 2011 2:24 PM PDT reply actions

yeah...

it was funny when asked if he was a Charger for life. He asked for the next question.

"Watch out where the huskies go, don't you eat that yellow snow."- Zappa

by QuesaDiaz on Aug 24, 2011 2:37 PM PDT up reply actions

I never heard anyone express that Seau embraced the Boston community stronger than he did in San Diego

His Junior Seau Foundation raises money for scholarships to students around San Diego County, he does that Shop with Jocks program here, he has his annual golf tournament in San Diego, and most of his family still live in Oceanside.

by Jobumoplata on Aug 24, 2011 2:41 PM PDT up reply actions

F*ck that.

Denorfia sucks.
Show me a good loser, and I'll show you a loser. -- Vince Lombardi

by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Aug 24, 2011 3:28 PM PDT reply actions

Isn't it enough to know that I ruined a pony making a gift for you? ◔ヮ◔
Uncommon Sportsman :: Absurdity in play

by Axion on Aug 24, 2011 3:43 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

No sir.

Bolts from the Blue - Destroying your opinions with facts.

by John Gennaro on Aug 24, 2011 4:01 PM PDT up reply actions

Minor correction

It’s a well deserved honor for the hometown kid, who is the leader in games played and tackles for the team by a wide margin.

I think you mean leader in games played for defenders. David Binn has played in 56 more games than JS, so far. Russ Washington played in the same number as JS (200).

Are Marlon McCree and Antonio Cromartie the same person? Just askin'.

by QLFixBoy on Aug 24, 2011 3:48 PM PDT reply actions

I did!

Gonna fix that. Thanks QLFixBoy!

Bolts from the Blue - Destroying your opinions with facts.

by John Gennaro on Aug 24, 2011 4:02 PM PDT up reply actions

I loved Seau growing up espscially since my mothers side is Samoan and he was another reason I grew up rooting for the bolts. But I thought he “graduated” from the chargers already.

"Crush your enemies, see them driven before you and hear the lamentation of their women." -The Barbarian

by traceSD on Aug 24, 2011 9:14 PM PDT via mobile reply actions