Former Niners owner Eddie DeBartolo worthy of spot in Canton - Jim Trotter - SI.com GET THE EA SPORTS PGA 14 PACKAGE | SUBSCRIBE TO SI | GIVE THE GIFT OF SI EXTRA MUSTARD SI WIRE FANNATION PHOTOS SWIMSUIT SWIM DAILY FANTASY MAGAZINE SI KIDS HIGH SCHOOL NFL COLLEGE FOOTBALL MLB NBA COLLEGE BB GOLF NHL RACING SOCCER MMA & BOXING TENNIS MORE VIDEO Posted: Tuesday January 31, 2012 1:01PM ; Updated: Wednesday February 1, 2012 11:32AM Jim Trotter > INSIDE THE NFL More Columns Email Jim Trotter Follow @si_jimtrotter Story Highlights DeBartolo's unique ownership style Ex-Niners owner Eddie DeBartolo Jr. could be first modern-era owner in Canton Niners were in playoffs 16 times and won 5 Super Bowls in DeBartolo's 23 years a worthy debate for Hall of Fame DeBartolo treated players like family, lavishing their families with gifts, flowers Tweet 42 0 Like Like Share More NFL 6 Latest NFL News Peter King: Guest MMQB: Steve Gleason on his life with ALS, mission for a cure Hard Knocks has a home: This year's team is ... 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Rams, Kevin Cary Estes: Kasey Kahne still chasing http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/jim_trotter/01/31/nfl.hall.of.fame.owner/index.html[6/17/2013 3:37:23 PM] Former Niners owner Eddie DeBartolo worthy of spot in Canton - Jim Trotter - SI.com LB/DE Steelers, '96, '98-99 Pa Greene consistency in NASCAR Power Rankings '97 49ers Michael Beller: Fantasy baseball Waiver Wire -- Charles 1986-1991, '99 49ers, Matt Joyce a source of Tampa Bay Rays' DE/LB Haley Cowboys resurgence Joe Lemire: Streaking Padres playing their best Cortez DT 1990-2000 Seahaw ball of the year despite injuries Kennedy SI Photos Curtis 1995-97 Patriots, 1998 RB Martin Jets 1983-1990 Giants, '93 Bill Coach Patriots, '97-99 Jets, 20 Parcells Cowboys Andre 1985-1999 Bills, 20 WR Reed Redskins 1993-2001 Saints, 200 Rare Photos of Top 10 NHL Willie Roaf T Chiefs Allen Iverson Goalie Masks (1967-82) Will G 1993-2006 Chiefs Shields Dick (1952-55 Lions, 1956 G Stanfel Redskins) Aeneas 1991-2000 Phoenix/A CB/S Williams Cardinals, '01-04 Ra Super Bowl XLVI Friday, Feb. 3 SI.com experts pick XLVI winner, MVP KING: Pats' Light faces tall task BANKS: Five reasons Patriots will win BURKE: Five reasons Giants will win KING: Last word on Super storylines HACK: The end of Pats' dynasty? 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SI Photos Giants, Pats S Super Bowl XLVI Week Appearances Classic Patriots Photos Classic Giants Ph Previous Coverage Select a story Sponsored Links http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/jim_trotter/01/31/nfl.hall.of.fame.owner/index.html[6/17/2013 3:37:23 PM] Former Niners owner Eddie DeBartolo worthy of spot in Canton - Jim Trotter - SI.com LifeLock® Official Site Protect your Identity with LifeLock Ultimate™ To LifeLock.com Get Our Lowest Intro APR And No Annual Fee With the Citi® ThankYou® Preferred Card. Start now! www.citicards.com/ThankYou Buy a li INDIANAPOLIS -- The Hall of Fame selection meeting takes place each year on the eve of the Super Bowl. More times than not the meeting produces greater intrigue and suspense than the game itself, because there are 15 modern-era finalists competing for a maximum of five open spots. What could make Saturday's session more interesting than previous years is that for the first time in at least two decades there are no shoo-in, first-year candidates. That means deserving finalists previously caught in a numbers logjam will have a better shot at breaking through. And yet the thing that could really make this year noteworthy is the candidacy of former San Francisco 49ers patriarch Eddie DeBartolo Jr., who is seeking to be the first modern-era owner inducted at Canton. The 12 owners currently in the Hall of Fame purchased their teams before the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, and their candidacies revolved around their contributions to the health and growth of the league in its formative years. DeBartolo oversaw one of sport's great dynasties as owner of the 49ers from 1977 to 2000. His nomination is important because it could provide insight as to how modern owners will be judged in the future. Currently there are no hard guidelines. The bylaws for the 44 voters state: "The only criteria for election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame are a nominee's achievements and contributions as a player, coach, or contributor in professional football in the United States of America." What that means depends on whom you're speaking with. "What I look for is a guy who; A) saved or transformed a franchise; or B) had a larger role within the league itself," says Boston Herald columnist Ron Borges, a longtime voter. "All the founders of the game are out the window now. If another owner is going to get in, clearly he would have had a successful team. But he also will have to show that he had a larger role in the further growth and development of the league." DeBartolo's team won like no others had. In his 23 years San Francisco qualified for 16 playoffs, won 13 division titles, reached 10 NFC Championship Games and won five Super Bowls. The http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/jim_trotter/01/31/nfl.hall.of.fame.owner/index.html[6/17/2013 3:37:23 PM] Former Niners owner Eddie DeBartolo worthy of spot in Canton - Jim Trotter - SI.com Niners' 16 consecutive seasons of double-digit wins -- including seven years of 13-3 or better -- is a league record, and the five Super Bowl wins are the most by an individual owner in league history. (The Steelers' six titles are spread over two generations of the Rooney family.) DeBartolo's first stroke of genius was hiring Bill Walsh from Stanford University; his second stroke was giving the silver-haired coach whatever he needed to win titles. DeBartolo was the Steinbrenner of the NFL, and operated under the mantra that he would pay his employees in gold, but he wanted diamonds (Super Bowl rings) in return. "He gave the players what they wanted," said former San Francisco defensive lineman Dwaine Board, "and they gave him what he needed." "He was the man that was going to provide you every resource that you needed to not only win, but win it all," said UCLA coach Jim Mora Jr., a San Francisco assistant from 1997 to 2003 who still receives letters from DeBartolo. "You really felt like he was invested in what you were doing and cared about it. He knew everyone's names, you wife's name, your kids' names. "I'll never forget coming off the field after we lost to the Packers in the NFC Championship and he was standing there in the locker room and he'd give you the towel as you came in. I just had this utter sense of disappointment because I felt like I let him down. This guy has invested so much -- money, yes -- but also his heart and soul. He cared. He cared about you as an individual. He cared about you as a team. He cared about your family. It was great." His commitment to championships was one reason he was beloved and admired by players on his own team and around the league. Chris Doleman, a defensive end who spent most of his career with the Vikings and is a finalist for the Hall of Fame this year, once approached DeBartolo on the field after Minnesota beat San Francisco in a playoff game and told him how much he respected him and hoped to play for the 49ers down the road, which he did from '96 to '98. Two weeks ago, on the eve of the NFC Championship Game, retired New York Giants defensive end Michael Strahan hugged DeBartolo, looked him in the eyes and told him how he always wanted to play for him.