"If Bill Belichick was willing to play to type today, he would rise in Uppermost Dudgeon-it's a suburb of Foxborough-and say he doesn't want to be voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame at all, won't accept induction when it does come, and would attend the ceremony only for the privilege of telling everyone who worked to keep him out this time to eat a heaping bowl of death. Expert analysts call this "pulling a Schilling," but more on that in due time."
"Not because Belichick shouldn't be in the Hall Fame, mind you; even the most benign of explanations doesn't cover the full 20-plus percent of voters who skipped him on any principle. But his temporary (for the moment) exclusion makes him the latest example of what we now know halls of fame to be at their essence: places in which sports grandees honor their friends and hosepipe their enemies."
"The news that Belichick didn't get the required 40 votes (out of 50 electors) to gain inclusion came as quite the shock to many establishment football people, who should know that concepts like ethics and honor have nothing to do with football, or much of anything else these days. Baseball fans know this as the Bonds Effect, with one important caveat."
Bill Belichick failed to receive the 40 votes required for Pro Football Hall of Fame induction, surprising many football insiders. He is likely to accept eventual election grudgingly, possibly next year. Substantial voter opposition stemmed from his involvement in a cheating scandal and his abrasive, contemptuous persona, which produced numerous enemies despite on-field success. Halls of fame often operate as institutions that reward allies and punish adversaries, blending achievement assessment with interpersonal politics. Comparisons to the Bonds effect underline how perceived ethical breaches and personal conduct can delay or deny honors for dominant figures. The episode highlights character judgments alongside results in honorific recognition.
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