Pro Football HOF Will Allow Seau's Daughter To Speak At Induction

Sydney Seau, the daughter of the late Junior Seau, will “be able to speak live during the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony after all.” The HOF “added some opportunities that will help” Sydney honor her father next Saturday in Canton, Ohio. She “will be given the chance to participate in an on-stage interview conducted after the unveiling of Seau's bust.” The HOF also invited Sydney and Seau's three sons “to unveil his bust on stage. Normally, the unveiling is only done by the presenter and enshrinee.” The change in policy comes after NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell called HOF President David Baker on Friday to “ask whether there was anything that could be done by the Hall” (FOXSPORTS.com, 8/1).

Detroit Free Press columnist Mitch Albom said, “This was all about the perception that they were silencing her. And that’s the way it came across. … I happen to think this seems to be a reasonable compromise" (“Sports Reporters,” ESPN, 8/2).