Mailbag: No Allen Iverson, David Robinson in the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame?

Your recent report about the new inductees into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame, especially the inclusion of Grant Hill, inspired me to go to the Hall’s website to peruse some of their lists.

It had come as a bit of a surprise that Grant Hill hadn’t been inducted earlier, so I was curious to see who all was already in the basketball category.

I was stunned to find that neither Allen Iverson (who played his high school ball in Hampton) nor David Robinson (who played his high school ball in Manassas) had been inducted! Two of the greatest players to ever grace the hardwood, and both already enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame.

I contacted the Virginia Hall to express my shock, and they told me that you have to be a paying supporter to nominate potential inductees.

It’s incredible to me that no one has previously thought to nominate those guys.

I’ve often thought about the stunning talent Virginia has produced in basketball, especially big men. Moses Malone, Ralph Sampson, David Robinson and Alonzo Mourning (not to mention Mark West) would be unmatched by any other state, I would dare say. And if you add Grant Hill and Allen Iverson in the backcourt, and maybe toss in JJ Redick for distance shooting and a Charles Oakley for sheer toughness, I’m not sure any other state could match it. 

Thanks for the inspiration! I’m looking forward to checking out more of their categories, both for who is in, and who has been left out.

Eric Lawson, Roanoke 

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ICYMI

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I’m with Eric, this is … unfathomable.

I’m also with Eric in that, I’m not a paying supporter to the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame.

That excuse – that the likes of an Allen Iverson or David Robinson just hasn’t been nominated – is beyond the pale.

That’s akin to saying, Cal Ripken, Joe Montana, Bobby Hull, not in any of those respective Halls, because, you know, sorry, not nominated.

It would seem to make sense, if you’re running a Hall of Fame, that somebody would make sure that the obvious candidates are in your Hall of Fame.

I mean, seriously, I’m seeing names of people who played D3 ball, guys who got cups of coffee in the NFL, any number of sportswriters – you know who nominated them (ahem, fellow sportswriters).

At least this one has it right, and gave a spot to “Sweet” Lou Whitaker.

I don’t know that either Iverson or Robinson is torn up by the glaring omission, but I dunno, maybe.

If you’re a Virginia Sports Hall supporter reading this, fix it.