The NFL Network and The New York Times put the Pro Football Hall of Fame to shame in Junior Seau case; they put family first

I am tackling and throwing the Pro Football Hall of Fame On The Bench for not allowing Sydney Seau to speak on behalf of her father, Junior Seau.

Seau was suffering from excruciating pain from head trauma committed suicide, in May 2012. Prior to his suicide, Seau told his daughter, Sydney, to speak on his behalf if he made into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

However, citing a 5-year-old policy of not allowing people to speak on behalf of deceased inductees, the Hall would not allow Sydney Seau to fulfill her father’s wish by speaking on his behalf at his Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony.

Both the NFL Network and The New York Times gave Sydney what the Pro Football Hall of Fame did not. They stepped in and gave Sydney Seau the opportunity to give her speech on their respective platforms.

VIDEO Discussion: The 2015 Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Wrap-up

The 2015 Pro Football Hall 0f Fame Induction Ceremony was held last weekend and Sydney Seau representing her deceased father, Junior Seau, stole the show. Looking forward to next year, Tony Dungy, Brett Farve, and Terrell Owens are first-time eligible. Which one is getting in the first time out?

Geno Smith Gets Mixed Reviews from Media and Boos from the Fans

In this episode of What's The 411Sports, host Glenn Gilliam and correspondent Gregory Alcala are joined by Freedom Williams, a hip hop and dance music performer, who gained fame as the lead vocalist on C+C Music Factory's biggest hits.

Glenn, Greg and Freedom are chopping it over the following topics:

WHAT’S POPPIN’:

• Washington Nationals ace Stephen Strasburg returns to the lineup. Can the Nationals get back to first place in the division?

• New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith is getting mixed reviews from the media regarding training camp

• Sydney Seau, daughter of the late Junior Seau,  stole the show at the NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

• New York Liberty guard, Epiphanny Prince, drops a season high 30 points for the New York Liberty

• New Acquired New York Knicks shooting guard Aaron Affalo says Carmelo Anthony is very committed to the New York Knicks and is optimistic about the upcoming season.

• Brooklyn Nets General Manager Billy King announced the signing of guard Donald Sloan.

• What’s The 411Sports acknowledges the passing of NFL Hall of Famer and Monday Night Football broadcaster, Frank Gifford.

UNDER THE RADAR

• Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant believes his Lakers team will make the playoffs.

• Ohio State’s football team is starting the season with some challenges

ON THE BENCH:

• The NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame for its treatment of Sydney Seau
• Los Angeles Lakers’ Jordan Hill for reckless driving
• The San Francisco 49ers Aldon Smith is on the bench for DUI and vandalism charges. Smith is a free agent now that the 49ers cut him.

IN THE PIPELINE:

• The U.S. Tennis Association's Connecticut Open is august 21 -29 at the Connecticut Tennis Center at Yale University in New Haven Connecticut. If you haven’t gotten your tickets yet, you better get moving.

• The USTA's US OPEN (tennis) will be held on August 31 – September 13.

• The multi-sport All Africa Games will be held in Brazzaville in the Republic of the Congo on September 4 -19.