Welcome to the Mike Curtis HOF Campaign Blog!

6/23/2011

Welcome everyone. We will be using the blog to let everyone know about the latest news on the Hall of Fame campaign for Mike. Please post your comments and help us spread the word.

32 Comments

8/10/2011 01:14:11 am

I used to watch him in High school at Richard Montgomery in Rockville Maryland. He played both wats ( Fullback and MLB )He was unreal... later played slow pitch softball with him and Joe Don Looney.

Two scary guys.. Should be in the Hall of fame for sure.

Vicky link

8/10/2011 01:42:45 am

Thanks VJ for your blog. You can email Mike at mikecurtis@mikecurtisfootball.com . I didn't know he played slow pitch softball!

Eli

8/13/2011 03:02:22 pm

what a player. And a personality. And as a Duke guy, I suspect lots of brains. They don't make 'em like Mike Curtis anymore.

Vicky link

1/10/2012 06:47:45 am

Lots of brains - Acedemic All American at Duke!

Mike Avolio

12/1/2011 08:08:29 am

Mike remains to this day, my # 1 sports hero....he is as good as any MLB or OLb that ever played the game, so underated, it kills me he is still not in the HOF..
mike

Vicky link

1/10/2012 06:49:21 am

It kills his family and friends too - let's hope 2013 is his year!

Noah Cluster

1/1/2012 10:50:00 pm

Nitschke,Butkus,Curtis,Lanier,Lambert. All in HOF except Mike? Bill Bergey said that this is a travisty. Biil Curry team mate in Baltimore who played against all these guys said his easy day of the week was Sunday when he didnt have to play against Mike .Roman Gabriel had his head torn off by Mile when it was legal and considered a great play. He should have ben MVP in Superbow V not some loser from Dallas. He was my inspiration in high school to play football and his grit and determination has helped me through life. Next to Unitas he is my favorite player of all time. HOF NOW!

Vicky link

1/10/2012 06:51:37 am

Wow - he will be humbled to know his grit and determination has helped you through life - Thanks Noah.

Mike Kunkel

1/10/2012 05:53:14 am

Mike Curtis was awesome. I was fortunate to have been able to see him play in the second half of his career and he was always an inspiration and a model as to how I played football as well. Without question he is a HOF player. The guy was truly feared by opposing players and when I see linebackers getting voted into the hall that were not nearly as good, it amazes me. Its not just a shame, its a crime. I just can't understand why the HOF does not recognize this guy. He had three nicknames (The Animal, Mad Dog and Iron Mike) and terrorized the league throughout his career and played with a zest for the game not seen today. For as violent as he was, in my opinion his style of play was pure and as close to the true spirit of the game as it could possibly be. But, aside from his nicknames and nasty reputation and scary face, the guy made the plays year in and year out and had to be accounted for by every offensive coordinator. That is a HOF player. He and Butkus and Nitschke and Lambert and Lanier could probably not play in today's NFL.....all were way too tough!

Vicky link

1/10/2012 06:54:45 am

How right you are, game in game out, year in and year out - he was a true example of a HOF player!

Matt Mad Dog Sweeney

6/1/2015 05:08:48 am

You ain't kidding! These new generation of fans like to sat that OUR guys " couldn't play today...it's a different game....blah blah." I say, you're wrong, if OUR boys had the crosstraining regimens and supplements that today's guys get they would still be devastating and blow most talent away. Geez the quarterbacks of those days were as tough as today's average defensive guys. Matt

Mike Avolio

2/19/2012 06:01:55 am

I watch film of MLB'S , past and present. I am always at a loss for words to explain how Mike is not in the HOF and others far less accomplished are in. It is a joke. I'll say it again, Mike is as good or better than anyone who ever played MLB or OLB in the history of the NFL.

Mike G

5/14/2012 09:01:35 am

I have always idolized the tough guy middle linebaker mentality of the 60's and Mike Curtis was one of the greats!! Just looking at all of his accomplishments & the passion with which he played the game makes his induction into Canton a no brainer!!! Let's go guys, get it right!!!

George Rooke

10/19/2012 08:27:47 pm

#32 was my favorite defensive player ever. Without any doubt, Mike deserves HOF status.

Vicky link

10/19/2012 10:36:00 pm

Thanks George, we think so too!

We will be adding a new stats page to the website with defensive stats recorded from old play-by-plays, which are kept in the Hall of Fame archives and stats compiled by the current Indianapolis Colts' historian.

Rich M

5/18/2013 08:08:00 am

Mike Curtis is one of the greatest MLB's in NFL history and he belongs in the HOF.Mike was just as good as Butkus and Lambert.Get that bust of Mike into Canton where it belongs!!!

Vicky link

5/18/2013 09:36:22 am

Rich, let's hope 2014 is Mike's year!

Matt "Mad Dog" Sweeney

6/1/2015 04:49:41 am

My Brother Bart and I came of age playing Pop Warner Football with The Legendary Lynvets organization in Ozone Park, Queens, NYC. My Father, Bart III and his brother were standouts there in the late 40s and 50s. Both were All- City, playing with leather helmets and no face masks and basically Rugby, high-top Johnny U boots with nasty spikes. When was about 9, my father and brother gave me a book called "Greatest Linebackers of The NFL" I soon became obsessed with #32 as well as Butkus and Nitschke. But Mike was closer to my heart probably because of his slimmer build, like mine. I wasn't a moose like Butkus or Ray, but I could still be as ferocious and effective like Mad dog. One day soon after, my father urgently called me to the TV: it was footage of #32. Seeing was believing. A lighting bolt went thru my 9 yr old body! I set out to be just like Mr Curtis: I became the hardest working, hardest hitting and most ferocious kid on the field. When it came time to pick a jersey, guess what # I requested and got? 32. I told all my teamates why I picked #32! I carried this thru to H.S. I skipped freshman year because my pop died. We were devastated. I happened to go to a game at the high school toward the end of the season and that lightning bolt went thru me again: "..I'm PLAYIN next yr and I'm going to go at it like Mad Dog!" My Brother Bart was 7 yrs older and played College ball. I looked up to him tremendously! (Still do). I told him I wanted to play again....he was thrilled. He and my mom went out and got me a squat rack and new bench from Dan Lurie's (he actually sold us the equip. Famous bodybuilder from brooklyn). Bart cut out pictures of Mike Curtis, Butkus and Nitschke for my weight room taught me power lifting, made me protein shakes, and mom made sure my uniforms were clean and that I ate two huge plates of food at supper. Kiss at school thought I was on steroids!! Ha ha. When they would come over to pump Iron they saw why I was getting huge and knocking seniors around: I worked out like a mad dog...complete with alot of yelling (in the summer, we'd work out on the driveway...and yell!! The neighbors got a kick out of it!) I read everything I could on my football heroes. I was soon pumping Iron like crazy and eating like a horse. Not only did I make the team in sophomore year, but after the second game, I was starting outside linebacker on the Varsity! I growled and grunted, and created mayhem on the field. My older teammates actually starting calling me Mad Dog as I became a devastating and ferocious force over the next few years. I was a three year team captain and was All Conference at MLB and Guard...kicked off too! I had neither the size, speed or talent to doing anything big in college (bad grades too..ha ha) but like Mike I was FEARED and keyed on (heard this from opponents I met later in life...Made me feel good)..regularly double and Triple teamed. And that was good enough for me. Mike Curtis is part of who I am and it is great men like him that got me through the worst times in my life. I am grateful for his contribution to Pro football and to the Real Men out there who take life by the ears and knock the crap out of it! This man still inspires me , gives me chills. our shared familiar moniker, Mad Dog, follows me till this day in my plumbing and heating career where I am known as tenacious, fearless and the hardest hitting guy to put on the most difficult or dirty jobs. YouTube is great on the smartphones because I can quickly shut up these young guys with highlights of the BEST EVER, like ol' #32! There is no excuse for The Original Mad Dog to NOT be in Canton....YEARS ago....I suspect politics and the "wussifucation" of many men of today. Now, Im going to see what I can do to push this to the front....letters, calls, whatever it takes...God Bless you, Mad Dog! We love u man! (Don't hit me! Ha ha)
Matt Mad Dog Sweeney from NYC

Matt Mad Dog Sweeney

6/1/2015 05:26:07 am

Vicky: could you tell me what the web address is? Thank you so much matt

Vicky link

6/1/2015 06:57:05 am

Hi Matt,
Thanks for your post above - I have shared it with Mike who thinks it's pretty cool that he inspired you and helped you get through some of the worst times of your life. Not bad you were three year team captain and All Conference at MLB and Guard... you had to have done something right!! (don't worry Mike won't hit you haha).

What web site address do you want?

Matt Mad Dog Sweeney

6/4/2015 12:50:42 am

Thank you so much Vicky! Is there a specific website that advocates for his HOF candidacy? Also, is there a mailing address where We can write to The Original Mad Dog? Thank you. Matt

Vicky link

6/4/2015 01:29:53 am

You can voice your support for Mike to be considered for induction into the HOF on twitter @MikeCurtisHOFCm or FaceBook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mike-Curtis-NFL-Hall-of-Fame-Campaign/224042890730?fref=ts , or contact your local Football Writer or the Hall of Fame...

Since fans and Hall of Famers don't vote it is up to the Hall Of Fame Football Writers who are the voters - unless they collectively vote in favor of Mike, sadly, there isn't really anything his fans can do...

Perhaps voicing your support on twitter and/or FaceBook will be seen by those who vote.

So far Mike hasn't been on their radar...

You can write to Mike at mikecurtis@mikecurtisfootball.com .

vicky link

6/4/2015 01:36:08 am

Selection Rules for Senior candidates from the HOF:

"To assure that older players will be considered along with the younger breed, the Seniors Committee - made up of nine veteran members of the overall Selection Committee - have named one nominee from the pre-1989 era to be included on the final list."

These veteran members are veteran football writers.

Stevec

6/14/2015 03:30:06 pm

After all these years I feel like a kid when I think about watching the vintage Colt Defense in action, and Curtis, of course, was their most inspiring player. The only other Colt from that era who brings out the same feelings was Bert Jones, another forgotten giant.

The point is this: Ted Hendrix is in the HOF and also a member of the NFL All-Time Top 100. When Hendrix played beside Curtis he was the 2nd best linebacker on the field. Ask any Baltimore Colt fan who was watching from 1968 to 1972.

I'd like to get this comment to the Seniors Commette.

Vicky link

6/15/2015 02:02:32 am

Here is the Seniors Committee List from the Pro Football Hall of Fame website:

Chicago Dan Pompei, Bleacher Report*
Dallas Rick Gosselin, Dallas Morning News*
Houston John McClain, Houston Chronicle*
New England Ron Borges, Boston Herald*
St. Louis Bernie Miklasz, St. Louis Post-Dispatch*
At Large John Czarnecki, FOXSports.com*
At Large Ira Miller, The Sports Xchange*

Selection of Mike into the Hall of Fame is in the hands of the above 7 football reporters...

John Cox

12/31/2015 08:35:57 am

I get the impression the sportswriters do not approve his style of play. No worse than Nitschke or Butkus. I wonder if the '71 game against Miami where he decked a fan on the field entered their minds. I hope the sportswriters aren't blacklisting him from the hall for any reason. HOF candidates should not be in the hands of the media pundits. But, rather the player's peers should be the HOF "gatekeeper".

Vicky link

12/31/2015 10:06:11 am

One has to wonder... why?

Mark Thompson

3/16/2018 11:07:20 pm

Mike Curtis, the Pride of Rockville, Md. A local who played for the Richard Montgomery Rockets. I have 2 brothers a little older than Mike and a brother a little younger, all went to RMHS. I played football at rival Rockville HS Rams. I am 62. I remember Mike driving around town in his Cadillac El Dorado (or like model) with a huge rack of Longhorn Steer Horns on the front grill. I also remember a Sports Illustrated article that read that as a kid "he liked to ride his bike into brick walls and parked cars at full speed just for fun". I love Mike Curtis. Not many people that I'm prouder of. The best linebacker that is not in the Hall of Fame!! As a diehard Cowboys fan (in Redskins Country, now in TB Bucs Country), I will never forget his game saving interception of Craig Morton in SB V. I was madder than hell, but it was Mike Curtis and I got over it fairly quickly. Now when Morton threw the next INT, losing the game, I threw a pillow at the TV and just about sent it to the floor. If James Michael Curtis doesn't get in the Hall of Fame soon, I just might break something else.......And I'll never forgive Irsay for moving our Baltimore Colts in the dark of night and taking the Blue & White Horseshoe with it.....Mike Curtis IS the Baltimore Colts!! One of the Greatest Teams in NFL History!! Do the right thing and put #32 in The Hall with his famous teammates!!!!!

Vicky link

3/17/2018 06:04:51 am

Thanks for your support Mark. Please send the HOF an email endorsing Mike for membership into the Hall. Maybe 2019 will be Mike's year!!!

joe.horrigan@profootballhof.com

3/17/2018 05:03:01 am

I have an old black and white pic of Mike with Roman Gabriel in a headlock and Mike's feet completely in the air. It's one of my favorite memories of watching Mike and my B Colts. The rams and colt rivalry was huge back in the late 60's. I get slews of comments and questions about that pic - they all want to know who is that guy. And I'm still able to remember it like it was yesterday. It's a shame Mike is not in the HOF.

Vicky link

3/17/2018 06:09:02 am

That pic is a classic! If you would like Mike to sign it for you GR please email us at mike@mikecurtisfootball.com . Let the HOF know you want Mike inducted in 2019 by emailing joe.horrigan@profootballhof.com

Ashton W link

1/13/2021 03:28:12 pm

Good reeading your post

Welcome to the Mike Curtis HOF Campaign Blog!

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