Vinny DiTrani
Vinny DiTrani of the Bergen Record
E-mail: sports@northjersey.com
Vote: Unknown (5/10)
-=-=-=-=-=-
Bergen Record
December 22, 1996
Novacek Gamble May Help ‘Boys
Vinny DiTrani
RFK Stadium, where Gibbs enjoyed so much success, will host its
final game today. While it has become a somewhat dilapidated facility,
RFK nevertheless is one of the best places for watching a game in the
NFL. The fans are on top of the action, and the noise sometimes is as
great as any generated in a domed stadium.
To honor their longtime home (originally named DC Stadium but
changed to honor the late Robert F. Kennedy), the Redskins will have a
reunion of the greats who wore the burgundy uniform. Among those
expected to attend are Doug Williams, Sonny Jurgensen, John Riggins, Art
Monk, Gary Clark, Bobby Mitchell, Charley Taylor, Monte Coleman, and Jim
Lachey.
-=-=-=-=-=-
Bergen Record
December 13, 1997
Showdown in the Meadowlands; Giants-Redskins Could Be Another Classic
Vinny DiTrani
Maybe the weather won’t be as brutal as it was, say, for the 1986
NFC championship game. And maybe the teams aren’t as talented as they
were when Bill Parcells and Joe Gibbs coached them during that
remarkable period. But for two teams that have missed the playoff
excitement in recent years, this game will mean as much as any of the
previous battles meant to Lawrence Taylor or Phil Simms or Dexter Manley
or Art Monk.
-=-=-=-=-=-
Boston Herald
February 3, 2002
Not-ready-for-shrine time - Coach doesn’t fit Bill, yet
Kevin Mannix
Vinny DiTrani of the Bergen (N.J.) Record is a member of the Hall of Fame Board of Selectors and a close friend of Parcells. He made the nomination comments for Parcells both yesterday and last year.
“He got to the final six this year because a lot more people realize that he is going to coach any more,” said DiTrani who believes Parcells will be enshrined next year. “I said last year that I wasn’t sure he wouldn’t coach again but (yesterday) I said I was positive that he’s out of coaching. I don’t think he wants to go through the midweek preparation anymore. He doesn’t like the Wednesday, Thursday and Friday part of coaching.”
DiTrani, who used the term “unequivocal” to describe Parcells’ decision to remain out of coaching.
“To me the most surprising part of the process is that there was no negative stuff about him,” Zimmerman said. “The people who are against him held their tongues about their feelings. The comments in the room were all actually positive about him.”
After the initial voting, Oakland punter Ray Guy, Browns-Ravens owner Art Modell and Steeler defensive back Donnie Shell were eliminated. When the field went from 11 to six, Giants linebacker Harry Carson, Steelers defensive lineman L.C. Greenwood, Raiders defensive back Lester Hayes, Bills-Packers wide receiver James Lofton and Redskins receiver Art Monk were all eliminated.
-=-=-=-=-=-
Bergen Record
January 5, 2006
Panthers receiver ‘the Man’
Vinny DiTrani
The 5-foot-9, 185-pound Smith is Carolina’s one-man-show answer to the Giants’ Tiki Barber. He became the NFL’s first receiving “triple crown” winner since Green Bay’s Sterling Sharpe in 1992 by leading in receptions with 103, yards with 1,563 and touchdowns with 12. He had nearly as many catches as the next four Panthers receivers combined (107). He became the first player since Washington’s Art Monk in 1984 to lead the league in receptions playing for a team that ran the ball more than passed it.
solid!!! http://www.benson.bmaryland.com
Comment by america — July 2, 2006 @ 8:02 am
vote for monk
Comment by cdawg — October 26, 2006 @ 1:38 pm
81 Reasons to Induct Art Monk
1) 12,721 Receiving Yards (#9 all time, eight years after retirement)
2) 940 Receptions ( was #1, is now #5 eight years after retiring)
3) 68 Receiving Touchdowns (still in top 30, all time)
4) 224 Games played
5) Caught at least one pass in 183 consecutive games (once a record)
6) Helped Washington to three SB victories in four appearances.
7) Three consecutive Pro Bowl Selections
8) “Art was Jerry Rice before Jerry Rice was” – Joe Theismann
9) Record of 106 receptions in 1984 stood for eight years.
10) “Quiet about his work, very loud with his results” - Mark Rypien
11) First to record 106 receptions in one season
12) First to catch at least one pass in 164 consecutive games
13) First to catch more than 900 passes.
14) Caught 58 passes as a rookie, unanimous All-Rookie Selection
15) Redskins 1984 MVP
16) 50 or more reception in a season 9 times
17) 1,000 or more yards receiving in a season 5 times
18) Master of the medium route over the middle, aka “No Man’s Land”
19) First Redskin to produce 3 consecutive 1,000-yard seasons
20) Prototype for the modern receiver
21) 3-time 1st or 2nd team All-NFC Team selection
22) In ‘85, named to the Pro Football Weekly All-Pro Team
23) In ‘85, named to the Associated Press All-Pro Team
24) In ‘85, named to the UPI All-NFL Team
25) In ‘86, named to the UPI All-NFC Team
26) Founded the Good Samaritan Foundation, with teammates.
27) 1, 062 Playoff yards
28) Largent, Lofton and Stallworth are already in.
29) The consummate pro; made the big catch, went back to the huddle.
30) Not a “Hot Dog”; let his play on the field do all the talking.
31) Nicknamed “Money” by teammates, “Artist” by the fans
32) Founded the Student Training Opportunity Program, with teammates
33) Started the Art Monk Football Camp” in 1983, and it’s still going.
34) 16-year career, 0 arrests.
35) Named to TSN’s “100 Greatest Football Players” list
36) Never once disappointed the team or the fans, on the field or off.
37) A first round draft pick that played like a first round draft pick.
38) Has more career catches than anyone currently in the Hall.
39) Putting loud jerks in over Monk sends the wrong message to kids.
40) Art does not lobby to get himself inducted
41) First down machine on 3rd and long
42) Still holds the club record for catches in a season (106)
43) Still holds the club record for passes caught in a game (13, twice)
44) Honored as one of the “Washingtonians of the Year” in 1992
45) Focuses on the forgotten “high school aged” youth in DC.
46) “I don’t know about the criteria, but whatever it is, I believe Art has achieved it” –Joe Theismann
47) “He was big, he was strong, and he was intelligent. He had everything”-Joe Gibbs, HOF inductee
48) “Art Monk was an example for Jerry Rice. That’s what Jerry always told me.”- Ronnie Lott, HOF inductee
49) “There’s nothing negative to say. He has the numbers, the catches, the championships.” –Lott
50) “Spend a day with Art Monk, and your life will improve by 10%”- Theismann
51) “You have a Hall of Fame for all it represents. I know he represents all that it’s about. Integrity, love and passion for the game, community, what he gave back. Look how he conducted himself. Nobody I know deserves it more.” –Lott
52) If he doesn’t get in, they might as well close the Hall.
53) “There was never a classier player in this franchise’s history, or in league history, than Art Monk. You always knew the team would be getting Art Monk’s best effort day in and day out.” –Charlie Casserly
54) “Monk is headed to Canton downhill on roller skates”- Bill Parcells, 1995
55) Only one other player, linebacker Monte Coleman, has been on the field for the Redskins more than Monk.
56) Art Monk is almost as proud of his relative anonymity as he is the record-setting numbers he compiled over a 16-year NFL career.
57) When Monk spoke, it was usually with tough catches in the clutch moments of big games.
58) Nothing came naturally for Monk, who spent countless hours on the practice field and many more behind the projector.
59) I never saw Monk drop a pass. Period.
60) Monk’s 40-yard catch with eight minutes left in the first quarter of SBXXII was Doug Williams’ first completion of what would be a record setting game.
61) Named in a 1992 poll during the team’s 50th Anniversary Season as the most popular Redskin of all time.
62) Participates in a “Kid’s Fishing Day” for underprivileged kids
63) Has performed with the National Symphony Orchestra, reciting children’s fairy tales with musical accompaniment.
64) “He’s more than just his receptions. Few players have been able to achieve what he’s achieved.” –Richie Petitbon
65) “He is a gifted athlete who takes great care of himself. He’s a guy who works at his craft, and responds to any challenge. However, he does it so quietly that his accomplishments are sometimes overlooked.”- Joe Gibbs
66) Selected to the 1989 All-Madden Team
67) Early in his career, Art arranged and scheduled charity basketball games for the Redskins.
68) “I can’t see how a receiver could be more valuable to a team.” –Gibbs
69) Fame is often hard earned. Character is often elusive to define. A man of great character himself, Art Monk encompasses what it means to be a candidate for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
70) Monk wasn’t a “SportsCenter” type of receiver — more like a “Masterpiece Theatre” type.
71) You wouldn’t see Monk pull out a Sharpie to sign a ball after scoring a touchdown.
72) “He embodied the old school, and for that alone he should be enshrined so that when a father takes his son through the Hall of Fame, he can say, “Son, here is a man who once caught 106 passes in a season when no one was catching 100 passes. Here was a man who caught a pass in 183 straight games. And not once did he ever pull a cell phone out to make a call after any of those catches.” –Thomas Loverro, Washington Times
73) Football is a game of first downs and Monk was the receiver who would move the chains.
74) He has since been passed in this pass-crazy era, but in the context of when he played, Art Monk was a Hall of Fame receiver.
75) He did this while never playing with a Hall of Fame-caliber quarterback.
76) Critics will say Monk benefited from playing in Joe Gibbs’ system. What might be the case is that the Gibbs system benefited from having Monk.
77) “I believe he’s a Hall of Famer. I was a pro scout when he was playing, so it was my job to know who those guys were. I would put Art in that category, but apparently there are a lot of Hall of Fame voters who don’t feel Art Monk was in that category. It’s hard for me to believe they ever saw him play.” –Bill Polian, President Indianapolis Colts
78) He was the anti-Terrell Owens.
79) He was the standard-bearer, the mold-maker and the receiver every team of his era wished they’d had.
80) He’s already a Hall Of Famer off the field.
81) It’s time.
Comment by Mark Barnette — January 10, 2007 @ 10:50 pm