2010 ISC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies
"Here is the link to the video of today's HOF ceremonies."
http://www.fastpitchwest.com/morningbrief/?p=4522
Some Facebook pictures from today.
Thank you to Jim Flanagan for video taping the whole induction ceremony today.
This will go down as one of the best presented and best received induction ceremonies of all time.
In a word, it was "Outstanding". The ISC organizes these annual events and gets better at it each year, but the true enjoyment is in the words spoken by those individuals who are chosen to induct a friend or teammate, and of the inductee themselves. Today we heard from a number of people who spoke with passion about the game, the friend they were inducting and then we heard from the Class of 2010, each of whom spoke of the game,
their teammates and of the ISC and their work to keep the game alive and enjoyable.
To Neil Fennell, who inducted his good friend Mark Sorenson, Neil, you have set the standard higher with the most impressive speech I have heard to date at an ISC Hall of Fame Ceremony. You clearly chose your words carefully and delivered them in a very articulate manner with such passion you moved your entire audience.
To Mark Sorenson, thank for coming all the way from New Zealand with the majority of your family to be inducted into the ISC Hall of Fame. Thank you for sharing so many humourous and interesting stories of your playing days, that was truly enjoyable.
To Jack Fireman, for being Jack. Your induction speech for Darren Zack was truly memorable and humourous. Your speech, following Neil's delivered a solid one two punch to induct arguably the best two players in the world, yours to pitcher Darren Zack and Neil's to Mark.
To Darren Zack, you are one of a kind and the entire fastball world thanks you for what you do. Not only are you the best pitcher to ever play the game, but you are the nicest guy in the park, and every player in the room will attest to that. Thank you for bringing a great portion of our family with you from Garden River. Hopefully everyone will read John Thompson's new book launched today, "Z-Man" and see how intertwined your entire family has been in your career. Your speech today was moving and honoured your teammates and your family. It was nice to see so many of the Toronto Gators seated at your table today. I would like to thank you personally for inviting me to sit with your family and am truly honoured.
Neil Fennell quoted our good friend Roger May today in regards to the fact that this Hall of Fame is a watershed year. Never before have two such outstanding players from the same era been inducted at the same time.
While much of the attention above has been spent recounting my observations on the Mark Sorenson and Darren Zack inductions, I would like to add that the other inductions were also very moving. To hear John Becker speaking of all the great players he played with and coached was both moving and interesting. Your fellow inductees also shared personaly stories about their involvement in our sport that everyone in the room enjoyed.
Thank you to John Thompson for being the best HoF MC going.
This was a Hall of Fame to remember.
Al Doran
fastball@pmihrm.com
