The growth he envisioned led to the expansion of the Hall of Fame, spread to downtown Canton and will continue to have a tremendous impact on the future of the Hall for decades to come. * Selected to Pro Bowl, + First-Team AP All-Pro, Bold indicates league leader. And as construction continues for the foreseeable future, folks still make the pilgrimage to 2121 George Halas Drive to check off the greatest stop on the football bucket list. Could the Green Bay Packers scoop up playmaking tight end Dalton Kincaid in Round 1 and rock-solid cover man Brian Branch in Round 2? [7], On November 8th, 1996, Baker became the fourth commissioner of the Arena Football League. When Baker is approached for a handshake, the hand that isn't his is guaranteed to disappear within his massive paw. Carl David Baker (born February 16, 1953) is the former President and CEO of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. He's a 1982 graduate of Georgetown (KY) College. One of David Bakers roles as the President of the Pro Football Hall of Fame is getting to inform NFL players that they have been selected. The Hall announced Baker's decision in a press release Saturday afternoon. Jim Porter, the Hall of Fame's chief marketing and communications officer since April 2020, has been named the president of the Hall of Fame. "Really, it's just very remarkable the way his mind works. You think this guy had bad emails? He received an email request from a search firm to apply for the opening and respectfully declined, but not before forwarding it to Colleen. With no intercollegiate program, no scholarships and no budget, Coach Baker set out with a vision that SNU could become one of America's finest small college athletic programs. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. It wasn't long after his arrival that Baker and others began discussing creating Hall of Fame Village, a development similar to the project in Nevada. Why would he stay involved with ceremonies if he was being pushed out !! Hell be in Pittsburgh tomorrow night, for example. Born: It starts with David Baker, the president and CEO of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, standing in front of a hotel door, the top of the 6-foot-9, 400-pounder's head even with the top of the. Picture 1 of 3. I hope its not health related and I pray its not an email thing. for NFL news and in-depth analysis concerning the 2020 season and beyond. Baker was forced to cancel the game, but he didn't have a public address announcer handle the delivery of the bad news. University of Kentucky Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart held a virtual meeting Thursday morning to discuss the schools plans for fall sports. That's not because I'm married to him and he's my husband. But it does not herald bad news. Baker, a power forward at Cal-Irvine. David Baker announced Saturday that he is stepping down as president and executive director, a role he occupied since 2014. In the first three years that David Baker was leading the Hall of Fame, their net assets grew by 161 percent. After stomping, Draymond Green was ejected from Monday nights Game 2 of the Sacramento Kings-Golden State Warriors Western Conference first-round playoff series for committing a dirty play. In January of 2017, Dave was named co-anchor of Good Morning Acadiana. After leaving the AFL, Baker served as the managing partner for Union Village. We are grateful for Davids many contributions and extend our utmost thanks and best wishes to Colleen and him.. Big Ten presidents are ready to pull the plug on their fall sports season. Baker is quick to explain that his purpose is greater than any he's had in his life. Work also began on foundations of a new hotel. Cynthia Frelund identifies pro comparisons and team fits for the top five quarterback prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft class. Malik Monk was driving to the basket in the fourth quarter for Sacramento and missed, Joel Embiid took a jab at the Brooklyn Nets after his Philadelphia 76ers 96-84 win in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series on Monday night. Im blessed to be at a place where were not just 'broadcasters' but were encouraged to be involved in our communities as well, Baker said. Dr. Roy Cantrell, president of Southern Nazarene University, called, asking for a meeting to discuss with David the possibility of coming to SNU to begin intercollegiate athletics and be a professor of physical education. The 2.05m, 180kg Baker is a former European pro basketball player who has run the Hall of Fame and personally informed inductees about their gold-jacket selections with knocks on their hotel . Baker, 68, has served in leadership since 2014 and headed several special projects . That is a matter they need to fix. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. We are grateful for David's many contributions and extend our utmost thanks and best wishes to Colleen and him.''. However, after two seasons in Europe, Baker attended Pepperdine University School of Law. This article originally appeared on The Repository: David Baker retiring from Pro Football Hall of Fame, David Baker instrumental in creating Hall of Fame Village project, Former Canton Repository Publisher Jim Porter named President of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Centennial Class of 2020 and Class of 2021, David Baker retiring from Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fames Board of Trustees will continue to discuss the Halls management structure, including a determination of who will deliver the news to those elected in future enshrinement classes and who will serve as host of the annual enshrinement events each summer in Canton. He went with 18 members of the Hall of Fame and Patriots owner Robert Kraft to Israel, the second trip of its kind. Hopkins seems willing to play for Chiefs, Bills, Bills biggest needs entering the 2023 NFL Draft, Factors that make Cook a dangerous proposition, Dolphins biggest needs entering 2023 NFL Draft, Assessing how close Jets were to signing Beckham, David Baker retires as president of Hall of Fame, YouTube rolls out Sunday Ticket, for full-season price as low as $249, Report: Packers are still holding out for a 2024 first-round pick for Aaron Rodgers, Jalen Hurts agrees to five-year, $255 million extension with Eagles, Mac Jones: Patriots offense is excited to work with Bill OBrien, DeAndre Hopkins indicates willingness to play for Chiefs or Bills, not Jets or Patriots, Logan Mankins, Bill Parcells, Mike Vrabel are finalists for Patriots Hall of Fame, Report: Daniel Snyder reaches agreement in principle to sell Commanders to Josh Harris, Bailey Zappe ready to compete for starting job if my opportunity presents itself, Eagles, Jalen Hurts show everyone else how its done. Baker -- once called the "New Tower of Power" by Sports Business Journal -- lumbers down a hotel hallway in Houston on a Saturday in February with a message and camera crew in tow. That was the message from guest speaker David Baker to attendees at the Good Friday Prayer Breakfast, hosted by the Greensburg Christian Business Men's Connection on April 7 at Stratigos Banquet Center in North Huntingdon. With Jones' family celebrating in Baker's hotel room in February, the jovial Baker quipped, "I really just came back because I had forgotten my billfold.". [5] He was a power forward at UC Irvine from 1971-75 where he established the school record for career rebounds (926) that stood for 44 years until broken by Jonathan Galloway in 2019. In 1970, a goal was set to achieve a national title within a decade (it actually occurred in a decade plus one, 1981, in men's basketball under Head Coach Dr. Loren Gresham). It's cable reimagined No DVR space limits. Baker says the other owners "had such a distrust of each other, that they'd rather take a chance on the new guy than trust one of them.". "I wouldn't want to go through and hurt anybody, but I also would say that I probably wouldn't go back and change it for what I learned," Baker says. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. He played seven seasons with the Falcons, until knee issues (including a torn patellar tendon) forced his retirement in 2015. Since 1982, Dave Baker has been a sports anchor, reporter and account executive at WKYT. Dave Baker (1978-83) In 1978, K-State Athletics Director DeLoss Dodds called Baker back home to coach the Wildcats. Wherever [Baker] is, Ive seen him in whatever environment, hes over there 7,000, 10,000 miles away, inviting people to come to theHall of Fame and making it sound darn exciting.. Copyright 2019-2023. "Accordingly, effective immediately, I am removing myself from all day-to-day operational responsibilities so my wife, Colleen, and I can begin our move home, but I'll still be available for ceremonial duties over the coming weeks ahead.". Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium & Entertainment Complex; Player Care Center that includes Legends Landing Senior Living Community; State of the Art National Football & Youth Sports Complex; The Center for EXCELLENCE (Coaches University, an Academy of Corporate Excellence, the Institute for Officiating, and the Center for Athletic Performance and Safety); Performance Center with an indoor 100-yard field and convention space; Main Street Hall of Fame (restaurants and support retail that will feature the Worlds Greatest Sports Bar); Hall of Fame Experience (high-tech virtual reality attraction plus a football-themed indoor water park). [19], [Grand Scam in Mexico, in the shadow of The NFL Hall of Fame], Pro Football Hall of Fame ceo Monte Clark, an All-Pro tackle with the Cleveland Browns and later an NFL head coach, spoke to the 1965-66 SNU basketball team and stated, In my fifteen-year NFL pro career, David Baker was the hardest hitting and best defensive back I have seen in the NFL.. His suit size is a 64. While commissioner of the AFL, Baker established a relationship with then-NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue. The Shanghai Sharks were disqualified from the playoffs in the Chinese Basketball Association after being suspected, Draymond Green was ejected from Game 2 of the Western Conference first-round playoff series between his Golden State Warriors and the Sacramento Kings for his move on Domantas Sabonis, and he seemed to relish being the bad guy. It seems as though he's only gotten better at it over time, bringing what Patriots owner Robert Kraft calls "a certain excitement and sizzle." NFL+ gives you the freedom to watch LIVE out-of-market preseason games, LIVE local and primetime regular season and postseason games on your phone or tablet, the best NFL programming on-demand, and MORE! [7] He left his political career in 1988 after being convicted of forgery in California for attempting to embezzle $48,000 in campaign funds. He helped make the words Canton and excellence synonymous,'' said Dennis Nash, chairman of the Hall of Fame's board of trustees. Oklahoma You must be logged in to leave a comment. He stopped payment on the check soon after, pleaded guilty to the charge of forging the check and was later sentenced to community service. Few things in sports give me the chills more than watching Baker knock on someones hotel room door to let them know they made the HOF. Prior to the NFL Honors awards show, Baker goes around to each player who goes into the award and knocks on their door. According to the release, Baker has turned over day-to-day . Now delivering your news Monday through Friday at 4:30am, he joins KATC's Katie Lopez at the desk. But Baker says conflicts of interest arose as Baker's son, Sam, was drafted by the Falcons, a team owned by Arthur Blank, who also owned an AFL team. '" Colleen Baker says. Baker is the former president and CEO of the Pro Football . Porter joined the Hall of Fame after 33 years in daily print journalism. Jeffri Chadiha identifies five major takeaways from Hurts' megadeal in this edition of The First Read. It's like (long-time college football coach) Lou Holtz, where he was always the underdog, everyone's better and he's just . "Wherever Baker] is, I've seen him in whatever environment, he's over there 7,000, 10,000 miles away, inviting people to come to the [Hall of Fame and making it sound darn exciting," Kraft says. He spent 12 years as commissioner of the Arena Football League. During Coach Baker's tenure (19641974) a long list of significant accomplishment occurred: the first two men's basketball seasons had winning marks (men's basketball was the only intercollegiate sport for four years); the Benchwarmer Club was formed in 1968; the first scholarships awarded in 1969; the Redskin Revolution to change the course of sportsmanship in society occurred (a new method of introducing players was introduced, which later was adopted by high school, college and pro teams across America); sports were added to include women's basketball, baseball, women's volleyball, men's and women's tennis. Colleen says that Alex Molinaroli, president and CEO of Johnson Controls, "stopped him and he said, 'Listen, you don't need to tell me anything. Bakers physical stature is what many know him for, but those close to him know him for the size of his vision in projects. "I got a million texts from different players that all said 'Hey, he did the right thing. Dave Baker weighed 192 lbs (87 kg) when playing. Dave Baker played 38 games over his career. Players played both ways at the time, Baker playing defensive back, quarterback and running back. [1], David Baker grew up in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, earning All-State honors in football, basketball and baseball. '" Baker recalls. Baker said in the announcement that he will "return to his home, family and business projects in California and Nevada." The retirement is effective immediately. Baker oversaw massive growth for the league, including television deals with NBC and, later, ESPN (which involved a Monday night slot), the sale of a team for nearly $20 million and even production of a league-licensed video game. The arrival of playoff time in the NFL is also synonymous with the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Colleen did Baker the courtesy of being cordial over the phone -- and, to her surprise, she talked with him for nearly an hour. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. He also was commended for his efforts to increase the amount of national programming the Hall offers and to improve the nonprofits financial situation. To Baker, his youngest son is "Sammy," his wife is "sweetheart" and the Pro Football Hall of Fame is "the most inspiring place on earth.". At WKYT, Dave brings the sports to viewers at noon and 6:30 and of course whenever theres news involving the Cats. David Baker, who has served as president and executive director of the Pro Football Hall of Fame since January 2014, announced on Saturday that he is retiring from the Hall to return to his. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The video shows tears flowing and the people inside embracing as Baker informs Jones of his impending enshrinement into football's most hallowed club. Jim Porter as president along with the next executive director of the Hall step into an organization with a unique place in the game of football and a strong national reputation.. Plans called for the Hall of Fame Village project to be completed in time for the NFL's centennial season in 2020, but the project hit snags. Georgia Southern University. His suit size is a 64. "We are very fortunate to have such a successful and experienced entrepreneur and executive like Dave Baker join the Hall of Fame team," said Tom Schervish, Chairman of the Board of . For more information. NFL+ gives you the freedom to watch LIVE out-of-market preseason games, LIVE local and primetime regular season and postseason games on your phone or tablet, the best NFL programming on-demand, and MORE! Baker was once a city councilman and later became mayor of Irvine, California, to which he still proudly refers to as one of America's first master-plan cities. Click to enlarge . Also, continue to visit. It cost Baker not only his job, but also his marriage of 13 years. That's because of who he is, how his mind puts together a project or mission. The growth he envisioned led to the expansion of the Hall of Fame, spread to downtown Canton and will continue to have a tremendous impact on the future of the Hall for decades to come. Hes pure class. I work with a truck driver who is 71 years old who should retire. Before coming to Canton, Baker served as commissioner of the Arena Football League, and been a partner in the Union Village, a $1.6 billion health care development in Henderson, Nevada. Hes also the host of the Sports Buzz podcast where he talks about more than sports and he and Brian Milam host The Sports Buzz Podcast on the WKYT Facebook page. Dave appears on air throughout WKYTs line-up of news, sports and special events programming in addition to hosting a variety of University of Kentucky and SEC televised events including UK/JMI telecasts & broadcasts of University of Kentucky sports and hes the long-time host of the UK Sports Networks Countdown to Tip-Off Show on the schools statewide radio network. How tall was Dave Baker? He needs to retire and enjoy life. Or write about sports? Not a member? "Few people combine vision, passion and dedication as completely as David Baker," NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. And which team snags Micah Parsons? Find out more. [1] David Baker grew up in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, earning All-State honors in football, basketball and baseball. What is it about C.J. Good luck Mr Baker. The Hall announced that Jim Porter, who's served as its chief marketing and communications officer since April of 2020, has been named the new president. David Baker, the President & Executive Director of the Pro Football Hall of Fame since January 2014, is retiring from the Hall to return to his home, family and business projects in California and Nevada. No cable. "He said, 'I'll be the only linebacker to walk in the room,' and I thought, 'What does that mean? Hey, good job. In 2018, the Pro Football Hall of Fame was voted the Best Attraction for Sports Fans in the USA Today 10 Best Readers Choice contest. The sports betting contests helped fill a void that's been missing since COVID-19 shut down major live . Best known for "the knock", who is NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame President David Baker, and what does he do in his current role? I work in construction though, so 70s arent very realistic for my job. Statesboro, Georgia, United States. 1956 Oklahoma Sooners footballconsensus national champions, San Francisco 49ers first-round draft picks, Learn how and when to remove this template message, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dave_Baker_(American_football)&oldid=1142945865, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles needing additional references from February 2014, All articles needing additional references, Pages using infobox Canadian Football League biography with unknown parameters, Pages using infobox Canadian Football League biography with DatabaseFootball parameter, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Most passes intercepted in a single game: 4 (tied), This page was last edited on 5 March 2023, at 04:00. $2.25 + $1.00 shipping. While his role is a year-round job, the majority of his notoriety comes with the knock.. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. Be sure to follow us on Twitter (@PFN365)to stay up to date with all things around the NFL. He started in the league as the owner of the Anaheim Piranhas, which he left after a single season of owning the team to become league commissioner. In 2019, he won the World Poker Tour's LA Poker Classic for $1 million.He also added his second World Series of Poker bracelet that year and has $6 million in live tournament winnings.. Daniel Jeremiah and Bucky Brooks are back with a new episode of Move the Sticks. September4,2002 The full statement from the Hall of Fame, which now will have new leadership pic.twitter.com/DNthbLOEB0, Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 16, 2021, Though the move is effective immediately, Baker says he will still continue to be available for ceremonial duties over the coming weeks ahead.. The Hall of Fame has greatly expanded programming across the country, seen increased television ratings, and received broader exposure of their mission. 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