Shares

Some can say it’s “long overdue” while many others can say it’s “right on time,” because however you feel, it is time to give a huge congratulatory shout out to several Houston natives who have been inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame.

First up, Texas Southern University and Westbury High School alumn Michael Strahan.

As posted on the HOF website, without a doubt, Strahan was one of the most feared defensive players in NFL history. After attending TSU, he was drafted 40th overall by the New York Giants, where he spent his entire 15-year professional career.

Strahan is a seven-time Pro Bowler and led the NFL in sacks for two seasons (2001, 2003). In 2001, he set the single-season sack record with a staggering 22.5 sacks and won NFL Defensive Player of the Year. In his final game as an NFL player, Strahan helped lead the Giants to a Super Bowl victory (2008) against the undefeated New England Patriots. He finished his career with 141.5 sacks, sixth all-time in NFL history. He is also a member of the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 2000s and Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2014.

“I’m not foolish enough to believe that without having the football career that I had, that I would have the life that I have now,” Strahan said during his acceptance speech. “Sports has been the most valuable thing outside of family that I’ve had, and I’m so grateful for the great sport of football.”

Strahan and his signature smile now light up the hearts of people across the country almost every day as he is a host on Good Morning America. It doesn’t seem as if there is anything this man can’t do.

Click here to read more about the other inductees.

Cynthia Potter – Diving

Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Cynthia Potter competed in the sport of diving for a record of 20 years. After graduating from Lamar High School, she attend the University of Indiana where she was given the opportunity to train with the male divers to prepare for the international stage. She earned her spot on three Olympic teams (1972, ‘76 & ‘80) and won a bronze medal in 1976. Potter won a total of 28 swimming titles, a record that still stands today, and was voted Diver of the Year three times. As her competitive career ended, she went on to coach at several universities and became an analyst for NBC Sports’ Olympic coverage since the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona.

Carlette Guidry – Track & Field

Carlette Guidry-White, a Houston native, attended the University of Texas from 1988-1991. She accomplished many accolades that to this day would be difficult to rival. During her time at UT, she became a 23-time All American, 12-time NCAA National Champion, 17-time SWC Champion and established four school records: 55m – 6.66 (1990); 60m – 7.14 (1991); 100m – 10.94 (1991); Sprint Medley Relay – 3:41.96 (1988). Her accomplishments landed her a spot on the SWC All-Decade Team, SWC Athlete of the Decade, the Babe Zaharias Award and Honda-Broderick Award honors After her collegiate career, she went on to become a gold medalist at the 1992 & 1996 Olympic Games as a member of Team USA’s 400-meter relay team.

Other inductees include two-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger winner, Jose “Cheo” Cruz, formerly of the Houston Astros; Houston Oilers’ Robert Brazile; Minnesota Vikings famed running back Adrian Peterson; Baylor Men’s Basketball Coach Scott Drew; and Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs player Priest Holmes.