O'Neil deserved election

Congratulations to Shreveport native Willard Brown for being inducted into the Hall of Fame through the special election for Negro Leagues players and executives.

Brown clearly was deserving in the minds of at least 9 of the 12 electors. However, one man who was left out stands above the rest -- Buck O'Neil.

At 94, O'Neil has done so much for the game of baseball that he clearly merits induction into the Hall. Maybe he shouldn't go in as a player but he has taken on possibly the biggest ambassador role of any living player who played.

O'Neil told me last week he would be in Cooperstown regardless of whether he was inducted. His omission is a glaring hole that hopefully will be filled in 2007. And hopefully, O'Neil will be in Cooperstown then to share his memories of how the game used to be and may be once again.