as jim nantz would say ...

Easter Sunday, April 11, 2004.

The roommate got to witness history live, as did our buddy Tim. I was stuck at family events ... until Mickelson reached the 9th, when I'd had all I could take.

I said my goodbyes, headed out the door, drove like a maniac to get home.

I walked in the door, fired up the TV, as Mickelson stood on the 12th tee, 3 back of Els with 7 to go (and Els had just eagled 13).

He just nailed the tee shot on 12, birdie result. Birdie 13. Birdie 14. A shocking par on 15. Then the shot of the tournament to that point, the first time I cried, when he drilled it on 16 to within 12 feet. And the glorious, magical words of Verne Lundquist on the putt for bird. "Mickelson ... Yes Sir! There You Have It! He's Tied with 2 to go!"

Par on 17, Tremendous tee shot on 18. Incredible approach on 18, that DeMarco's 3rd shot gave him a great read from.

As Jim Nantz famously called it ...

"Is it his time? ..."

I say that ... because the 25 Hall of Fame semi-finalists have been announced for the 2009 NFL Hall of Fame. Up to 5 of these guys will make it.

Here are the 25 semi-finalists, in alphabetical order, with primary team / team they'll go in with, before any semi-colon, and other teams they played for after it:

* Cris Carter, WR, Vikings; Eagles.
* Roger Craig, RB, 49ers; raiders, Vikings.
* terrell davis, RB, donkeys.
* Dermontti Dawson, C, Steelers.
* Richard Dent, DE, Bears; 49ers, Colts, Eagles.
* Chris Doleman, DE, Vikings; Falcons, 49ers.
* Kevin Greene, DE, Rams; Steelers, Panthers, 49ers.
* Russ Grimm, G, Redskins.
* ray guy, P, raiders.
* Charles Haley, DE, 49ers; Cowboys.
* lester hayes, CB, raiders.
* Cortez Kennedy, DE, Seahawks.
* Bob Kuechenberg, G, Dolphins.
* Randall McDaniel, G, Vikings; Bucs.
* Art Modell, owner, Browns; Ravens.
* John Randle, DT, Vikings; Seahawks.
* Andre Reed, WR, Bills; Redskins.
* shannon sharpe, TE, donkeys; Ravens.
* Bruce Smith, DE, Bills; Redskins.
* ken stabler, QB, raiders: Oilers, Saints.
* Paul Tagliabue, commish.
* Steve Tasker, ST, Bills; Oilers.
* Ralph Wilson, owner, Bills.
* rod woodson, CB, Steelers; Ravens, raiders, 49ers.

Oh, and

* Derrick Thomas, LB, Chiefs.

Realistically, I see three sure-fire, guaranteed to get elected HOFers in there. sharpe, who contrary to what us Tony G lovers think, is THE greatest tight end in league history. Bruce Smith, who dominated offensive tackles for a decade for some tremendous Bills teams. And Rod Woodson, who was as dominant of a defensive back as you'll ever find.

Figure those three easily cruise into the finalist round, and the HOF. That leaves 12 finalist slots (and 2 HOF slots) for my boy Derrick.

(The two Senior nominees are Bob Hayes and Claude Humphrey. They are voted on separately).

Here's my guess as to how it unfolds.

Finalists (15 total):

* Cris Carter
* Dermontti Dawson
* Chris Doleman
* Kevin Greene
* Russ Grimm
* Charles Haley
* Lester Hayes
* Bob Kuechenberg
* Art Modell
* ken stabler
* shannon sharpe
* Bruce Smith
* Derrick Thomas
* Ralph Wilson

HOF:

* Rod Woodson.
* shannon sharpe.
* Bruce Smith.
* Russ Grimm.
* Derrick Thomas.

I think Bob Gretz, whose speech every year in DT's honor gains another vote or three, will be so glorious, so incredible, that this year, he gets the 2-3 votes he was missing last year to put him over the top. I have to believe, after every damned thing has gone wrong on the field for the Red and Gold, that a tremendous honor for the player that defined my generation of Chiefs fans is going to go right.

"Is it his time ... YES!" -- Jim Nantz as Mickelson's 12 foot putt skirted the edge, then dropped in, to win his first major, 2004 Masters.

Hopefully this means we're planning a road trip for the first week in August to a little slice of heaven known as Canton.

Ohio, not Illinois. Good God, nobody will ever confuse Canton, Illinois with a "little slice of heaven" ...