Sports
Second Hall of Fame voter explains choosing Robert Kraft over Bill Belichick
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Another Pro Football Hall of Fame voter who didn’t check off Bill Belichick’s name for the Class of 2026 has come forward explaining his choice.
He chose New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft over Belichick, too.
FOX59/CBS4 Sports reporter Mike Chappell, who covered the Indianapolis Colts for over 40 years, was the second voter to come forward explaining his decision on why he didn’t vote for Belichick in a column posted this week.
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New England Patriots former head coach Bill Belichick addressed the media at Gillette Stadium about his departure. (John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
Kansas City Star’s Vahe Gregorian was the first to do so, also penning a column.
Like Gregorian, Chappell noted that being forced to choose up to three names from the five-man group with Belichick, Kraft and three senior members made it hard. Chappell chose two of the senior candidates, believing it was their final chance of making it into the hallowed halls of Canton.
Thus, Kraft and Belichick were left. He chose the former.
“As one of 50 selectors, I voted FOR Robert Kraft, the long-time and accomplished New England Patriots owner,” Chappell wrote in his column. “I did not vote AGAINST Bill Belichick, the long-time and accomplished head coach of that dynasty. I realize that’s a difference without a distinction, but I’m comfortable with my decision.”
Chappell went on to explain why he believed Kraft was deserving of this year’s class over Belichick.
“Kraft’s role in building the Patriots’ dynasty beginning in 1994 AND his undeniable role in helping negotiate the end of the 100-play-day work stoppage in 2011 — while his wife was gravely ill — that has resulted in long-standing labor peace,” Chappell wrote. “He’s also been involved behind the scenes in bolstering the NFL’s ever-increasing TV revenue.”
It was reported that Belichick being involved with the Patriots during the infamous Spygate and Deflategate scandals impacted him not being a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
For Chappell, Spygate was involved in his decision.

Then-New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick during the second half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023, in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File)
“There’s no erasing the stain of Spygate from his bio,” he wrote. “This wasn’t alleged behavior. The NFL fined Belichick $500,000 — the maximum allowed — along with docking the Patriots $250,000 and a first-round draft pick for illegally videotaping New York Jets signals in 2007.”
Chappell believes Belichick will be a Hall of Famer, but he was left with a tough choice in his eyes.
“This year’s decision in no way insinuates Belichick isn’t Hall of Fame-worthy,” Chappell wrote. “Of course he is. I believe he makes it next year. Will that mean his gold jacket isn’t as bold had he been selected in his first year of eligibility? Of course not.”
To Chappell’s last point, others have commented otherwise, saying the integrity of the Hall of Fame has diminished because Belichick, who owns the second-most wins by a head coach all-time with six Super Bowls and two while a coordinator with the New York Giants, has a first-ballot resume.
Former NFL quarterback and current ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky even went as far as to say the Hall of Fame should rectify its decision.

New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick announces he is leaving the team during a press conference at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on Jan. 11, 2024. (JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP)
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“There is not one person who has come out that’s made a justifiable reason for Coach Belichick to not be a first-ballot Hall of Famer,” Orlosky said on ESPN’s “First Take” on Thursday, per Awful Announcing. “This is obviously a big deal. Unless someone does, why can’t the Hall of Fame take a step back and be like, ‘You know what? We reevaluated. Everyone makes a lot of good points. The process is a flawed process. Let’s make sure that we do this the right way.’ Because the right thing is to have him in as a first-ballot Hall of Famer. I understand that everyone’s in this uproar like, ‘No, you can’t go back. The vote.’ Why not? Why can’t the Hall of Fame do the right thing and realize the egregious mistake that has happened.”
Others like Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes, J.J. Watt, and Kraft, who called Belichick the “greatest coach of all time,” shared their displeasure with what happened.
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Venezuela hero Eugenio Suarez taps faith after shocking Team USA: ‘All the glory is for the Lord Jesus’
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Eugenio Suarez, the man who hit the game-winning RBI double to lift Venezuela over Team USA in the World Baseball Classic (WBC) final, tapped into his faith during his post-game interview.
“I mean, what can I say about this? It’s amazing. God is good, all the glory is for the Lord Jesus. He was with us the whole time,” Suarez told FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal after being asked his emotions following the 3-2 win over the U.S.
“We have to glorify, put his name in front of everything. Nobody believed in Venezuela, but now we [won] the championship today. This is a celebration for all [of Venezuela].”
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Eugenio Suárez of Team Venezuela reacts after hitting an RBI double against Team United States during the ninth inning at loanDepot park on March 17, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
Suárez shared his faith on Monday night after Venezuela came from behind to defeat Italy, when he hit a solo home run. But he knew the job wasn’t finished with one more game left on the schedule before he and his teammates — whom he called a family — returned to their MLB clubs.
It was a dominant performance by Venezuela at loanDepot park on Tuesday night, a surprising showing in which Team USA was held to just two hits and four total baserunners when Bryce Harper came to the plate with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning.
VENEZUELA SHOCKS TEAM USA TO WIN WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC FOR FIRST TIME
However, the game turned on its head, as Harper hammered an Andres Machado fastball over the center-field wall to tie the game at two runs apiece. The momentum shift was palpable, but Suarez found himself in a great position to bring it back to the Venezuelan dugout.

Eugenio Suárez of Team Venezuela celebrates as he rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run against Team Italy in the fourth inning at loanDepot park on March 16, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
As Javier Sanoja stole second base, Suárez didn’t miss a 3-2 changeup in the heart of the plate from Garrett Whitlock, driving it to left-center field for the game-winning hit.
He stood on second base and immediately looked to the sky, which Rosenthal asked about – what exactly did he say?
“I just prayed at the time,” Suarez said. “I pointed to my family out there – they were happy for me. God is good, man. God is good.”
Venezuela’s upset over Team USA, one of the most stacked lineups the Stars and Stripes have fielded in this tournament, marked the country’s first-ever WBC victory. It’s why everyone, from players to coaches, was emotional in celebration on the field after the game.

Eugenio Suárez of Team Venezuela reacts after hitting an RBI double against Team United States during the ninth inning at loanDepot park on March 17, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Al Bello/Getty Images)
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“The union – we are together the whole time. We’re not just teammates, we’re all family,” Suarez added. “This team is awesome – we are family here. That’s why we play with passion, with love because we feel that on our jersey. We feel our country on the front of us. That’s why this is a lot for us as players, as people, as human beings and as a Venezuelan. Now, we are the champions.”
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EMU hires Clemson assistant Billy Donlon to replace Stan Heath
YPSILANTI, Mich. — Eastern Michigan hired Clemson assistant Billy Donlon to coach its basketball team on Tuesday, a week after parting ways with Stan Heath.
Donlon will continue in his role a top assistant coach with the Tigers, an eighth-seeded team in the NCAA tournament with a first-round matchup against ninth-seeded Iowa on Friday.
He previously led Missouri-Kansas City and Wright State with a 155-133 record over nine seasons.
Donlon, who is from Northbrook, Illinois, was also an assistant coach at Michigan, Northwestern and UNC Wilmington, where he was a standout guard in the late 1990s.
Eastern Michigan was 10-21 overall and 4-14 in the Mid-American Conference this year, tying Western Michigan and Northern Illinois for last place. Heath, a former Eastern Michigan player and Michigan State assistant under Tom Izzo, had a 57-99 record over four seasons with the Eagles.
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