Jay-Z Is Now in the NFL Hall of Fame

In what might be the only time I'll ever cite an MTV article, we find out that Jay-Z is destined for the NFL Hall of Fame.

Say what?

Oh, that clever MTV. Jay-Z himself, or any caricature of him, won't be there; instead, he's credited as one of the designers of Larry Johnson's Reebok S. Carter cleats, a pair of which Johnson is donating to the Hall to commemorate his record of most carries in a season.

Why MTV felt the need to point this out, I'm not sure (and I suppose I'm not exactly helping matters by writing about it). Firstly, why the Hall wants anything to commemorate a record of "most carries" is dubious in itself. Secondly, what's next, MTV claiming ten years from now that Paris Hilton is headed for the Hall because Peyton Manning accidentally loaded one of her songs onto his iPod before the Super Bowl?

On a more serious note, it is rather amazing what a difference a person makes. Priest Holmes, by most measures, had better individual seasons than Johnson's 2006 season, yet Holmes did not garner nearly the attention that Johnson receives. Johnson is becoming a major force in the marketing world, having become one of Roc-A-Fella's most significant spokepersons. That should mean more attention for the Chiefs, who usually grace the offseason sports wires as often as Beyonce performs in pants.

Is that good or bad for the Chiefs, who typically like things quiet? If it means that stars like Johnson will be distracted, then that's a negative. But if players won't feel hindered in garnering endorsement opportunities by going to Kansas City, then that's a positive. Either way, next time you go to Canton, when you see LJ's cleats, be sure you proudly point out that you own the album of the-guy-who-designed-the-cleats-of-the-running-back-who-broke-the-record-

for-most-carries-in-a-season.