KTVU.com - Steve Young Special - Hall Of Fame Day For Steve Young

KTVU.com - Steve Young Special - Hall Of Fame Day For Steve Young: "Hall Of Fame Day For Steve Young

POSTED: 9:22 am PST February 4, 2005
UPDATED: 2:32 pm PDT August 7, 2005

SAN FRANCISCO -- Dan Marino capped his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in the best way possible: with a long completion.

He licked his fingers, a trademark of his 17 seasons as the NFL's most prolific quarterback, then turned to one of his favorite receivers, Mark Clayton, in the audience.

'Go deep, Mark,' Marino commanded.

Clayton sauntered up the aisle, turned and latched onto -- what else? -- a perfect spiral.

'Of course, in the end, every quarterback wants one more Sunday with a football in his hands and going deep,' Marino said.

Thousands of fans clad in No. 13 Dolphins jerseys shook Fawcett Stadium with cheers, remembering how sweet it was to see Marino setting all his records.

'I'll remember this day for the rest of my life,' Marino said.

Marino joined Steve Young, Fritz Pollard and Benny Friedman in the shrine.

Paying tribute to his Western Pennsylvania roots, Marino noted that John Unitas, Joe Namath, Joe Montana and Jim Kelly all came from the region. All are Hall of Famers.

'When I was younger, there's no doubt I thought about being Joe Namath,' Marino said, adding that joining them in the Hall 'definitely makes an impact on you.

'I've accomplished many things, but what I cherish more than any record I hold, fourth-quarter comebacks or any wins I was involved in, is the relationships.'

That, of course, also included his family, and his oldest son, 20-year-old Daniel, presented Marino for induction. It was then that he was betrayed by the eyes that stared down so many defenses -- they were wet with tears as he took his place among the legends of football.

Marino suspected he might break down during his acceptance speech, but did so even before then after Daniel's speech. None of that on-field stoicism for the Miami Dolphins great, "