Nick Canepa: Selection committee passes on ex-Charger Antonio Gates, 2 other San Diegans, and it’s a shame

Sez Me …

San Diego got screwed.

And we have enough stupidity going on around here without more stupid being added from strangers.

Allow me to say that, if I again were chosen for the Pro Football Hall of Fame selection committee — for which I voted and thought to be an honor for years — I would not serve.

If, after this latest debacle, I still were on the committee, I would go AWOL. Desert. Never return. With cause.

Antonio Gates, the great tight end on the NFL Team That Used To Be Here and eligible for the Hall for the first time, was one of the 15 modern day finalists and thought to be a cinch. When the class was announced the Thursday before the Super Bowl, he wasn’t on it.

Point Loma High School’s Eric Allen, one of the finest NFL cornerbacks of his generation, became a finalist for the first time. Didn’t make it.

San Diego High’s Art Powell, one of the AFL’s all-time receivers, played for the Raiders and New York Titans, catching 81 touchdown passes and averaging 16.8 yards per catch. That’s a lot per catch. A lot of TDs. He made the all-time AFL team. Didn’t make it, either.

For years early in this century, Gates, undrafted, who played basketball (second team All-American) and no football at Kent State, was the best tight end in football. He was a six-time All-Pro and made eight Pro Bowls. All-decade, he caught 955 passes, for 11,841 yards and 116 touchdowns (an NFL record for tight ends that still stands).

I thought Allen would have a hard time making it his first time as a finalist. But, man, he was really good. He had 54 interceptions with the Saints, Eagles and Raiders, and returned eight of them for touchdowns. There should be more corners in the Hall. It’s the hardest position to play.

The problem now is that the Hall has had a youth movement among its voters, which means many of them have no clue about the history of the game.

There is a special panel culled from the 50 selectors who provide the senior finalists. And they don’t take their jobs lightly. They do the work and take it seriously. Snubbing a worthy player such as Powell not only is a snub to him, but to the panel that nominated him. It’s bush league.

A dead-flat average receiver, Devin Hester made it as a terrific return man. He was a specialist. If they held a draft today with Gates and Allen in it, would Hester go ahead of them?

I’ve heard that Gates’ playoff numbers weren’t great. Outside of quarterbacks, playoff performance never came up when I was in the room. A load of crap.

I’d say I’m certain Gates will get in next year, and hopefully Powell and Allen will make it to the finals.

But stupid isn’t something that easily fixes itself. Just look around you. Stupidity has become the American way. …

Kyle Shanahan is the latest offensive genius who’s never won anything. The 49ers head coach botched the Super Bowl vs. Kansas City. But then of course he found a fall guy, dumping defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, whose defense allowed two touchdowns — one came after a punt return mishap created a short field. …

For too long, Shanahan forgot he had Christian McCaffrey, the game’s best back. Three straight three-and-outs and eight of his calls were passes. …

Andy Reid outcoached Shanahan, but K.C. defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, who may be the best coach in the sport, took it several steps beyond. …

Shanahan’s offense is 7 for 28 on third downs in three Super Bowls, 3 for 12 in this one. …

Niners players said they were unaware of Super Bowl overtime rules. So what? Do the rules say don’t stop the other guy? Play better. …

Shanahan never should have taken the ball in OT. Under these rules, you were giving Patrick Mahomes four downs after you kicked a field goal. And you never play for a third possession in OT. Players are gassed. …

Mahomes gets beat when he isn’t given a chance to beat you. …

Forgotten is the game-turner, when Mahomes, down 10-0, converted a third-and-9 on the final drive of the half leading to a field goal. They were getting their asses kicked before that. …

And Chris Jones is allowed to run totally free to disrupt a potential game-winning pass? …

Mahomes is not a running QB. He is a mobile QB. And he led the Chiefs in rushing. …

You don’t get to a Super Bowl or win one, two or three, without luck. Outside of the Patriots, no champion has ridden along the road to good fortune more often than the Chiefs. …

K.C., The League’s holdingest team, didn’t have a holding call in the game — or in any of its three recent Super Bowl wins. Conspiracy? Nah. Shanahan lost that game. …

Brock Purdy can win a Super Bowl, but I’m hard-pressed to believe he can be the big reason why. …

The Super Bowl was the most-watched TV program in history, an average of 124.3 million people. Conspiracy theorists claim 123.2 million of them tuned in for Taylor Swift cameos. …

No repercussions from Travis Kelce almost pancaking Reid? …

The Manning brothers are doing a King’s Hawaiian slider rolls commercial. Bread begets bread. …

Gonzaga goes into Kentucky and wins. Mark Few is completely unafraid. And has been unafraid. …

Larry Fitzgerald: “The Cowboys play for championships.” Last one was 1995. Funny way of showing it. …

I enjoyed Reba McEntire’s national anthem. She knew the lyrics, was in good voice, looked wonderful and patriotic, smiled like sunshine, and sang it at a good pace, so we didn’t have to stand around two more minutes to hear a hack get to “home of the brave.” …

Considering he spends most of his time working weddings, Usher was very good. …

Memo to Bicycle Mayor and Ham & Eggers: A friend ran over one of your protected potholes the other day. Cracked the rim. Cost to fix: $300. Busy mechanic said he gets five or six calls a day. You guys paying for it? …

Congratulations to old friend Jenny Cavnar. The A’s found a way to pry her out of Colorado, making her the first primary female play-by-play broadcaster in MLB history. …

Ha-Seong Kim should not be traded. That is all. …

X. Bogaerts marks his spot. Second base. Y? Really. It’s OK. …

The Phoenix Open is a long walk stupid. …

Nick Hardwick, the Judases’ new offensive line assistant, says he’s “bringing San Diego toughness back to the Chargers.” Like what, low-crawling out of town like a bunch of sniveling cowards? …

Bucks coach Doc Rivers on where his players’ pre-All-Star Game heads were in a loss to Memphis: “We had some guys here and some guys in Cabo.” …

Jordan Spieth signs the wrong scorecard and gets DQ’d from the Genesis Invitational. Just because you idolize Roberto De Vicenzo, must you copy everything he did? …

Swift’s total Super Bowl airtime: 54 seconds. Hell of a lot better than those long Reid closeups. …

You know, bad wine ages, too. …