JUL 31 (morning)--Ed Budde’s only regret about Hank Stram’s Pro Football Hall of Fame induction is that it couldn’t have happened sooner – when Stram’s ability to express himself and delight an audience was still at a peak.

Though Stram, who coached the Chiefs to two Super Bowls, will be on hand for his long-awaited enshrinement Sunday in Canton, Ohio, his acceptance speech will be shown on videotape because he’s in poor health.

“It’s too bad he didn’t get in many years ago because he was such a great communicator,” said Budde, the Chiefs’ former Pro Bowl guard. “He can be funny, he can be serious…and now they have to put it on tape.

“But just as long as he got in – and the ‘Mentor’ will be in.”

Stram, 80, is being inducted 26 years after he finished coaching the New Orleans Saints. But for his former Chiefs players, who called him “the Mentor,” Stram’s induction is well worth the wait. Budde has helped organize a gathering of Stram’s former players for his ceremony and estimates about 20 will attend.

Four of Stram’s former players and owner Lamar Hunt would attend Hall of Fame weekend, anyway, as part of a celebration for the Hall’s 40th anniversary. Quarterback Len Dawson, linebackers Bobby Bell and Willie Lanier and kicker Jan Stenerud will be back and a Chiefs running back of a later generation, Marcus Allen, joins Stram in the Class of 2003. Buck Buchanan, a Hall of Fame defensive tackle for the Chiefs, died in 1992.

Dawson, whose professional career was rescued by Stram when the Chiefs were still the Dallas Texans, will be Stram’s presenter. Dawson will return the favor Stram did for him in 1987, so it won’t be as if a Hall of Fame audience hasn’t heard a Stram speech live.

Stram shouldn’t be at a loss for words Sunday night when he and his wife, Phyllis, hold a private dinner for their family and the former Chiefs. The group will include all living members of the Super Bowl IV line – center E.J. Holub, right tackle Dave Hill, guards Mo Moorman and Budde and tight end Fred Arbanas.

“He’s excited, Phyllis is all excited,” Budde said. “She called and said, ‘How many guys are going to the dinner Sunday night?’ I told her, ‘You better write down about 20.’ ”

Stram’s legacy took a hit when he was fired after the 1974 season with the Chiefs spinning into decline, and he lost for two seasons in New Orleans. But the legacy of his 129-79-10 record with the Chiefs, three American Football League championships and a Super Bowl victory has kept growing as the Chiefs have found just how difficult it’s been to duplicate Stram’s success. They haven’t reached the Super Bowl during the 28 years he’s been gone and just once, in the 1993 season, have they played for the AFC title.

If Hall of Fame officials really want to capture the essence of Stram in his heyday, instead of a taped speech they could show the NFL Films tape of Super Bowl IV. Stram was wired for sound during a 23-7 victory over the Minnesota Vikings and his cockiness, competiveness and prescient play-calling made for a classic.

Budde can barely wait to get to Canton, though he’s not in such a hurry that he’ll fly. He will drive because he gets claustrophobic on airplanes, a major problem during his 14-year career. When the Chiefs flew, Budde required sedation.

“I always like to joke, ‘There’s no way of knowing how good I could’ve been if they didn’t have to dope me up for every trip,’ ” Budde said.

Stram no longer needs to be concerned with the debate over how good a coach he was, compared to the all-time greats. Hall of Fame enshrinement makes the issue moot.