Quote:
Originally Posted by skinsfan_nn
Don't be harsh on Upchuck? are you kidding?
You've missed the point. Gene Upshaw has a responsibility to both the RETIRED and the CURRENT players. If it weren't for the retired player's the players that laid the foundation for this league there wouldn't be football as we know it today and futhermore the league is making money hand over fist and CAN afford to do the right thing. YOU HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THE RETIRED! GENE UPSHAW HAS FAILED THE RETIREES MISERABLE!
As anyone with even a fundamental understanding of professional sports labor issues knows, the NFL has the weakest players union. NFL players have the shortest careers, suffer the harshest long term health effects and rarely have guaranteed contracts. This has caused many -- and not just Bryant Gumbel -- to question the leadership of union head Gene Upshaw, including many of his fellow retired brethren. But such dissent will not be tolerated. Several retired players and chapter presidents have started blogs to communicate with their brethren about perceived problems with the pension system and other issues that are affecting former NFLers. In a recent memo, the NFLPA said that any retired chapter found guilty of "conduct detrimental to the union's best interests" may be dissolved. Bruce Laird, president of the chapter of retired Baltimore Colts, says he got the message loud and clear. "I think it's a warning over the bow that if ... other people want to speak out for representation in the NFL, it's looked upon unfavorably." It makes sense that Upshaw would want to quiet anyone who might point out that no ex-athletes have it worse than NFL players. (Save for boxers, but don't expect them to unionize anytime soon.) And what better way to consolidate power than threatening to shutdown Blogspot sites. Fight the real enemy, Gene. This guy is a disgrace! |
You have some good points, and you missed some of the points SportsCrum was making.
Morally, Upshaw does have an obligation to the players... but the union is for the current players, and those are who pays Gene's salary (along with directions of what they want)... That is unfortuneately where his obligation lies.
They also have one of the STRONGEST unions in sports as shown by the contracts that they receive.
I think it is more imperative that the UNION as a whole make a conserted effort to support those who laid the ground work for them. If Gene got that directive from his employers, I am sure he would be more active in helping the older guys.