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skinsfan_nn · 05-26-2007, 06:34 PM

POSTED 1:42 p.m. EDT, May 26, 2007

DITKA, UPSHAW DUKING IT OUT

There's an intriguing squabble brewing between the head of the NFL Players Association and a talking head who is the resident crotchety old man on ESPN's coverage of pro football.

Mike Ditka, a Hall of Fame tight end who coached the Bears to a Super Bowl win 21 years ago, has been firing off about the manner in which the NFLPA does (or, as the case may be, doesn't) take care of its former members.

On Friday, Ditka took it up a notch. A big notch.

Ditka claimed on a Chicago radio station that Upshaw is breaking the law, and that the Senate will be investigating the union soon.

"[Upshaw is] taking loans from the Players Association which are illegal,'' Ditka said on WMVP-AM in Chicago. ''You cannot take any loan which [is] over $4,000 from the union. He's on the books for over [a] $100,000 loan, which is really a criminal offense.

"There's going to be a Senate investigation of the National Football League Player's Association, believe me,'' he said, ''and we'll see what happens, that's all. They brought it on themselves."

Upshaw's response?

"That is so farfetched that it's not even believable,'' he said, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. ''I would not dignify those comments with a response, other than to say it shows how out of touch he is. Consider the source. This is all Mike Ditka whistling Dixie.

''Why would I take an illegal loan? And the limit is $2,000. That's stupid. Whatever I get from the players association and my salary are reported. He's nuts. We report every transaction. Ditka's not interested in the facts.''

Upshaw told the Sun-Times that he hopes to address the matter directly with Ditak. ''I'm not afraid of talking to Mike,'' he said. ''My record of what I have done is unmatched.''

Who knows what'll happen next. But Ditka is the first high-profile NFL figure to ever call out Upshaw so loudly. Even if Ditka is off the mark, the mere fact that he's throwing the darts is amazing to us.

Especially since no one else of Ditka's ilk previously have even dared to try.

05-26-2007, 06:34 PM	#13
skinsfan_nn Playmaker Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Newport News,Virginia Age: 60 Posts: 4,495	Re: NFL, union to aid retired players. POSTED 1:42 p.m. EDT, May 26, 2007 DITKA, UPSHAW DUKING IT OUT There's an intriguing squabble brewing between the head of the NFL Players Association and a talking head who is the resident crotchety old man on ESPN's coverage of pro football. Mike Ditka, a Hall of Fame tight end who coached the Bears to a Super Bowl win 21 years ago, has been firing off about the manner in which the NFLPA does (or, as the case may be, doesn't) take care of its former members. On Friday, Ditka took it up a notch. A big notch. Ditka claimed on a Chicago radio station that Upshaw is breaking the law, and that the Senate will be investigating the union soon. "[Upshaw is] taking loans from the Players Association which are illegal,'' Ditka said on WMVP-AM in Chicago. ''You cannot take any loan which [is] over $4,000 from the union. He's on the books for over [a] $100,000 loan, which is really a criminal offense. "There's going to be a Senate investigation of the National Football League Player's Association, believe me,'' he said, ''and we'll see what happens, that's all. They brought it on themselves." Upshaw's response? "That is so farfetched that it's not even believable,'' he said, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. ''I would not dignify those comments with a response, other than to say it shows how out of touch he is. Consider the source. This is all Mike Ditka whistling Dixie. ''Why would I take an illegal loan? And the limit is $2,000. That's stupid. Whatever I get from the players association and my salary are reported. He's nuts. We report every transaction. Ditka's not interested in the facts.'' Upshaw told the Sun-Times that he hopes to address the matter directly with Ditak. ''I'm not afraid of talking to Mike,'' he said. ''My record of what I have done is unmatched.'' Who knows what'll happen next. But Ditka is the first high-profile NFL figure to ever call out Upshaw so loudly. Even if Ditka is off the mark, the mere fact that he's throwing the darts is amazing to us. Especially since no one else of Ditka's ilk previously have even dared to try. __________________ "There's no greater feeling than moving a man from Point A to Point B, against his will." #68 THANKS COACH GIBBS FOR EVERYTHING! YOUR THE MAN AND ALWAYS WILL BE!