Pre-Summit Greetings from Bob Grant
Fellow Members,
Welcome to our Independent Summit!
Some months back, I approached the other Independent Advocates and asked them to co-operate with me in work that I was doing to produce the very first great Gathering of Retired Players at the Summit that you are now supporting. Thank you for coming on board.
The upcoming Summit of Retired Players and Independent Advocates is going to be an event that we can all be proud of. Let’s face it – none of us are going to live another fifty years. The time for us to speak independently for ourselves is long overdue. In the past we’ve relied on Team Owners, Agents, Lawyers, Union Officials and any number of Groups to speak for us. In most cases, we have been used and then “kicked to the curb” by all of those individuals and organizations. Bernie Parrish and others have shown that we can win in our fight.
Many of the men who were Stars of yesteryear became Stars because of the many everyday, hard working, blue collar players who protected them so that they could do their celebrity work. No Quarterbacks would have lasted without the linemen who sacrificed themselves in blocking for them. Today many of our friends and Stars of the past have deserted us along with those mentioned in the preceding paragraph. Because many of them have been given jobs by the Owners, the Media, the Union and a host of other football-friendly Businesses and Corporations and you made it possible for them. By choice, few of them are involved in our fight. Few are willing to speak up for fear of it costing them an endorsement or a dollar. They are doing okay so they pretend that it is okay, and that they did it by themselves. To quote Walt Disney, “It seems to me shallow and arrogant for any man in these times to claim he is completely self-made, that he owes all of his success to his own unaided efforts. Many hands and hearts and minds generally contribute to anyone’s notable achievements.”
We have never had an Independent Commission in which each of us is a Member who stands in the middle and functions as an intelligent and free man who commands respect. I’m not talking about another Group because God knows we have enough Groups already and I’m not talking about another legal entity. I am talking about you and I coming together and democratically deciding, issue by separate issue, what we will support, endorse, reject or fight against in any matters of concern to us, without the need to fly the flag of any Group.
I am asking you to accept a seat as a Commission Member on our self-declared Commission of Retired Players. If anyone would like to present something to us who will democratically vote – “one man-one vote” – among ourselves and decide what our position will be.
As men who are in the late years of our lives, we owe it to ourselves to demand the respect from all that we have certainly earned. The “Game” really was built on your shoulders.
If you have registered your name and information with us, you are automatically a Commission Member. We have no offices, ask for no money and have no Officers or Executive Directors. You may, of course, decline your seat and your vote.
We can make a difference with your support and participation. This has nothing to do with or against any Group that you decide to join. It is only about an opportunity to speak under your own “Independent and Free Flag and Standard.”
There will be a number of different positions presented by different Advocates and Attending Player Commission Members (that’s you) at the Summit and I ask that you respectfully give all a “fair listen.”
Yours Sincerely in Our Brotherhood,
Bob Grant
Summit Producer & Coordinator
Chris Burford
May 11th, 2009 at 7:43 am #
Sounds fair and “on the money” to me, Bob.
Chris Burford
Texans/Chiefs 1960 – 1967
Dave Pear
May 11th, 2009 at 8:36 am #
The NFLPA Executive Director along with the Leadership should not tread on the retired players and their families with tyranny.
However, this tyranny has been a way of life for more than 25 years under the counterfeit dictatorship of the former Executive Director Gene Upshaw and the current NFLPA leadership in place today.
We highly recommend that ALL retired and active players attend the “Summit” in Las Vegas May 29th to 31st and begin to become informed and educated about their harsh and unrestrained greed and power.
Active players will SOON be retired players and if this Leadership does not change (real change, not whitewash) they too will have a Union that will deal outrageous and grossly fraudulent with them and their families.
We hope to see you at the Summit!
Sincerely,
Dave & Heidi Pear
Bob Stein
May 11th, 2009 at 1:55 pm #
Bob and all-
Good luck for a productive Summit. I have been an advocate of finding one voice for our issues and this may be the vehicle to get us there. I look forward to what is accomplished.
Bob Stein
LA Rams
1969 – 1976
George Visger
May 11th, 2009 at 9:33 pm #
Bob,
I think you nailed it when you stated we all need to speak for ourselves. I suffered the first of my 9 (to date) brain surgeries during the 49ers first Super Bowl season, and was also “used and kicked to the curb,” being forced to sue for Workmen’s Comp to get 2 more brain surgeries I had May of 1982 paid for. Finally settled my claim in 1986 after years of fighting creditors ’til the bills were paid and multiple more surgeries. Of course, like many of us, I turned to the NFLPA for help during the 1981 Super Bowl season; I felt they were hiding something after my first brain surgery when they told me they were looking to have a special made helmet to protect my VP shunt they inserted in my brain to drain spinal fluid to my abdomen (little did I know what hell I was headed for).
It’s time we take care of ourselves but with the strength and support of all our brothers. Times are tough for me now, but God willing, I will see you all at the Summit.
George Visger
NY Jets 80
SF 49ers 80 – 81
William "Red" Mack
May 12th, 2009 at 5:46 am #
I can’t make it to the Summit because of another commitment, but I’m with you all the way. It’s tough to know you’ve never been appreciated.
Good Luck with the Summit. God willing maybe someone with the NFL Union and owners will listen and be willing to take charge.
Red Mack
Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles & Green Bay Packers
1961-1967