Time Out

Jul 17, 2009

Gentlemen (and ladies) -

I think we’re long overdue for a short time out. I don’t often post personal editorials on this blog but after following the posts and comments back-and-forth since The Summit at the end of May, I’ve been thinking long and hard about taking a few minutes of everyone’s time to ask everybody to chill for a moment. In other words - time for a time out.

I believe there’s no doubt that everyone has good intentions for the plight of retired players. Of that, I have absolutely no doubt after having known Dave Pear as a good friend over these past years and being honored to have been invited to The Summit. After finally meeting many of you face-to-face for the first time (and I certainly hope not the last!), I got to hear your stories firsthand and I experienced the passion that made this game what it is today. And it’s that passion that clearly drives each and every one of you guys today.

One point I do want to make is the fact that The Summit came together as quickly and as smoothly as it did. It was truly a team effort with some good organizational and hands-off management skills from a small team that included people like Dave, Bob Grant, Marvin Cobb, Bruce Laird and Jane Arnett. What many of you may not realize was that The Summit actually came together with a small, part-time volunteer group that wasn’t paid to get the job done. And the decision was made early on to waive attendance fees for all who wanted to attend. Our attendees managed to find inexpensive flights to Vegas. Then our good friend, Dave Humm, managed to secure first-class facilities at the South Point Resort & Casino in Las Vegas to provide us access to some of the nicest accommodations in Las Vegas at incredible rates. In fact, the South Point even donated that large meeting hall as part of the package. And one of the retired players – who shall remain anonymous at his request – was generous enough to cover the $2,000+ rental cost of that A/V equipment for the entire Summit.

It was a lot like being back in high school: Bob Grant and Jane Arnett contacted and cajoled the various speakers into showing up; Marvin Cobb was frantically printing out the attendance badges on his printer (which he dragged along with him in the trunk of his car for that drive from LA!) the night before everyone started to show up (among the hundreds of other tasks Marvin had on his plate!); and I spent a couple of nights – right up until Marilee and I finally got packed for the trip – laying out and printing the Summit programs. Half of what happened actually came together during that last frantic week before The Summit! Small donations covered the cost of materials and The Summit was on! Without spending the small fortune like those Annual NFLPA and Owners’ conferences, everyone involved chipped in and managed to pull off a first-class gathering that outdrew the NFLPA meeting down in fancy Palm Springs.

But what I found more important beyond the wide range of topics covered was the amazing sense of camaraderie that I experienced in the hallways and the restaurants in the hours outside of the meeting room. Senior statesmen from the golden era recounting their tales and sharing them with the younger retired players; old adversaries enjoying a laugh about past games (and shenanigans); and old friends just finally having a chance to see one another again. It was a remarkable experience for us personally and we thank you for allowing us to share in it with you.

I guess my point is that this was probably The-Summit-that-should-never-have-been. There were so many people in a lot of different organizations who certainly didn’t want to see it happen, let alone succeed as it did. But it came off smoothly and most people knew little about all the behind-the-scenes work to make it happen. I guess in part, I’m trying to emphasize the fact that this entire event was pulled together successfully with almost no money, no organizational structure and few set agendas other than to meet and discuss the most important issues that retired players still face today. There was no place to send checks (there wouldn’t have been an organization to write it to anyway!), we had no offices, no formal executive committee and absolutely no egos involved. And yet somehow it all came together. I honestly think it all fell into place because of the way it was “organized” and not in spite of our shortcomings. It came together because each and every one of you wanted this Summit to happen so you could express your collective desire for a better path to being treated fairly, honestly and with the respect that each of you has earned.

We’ve been fortunate in having Dave allow his blog to serve one of the many online forums where people can share their details of what retired players have to endure in trying to receive the benefits they had surely earned long ago. We’ve tried our best to provide a place where different ideas and opinions can be discussed openly. Most of you know that we’ve rarely had to step in to moderate and only when the discussion deteriorates to silliness. But occasionally you just gotta call in the referee for a short time out!

I seem to remember that throughout The Summit, we had consensus on most issues: the need for pension and benefits reform, the need to work together, the acknowledgment that different individuals and different groups would each be tasked with their various plans and ideas – all while knowing and understanding that everyone’s headed for the same goal post. On the last day of The Summit, an informal vote was held and it was nearly unanimous that everyone in this group wanted to retain their independence to review and choose their own affiliations and organizations. I don’t believe that it was meant as an endorsement nor should that have been construed as a vote for or against any individual or group; instead, I believe it expressed a collective desire to freely choose who they wanted to join and work with. It was validation of just how personal this can get for each of you. But one thing I’d like to ask everyone to keep in mind: At the end of this particular game, each and every one of you is a professional football player – retired or active.

So let’s get the message out there loud and clear: We’re still all here, we’re still all kicking AND we’re not going away!

Robert

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