A Simple Lesson in Civics
First of all, we want to congratulate George Martin for his appointment as the Executive Director of the NFL Alumni Association; George was selected from a broad range of talented candidates with hats in the ring. George steps into this newly-created, salaried position at the Alumni. The choice was appropriate and George Martin is well-liked.
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Today’s official NFL press announcement from the Associated Press also included the following warm-and-fuzzy-aw-shucks clip on retired players (really, who actually sits down and writes this crap?):
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The owners also met with George Martin, who has been hired by the NFL Alumni Association, a group that plans to be the lone voice for retired players. Those players have had their representation fragmented by many groups, and Goodell believes working with one organization will be a positive development.
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”One thing I’ve heard coming out of meetings with retired players was that they want an independent organization that is focused entirely on retired players,” Goodell said. ”Now we can have an entity that is independent that can identify issues that are priorities for retired players.
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”Retired players are an asset. They’re wonderful ambassadors for the game, they mean so much to fans. To be able to cooperate with them to provide opportunities for them, this is a great development for us.”
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Read the rest of the article as published in the New York Times by clicking HERE.
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With that, we want to step into a short and simple civics lesson:
Democracy vs. Dictatorship
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The last time we looked, we were still living in a democracy complete with voting rights and a voice. It seems that the NFL is now trying to take a page from the old Gene Upshaw playbook. With absolutely no ill will intended towards George Martin: Who died and left the NFL in charge of the welfare of the retired players? Was there an election called and no one voted?
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Dave said it best in a recent article written by Doug Fernandes of The Sarasota Herald Tribune:
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“It’s all about greed. The only way you get the NFL to pay their bills is bad press, a court of law or Congress.”
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The latter could help provide the relief Pear seeks.
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In response to a recent University of Michigan study that found retired players age 30 to 49 suffer dementia at a rate 19 times higher than normal men that age, the House Judiciary Committee said it will hold hearings on the lasting impact of head injuries among NFL players.
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If a connection is established, the league could be liable for millions of dollars in payments to retired players.
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“Have some more hearings and make them accountable,” Pear said. “They’ve not only wronged me and my family, they’ve done it to a lot of players who aren’t able to stand up for themselves.
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“I don’t want any sympathy. I’ve got a good life. A beautiful wife, beautiful children. This is just about right versus wrong.”
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Read the rest of the article as published in The Sarasota Herald Tribune by clicking HERE.
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Bob Grant
October 15th, 2009 at 1:45 PM #
There always seems to be another trick up their sleeve.
This Alumni announcement by Roger Goodell smacks of old Slavery Plantation Politics. There are other political terms that describe systems in which the “BOSSES” and “Mr. Charlies” take it upon themselves to tell us who is going to lead and represent us. Now Roger is TELLING us that the Alumni is going to be “The Single Group” that represents us and that perhaps that they are the only Group that the NFL is willing to talk too. You have got to be kidding me! He has to be completely out of his mind. We’re old but we’re not stupid, Roger – and I’m offended by your trickery and attempt at sleight-of-hand here.
Heck! Only a few of us actually belong to the Owner-owned and -funded NFL Alumni, and I, along with many others, don’t even trust the Group to look out for anything much more than a few high profile Retired Players and some select charities and expense accounts.
We ARE making progress in our fight and they had to come up with some way to try to get control of us again. Roger’s pitiful attempt to minimize those of us in the Independent Movement in his press release neglected to tell you that we have 350,000+ hits per month here on the Independent Dave Pear site where we keep all of you posted. That’s probably more than they get and we don’t have ANY funding, except what we scrape up individually each week to keep afloat. He also neglected to tell you that we are – without any funding – putting together a team of Nationally-known Doctors who are recognized as leaders in their areas of practice so we can expose both the NFL and the NFLPA in their lying ways about the many Health and Medical issues that they have continued to deny.
Mr. Martin is a former Friend, Student and Disciple of Gene Upshaw, and recently raised a fair amount of money in his walk across the country for some 9/11 Groups but I don’t believe that any of our men in need will get a nickel of that money.
The NFL has the finances to make this whole thing go away instantly but they continue to resist giving up just a buck or two out of their fat wallets. 1 – 3% of their “TRUE Gross Gross” paid into a fund for ten (10) years would settle everything for us in these last years of our lives. We would never even have to touch the principle in the fund.
In spite of what some may think, we’re not unintelligent men. WE are the men who took the field, WE are the ones that 60,000 fans stood and cheered for and WE would be fools to stand at the back of the room now with our “hats in our hands, heads bowed, begging for anything. I pray that YOU will always remember that YOU were the hero gladiator who stood in the Arena and that YOU will continue to stand with us in the Independent Movement as we fight for all players both vested and non-vested. We believe that a man is entitled to benefits if he played just one year.
Bob Grant
Independent Retired Player Advocate
Dave Pear
October 15th, 2009 at 2:27 PM #
Is Frank Krauser still on the NFL Alumni payroll?
Does he still have a position with the NFL Alumni or the NFL?
What about Frank’s cigar budget?
Under Frank Krauser’s leadership (and $200,000 paycheck plus benefits), their 2005 tax records showed that the NFL Alumni grossed $3,700,000 that year and a whopping $700 was allocated to a retired player in dire need. Thanks, Frank!
Regards,
Dave & Heidi Pear
Kathy Smith
October 16th, 2009 at 7:56 AM #
Where did this guy come from? Who decided he would represent retired players? I don’t think Lou has ever belonged to the NFL Alumni because he never felt welcome and there were mostly non-NFL player members at the meetings.
And what happened to the 4th & Goal merger with the NFL Alumni? Are the 4th and Goal people getting paid now? They denied any money was involved in this proposal. Is the NFLPA now merging with the NFL Alumni? What the heck is going on?
Kathy Smith
for Lucious
Larry Kaminski
October 17th, 2009 at 5:53 PM #
Bob:
Your comments are passionate and will hopefully be seen by the NFL Gods for what it represents. This recent action and the Henderson letter are just filled with elitism and tries to mocks all of us. You know, I don’t think any of us just fell off the turnip truck.
Keep the faith, men.
Larry Kaminski
Denver Broncos
1966-1973