Chicagoist: NFLPA and USA Today Huff, Puff, Can't Blow Ditka's House Down

RoyE

Mon, 10 Dec 2007 12:25:09 -0600

Hugh Ditka is trying to get the NFLPA to take care of its union members, not get the NFL to take care of former players. The problem that exists is that a great number of former NFL players have lots of health problems that they cannot get paid for by the NFLPA disability benefits. So what happens is a 40 year old ex player needs two knee replacements and two new hips and can't work. The NFLPA doesn't pay any benefits and the players end up in the poor house. Doesn't seem that unreasonable to expect a union to take care of its members.

Ferdy

Mon, 10 Dec 2007 10:07:17 -0600

My guess would be a combination of high blood pressure, medication that makes him sensitive to the sun, and aforementioned sun.

Bronto

Sun, 09 Dec 2007 16:59:15 -0600

Why is he so lobsterized anyway?

cao

Sun, 09 Dec 2007 15:52:00 -0600

LOL

spookhatespuppies

Sun, 09 Dec 2007 15:11:02 -0600

This is what you get when you let a food writer break down sports. It's just WAY more appropriate to blame the McCaskey family.

magilla gorilla

Sun, 09 Dec 2007 10:10:25 -0600

i've seen ditka in person a few times and he always has the same red/purple face every time as in the picture. i'm no doctor, but that guy outta cut out the red meat or something also, i thought the comment about him being responsible for the bears not repeating wasn't necessary as well

Hugh G Rection

Sun, 09 Dec 2007 09:54:26 -0600

Ditka doesn't get it. Mr. free-market Republican wants the NFL to take care of former employees and provide them benefits they never lobbied for as players. Were this a group of retired union machinists (for example) no doubt we would be treated to all manner of "personal responsibility" and "they didn't have to work there" rhetoric. Despite my dislike for the guy I think his quest is admirable. I wish he was able to understand the contradictory nature of it, however, given the history of his political involvement.

matty

Sat, 08 Dec 2007 17:45:23 -0600

"We aren't fans of Ditka by any stretch. The Bears fan in us points to Ditka's run for the money as the main reason the "Super Bowl Shuffle" Bears didn't win three Super Bowls in a row as they were built to do." I think that was unwarranted.