In January, Scene wrote about the abandonment of NFL players after retirement, many of whom are saddled with health problems, tiny pensions, and impossible disability standards (
"Forgotten Forefathers," January 16). The chief of the players’ union (the NFLPA), Gene Upshaw isn’t exactly the picture of concern or sympathy for these guys -- he’s declared that he works only for active players. After several attempts to reach Upshaw, I had to settle for an NFLPA spokesman — perhaps because every time Mean Gene talks to a reporter, he threatens or personally insults one of the complaining ex-players.
But reporters managed to
corner Upshaw at a Super Bowl news conference last week, and the chief was as harshly dismissive as ever. ...