Wow. Great article.

Its an abysmal description of our society to see a league of the elite that pays and operates in the mega-million category, and this same institution still can't even pay medical for the shoulders on which it stands.
atepesm | Email | Homepage | 02.06.06 - 7:50 pm | #

Great commentary on the state of how the bigwigs at the NFL treat the people that carried the NFL on their back to icon status.

I also read that ESPN said that Montana said he wanted to attend his daughter's game on Sunday instead of going to the game. Maybe the $100,000 demand was more to see if they really wanted him to show up that bad and if it was worth skipping his daughter's game?
Scott | Email | Homepage | 02.06.06 - 8:16 pm | #

So why no fuss about Terry Bradshaw's absence?
dbldomer7375 | Email | Homepage | 02.06.06 - 8:32 pm | #

It will be interesting to hear what Joe says about the Super Bowl issue. He should address it! I hope he has a good PR guy because the media is all over the supposed $100K demand.
bjm | Email | Homepage | 02.06.06 - 8:54 pm | #

A small point, but actually the NFL is a not-for-profit organization --believe it or not.

Having been in Detroit over the past three days, I can personally atest that anyone who declines an invitation to attend any Superbowl event/s is either: completely sane; uninterested in raw debauchery; unrelated to Snoop Dog; or sober.
Yago | Email | Homepage | 02.06.06 - 8:57 pm | #

Non-profit Football League (NFL)

http://apse.dallasnews.com/ conte...se.fourth3.html
Yago | Email | Homepage | 02.06.06 - 9:00 pm | #

great article and great insight. thanks!
ryan in ohio | Email | Homepage | 02.06.06 - 9:06 pm | #

Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if Notre Dame is throwing some coin to Montana for doing the pep rally thing last year. He should have been there, it was paying him a tribute, and I wish he could have been there to see another ND legend get his one and only ring. I love Montana, but to say that the NFL is all for profits and college football isn't is funny. Where have you gone Joe?
matt | Email | Homepage | 02.06.06 - 9:56 pm | #

If he skipped the game to see his son play, then I applaud him for his priorities and for putting his kid first. Who cares that he missed about 15 seconds in the spotlight? Why does he need to drop everything if the NFL calls? And if he's being screwed by the NFL with respect to his health, I don't blame him at all for not wanting to participate.
Jim | Email | Homepage | 02.06.06 - 10:08 pm | #

The current state of NFL retirees is absolutely appalling. Men who give their bodies and lives to a sport are dying at 45-50 with an alarming rate, and all the NFL can do is hide its dirty little secret and do damage control to stop the bleeding....of its cash. I've met more than a few NFL greats who do NOT have a favorable view of the NFL as a league.
Brad | Email | Homepage | 02.07.06 - 8:47 am | #

You mean a guy chose to spend time with his kids rather than make some easy money? That Montana guy will never make it in Corporate America.
The Contrarian | Email | Homepage | 02.07.06 - 9:08 am | #

There may have been autograph seekers at his daughter's move in but I also heard there were several offers of help to move in. An uncle was nearby moving his son in and laughed that no one offered to carry his son's stuff up.

NFL/ND star + good looking daughter = offers of male assitance.

Sometimes recognition has its priviledges.
SeanH | Email | Homepage | 02.07.06 - 9:24 am | #

I agree, the way the NFL treats it's retirees in regards to health care is a shame. I wish I would see the same kind of reaction to the actions of General Motors, the steel industry & other corporate giants in regards to the way they are treating their retirees. These people played a part in building these companies & are having their health care taken away with the help of the federal courts. That's a shame.
Joe S | Email | Homepage | 02.07.06 - 9:33 am | #

As a former ND student (and one with a younger sister as a fellow alum), I can attest to the equation SeanH offered. But in reality, you can even take out the "NFL/ND star" part. I got no help in moving in, but my sister was getting plenty of offers. And after I met her roommates, I was right there, giving them a hand.
NDAlum | Email | Homepage | 02.07.06 - 10:32 am | #

Give. Me. A. Break.

Montana and Bradshaw were two out of over 40 MVPs who just couldn't muster the effort to attend what was largely an all-or-nothing pregame presentation.

If you have your doubts about it being about money, that's fine. If he wanted to go to his son's game instead, that's also fine. But the preaching of this pretextual NFL retiree crap is sickening.
Ben | Email | Homepage | 02.07.06 - 11:34 am | #

Ben,

I think Mike offers this not as a pretextual excuse but rather background on Montana's testy relationship with the NFL over the years, and the thorny issue of retiree's health plans, especially in light of the many arguments that Montana "owes" something to the NFL. Well, the NFL "owes" its players, too.
Jay | Email | Homepage | 02.07.06 - 12:08 pm | #

Jay,

The NFL certainly "owes" its players. If the insurance thing is true, it's deplorable at best.

However, it just seems a bit homer-like to defend what is, at face value (which is what we all have access to, let's be honest) a questionable non-act by Montana.

If Tom Brady didn't bother to show up, or Bart Starr... I'd think they were being assholes too.

The Montana-is-a-private-person rhetoric is fairly eye-rollable.

That said, he's your icon and you have every right to defend him. I just wanted to place a comment in the comment box.
Ben | Email | Homepage | 02.07.06 - 12:39 pm | #

Montana responds.

The office of Peter Johnson, Montana's agent at IMG, sent out a statement in response to the media fervor prompted by The Chronicle report.

"Joe Montana was in Detroit for Super Bowl activities on the Wednesday, Thursday and Friday prior to the game, but always had planned to return home before the weekend to be with his family," the statement read. "He fulfilled his promise to attend son Nathaniel's basketball game on Friday night and son Nicholas' game on Sunday, and then be home with his family to watch the Super Bowl."

Montana expounded on that statement on ESPN's "Quite Frankly with Stephen A. Smith." Smith reached Montana by phone at Montana's Santa Rosa home Monday.

"To me, it's more important to be home with my boys," Montana told Smith. "The Super Bowl is a great event, but I've moved on with my life."

Montana expressed regret that he wasn't around enough during his playing days to attend events by his two eldest daughters, Alexandra, 20, and Elizabeth, 19.

"When I was playing, I missed my two girls' (events)," Montana said. "They look up (in the stands) and myself and my wife are not there. I want to be there for the boys." Nathanial is 16 and Nicholas is 13.

When Smith asked why league sources would leak information about Montana's inability to attend, Montana said, "People were trying to find ways to make me want to stay. I try to appease everyone, but it's impossible."

When asked directly by Smith if he had asked the NFL for appearance money, Montana said no.
Jay | Email | Homepage | 02.07.06 - 12:51 pm | #

Remember when Joe helped out that other non-profit organization, Federal Express? Kudos!
Miguel | Email | Homepage | 02.07.06 - 3:30 pm | #

The worst part is that now Quite Frankly is apparently an acceptable venue for clearing one's name.
Gipper | Email | Homepage | 02.07.06 - 3:40 pm | #

Great article. Still, it kind of throws me for a loop that he did "SNL" and had a line that read something like, "I'm going upstairs to masturbate."
Ian | Email | Homepage | 02.07.06 - 6:37 pm | #

For perspective on the insurance issue, $100K would only cover about 8-10 years worth of premiums, co-pays, and other out-of-pocket expenses, if that. Some of the specials (yes, admittedly on ESPN) regarding the disability of former NFL stars are really sad and difficult to watch. Many of these guys are getting hosed by the league, given their past contributions and current suffering. I hope, for the sake of the players, this will be addressed in the next collective bargaining agreement.
DA | Email | Homepage | 02.07.06 - 10:43 pm | #

DA - one would hope that is something they address in collective bargaining, but they guys affected now don't really have any juice in the negotiations. And the guys in the league now make enough money that it won't (or shouldn't) be an issue for them in the future. It's just the kind of thing that gets cut out in order to help both sides meet in the middle.
Phil K. | Email | Homepage | 02.08.06 - 12:09 am | #

As for NFL retirees: they knew what they were getting into when they decided to play professional football. It doesn't take a genious to see the long-term health risks of playing football professionally. They accepted those risks, and have to live with them... just like everyone else who makes career decisions. Today's generation of players may be better taken care of after they retire because the Players' Association is going to bat for them during collective bargaining, but maybe they won't. It was still their choice to pursue such a violent career, and they knew it from the very beginning.

As for Joe Montana, if he prefers to be with his family and watch his sons play basketball, he should be applauded. I respect his decision to be a good father far more than I would respect a former star who skips out on his family for another couple of minutes in the limelight. He is as much of and as good of a role model as a family man as he was as a Superbowl MVP. He should get props from the media for skipping an event that was already up to its eyeballs in superstars, sideshows, and hype. More Americans should be such good fathers.
Dave | Email | Homepage | 02.08.06 - 10:30 am | #

I would only add one comment. In light of Joe's obvious feeling that the NFL has been illegally denying payment for medical claims he has made, why should anybody fault him for demanding payment for the Super Bowl appearance (if, in fact, that is what happened)? He may have simply deemed the appearance fee he was (supposedly) demanding as a way of recouping money the NFL stiffed him on by denying his medical claims. Is there really anyone here who would willing provide free services to a person or entity that owed him a stack of money it was refusing to pay at the same time it was requesting his services? I seriously doubt it.
Bill | Email | Homepage | 02.08.06 - 1:52 pm | #

Dave,

No is disputing that NFL retirees knowingly entered into a risky profession in the first place - and that they were all probably very happy to do it. The point is that they made the NFL and the various TV networks a lot of money, and it's unethical to deny them medical treatment for injuries and conditions that they suffered in the process of putting all that cash in other people's pockets.
Phil K. | Email | Homepage | 02.08.06 - 2:55 pm | #

Phil K.,

First, I agree--the players make the game worth watching and the NFL and TV networks have lined their pockets. But remember, the players also got paid their salary, in addition to the free health care while they were on their team, and other perks of being an NFL player, like glory, recognition, and whatever else. Second, let me say I don't know a whole lot about the terms of the relationship between the players and the league. Third, I don't think you are saying the TV networks should provide the former players health care, but if you are, get real. The TV networks definitely have no responsibility toward the players' subsequent medical bills. That would be like my company's caterer being responsible for my healthcare.

That said, I think that, unless the NFL has a contractual obligation to the provide players with post-employment health care, there is nothing unethical about not providing it. If the current players can get the NFL to toe the line by agreeing to do so in the future, great. Kudos to the players' union.

The league is not at fault if the players got hurt in the course of their careers and continue to suffer from those injuries. The players are adults and chose to play the game. If they did not have the foresight to insert some type of future injury compensation clause into their contract, it is not the league's fault. As with any employment, the players have been compensated in accordance with their contract, and don't have grounds to get more from their former employer than was in the employment contract. If the players did not contract with the league for the league to pay future medical bills, there is absolutely no reason the league should pay those bills.
Dave | Email | Homepage | 02.08.06 - 3:52 pm | #

Regarding the "uncle" who helped his son move in with no offer of help on move in day at ND--- would be kind of hard for them to overhear this near the girls' dorm as the closest male dorm is not within earshot.
We missed Joe this year on move in day, but ALL the families in his daughters dorm respected his privacy last year.
The ND family respects his privacy.
ND Mom
NDMom | Email | Homepage | 02.09.06 - 10:28 pm | #

Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw - two blokies that lied about their reasons for not being at the Super Bowl.

Whatever happened to being a man and simply admitting that they were after big time cash. Nobody believes their hogwash stories.
Seamus O'R. | Email | Homepage | 02.10.06 - 6:51 pm | #

No one believes you're actually and ND fan.
Brad | Email | Homepage | 02.11.06 - 11:10 am | #

Brad:

What's with the Chuck Norris worship?

(I checked your website.)

Either you are 12 years old or in need of serious phycological therapy.
Seamus O.R. | Email | Homepage | 02.11.06 - 8:51 pm | #

It isn't my website, assbag. Its just funny.
Brad | Email | Homepage | 02.12.06 - 10:25 am | #

Brad:

Do not mess with me! It is not my fault that you are a liar and list that site as your homepage. Since when did Chuck Norris start being funny?

I still go with my initial comment that you need deep psycological therapy, combined with heavy doses of medication, such as Prozac, Xanax and probably even Viagra. (Sorry for that last crack, I could not resist.)
Seamus O.R. | Email | Homepage | 02.13.06 - 9:03 am | #

Do not mess with you? Is that some kind of threat? You are pathetic. You think I need psychological help for not enjoying some asshat coming on to a site for ND fans to piss people off and basically be a jackass? If that makes me crazy, lock me up.
Brad | Email | Homepage | 02.13.06 - 10:15 am | #

Brad:

Pathetic?, !!#hat?, @#bag?

What a weak attempt at getting back at me for my witty commentary....

I may be a lot of things, but I am no jackass....

I still think you need to see a shrink.

How can you call yourself a fan of ND and still be enamored with Chuck Norris? That is weak and lowbrow.

ND fans are more cerebral than that. But, I am here to help you. First, go to your local library and check out some of the books by these great Irish writers:

Joyce, Yeats, Beckett, Wilde, Jonathan Swift & Seamus Heaney

Once you get better educated, then we can talk.

ciao....
Seamus O'R. | Email | Homepage | 02.13.06 - 11:18 am | #

Shouldn't he be reading books by French authors then?
Ben | Email | Homepage | 02.13.06 - 3:44 pm | #

Ciao is Italian, actually, if that is what you were refering to. But you bring up a valid point, nonetheless.
Brad | Email | Homepage | 02.13.06 - 5:48 pm | #

I guess if you are an ND fan but cannot see the humor in CNF.com, then if you also laugh at Sgt. Tim McCarthy's groaners should you be shot with a hollow-tipped rubber bullet? WTF, Shame-puss?

Re: the NFL/player retirees medical predicament...I don't claim to having read too much about the bargaining and details between the NFLPA union and the league. Yet it seems the union is always at the ready when an active player is fined or in a contract/payment squabble. So if they haven't negotiated retiree benefits on behalf of the players, blame the union.

Yet the players are by no means without fault. Do they really need eight cars and three houses? How many of us here make over $1 million/year? And if you did--and maybe lived by the same means you do now--do ya think you might be able to sock away a few dollars each year for retirement & medical expenses?
c-stone | Email | Homepage | 02.16.06 - 11:23 pm | #