Fourth and Goal Unites

I think that Sandra Unitas’ letter was put very eloquently.  I agree with her on the fact that Gene Upshaw’s rough upbringing should not excuse his current behavior.  I myself am the 9th of 10 kids and there were times when my family struggled as well.  In fact, in all of my years of football I haven’t had too many teammates that hadn’t overcome some type of adversity in their lives.  The fact that you have to learn to work hard and overcome obstacles in life is probably what made the greatest players great.   In most cases football was a big break for people…I know I wouldn’t have been able to attend college and graduate if it wasn’t for playing.

I think that if anything, Upshaw having a rough upbringing should make him more sympathetic and helpful to the former players who are plagued by disability and insufficient pensions.   Everyone who has had hard times in life and come out on top has done so because there was someone along the way who did what was right and helped them when they saw the need.  In the same way that we paved the path for the current NFL players, there were people in our lives that paved the way for us; whether it was a parent, a teacher, a neighbor, or a coach.  Gene Upshaw is our Union leader, the one person who should feel the most responsibility for trying to find relief and dignity for his fellow NFL Alumni and he seems to be more of a road block than anything else.  Therefore, I find it ridiculous that anyone should excuse his manner because of his upbringing…if anything it should be more of a catalyst for him to find a solution to the problem.

The fight to improve benefits for former players is just another one of those obstacles in life that we are going to have to work together to overcome.  It is not something that we could foresee, not something that should be happening, but nonetheless, we would not be NFL Alumni if we did not know how to persevere in the face of adversity.  As Sandra stated in her letter,  Johnny never turned his back on his teammates and I feel the same…I will not stop fighting for improvement for as long as it takes.

Sincerely,

Joe DeLamielleure

For Immediate Release (2-28-08) - New England Patriot Hall of Famers John Hannah & Andre Tippett to join former NFL players Bruce Laird, Ted Johnson & Pete Cronan at a symposium at UMass-Lowell this Tuesday evening,March 4, to discuss the current plight of a number of retired NFL players as regards their health benefits and the extraordinary difficulty many of these players have encountered requesting help. 

What – NFL Retired Players Health Benefits Symposium

Where – U Mass Lowell, O’Leary Library South Campus (Room 222)  

Who – Host Dr Jeffrey Gerson, Professor U Mass Lowell & John Hannah, Andre Tippett, Bruce Laird, Ted Johnson, Pete Cronan and Boston sportswriter Ron Borges

When – Tuesday, March 4, 2008 from 6:00-9:00 PM

Why - As Congresswoman Maxine Waters asked incredulously of NFL Sr VP Dennis Curran at last year’s (June 26) House hearing on this subject, “300?… 300?… There are over 10,000 living retired NFL players and how many of them are currently receiving health benefits?… Are you serious, Mr Curran?… Only 300?… Pro football is a violent game… 300, that is incredible…” 

If you and your media outlet would like to attend this symposium please advise. We can also makeavailable for interviews (time permitting) Andre & John (if you wish to additionally interview them about Andre’s recent induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame). This is the first time these twoHall of Fame New England Patriots have appeared together since the February announcement ofAndre’s enshrinement. Also, pending their schedules, Bruce, Ted & Pete are available that eveningas well. This symposium is being assisted by Bruce Laird & John Hannah’s “Fourth & Goal” fundand RetiredPlayers.org. Later this summer in June in Atlantic City, John will host a country music event with country music artist Tracy Lawrence to raise money for this cause. Additional events areplanned for New England, NY, Maryland, Texas & Florida to help these retired players in need…Please see JohnHannahEntertainment.com or FourthandGoalUnites.com as well. 

For more information, or to set up any media, please contact: - Chris Visser   Fourth & Goal (o) 407-856-7007(c) 321-230-6666

I read with great interest the article by Gary Smith in Sports
Illustrated’s January 31st issue. Others have addressed various points mentioned in the article. However, I feel compelled to respond to apologists for Upshaw who contend that Gene’s manner has to do with his tough upbringing.

My husband John Unitas grew up in a working class neighborhood in Pittsburgh, Pa., the third of four children born to Francis and Helen Unitas. He was raised by a single mother – his father died when John was just five years old. In addition to raising four children, Helen Unitas ran the family’s small coal delivery business and often worked two jobs to provide food and shelter for her children and to ensure
that each received an education. It was a challenging childhood that shaped John’s character.

Although John was opinionated and could be stubborn, he had the courage to change his “game plan” when necessary. And he never turned his back on his teammates. In the years before his death, in fact, as he witnessed and endured the NFLPA’s treatment of retired players, he
was vocal in expressing his frustration and anger that the union had turned its back on you, the players who helped to make the league the powerhouse it is today.

Those of you who knew my husband know that he, too, experienced the pain that so many retired players endure. In his last few years, John’s famed right hand — the same right hand that helped launch television’s love affair with the NFL – was virtually useless, thanks to the beatings he’d taken every Sunday for 17 seasons. He could barely grip a pen to write his own name. He couldn’t button his own shirt without using a buttonhook device. He couldn’t play golf without strapping his golf glove to a golf club so that he could hold and swing the club. Like many of you, the injuries he endured during his
playing career came back to haunt him decades after his playing career ended. And like many of you, he was denied disability benefits.

He would be very proud of the efforts of his Baltimore Colts’
teammates, of each one of you and of Fourth & Goal. I urge you to keep fighting the good fight.

Sincerely,
Sandra Unitas