Dear Harry:
I just read the email you sent to retired players regarding your 2006
HOF induction speech and other issues and I want you to know how proud
the retired players are that you used the HOF platform to draw
attention to the plight of former players. You mentioned that you read
something me and Sam Huff had written prior to the 2006 Hall of Fame
induction ceremony that it helped inspire you to use a part of your
induction speech to bring attention to the situation.
As I said then, and I’ll say again:
……….”For the Hall of Famer that has the courage to make
statements like these in front of the whole world, they will forever
be remembered by their peers, their fans and their family as a hero
who thought more about others than they thought about themselves.”
Harry, you will always be remembered for the courage it took to be the
first to speak out on these issues at the HOF Induction Ceremony! It
was not the politically correct thing to do, but it was the right
thing to do……. and it has inspired many more to join in the
efforts to help the retired players that worked so hard to make the
NFL and the NFLPA what they are today. Hopefully, some future
inductees will follow in your footsteps and use the power of that
special moment to honor the sacrafices of a largely forgotten
generation of football players.
The momentum that has been generated by our ability to communicate
over the Internet has helped immensly, but it will never replace the
power that comes from speaking to a live audience in front of the
whole world. Your speech was an insipration to all retired players and
has motivated many former players that might not have spoken up in the
past. The function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more
followers and that will be part of your legacy. President John Quincy
Adams said “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more,
do more and become more, you are a leader.”
You took a day that was set aside to honor you…….. and also used
it to honor those that came before you. Your actions have pushed us
all to work harder. Thank you for your continuing efforts through the
Alliance, to help those that came before you.
“If I have seen farther than others, it is because I was standing on
the shoulder of Giants” (and colts, bears, eagles, panthers, ravens,
broncos, dolphins, rams, etc.) – Issac Newton
Jeff Nixon
Buffalo Bills Alumni
