Remembering The Good Gene Upshaw Did For NFL Players

A man for the season, a man who did some good in a complex NFL empire.  His name is Gene Upshaw.

I never had a face-to-face encounter with Gene Upshaw, but I did talk to him on the telephone several times nearly 30 years ago.

The first time I called him, I was asked to do so to help a retired NFL player discuss his need for support from Bert Bell Retirement Association.  Years ago, the name was changed to NFLPA.

After my narrow role of helping the retired player was completed, I passed the paperwork and project to the player's family.  I lost track of the project for about 26 years, and recently, I made an effort to check on that same retired NFL player.

On my more recent encounter with the retired NFL player, I was able to get updated information from the Internet.  To my surprise the range of financial assistance appeared rather meager for the economic times we live in.

Surviving as a senior citizen in America is no easy task on a fixed income less than about $2000 per month, according to the data I saw about two years ago.

Gene Upshaw definitely helped the NFL players.  His focus seems to have been the active players.  Some strategists rather focus narrowly to get things done; others focus broadly.

I do not know the nature of the climate of the NFL in terms of negotiating benefits for players.  What I do know, is that a delicate balance has to be maintained to hit hard and get what you want, and to try to not topple over the entire process and opportunity for change. 

Focus and some type of diplomacy are needed to negotiate successfully.

My 85-year-old grandmother used to ask me, "Did you do any good?"

Her question was raised when I would sit at her kitchen table, telling her of the challenges of trying to get a Ph.D. in mathematics from a university located in Texas.

This powerful Texas university had a history of being tough on women, and minorities.  Granted, in 2009 the atmosphere may have changed but in the 1980s, it was tough at this university.

That same question applies to the experiences of Gene Upshaw, "Did he do any good?"

The answer is yes.

All men do good, and all men or women miss the mark in other arenas.  It is sort of like some of these modern medicines.  The medicine does good for some things, but has side effects for others.

The issue is that overall, some good was done. Likewise, the final comment is that Gene Upshaw must be honored for the good that he did. 

Many should be grateful for the good that he did.