I just lost a ton of respect for Montana

[btcutter]

If it really was money, I don't blame him for what he did. We as fans are the ones to blame. We are the ones who pay outragious ticket prices, sports wear and sporting goods to support their demands. Athletes are accustomed to have all their wishes satisfied because WE treat them like GODS and SAVIORS.
WE pay them millions to play a F*!# game!!!!!!! However, we complain about how what we deserve.......higher education, healthcare.....without wanting to pay an extra dime..............

This country needs to reprioritize.

 

[SA_CowboyFan]

Did the NFL get away with paying the Rolling Stones a $1000 + tickets?

The Stones worked. When Joe was playing, he earned more than $100k for a days work. All they were asking him to do was walk down a little schute and be recognized for having been an MVP. They were celebrating the game that paid him millions. He could have taken 20 steps for less than $100k. If it was family, I can understand...I think its an excuse to save credibility, though.

 

[chinch]

If it really was money, I don't blame him for what he did. We as fans are the ones to blame. We are the ones who pay outragious ticket prices, sports wear and sporting goods to support their demands. Athletes are accustomed to have all their wishes satisfied because WE treat them like GODS and SAVIORS.
WE pay them millions to play a F*!# game!!!!!!! However, we complain about how what we deserve.......higher education, healthcare.....without wanting to pay an extra dime..............

This country needs to reprioritize.

amen.

 

[Aikmaniac]

Always thought Montana was a classy guy. Probably the best QB I've seen play in my young life.

Thanks for the snipet, WG. If that's the truth, I would hope his daughter would understand...but that's just me. Not everybody's a SB MVP, much less a multi-MVP of the biggest game in the sport we love. I think the family would understand why you had to be away. It's not like Montana's gone all the time as a broadcaster or analyst.

Bradshaw, on the other hand...I understand to a point if he declines in order to spend time with family. He's gone for most of the year doing the Fox broadcasts. However, how long are you gone for...2-3 days at most?

I'm sure all the other MVP's have family's or friends of some sort. Are you telling me they put this 5 minute event before their family? Of course not. As an example, Troy is probably one of the busiest analysts out there, yet he showed up. Why? Because his family knows how important that is to him.

There's no reason why two of the biggest names in SB history should NOT be there if not for an emergency of some sort, but that's my opinion.

Please excuse my rambling. I'm just disappointed in who I thought was one of the good guy's of the NFL. Yes, I know he was a 49er, but I always thought he was a classy guy.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Troy is probably one of the busiest analysts out there, yet he showed up. Why?

because Troy is God!

 

[Juke99]

The family excuse is the perfect straight arm....not much anyone can say about it... Of course, I don't believe it. In fact, it makes it worse. "My family is too important...unless you give me money" Nice move.

Joe Montana isn't Joe Montana without his super bowl appearances...asking for $100,000 to appear at a game that pretty much "made" him as a household name, is a joke.

 

[WoodysGirl]

Watched Mike and Mike this morning on ESPN2.

Eddie Bouchette from Pitt-Gazette was on. Said that Bradshaw just wanted to be w/his family. Had nothing to do w/money. Didn't matter that he was there during the week. Had nothing to do w/old beefs w/the Pitt org. He just wanted to be w/his fam.

OTOH, he'd heard from a couple NFL types that Montana did request 100k despite the fam comment. Said the NFL knew for awhile that neither were going to be there, but were hoping to change their mind.

 

[mbanx]

You know, having never seen the Stones live it was the only reason I watched the halftime show and was not very impressed,I would have rather seen them when they had Hell's Angels as security. I can't even remember the last halftime show besides this one I watched which leads me to believe the NFL spends to much money on stuff people really do not care about. I wish the NFL would hold some kind of high school band competition, I would not watch it but it would be great for the kids to get a chance to be there. The Superbowl sells itself I dont need to pay extra for you BS halftime show.

 

[mbanx]

Watched Mike and Mike this morning on ESPN2.

Eddie Bouchette from Pitt-Gazette was on. Said that Bradshaw just wanted to be w/his family. Had nothing to do w/money. Didn't matter that he was there during the week. Had nothing to do w/old beefs w/the Pitt org. He just wanted to be w/his fam.

OTOH, he'd heard from a couple NFL types that Montana did request 100k despite the fam comment. Said the NFL knew for awhile that neither were going to be there, but were hoping to change their mind.

I hope it is not true but if Joe Montana wanted 100k, what is it worth to Harvey Martins family to be completely ignored? I hope the NFL catches hell for ignoring his co-mvp award.

 

[WoodysGirl]

NFL | Montana defends missing Super Bowl pregame ceremonies
Tue, 7 Feb 2006 05:17:43 -0800

Kevin Lynch, of the San Francisco Chronicle, reports former NFL QB Joe Montana defended his decision to decline an invitation to be a part of a Super Bowl pregame ceremony with past Super Bowl MVPs Monday, Feb. 6. 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 that Montana skipped the ceremony for money reasons. "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." When asked directly by Smith if he had asked the NFL for appearance money, Montana said no.

 

[Aikmaniac]

NFL | Montana defends missing Super Bowl pregame ceremonies
Tue, 7 Feb 2006 05:17:43 -0800

Kevin Lynch, of the San Francisco Chronicle, reports former NFL QB Joe Montana defended his decision to decline an invitation to be a part of a Super Bowl pregame ceremony with past Super Bowl MVPs Monday, Feb. 6. 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 that Montana skipped the ceremony for money reasons. "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." When asked directly by Smith if he had asked the NFL for appearance money, Montana said no.

This helps a bit. Thanks WG.

 

[4lifecowboy]

The Stones worked. When Joe was playing, he earned more than $100k for a days work. All they were asking him to do was walk down a little schute and be recognized for having been an MVP. They were celebrating the game that paid him millions. He could have taken 20 steps for less than $100k. If it was family, I can understand...I think its an excuse to save credibility, though.

And making an appearance isn't work? That's how a good niumber of x-athletes make their living after their career is over on the field. But the point I was making using the Stones, is that the NFL paid a bundle for them to be their I'm sure, i believe they interupted their tour if I'm not mistaken, and their significance to the real traditional attraction of the super bowl is non existent. But the men who built the tradition with their blood and sweat get a measly $1000 to "take 20 steps" is right? Tell me your logic in that. And as far as him making millions, I'm sure if you were to factor in all the revenue he generated for the NFL while he was playing, hell even since he quit playing and I'm sure he was probably underpaid.

 

[SA_CowboyFan]

My point is that he wasn't asked to perform in a game or skills competition. They just asked that he walk on the field and wave so that they could honor him.

As far as how much money he made the league, that's a weak arguement. I have personally made my company over 3 million last year, but my salary hardly comes close to that. Its called a business. Its also a combined effort. If Joe played those Superbowls by himself, I doubt he would have had as much success, same with any business.

 

[royhitshard]

Montana doesn't owe anybody anything. I don't blame him for not going. It is a free country.

 

[WoodysGirl]

per DMN blog. Thought this was interesting.

Montana missed his chance


According to several published reports, Joe Montana wanted $100,000 from the NFL to appear with the other Super Bowl MVPs on Sunday.

If he wanted to stick it to the NFL, he should have demanded that the NFL pay for his health insurance or drummed up more support for the NFL to pay health insurance for former players.

According to a recent Charlotte Observer article, Montana said it costs him $106,000 a year for his health insurance because his body is breaking down (bad neck, back and knees) from his football injuries.

Instead of appearing greedy, Montana should have used this very public stage to draw attention to the fact that the NFL only pays health insurance for its former players for the first five years after they leave the league. Any Cheetos-loving, NFL couch potato knows the serious injuries of football players don't become debilitating (and uninsurable) until 10 to 15 years after the playing is done. (See Earl Campbell, who can barely walk, as an example.)

The fact that the NFL players union has been unable to negotiate better health coverage for former players is a shame. And Montana missed a chance to make that point.

Posted by Chip Brown http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/icons/email.gif at 2:09 PM (E-mail this entry)

 

[DallasDomination]

Joe Montana, who is he?

oh yea he's that drunk off the fed-ex commercial

 

[burmafrd]

That $106,000 figure interests me. That is almost $9000 a MONTH. Sounds fishy.

 

[Aikmaniac]

Joe's doing a lot of back pedalling here. He shouldn't need to tell everyone why he needs the money unless it's a PSA about lack of insurance for ex-NFL players.

He should've been there...that's all there is to it. Same with Bradshaw.

 

[hardcorebob]

Asked during the interview if an appearance fee kept him away from the game, Montana said, "Not at all. When I was playing football I missed my two girls. They're in college now and they're gone. These boys are at the age right now at 16 and 13 that I want to be around. I don't want to miss them before they're gone."

Very simple explanation guys, when he played he missed most of his 2 girls growing up and now he doesn't want to miss his two boys before they are gone. This money crap is just mediots making a story that just isn't there. Bradshaw preferred to be with his family as well but nobody rips him a new one? What about the Miami guy that didn't show, no bad rips on him either?

 

[Aikmaniac]

Bradshaw preferred to be with his family as well but nobody rips him a new one? What about the Miami guy that didn't show, no bad rips on him either?

How about the people that did show? Do we rip them a new one for putting this event over their family? All of these guys missed time with their families during their playing days.

This was a one-time event...a huge event for that matter. I'm sure the fam would let Terry and Joe slide for attending.