Mosley: Hashmarks: Johnny U

[Angus]

The Afternoon Read

June 25, 2007 3:35 PM

Tom Callahan's outstanding book, "Johnny U," detailed Johnny Unitas' path to becoming the greatest quarterback in NFL history, but the final chapters weren't easy to read.

On Tuesday, the late quarterback's wife, Sandy, will travel to Washington in order to talk to a House committee looking into the NFL Players Association's treatment of disabled former players. She plans to deliver the message that her husband felt betrayed when he was denied disability payments in the years leading up to his death in 2002.

Here's what she told the Chicago Sun-Times:

"But his hand slowly deteriorated, and when he tried to play golf, the club would fly out of his hand. He couldn't grip, couldn't grasp anything. He put a Velcro strap on his glove and shoved the club into his hand and wrapped his left hand around the right.

"It got to the point that he was training himself to be left-handed. He'd had surgery and had a plastic knuckle on his middle finger, a tendon transfer, but the tendons were damaged and there was too much nerve damage, and it broke my heart to see the way he fought to regain use of his right arm. It broke my heart, all the things that happened to his right side -- his arm, elbow, hand."

I'm not sure what the committee will be able to accomplish, but it's certainly an important issue. And even in death, Johnny U is still the man that ex-players rally around.

http://myespn.go.com/profile/hashmarks

 

[theogt]

Honestly, not being able to play golf isn't a sad story.

 

[Jarv]

Honestly, not being able to play golf isn't a sad story.

Honestly....If its not you, huh.

 

[dargonking999]

Honestly, not being able to play golf isn't a sad story.

I guess the underlying reason of losing the ability to use your right arm, isn't sad either huh

 

[WoodysGirl]

I guess the underlying reason of losing the ability to use your right arm, isn't sad either huh

Kinda with theogt on this one. She could've used a different example to garner sympathy.

 

[BouncingCheese]

Honestly, not being able to play golf isn't a sad story.

Bob Barker is not able to golf anymore either... he has no relevance to the discussion but you have him in your avatar so.....:bang2:

 

[burmafrd]

It was very important to HIM to play golf, so maybe that is why SHE used that. Got to wonder about some people here- being crippled is a joke to them.

 

[THUMPER]

It wasn't only about not being able to play golf. He couldn't use his right hand for much of anything. He had a tough time getting dressed, holding a toothbrush, writing, anything that required gripping something in your hand was very difficult for him.

Johnny Unitas was one of my boyhood heroes and to see him later in life unable to use his right arm and hand broke my heart. I am still "Johnny U" whenever I play QB, wearing my hightop black cleats, and hearing the NFL Films music going in my head as I backpedal looking downfield for my receivers.

I would imagine that it is almost exclusively the younger fans who defend Gene Upshaw and the NFLPA because for us older fans whose heroes are denied disability and receive a pittance in benefits it is shameful what the union is doing to these guys.

Unitas' shoulder, elbow, and hand were wrecked playing football in the NFL for 19 years yet somehow the union denied that they were caused by playing in the NFL and refused him disability. How they could deny it is beyond me because that was what kept him out for most of the 1968 season (that's why Earl Morrall was playing in SBIII against the Jets). His arm was never the same after the elbow injury he suffered in 1968.

He also suffered broken vertebra in his neck and back in the early 60s which is why he was hunched over from then on. It caused him constant pain after he retired but the union wouldn't pay anything for it.

He had broken ribs, countless concussions, broken fingers, torn tendons in his hand and elbow, and who knows how many other injuries throughout his 19 years in the NFL.

Gene Upshaw is a scumbag.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

One of the very best .....for sure

 

[superpunk]

Hopefully she's not lying about not receiving disability like that other player was.

In any case, it's something the players union has to decide on. If they're thinking for the future, they'll provide for themselves (and by extension, the older players) now by establishing guidelines and funds for disability. If they're not, and are just concerned with getting all they can get right now, and providing for themselves later in life, then they'll ignore the older players.

It's tough, but that's the way it's gotta be.

 

[Dough Boy]

Kinda with theogt on this one. She could've used a different example to garner sympathy.

Actually the golf story was very illustrative. For thoes of us they play golf, you could actually she Johnny U trying to velcro the golf to his hand. Since this interview was to a sports reporter, I thought it was the perfect example. And again, this is much larger than golf. It has to do with the lack of commitment the Union has to retired players. If they did this to Johnny U, then imagine what they are doing to lesser known players.

 

[DallasEast]

Honestly, not being able to play golf isn't a sad story.

Kinda with theogt on this one. She could've used a different example to garner sympathy.

I disagree. She is going to appear before the House committee. Her story may be the best example to entice sympathy from the committee members. When they're not screwing around on Capitol Hill, some of them may head to a nearby golf course to relax. Unitas' disability would translate very well with those who take it for granted during their leisure time.

 

[DallasEast]

Actually the golf story was very illustrative. For thoes of us they play golf, you could actually she Johnny U trying to velcro the golf to his hand. Since this interview was to a sports reporter, I thought it was the perfect example. And again, this is much larger than golf. It has to do with the lack of commitment the Union has to retired players. If they did this to Johnny U, then imagine what they are doing to lesser known players.

Darn. I wish I had waited to read your reply.

 

[WoodysGirl]

Actually the golf story was very illustrative. For thoes of us they play golf, you could actually she Johnny U trying to velcro the golf to his hand. Since this interview was to a sports reporter, I thought it was the perfect example. And again, this is much larger than golf. It has to do with the lack of commitment the Union has to retired players. If they did this to Johnny U, then imagine what they are doing to lesser known players.

I disagree. She is going to appear before the House committee. Her story may be the best example to entice sympathy from the committee members. When they're not screwing around on Capitol Hill, some of them may head to a nearby golf course to relax. Unitas' disability would translate very well with those who take it for granted during their leisure time.

Don't misunderstand. I definitely feel sympathy for what he went through. The golf analogy may very well be effective for those guys. But the loss of playing golf, doesn't make speak to me as her other descriptions of his disability.

 

[THUMPER]

Don't misunderstand. I definitely feel sympathy for what he went through. The golf analogy may very well be effective for those guys. But the loss of playing golf, doesn't make speak to me as her other descriptions of his disability.

I think she brought it up as an issue because it was something he loved to do and one of the only outdoor activities he could engage in at his age and condition.

I don't play golf and couldn't care less about it but the people I know who do play would rather die than not be able to play. It is evidently quite addicting.

 

[theogt]

Don't misunderstand. I definitely feel sympathy for what he went through. The golf analogy may very well be effective for those guys. But the loss of playing golf, doesn't make speak to me as her other descriptions of his disability.

My god, the people on this website are knee-jerking boneheads sometimes.

I feel sympathy for the guy. I think the league should help them more. And that is why I think they should come up with a better, more sympathetic story.

Talk about him not being able to hold his grandchildren for crying out loud. Just don't talk about golf.

 

[Angus]

My god, the people on this website are knee-jerking boneheads sometimes.

I feel sympathy for the guy. I think the league should help them more. And that is why I think they should come up with a better, more sympathetic story.

Talk about him not being able to hold his grandchildren for crying out loud. Just don't talk about golf.

Sometimes old people say things without thinking . . . and then try to cover up.

And whippersnappers, too.