Victim of lax NFL safety becomes anti-union posterboy [View All]

[BurtWorm]

Mike Ditka and others are charging the players' union with failing a disabled player. While there may be some truth to that charge, why is the player in the shape he's in in the first place? Is it the union's fault?


http://www.latimes.com/business/la-sp-ditka12jun12,1,6356928.story?coll=la-headlines-business

Fiery rhetoric aside, the main attraction at Monday's event was DeMarco, who needed a cane and two able-bodied assistants to help him stand up and walk to the podium, where he spoke emotionally about how the NFL and the players union have turned their backs on him after injuries ended his once promising career as a second-round draft pick out of Michigan State.

"My right leg is completely numb. I have extreme nerve pain in my arms," DeMarco said before pausing to gather his emotions. "I have lost my grip … my ability to hold my kids."

Accompanied by his wife, Autumn, DeMarco described how he and his family were homeless three times because he could not work.

On Monday night, the NFLPA faxed to the Tribune copies of seven checks sent on behalf of DeMarco for $9,748.81 in the last nine months.

"No one in my office could believe this was the guy they were talking about," Upshaw said.