Wish of an NFL Wife

[Blue_Tires]

The Wish of an NFL Wife
by Jaclyn Fujita

I am a pro football player’s wife amd my husband has been knocking heads for the last twenty-plus years. We choose this path. The burden—whatever it may be—rests on our shoulders. This was the dream we decided to chase.

Honestly, though, I don’t know that we were fully aware of the ultimate reality of the National Football League. We learned the hard way that he would work his ass into the ground, playing every defensive down and special teams, and would be the lowest paid man on the roster. That he would experience multiple concussions, but remain on the field. That he would suffer full ligament tears and shouldn’t have been walking, but team doctors would tell him it was a “minor sprain” and should still play. That even though you have given your heart and soul to a team, they can easily replace you with a rookie who has never played in the NFL before.

My husband could have lost his life to a staph infection. His NFL doctors and trainers were heating/icing/stemming his knee for a bursa-sac rupture and ignoring all the major signs of infection, while his body was screaming that something else must be wrong. He ended up in an emergency operation weeks after symptoms began. Following five nights in hospital isolation and many weeks beating back the infection, he was ready to play for the city we love and a team we built our life around. He would help them win the coveted Super Bowl Championship. Less than a month later he would be gone, feeling completely expendable and replaceable as if his blood, sweat and tears did not matter.

Now I know many don’t want to hear our complaints: we made our bed and now we have to lie in it. But what about the pro football players of tomorrow who have no idea what they are stepping into? Boys who are playing football because they love it and have found something they are really good at? They see the pride on their family’s faces every time they strap on that helmet, but these young men have no idea of the pain they will endure or the true uncertainty of their career choice. They have no idea how long they will work or when their bodies will say “no” to the abuse. What these men need to know is that as they step on the field and risk major injury—while generating billions of dollars for this industry—the billionaires who write the checks are not looking out for them. They need to know that they are going to be lied to. They need to know that when they suffer an injury they will be told they should buck up and play.

http://www.thenation.com/blog/159361/wish-nfl-wife

[hlthe2b]

1. I'm sure she has a point....

But, when I see the sea of homeless vets lining up for the soup line or fighting for a spot at Denver's shelters, when I see more and more women with kids pan-handling, when the newspaper includes more and more stories of those whose loss of job and self-esteem have resulted in their taking their own lives, I just can't put the plight of NFL players on the front burner. I know the "lesser stars" may be exploited and have their own hard-luck stories to tell. As she says, they may put their health on the line to play the game.

But, somehow, it is just not the same. :shrug:

[JackintheGreen]

3. So because they are more privileged societally

they do not deserve good working conditions, honest medical care, or a modicum of security?

I understand your feelings. I struggle with them myself. But they are still workers getting paid to do a job that makes their employers a crapload of money. They deserve to labor with dignity, not in pain, danger or fear. THEY are not to blame for the wealth that pours into the NFL. WE are. Americans do not have to patronize the NFL, but as we do, those who WORK towards its success deserve a fair share.

[hlthe2b]

4. Did I not say she has a point?

But, she has a ready made audience for her grievances. The truly poor and suffering do not. That is the plain truth.

[JackintheGreen]

7. Except you didn't, really

And it's disingenuous to say so. "Sure" is a limiter, a modifier, and one that connotatively suggests doubt, doubt which you then clarify with the following "but..." That construction alone suggests that you don't take her complaints seriously because she and her husband come from a more privileged class, namely American professional athletes. Thus, you imply, she doesn't really have a claim on your sympathy.

And that's well and fine. You're entitled to your opinion. And I agree with you that the truly poor (I won't suggest that her husband isn't suffering: constant fear of replacement, medical "care" that ignores your actual health and puts your life at risk from infection) do not get heard. That they SHOULD get heard.

But this is still a workers rights issue. Let's assume that you have a physical occupation in which you earn, say, 30k/year. It's enough, you manage to live within your means, you get medical insurance, etc. If fact let's say you have my job, sorting boxes at UPS. Let's say a box knocks me off the catwalk (it's happened) and I get injured to the point that I am in excruciating pain. I go to the doctor and her tells me to shut up you great baby you're fine and I see no reason why you cannot continue to work. But if I miss work for a week I get fired. So I work or I lose my job to some 19 year old.

Forget that these people make more than I ever will. They receive an income and it behooves them to live within it. Even if they don't, that is beside the issue here (but within your means is a lot different for 285K than it is at 30k). Even if they do, if they lose their job they are still in the position many of us would be: without income they can't pay their bills. If they earn league minimum or a bit more but live like they make 80K then they'll be fine. But most people don't. How you spend you're money AFTER you earn it isn't the issue. The issue is the conditions under which they earn it.

[hlthe2b]

8. I find your concern only

for those privileged enough to have had an opportunity with the NFL, who are also likewise fortunate enough to be represented by a union, to speak for itself. A very sad statement indeed. The average NFL player may have a shortened lifespan as someone cites in another post. Arguably not nearly as shortened as those who serve in our military--not even close. But, I guess they don't entertain us. :eyes:

Bringing attention to the downsides of the NFL and other sports for young high school students is a good thing. On that, I will certainly agree.

[JackintheGreen]

9. I challenged your rhetoric

(in the Greek, not modern pundit, sense) and you imply in return that I am heartless to all but the privileged? You "admit" she had a point by hemming and hawing (I'm *sure*, but...), dismissing her argument in all but words (again, your rhetoric), and then you ignore my central point. Frankly, how dare you?

This is NOT about what workers do with their own money after they earn it. It IS about the conditions under which they earn it. This is less about the amount (i.e. the common trope "it's the millionaires vs. the billionaires so why should we care?") and more about the distribution.

NFL players are privileged, no doubt, so that necessarily means that they deserve less respect, less humanity? Because that is exactly what your argument is reducible to. Bringing in marginalized or disadvantaged groups doesn't change the central point about worker's rights. If you remove the absolute value under discussion from the argument, it becomes clear that this is (as much) about working conditions, not wealth. Any union negotiation is the same.

I don't watch football, so these mooks don't "entertain" me. :eyes: But I have spent the last 15 years organizing the non-unionized (SEIU, Teamsters, AFT) and fighting to maintain the rights of those who already are. Rather than imagining who your opponent is so that you can more easily disregard the substance of what they say, why not engage with the argument?

[GillesDeleuze]

10. Priorities, privilege, and publicity

"If you remove the absolute value . . "

Thats a lot of value to remove..

[JackintheGreen]

12. It doesn't change the equation. n/t

[GillesDeleuze]

13. Here in the WI

a few players have paid lip service to labor (Woodson from the packers).

but all the players complaining about worker protections for their tens of millions of dollars couldn't even muster up a "Go Wisconsin" when 100k people turned out.

excuse me if i lack the solidarity with millionaires.

[JackintheGreen]

15. It's your choice

I understand it but respectfully disagree.

I happen to know one of these "millionaires" who actually made closer to the league minimum when he played. He did it "right," lived well but within his means in a nicer suburban neighborhood. Post retirement he works gainfully among us not trading on his ex-player cache. His wife has a business and they do better now than they he did as a rookie. But that doesn't remove the fact that if he had suffered a crippling injury AT WORK when he was younger, one that ended his career, he would have magically been OK because he is among the "millionaires." The NFL as a corporation has a terrible record of taking care of its own.

[GillesDeleuze]

19. when NFL steps up for labor

we'll be there.

until then, we'd all love to make the league minimum.

[JackintheGreen]

20. That's a false argument, and a dodge. n/t

[GillesDeleuze]

21. i guess this is how i really feel

If only there was a network of laborers and workers united by a single cause that could rally with Packers and other players.

Well, fucktards, its called the unions. Besides 4 former and current players, the NFL players didnt lift one broken linesman finger over the MANY labor disputes around the country. Y'know, the guys who paychecks go buy MillerLite so you can run around in your tight fucking pants tackling other men.

Hey Rodgers, would it have killed you stop partying with Paulie D for 5 fucking minutes to show your pretty mug in Madison?

Maybe then youd have real populist support to give a shit if Millionaires and Billionaires can't agree.

stolen from avclub.com/madison

[JackintheGreen]

23. I feel you. I really do.

It's hard to stand up for people who have so much more than the rest of us. So many athletes act like entitles fucktards. And I'll admit that part of me is with the players mostly because the owners are WORSE. If nothing else, the owners deserve to get screwed to the wall. But the lockout is emblematic (to me) of the whole fight. If we let THESE owners get away with robbery then it all falls down. Whatever's left of it anyway.

What happened when Scott Walker "passed" his bill? A lot of other dickwad governors became emboldened.

What happens when the NFL owners win? Which is the next corporate overlord to hide the books and plead penury?

I can't blame you. Only try to get you to keep the faith.

[hlthe2b]

24. Where were the unionized NFL during the WI protests?

The über privileged could not be bothered, it seems. Enough said. :eyes:

[MedicalAdmin]

11. Martin Luther King said.

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

Is a football players plight the same as a homeless veterans (or any homeless persons?)? No it isn't. But it is something. We are all in this together. We are all employees.

It IS us versus the billionaires. We need to whack them like pinatas until they bleed money.

[GillesDeleuze]

14. Us doesn't include THEM

THEM being multimillionaires. they are part of the billionaire class.

UNION FOOTBALL PLAYERS -- a total of 5 have said jackshit about workers rights. excuse me if i dont see how THEY are part of US

[MedicalAdmin]

26. We are we. A worker is a worker.

One of our patients used to play in the NFL . There ain't much left to him. And he never made enough to be a multiple millionaire and his medical bill and preexisting conditions make him poor.

You may not like it but we are all in this together. If you don't get that, have empathy, and realize that then they have won another convert on you. Divide and conquer wins the day for the billionaires boys club. Welcome to the enabling class - hopefully your 20 pieces of silver are worth it.

[GillesDeleuze]

29. The millionaire boys club will never fight for you. nt

[MedicalAdmin]

30. Yes, but the people, like our patient are not members.

And I will fight for them and for all working people who are getting screwed by the ownership class. If they are getting hurt by the owners, then I stand with them. Period.

I don't care if they don't get it because they are uneducated and haven't figured it out yet or if they are sociopathic assholes (M. Vicks I'm talking about you). I know from personal experience with a former defensive end who is one of our patients that his medical bills have impoverished him. And the league does nothing except chew up and spit out most players. We are not talking about the stars who go on to become talking heads. We are talking about talented athletes who got fucked by the man.

And yes, our patient gets the problem now and lends his name to help the fight by volunteering for habitat for humanity and several homeless shelters.




It's us against them and anyone can join our team by standing with us. To join their team you either have to fuck 100,000 grandmas out of their retirement funds or help one of those pricks do something similar. It's an exclusive club and we ain't in it. I like our club more - it's easier to get into and the company is nicer --- usually.

[catrose]

17. Everybody's got points

But when I was a union member, we were told to support union members, no matter how many times our pitiful salaries they earned. I think this is one of those "We all do better when we all do better" moments. They are putting their health on the line--many people do--and if they can get better working conditions, maybe the rest of us can too. My union fought hard to keep heinous schedules from wrecking our bodies.

[GillesDeleuze]

22. you are supposed to fight for them but millionaires will never fight for you

[kstewart33]

2. BT, thanks for posting this.

I wish every young boy in this country could read this.

[Stuckinthebush]

5. Modern day gladiators

That is pretty much what these players are.

The wife has a good point. I'm for collective barganing no matter the position in society.

[Dawgs]

6. The average lifespan of NFL players is 55 years old.

All of them (owners and players) are overpaid, but they still deserve certain rights.

[Myrina]

16. The reality that he's not a 'star', he's a 'commodity' ...

... and he's only valuable as long as he's making the team/owners profitable. Sound like any other part of the labor force?

[Citizen Worker]

18. All I can say is, welcome to the world of capitalism, where everything and everybody is a commodity

and a resource to be consumed and then cast aside when it no longer produces surplus value.

[Cieran_WI]

25. What I hear is: "BOO HOO we made millions of $ waaaaah!"

[trekbiker]

27. NFL minimum pay..

as of 2010

rookie = $325,000
1 year = $400,000
2 year = $475,000
3 year = $550,000
4-6 years = $635,000
7-9 years = $760,000
10+ years = $860,000

those are some pretty hefty raises and this is the MINIMUM pay. Even if they only last the average career length of 3.5 years thats still 1.475 million in income. I could probably sympathise with the football players of 50+ years ago but not now. I really could'nt give a flying FUCK about football players. They are entertainers that dont contribute shit to anything. They damn well know the risks and if they are too stupid to know them then thats just tough. And I suppose they dont know what the long term affects of all those steroids they shoot up with just to be able to compete can do, right???

Screw them. Millionaires crying about Billionaires...

[Starry Messenger]

28. I don't know enough about football to feel competent to start an OP about this

but maybe someone who knows more can. Like all arguments about labor, there are always fights about what the workers might "deserve" that is divorced from the history of what has gone before with workers in that field. I was interested about all the fights about the "overpaid" football players, since my own profession of teaching has been kicked around in the press this year.

I found this website: http://www.dignityafterfootball.org/Players.htm

It has a list of football players who have been brutally injured in the game and have been denied treatment and disability payments over and over, even though there was no other earthly way they could have gotten so horribly maimed. I imagine that many of the players who are fighting for better compensation today know the history of these guys and their struggle with the NFL to get even a little bit of help after helping to earn that organization millions of dollars. The high salaries are probably a reflection of wanting to be assured continued care and a life after time in a profession that uses you up completely and then spits you out.