Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw Bitched out !!!

[Room101]

The greatest of all time and Hall of famer Bradshaw were both no shows at the MVP intro to the Super Bowl. Montana who is my boyhood sports hero has lost some face with me.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs05/news/story?id=2321024

"Bradshaw, who told league officials that he wanted to be with his family, also took issue with the fees, the Chronicle reported. Bradshaw, through a representative, denied the Chronicle's report that there was a dispute over money.

Former MVPs were given $1,000 for incidental expenses while in Detroit, along with other amenities such as plane tickets, car rental and game tickets.

Sources told each paper that Montana asked for a guarantee of at least $100,000 in appearance money.

When the league balked at Montana's demands, the quarterback declined to be in attendance."

[Mike Daniels]

1. I can't blame Bradshaw

Perhaps he doesn't feel the time away from family is worth walking a gauntlet for something he's been acknowledged for already.

Does the NFL do this March of the MVP's at every Super Bowl? If not, was there a particular reason for doing it this time around?

[AllegroRondo]

4. First time I've seen an MVP lineup,

It was probably something special just for number 40.

[realisticphish]

2. Jesus

like they arent fucking millionaires already

[Bunny]

3. Montana is a dick. Some years ago, he was inducted into a local

(Western PA) Hall of Fame. I can't remember if it was his alma mater high school's HOF, or some little regional one. Anyway, he refused to come here to receive the honor unless he was paid a personal appearance fee.

Now, I'll grant you, once you've achieved the level of pro fame and glory that he did, coming back to your hometown to accept a rinky- dink little plaque does seem kind of silly. But he should have just graciously thanked everyone and declined to attend - he could have said he had a previous commitment or something. No one would have held it against him. To demand an appearance fee to attend a dinner being held in your own honor is incredibly arrogant, at least to people from these parts. He became a total dick in my view because of that.

BTW, I searched for a cite for the above anecdote, and I couldn't find one. I'm going by memory on this, if some of the details are fuzzy I apologize. Maybe there are others from Pittsburgh who remember this as well, and can fill in the blanks?

[democracyindanger]

5. I look at it this way

The NFL, who made brazillians of dollars off the Super Bowl, offered a measly thousand bucks? It's almost insulting. In any case, I wouldn't be surprised if this is more NFL CYA. After all, they're the brainiacs that didn't think to include any Motown stars (until it was too late) in a Super Bowl in Detroit.

[Reverend_Smitty]

6. It shouldn't be about the money

you are being honored in a game that made you a superstar. Just show up, hang out with some old friends and just enjoy the day. It's one thing if you have family obligations but asking for 100,000?? What a dick!

[Bombero1956]

8. who among us

wouldn't jump at a chance to attend the Super Bowl, get a grand walking around money, a nice hotel room, roundtrip airfare and a rental car. For too many sports stars it's always about the money and screw the fans. We only have ourselves to blame because we give them that inflated sense of importance.

[democracyindanger]

9. If I was a multimillionaire

hall of fame quarterback that's already been to a few Super Bowls on somebody else's dime, I wouldn't jump at the chance.

Besides, it's entirely possible that the NFL sent some weasels out with this story. I'd go as far as saying it's likely the NFL sent some weasels out with this story.

[BikeWriter]

7. I didn't attend either. I had previously planned to get drunk.