Gale Sayers will join Mike Ditka in Washington on Tuesday to testify in front of the Senate Commerce committee regarding the much-maligned pension/disability benefits for aging NFL pioneers.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell also will testify during the proceedings, league spokesman Greg Aiello confirmed Wednesday. Gene Upshaw, head of the players’ union, also is slated to appear.
Sayers and Ditka, both Bears Hall of Famers, are board members of the non-profit Gridiron Greats organization founded by former Green Bay Packers guard Jerry Kramer to help assist needy former players.
“The players from the ’40s, ’50s and ’60s made the league the way it is today,” Sayers said Wednesday. “But now, nobody wants to help these people. If it weren’t for those people, there wouldn’t be a league. Many of the young players today don’t know who made the league what it is today. They wouldn’t be making the millions they are now if it weren’t for those pioneers.”
Sayers also thinks more NFL owners should become involved in helping out pioneering players from their respective franchises.
“The money wasn’t that great when we were playing,” said Sayers, who says his first contract with the Bears paid him $25,000 as the fourth pick overall in the 1965 NFL draft. “A lot of people think they all should have turned out like Mike Ditka and me [as successful businessmen]. That didn’t always happen.”
In June, a group of former players testified about their bouts with multiple surgeries, dementia and homelessness, all while trying to fight through the bureaucracy of the NFL and the players’ association. Goodell and Upshaw later met with nearly a dozen former players to discuss a new joint effort to look into disability pay and health care for retirees.
“There’s so much money out there to take care of these guys,” Ditka said after a recent news conference. “I have no idea what goes through people’s minds that they’re reluctant to take care of these people.”
Word on the street
The World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame ( www.sportshumanitarian.com) will present the Bears organization with its annual Pro Team Community Award at the home opener against the Chiefs on Sunday at Soldier Field. The Bears organization was selected for its positive impact on the Chicago community through charitable outreach efforts, cause-related marketing initiatives and grass roots programs in education, children and families, health and wellness, youth football, volunteerism and civic initiatives. In 2006, members of the Bears organization, including players and staff, made 261 community appearances. … Dozens of football players from Illinois universities will be trying out Thursday in Detroit for the new All-American Football League. That’s in addition to Heisman Trophy winner Eric Crouch and defending national champion Florida quarterback Chris Leak, recently released from the Bears. Last week, former Florida and Bears quarterback Shane Matthews signed to become the first head coach in the new league. … Condolences to longtime White Sox organist Nancy Faust on the recent loss of her mother, Jacquin, and her brother-in-law, Dave Carlson, over a span of eight days.
Local attractions
The Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame induction dinner will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Hawthorne Race Course. The 2007 inductees: Bobby Rahal, Casimar Banaszek, Tony Barone, Jerry Markbreit, Ron Sobie, Gary Korhonen, Tommy O’Connell, Chris Zorich, Jim Clancy, Earlie Fires, Tom Monforti, Jim O’Toole, Dick Stanfel and Mike Conley. The George Connor Lifetime Achievement Award for invaluable contribution to the game of football will be presented to Ted Hendricks. Tom Shaer will emcee the event, which benefits the Rev. John Smyth Standing Tall Foundation and other charities. … University of Chicago junior quarterback John Kiernan (Joliet Catholic) and sophomore kicker/punter Ryan Verissimo (Niles West) have been recognized as the University Athletic Association Athletes of the Week for football (offense, special teams) after the Maroons’ 41-10 victory over Concordia University on Saturday. … Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade will host “D-Wade’s Young, Fly&Flashy Skating Party” on Friday at the Lynwood Sport Center. Local and national celebrities, including Kanye West, and sports figures such as Quentin Richardson and Corey Maggette will appear. Attendees must be 21 and older. Tickets are available online at ticketmaster.com, and at all Ticketmaster outlets. A portion of the proceeds from the event will benefit the Wade’s World Foundation. … The Oak Brook Polo season has been extended until Sunday, when an afternoon of polo and cultural activities is planned at the Oak Brook Polo Club. The Argentine-American Midwest Chamber of Commerce and the Consulate General of Argentina will host the fourth-annual Argentine-American Chamber Polo Cup, with the USA team competing against Argentina at 1 p.m.
———-
fmitchell@tribune.com
