Tom Benson, in 2001 profile, was called kind, compassionate, cunning, cold-hearted
 

Long before he learned the value of a dollar, Tom Benson learned the value of 14 cents. It went a long way for a boy born two years before the '29 stock market crash and onset of the Great Depression.

His father was a department store clerk. His mother was a homemaker. Although they could afford little, Benson recalled that most days they gave him money to pay for the streetcar to and from school -- 7 cents each way.

Usually, Tom walked. Because riding the streetcar meant doing something he hated: spending money he could save.

Tom Benson, in 2001 profile, was called kind, compassionate, cunning, cold-hearted | NOLA.com

Re: Tom Benson, in 2001 profile, was called kind, compassionate, cunning, cold-hearted
 

Benson promised to honor the final three years of Ditka's contract. But six months later, those payments stopped. Benson's attorneys said Ditka violated terms of the deal by failing to report all of his income. Ditka was livid.

The settlement came in January. According to Ditka's wife, the deal between Benson and Ditka keeps the former Saints coach from making derogatory comments about the Saints or Benson for 20 years, at risk of forfeiting $3 million.

"But I didn't sign the contract, so I can say anything I want," Diana Ditka said before doing just that.

"Tom can be a lot of fun," she added. "But there's a dark side. I never dreamed he'd be like this."

Re: Tom Benson, in 2001 profile, was called kind, compassionate, cunning, cold-hearted
 

Good read.

Re: Tom Benson, in 2001 profile, was called kind, compassionate, cunning, cold-hearted
 

What is somewhat shocking is that Benson was an average guy, so average that even his family thought he would not amount to much.

The transformation happened when he worked for someone with real leadership and drive. Benson absorb every ounce of it. That style though was not transferable to the success of the Saints. Some stories I read, he would bench players getting close to financial earmarks in their contract. Can't do that stuff and expect to win.

Re: Tom Benson, in 2001 profile, was called kind, compassionate, cunning, cold-hearted
 

Not bad for starting out as a used car salesman, but you won't hear Ditka say anything nice about him.

Re: Tom Benson, in 2001 profile, was called kind, compassionate, cunning, cold-hearted
 

The article forgot to mention he is a tall, short, fat, thin guy with a full head of balding hair.

Re: Tom Benson, in 2001 profile, was called kind, compassionate, cunning, cold-hearted
 

Benson used to run the Saints like a used car salesman. He would constantly bring in good players and then sell them. He was too cheap to invest in quality players. After Katrina his thinking changed to "you've got to spend money to make money." At the time I thought it was Rita's influence. Boy, was I wrong.