way to go congress, it's about time those who played the game are cared for..........

WhoDat205 · 06-28-2007, 01:02 PM

Originally Posted by ScottyRo

That could be said for any industry, any company. Truck drivers are notorious for having back problems that disable them and the entire country's economy is built on product being delivered, but there's no congressional hearing about the unfairness of their position. You could probably find industry after inustry and company after comany where employees wore their bodies out for very little pay compared to what is made now and what the company raked in who get much less than an average of $63k in disability benefits each year. Why is it so much more important when you talk about the sports industry?

Apples and oranges, ScottyRo.

First off, truckers have a long-standing, powerful union that has lobbied congress for decades on their behalf. Certainly you've heard of the Teamsters. Believe me, congress has held many hearings on the trucking industry. Recently, the ICC imposed new standards limiting the number of hours a trucker could drive in a day (a ruling that was met with much resistance from the truckers). The NFLPA didn't really come to power until 93.

Second, trucking companies are required to carry workers' compensation that will pay injured truckers for any disabilities they accuire in the course of their employment. Only recently have select insurers (Lloyds of London) started writing policies for injuries sustained by athletes.

Third, truckers can drive until liability carriers will not insure them anymore (around age 75). NFL players have a 15 year shelf life if they're extreemly lucky. If a player retires at age 35 he has 40 years of life left on average.

Fourth, you're comparing debilitating brain damage to back problems. I'd rather walk with a cane when I'm 70 than not remember how to talk when I'm 50.

Fifth, the disparity between what a trucker was paid in 1970 and today is roughly equivalent. The disparity between what a player is paid now and in 1970 is not even close.

06-28-2007, 01:02 PM	#9
WhoDat205 Prediction Pain Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 1,082 Blog Entries: 2	Originally Posted by ScottyRo That could be said for any industry, any company. Truck drivers are notorious for having back problems that disable them and the entire country's economy is built on product being delivered, but there's no congressional hearing about the unfairness of their position. You could probably find industry after inustry and company after comany where employees wore their bodies out for very little pay compared to what is made now and what the company raked in who get much less than an average of $63k in disability benefits each year. Why is it so much more important when you talk about the sports industry? Apples and oranges, ScottyRo. First off, truckers have a long-standing, powerful union that has lobbied congress for decades on their behalf. Certainly you've heard of the Teamsters. Believe me, congress has held many hearings on the trucking industry. Recently, the ICC imposed new standards limiting the number of hours a trucker could drive in a day (a ruling that was met with much resistance from the truckers). The NFLPA didn't really come to power until 93. Second, trucking companies are required to carry workers' compensation that will pay injured truckers for any disabilities they accuire in the course of their employment. Only recently have select insurers (Lloyds of London) started writing policies for injuries sustained by athletes. Third, truckers can drive until liability carriers will not insure them anymore (around age 75). NFL players have a 15 year shelf life if they're extreemly lucky. If a player retires at age 35 he has 40 years of life left on average. Fourth, you're comparing debilitating brain damage to back problems. I'd rather walk with a cane when I'm 70 than not remember how to talk when I'm 50. Fifth, the disparity between what a trucker was paid in 1970 and today is roughly equivalent. The disparity between what a player is paid now and in 1970 is not even close.
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