Completely Off-Topic: Gene Upshaw
 

I just read that Gene Upshaw died last night or this morning. Obviously, he's a football guy, and not even an official, but I just thought I'd mention it. I always thought that he did a ton of good work for the NFL players, making them wealthier than ever, without trying to destroy the league to do it (unlike MLB's labor leaders). I don't remember him from his playing days, but I always thought he handled himself and the union very well.

Well-wishes to his family.

Sorry to hear that. I remember him from his playing days as a Guard for da RAIDERS - back when they actually won a good number of games, actually made the playoffs, and won a couple of Super Bowls (I believe). Sad.

I heard that too this morning. Very sad. Like many good football players, they do not let anyone know they are hurt.

Peace

Actually, he's the only player in history to appear in Super Bowls in 3 different decades ('67, '76,'80). First ballot HOF for his o-line work. Looking at some of his highlights today he may have been the fastest pulling guard I've ever seen.

Tough shoes to fill.

Prayers for his soul and family's grief.

A lot of people really gave him a raftload of crap for "caving in" to the owners. Those are probably the same people who are head cheerleaders singing his praises today.

He was an excellent player for a team I do not like. Even though today's players outweigh him from his playing days, Upshaw would be a feared opponent today.

RIP, Gene.

I heard yesterday that he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer on Sunday. If you've ever known anyone with pancreatic cancer, you know that it is a particularly vicious form of cancer. You don't show any symptoms until the disease has progressed so far that it's no longer curable. The average life expectancy after diagnosis is only 7 1/2 weeks.

The Lustgarten Foundation ( http://www.lustgarten.org ) is a great source of information on the disease, research and opportunities for contribution.

I saw that yesterday and I couldn't believe you could be diagnosed on Sunday and be gone by Wednesday. That's just mind-boggling. I'm sure there might've been some symptoms before that, but as Rut mentioned, he was a former football player who probably didn't like to complain about his little "aches and pains".