Political Quotes

“Baltimore lost one of its most beloved adopted sons last night, former Baltimore Colt tight end John Mackey. John revolutionized the position and was the second tight end to be enshrined in the National Football League's, NFL, Hall of Fame. He became the first president of the NFL Players Association, NFLPA, after the NFL merged with the old American Football League. He was a tenacious and effective advocate for the players, bargaining for higher salaries and better benefits. He organized a 3-day strike early in his tenure that generated an additional $11 million in pensions and benefits. Mackey also filed and won an antitrust lawsuit against the NFL which eliminated the so-called ``Rozelle Rule'' and ultimately paved the way for players' union to secure full free agency for its members. For the last 10 years, he suffered from dementia and had to move into an assisted living facility that cost much more than his pension. So he and his beloved wife Sylvia led the fight to convince the NFLPA and the NFL to establish the ``88 Plan,'' named for his uniform number, which provides adult day care and nursing home care for retired players suffering from dementia or Alzheimer's disease. Even in death, John continues to give: Sylvia has announced that his brain will be donated to a Boston University School of Medicine study of brain damage in athletes.…”