The Sports Grouch

I guess I was mistaken.

I thought players, coaches, even pro sports leagues were supposed to be role models for the rest of us.

As my wife would say, I was wrong again. Just look at the sorry example the National Football League is setting for our young folks.

Take ex-Florida Gators and Tampa Bay Bucs linebacker Scot Brantley.

Brantley, 60, played for the Bucs from 1980-87 and spent years in sports radio.

His wife Mary told HBO he was diagnosed with dementia in 2012 but has been denied in the NFL settlement.

“If they were in front of me, I’d say, ‘You’re a liar because this is a legitimate claim,’” Brantley said after the NFL said no legitimate claims were rejected.

Brantley needs a walker, cannot do most normal activities by himself and has hallucinations, hears imaginary sounds and is unable to work to help pay expensive medical bills.

If that’s not bad enough, the NFL has come up with a new rule that will please neither the pro nor anti-national anthem protestors.

The NFL has banned players from kneeling in protest during the playing of the national anthem.

If they choose not to stand, they can stay in the locker room. If they violate the new rule, their wealthy team owners - not the other wealthy guys on the field - will be fined.

Now where is that rule going to get anyone?

The NFL’s policy comes after months of controversy over players taking a knee or making other political statements.

This started 2 years ago when San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick took a knee during the national anthem.

Colin is a wealthy young man, courtesy of his football talents, brought up in an above average income home with two loving parents. However, he was disturbed by reports of racial strife and civil unrest.

At first, he was alone in his protest. As the season progressed, other joined in.

“I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” Kaepernick said.

“To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way.”

I don’t know what the answers are to all of this.

I may be entertaining in a grouchy sort of way, but I’m just not that smart.

But people who command the kinds of bucks NFL officials, team owners, coaches, players and even a few of the media folks who cover them ought to have better solutions and more honesty about caring for those the game has crippled mentally and physically, and come up with a sensible way to deal with these vital issues.

Got an opinion? Write to

ChonicleSports@yahoo.com