I thought this story was upsetting when I first heard about it. Then I read the whole thing, learned about this guys entire situation, and now I think it's egregious. They’re already calling this one “FuneralGate.” Ok, so Troy Williamson, wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings, had a game check withheld after he missed 3 practices, and last Sunday’s (11.4) game vs. the San Diego Chargers. No, he was not passed out from a night of excessive drinking and debauchery. And no, he was not getting arrested on gun possession charges, rape charges, or outstanding warrants. His reason for missing Sunday's game? To be with his family and attend grandmother’s funeral. Yeah...
Williamson's maternal grandmother, Celestine Williamson, died at the age of 72 in Aiken, South Carolina in late October. Williamson was very close with Celestine, who raised him. "This is a grandma I was always around. She taught me pretty much everything I know from cooking to driving to playing cards. I pretty much learned that from my grandma." So of course not being part of his beloved grandma's funeral was out of the question. Williamson had to make travel arrangements for his family members, including his 9 brothers and sisters, several of whom are in the armed forces. The funeral was held Monday, November 5, and it was said about 75 family members came from all over the world to attend the funeral, and about 30 of those trips were paid for by Williamson. The previous Monday Williamson told the Vikings that he would be going back to South Carolina to help organize he funeral, and that he wouldn't be able to play in that Sunday's game against the Chargers. So what was the Vikings reaction to Williamson missing the game to be with his family? A fine; they withheld his game check. Head coach Brad Childress said he understood that Williamson had a family obligation, but called the monetary penalty "a business principle." "He had a family obligation that he had to see to. He had to do what his family situation called for." The one game cost Williamson $25,558.24 of his (meager) $435,000 2007-2008 salary.
For Williamson though, the money wasn't the issue. The Vikings told him that if he didn't show, he wouldn't get paid, and he didn't care. "I'd throw this football thing away for my family." He told a local Minnesota paper, "I don't care if they would have [taken] my pay for the rest of the year, I was going home. It wouldn't have mattered to me." And this is only isn't the only family tragedy in recent months. In late September, Williamson’s older brother, 29 year old Carlton, was severely injured when he was ejected from the truck he was driving after it flipped several times. His brother's condition is very grave and it's unclear when, or if, he’ll pull through. "It's fluctuating right now," said Williamson. "Right now, he's just pretty much comatose." With the rigorous practice and game schedule in the NFL season, Troy hasn’t had much time to spend with his ill brother. He visited him earlier in the season during Minnesota's bye week, and during this latest trip, he was also able to see him.
Now what would you do if you were a GM and a player missed a game because of a death? It could be someone in their immediate family, including parents, siblings and guardians. Or it could be someone distant, like their step-brother's second cousin's daughter's nephew's uncle. Should it matter how "related" the people are? Who's to say which death is more impactful? It's all about your own relationship with the deceased, not the actual relation. What if it's a best friend that's like a brother, or like a sister? I'm sure the Vikings aren't the only team with this backwards way of thinking. Can a team hold fast to “football is a business” and not show compassionate to a man grieving a loved one?
I don't want to seem like I'm coming down only on Minnesota, because they are not the only team in the league that would have docked a player in this case. The NFLPA (Players Association) needs to step up and institute a bereavement leave clause in the Collective Bargaining Agreement. This is something that can't be left to the league or individual teams; it has to be clear across the board. Most jobs have these policies in contracts, where an employee is allowed a few PAID days off. The NFL is like the dreadful boss that is all about the money and couldn't care less about the well-being of their employees. And you can look at many of the NFL's practices regarding player health and well-being that show this callous behavior. It took a hearing before the US Senate to get the NFL to take a stand regarding the severity of concussions and their long-term effects. The NFLPA, Pro Football Hall of Fame and alumni association all had to step on the NFL's neck to get them to donate $10 million to the retirement and medical fund for former players. Finally, players who gave their bodies and lives to football, and now need a little financial help, can count on the fund for joint replacement surgery, cardiovascular screenings and assisted living. Chump change and baby steps for a business that brings in well over $6 BILLION annually.
FuneralGate is getting a lot of attention and Williamson is going to appeal the fine. Someone somewhere has to have a heart. It's not even like he has a multi-million dollar salary. The guy makes less than $500,000 a year! His grandmother died, so you want to make him pay!?! But, something tells me if he was making more money, people would be upset, but not outraged... AND, no disrespect to Troy Williamson, but this year, so far, has been far from stellar. He has 9 receptions for 159 yards and 1 touchdown. He's not making circus catches, racking up hundreds of yards per game, and scoring TDs left and right. Yet and still the Vikkngs are holding onto him for dear life. Listen, if you had him on a fantasy team you already would have DROPPED him! But that's neither here nor there. When it comes down to it it's about principles. It's about humanity, condolence and sympathy being expressed by a sport as physical, barbaric and merciless as football. Between his grandmother's death and his brother's wavering health, I completely agree with Troy when he said, "I feel like I wouldn't have been overdoing it if I had stayed home a little longer." Word.
R.I.P. Celestine Williamson
Williamson's maternal grandmother, Celestine Williamson, died at the age of 72 in Aiken, South Carolina in late October. Williamson was very close with Celestine, who raised him. "This is a grandma I was always around. She taught me pretty much everything I know from cooking to driving to playing cards. I pretty much learned that from my grandma." So of course not being part of his beloved grandma's funeral was out of the question. Williamson had to make travel arrangements for his family members, including his 9 brothers and sisters, several of whom are in the armed forces. The funeral was held Monday, November 5, and it was said about 75 family members came from all over the world to attend the funeral, and about 30 of those trips were paid for by Williamson. The previous Monday Williamson told the Vikings that he would be going back to South Carolina to help organize he funeral, and that he wouldn't be able to play in that Sunday's game against the Chargers. So what was the Vikings reaction to Williamson missing the game to be with his family? A fine; they withheld his game check. Head coach Brad Childress said he understood that Williamson had a family obligation, but called the monetary penalty "a business principle." "He had a family obligation that he had to see to. He had to do what his family situation called for." The one game cost Williamson $25,558.24 of his (meager) $435,000 2007-2008 salary.
For Williamson though, the money wasn't the issue. The Vikings told him that if he didn't show, he wouldn't get paid, and he didn't care. "I'd throw this football thing away for my family." He told a local Minnesota paper, "I don't care if they would have [taken] my pay for the rest of the year, I was going home. It wouldn't have mattered to me." And this is only isn't the only family tragedy in recent months. In late September, Williamson’s older brother, 29 year old Carlton, was severely injured when he was ejected from the truck he was driving after it flipped several times. His brother's condition is very grave and it's unclear when, or if, he’ll pull through. "It's fluctuating right now," said Williamson. "Right now, he's just pretty much comatose." With the rigorous practice and game schedule in the NFL season, Troy hasn’t had much time to spend with his ill brother. He visited him earlier in the season during Minnesota's bye week, and during this latest trip, he was also able to see him.Now what would you do if you were a GM and a player missed a game because of a death? It could be someone in their immediate family, including parents, siblings and guardians. Or it could be someone distant, like their step-brother's second cousin's daughter's nephew's uncle. Should it matter how "related" the people are? Who's to say which death is more impactful? It's all about your own relationship with the deceased, not the actual relation. What if it's a best friend that's like a brother, or like a sister? I'm sure the Vikings aren't the only team with this backwards way of thinking. Can a team hold fast to “football is a business” and not show compassionate to a man grieving a loved one?
I don't want to seem like I'm coming down only on Minnesota, because they are not the only team in the league that would have docked a player in this case. The NFLPA (Players Association) needs to step up and institute a bereavement leave clause in the Collective Bargaining Agreement. This is something that can't be left to the league or individual teams; it has to be clear across the board. Most jobs have these policies in contracts, where an employee is allowed a few PAID days off. The NFL is like the dreadful boss that is all about the money and couldn't care less about the well-being of their employees. And you can look at many of the NFL's practices regarding player health and well-being that show this callous behavior. It took a hearing before the US Senate to get the NFL to take a stand regarding the severity of concussions and their long-term effects. The NFLPA, Pro Football Hall of Fame and alumni association all had to step on the NFL's neck to get them to donate $10 million to the retirement and medical fund for former players. Finally, players who gave their bodies and lives to football, and now need a little financial help, can count on the fund for joint replacement surgery, cardiovascular screenings and assisted living. Chump change and baby steps for a business that brings in well over $6 BILLION annually.
FuneralGate is getting a lot of attention and Williamson is going to appeal the fine. Someone somewhere has to have a heart. It's not even like he has a multi-million dollar salary. The guy makes less than $500,000 a year! His grandmother died, so you want to make him pay!?! But, something tells me if he was making more money, people would be upset, but not outraged... AND, no disrespect to Troy Williamson, but this year, so far, has been far from stellar. He has 9 receptions for 159 yards and 1 touchdown. He's not making circus catches, racking up hundreds of yards per game, and scoring TDs left and right. Yet and still the Vikkngs are holding onto him for dear life. Listen, if you had him on a fantasy team you already would have DROPPED him! But that's neither here nor there. When it comes down to it it's about principles. It's about humanity, condolence and sympathy being expressed by a sport as physical, barbaric and merciless as football. Between his grandmother's death and his brother's wavering health, I completely agree with Troy when he said, "I feel like I wouldn't have been overdoing it if I had stayed home a little longer." Word.
R.I.P. Celestine Williamson
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