Just watched a show (The fight) about Joe Louis and his fights with Max Schmeling. been a fight fan I enjoyed the story,but his War effort and the money he raised and then after the War the IRS chased him for money. made me feel so sad that he was forced back into fighting long past his prime and the loss to the Rock. What sought of people would do that to a nations hero. Over 70 million Americans listened to the fight on radio,in terms of numbers only the '68 landing on the moon had a larger radio audience.
I'm not a fight fan, so I don't particularly know the story. However, we have a fickle populace, and often we treat our "heroes" poorly. We totally mistreated our soldiers, sailors and airmen during the Vietnam war. There are endless stories of those who fall from grace and perhaps we have a sense of Schadenfreud from it. But, there are plenty of stories about bankrupted and destitute former athletes that once earned big dollars. Sad, but also to some extent, they are victims of their own poor choices. Even the NFLPA's pension program was designed specifically to help older players who didn't have much, if anything, and even despite this, I've read lots of stories about former players that had nothing, were homeless and couldn't afford medical treatment. They may not be as "iconic" as Joe Louis, though, or as much of a "national hero", but I'm not sure if that's a distinction that matters. CW
While I agree with much of what you said, the above is, unfortunately, basically incorrect (although it is changing, slowly) - The previous head of the NFLPA (Gene Upshaw?) is on record as saying his job is to work for the current players, not the "old guys" who went before...... Fortunately, many of the current players disagree and are doing their own thing to help those that went before them, not the union. Cheers, Ian PS - Sorry for the hijack - I don't know much of the bomber, but I can't imagine the racial hatred and tensions he was subjected to throughout, and indeed after, his career - Very sad.
Perhaps my use of the word "specifically" was inaccurate. But, the pension plans are supposed to be in place to help retirees. While pensions, like any retirement plans, are intended to pay out to those who've paid in, those who didn't can't expect much. So, for those who played and retired before there even was a plan, there's not much benefit. Better than nothing, but still not much to hang one's hat on. CW
Although Louis blew all his money like most fighters, that's not what really hurt him. During the war, he fought many exhibition bouts to entertain the troops for NOTHING. For some sick reason the IRS decided to tax him on imagined earnings for tens of thousands of dollars. He had to fight way past his prime to pay it off, but he did it with class in spite of the evil government. The whole story is "American Hero Betrayed". Very sad.
Actually, if those facts are accurate, this is starting to sound like a "beware of big government" story. CW
