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A few days ago, the Chicago Tribune had a piece on Brian DeMarco, the former MSU lineman who went on to the NFL, had his career cut short by injury and is struggling to feed his family -- while fighting the NFL's horribly inadequate pension system.

Here's the Web address:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/cs-070609haugh,1,317510.column?coll=chi-sportstop-hed

This is going to be an interesting story to follow, and DeMarco will be important because the movement should benefit from a younger player who has fallen through the cracks.

The other big news this week, of course, was the decision by Maurice Joseph to transfer to Vermont. (Which, by the way, dmb, was released to media outlets at the same time Tuesday, but thanks -- it's been a while since one of your unfair swipes). To me, this was a no-brainer decision based on the playing time that MoJo wasn't going to get anymore at MSU. Hopefully he'll use the year off to continue to get stronger, then have two great seasons at Vermont. He's athletic enough, and a good enough shooter, to prosper there.

As for MSU, this means a third scholarship for 2008 is officially available. Saginaw forward Draymond Green remains the top candidate.

Comments

[Tee Spot]

I feel bad for the guy, but I have to say that this is what happens when people don't plan for there future and squander all they have made once they get it. Even the minimum salary is more money then 99 percent of the population get. He should have had enough to buy a home, invest and save, and should have been fine. Everyone has injuries or some sort of setbacks, but we get through them. And the majority of people I know who have made 20 thousand a year or less.

[rob yelvington]

Tommy said he wasn't gonna offer a third scholarship in 2008, he plans on using it for a big guy down the road.

I'm ashamed I even know this information. When did hoops recruiting get to be such a big deal?

[Michael Motta]

Tee Spot,

I think you make a great point. The only thing that kept me from making a similar point yesterday is that unlike many of us who have mostly worked for mom 'n' pop shops, DeMarco worked for NFL owner(s) who are "loaded" and run businesses that are very high in work hazards. So it's another case of either the rich owner keeps the money or the players get it. When push comes to shove, despite what your good point about living frugally Tee, I guess I'd rather the players get it than the owners.

There is the off chance that keeping pensions low trickles down to the fans by way of preventing tickets from going even higher than they already are. But I've never been a fan of the "trickle down" theory. To me it usually smacks more of the "don't pee on my leg and tell me it's raining".

[Jeff]

Hey Rob....Izzo isn't going to use the scholarship in 07/08 but will use it in 08/09 for Draymond Green or someone comparable. And hoops recruiting is important if we want to win another National Championship. Final Four here we come!

[rob yelvington]

okay, we have the three guards this year, correct?.. the guy from Georgia, Lucas from Orchard Lake and another guard, then in 08, Delvon Roe and Korey Lucious from Milwaukee (that had to steam old Tom Crean)... so he's banking this until '09 which amazes me ... I can't find my cell phone half the time and I know this stuff.

Too bad for MoJo he seemed like a good kid, tried really hard but his defense was matador like ( I think I could have taken him to the hole) and his offense was spotty. But, all the kids Tom gets are good kids. I love that about him and this program.

[Joe Rexrode]

Rob, you're wrong about the third scholarship. Izzo has said he might bank it, but there's a very good chance it will be used in 2008, and the top candidate is Draymond Green.

[Michael Motta]

Okay I have some additional remarks about the DeMarco story. I have sympathy for him. However, this problem is not so narrow as the NFL, it's systemic to our whole nation and its lack of universal health care and increasing rift between the haves and the have nots.

There are many other people besides DeMarco who have been homeless and who have had trouble getting health care. The fact that they never signed NFL contracts shouldn't enter into it - if anything it means they're even less fortunate.

So to me the crusade should be launched at a macro level rather than the "I'll get mine" level. This is how a lot of unions have been operating - to heck with "the working CLASS", it's my boys and my wages 'n' bennies that count.

So in principle I'm in favor of workers getting what they need, but only looking out for small enclaves is not much more ethical than the bourgeoisie and really rich looking out for their own good.

[Jeff]

Joe,did you see my comment to Rob. Hopefully Draymund Green accepts the scholarship when offered it.