NBA Players vote to fund health care for retired players

[Moranis]

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/17159276/national-basketball-players-association-fund-health-insurance-ex-players

Out of the blue, this came across the wire.  Great action by the current players.  Will go for all retired players with at least 3 years experience. 

This is the first US pro league to do something like this.

[BitterJim]

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/17159276/national-basketball-players-association-fund-health-insurance-ex-players

Out of the blue, this came across the wire.  Great action by the current players.  Will go for all retired players with at least 3 years experience. 

This is the first US pro league to do something like this.

Wow, this is a great move.  I wonder if the NFL will follow suit at some point, given all of the concussion issues

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

This is a good look! This should help a lot of people.

[Roy H.]

 I'm surprised it took this long. There's no reason that the union shouldn't take care of its members, and I hope the other sports follow suit.

[fairweatherfan]

Great move.  A lot of times modern players' organizations don't do enough to look out for the ex-players who blazed the trail and made those massive salaries possible.  Classy decision by the union.

[bdm860]

Probably means there's an opening for a crossing guard position somewhere in Silver Spring, Maryland.

http://deadspin.com/why-is-one-of-the-nbas-all-time-greatest-scorers-worki-453840265

Day after day, Adrian Dantley hangs out on a street corner in his hometown, like some cliché of a pitiful ex-ballplayer years after his athletic prime. But Dantley's neither a cliché, nor is he pitiful. He's a crossing guard.

The greatest 6-foot-5 post player in the history of the NBA now pulls morning and afternoon shifts at a busy intersection outside Eastern Middle School in Silver Spring, Md. The job, which he took at the beginning of this school year, earns him $14,685.50 a year, according to Montgomery County civil service records.

"He doesn't need the money," a Dantley associate tells me. The guard-forward was legendarily cheap during his long and fruitful NBA career, and he still lives nearby in a home he purchased in 1990 for $1.1 million, one that a former agent said "was virtually free and clear" of debt back in 1996.

"He's not going to just sit around," the associate continues, "and he just doesn't want to pay health insurance." Turns out that NBA veterans aren't provided health insurance by the league, not even all-timers like Dantley. Crossing guards in Montgomery County, however, are.

[saltlover]

Probably means there's an opening for a crossing guard position somewhere in Silver Spring, Maryland.

http://deadspin.com/why-is-one-of-the-nbas-all-time-greatest-scorers-worki-453840265

Day after day, Adrian Dantley hangs out on a street corner in his hometown, like some cliché of a pitiful ex-ballplayer years after his athletic prime. But Dantley's neither a cliché, nor is he pitiful. He's a crossing guard.

The greatest 6-foot-5 post player in the history of the NBA now pulls morning and afternoon shifts at a busy intersection outside Eastern Middle School in Silver Spring, Md. The job, which he took at the beginning of this school year, earns him $14,685.50 a year, according to Montgomery County civil service records.

"He doesn't need the money," a Dantley associate tells me. The guard-forward was legendarily cheap during his long and fruitful NBA career, and he still lives nearby in a home he purchased in 1990 for $1.1 million, one that a former agent said "was virtually free and clear" of debt back in 1996.

"He's not going to just sit around," the associate continues, "and he just doesn't want to pay health insurance." Turns out that NBA veterans aren't provided health insurance by the league, not even all-timers like Dantley. Crossing guards in Montgomery County, however, are.

That middle school is only a 35-minute walk from me.  Looks like I have a backup plan!

[max215]

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/17159276/national-basketball-players-association-fund-health-insurance-ex-players

Out of the blue, this came across the wire.  Great action by the current players.  Will go for all retired players with at least 3 years experience. 

This is the first US pro league to do something like this.

Wow, this is a great move.  I wonder if the NFL will follow suit at some point, given all of the concussion issues

The NFL...doing the right thing? That's rich.

[bdm860]

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/17159276/national-basketball-players-association-fund-health-insurance-ex-players

Out of the blue, this came across the wire.  Great action by the current players.  Will go for all retired players with at least 3 years experience. 

This is the first US pro league to do something like this.

Wow, this is a great move.  I wonder if the NFL will follow suit at some point, given all of the concussion issues

The NFL...doing the right thing? That's rich.

It's not the NBA (owners), it's the NBAPA (players).  It's coming out of their 49%-51% revenue split of BRI.

It won't be the NFL (owners), but you got to think the NFLPA (players) might step up.

[saltlover]

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/17159276/national-basketball-players-association-fund-health-insurance-ex-players

Out of the blue, this came across the wire.  Great action by the current players.  Will go for all retired players with at least 3 years experience. 

This is the first US pro league to do something like this.

Wow, this is a great move.  I wonder if the NFL will follow suit at some point, given all of the concussion issues

The NFL...doing the right thing? That's rich.

It's not the NBA (owners), it's the NBAPA (players).  It's coming out of their 49%-51% revenue split of BRI.

It won't be the NFL (owners), but you got to think the NFLPA (players) might step up.

It will be more difficult for NFL players.  There are as many players in training camp in five teams as there are roster spots in the NBA.  NFL players get paid less on average, which probably means union dues form a higher percentage of their paycheck.  Careers are shorter, which means players a) make less money, and b) would be insured for a longer period of time.  Finally, NFL players are much more likely to experience health problems, so the insurance would be considerably more expensive.

[BitterJim]

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/17159276/national-basketball-players-association-fund-health-insurance-ex-players

Out of the blue, this came across the wire.  Great action by the current players.  Will go for all retired players with at least 3 years experience. 

This is the first US pro league to do something like this.

Wow, this is a great move.  I wonder if the NFL will follow suit at some point, given all of the concussion issues

The NFL...doing the right thing? That's rich.

It's not the NBA (owners), it's the NBAPA (players).  It's coming out of their 49%-51% revenue split of BRI.

It won't be the NFL (owners), but you got to think the NFLPA (players) might step up.

It will be more difficult for NFL players.  There are as many players in training camp in five teams as there are roster spots in the NBA.  NFL players get paid less on average, which probably means union dues form a higher percentage of their paycheck.  Careers are shorter, which means players a) make less money, and b) would be insured for a longer period of time.  Finally, NFL players are much more likely to experience health problems, so the insurance would be considerably more expensive.

Given that the NBA plan has a 3 years-of-service minimum, I think something similar for football would help to cut down on the number of people it affects.  And I'd view the  more expensive health issues and lower salaries for most players as a reason more than a deterrent.  The Tom Brady's of the league don't need the health insurance, but the guys who barely play (or are decent but have careers shortened by injuries) could benefit a lot in the long term

I don't know that the NFLPA will do it, but I think there'd be a lot of support for it

[saltlover]

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/17159276/national-basketball-players-association-fund-health-insurance-ex-players

Out of the blue, this came across the wire.  Great action by the current players.  Will go for all retired players with at least 3 years experience. 

This is the first US pro league to do something like this.

Wow, this is a great move.  I wonder if the NFL will follow suit at some point, given all of the concussion issues

The NFL...doing the right thing? That's rich.

It's not the NBA (owners), it's the NBAPA (players).  It's coming out of their 49%-51% revenue split of BRI.

It won't be the NFL (owners), but you got to think the NFLPA (players) might step up.

It will be more difficult for NFL players.  There are as many players in training camp in five teams as there are roster spots in the NBA.  NFL players get paid less on average, which probably means union dues form a higher percentage of their paycheck.  Careers are shorter, which means players a) make less money, and b) would be insured for a longer period of time.  Finally, NFL players are much more likely to experience health problems, so the insurance would be considerably more expensive.

Given that the NBA plan has a 3 years-of-service minimum, I think something similar for football would help to cut down on the number of people it affects.  And I'd view the  more expensive health issues and lower salaries for most players as a reason more than a deterrent.  The Tom Brady's of the league don't need the health insurance, but the guys who barely play (or are decent but have careers shortened by injuries) could benefit a lot in the long term

I don't know that the NFLPA will do it, but I think there'd be a lot of support for it

I think it'd have to be no more than two years.  The average career length is down to 2.66 years according to the most recent data -- you make it a minimum of three years, and a majority of players voting won't qualify.  That's going to have a tough time passing.  I mean, there could be something, but it won't be as comprehensive as the NBPA plan.

[hwangjini_1]

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/17159276/national-basketball-players-association-fund-health-insurance-ex-players

Out of the blue, this came across the wire.  Great action by the current players.  Will go for all retired players with at least 3 years experience. 

This is the first US pro league to do something like this.

Wow, this is a great move.  I wonder if the NFL will follow suit at some point, given all of the concussion issues

The NFL...doing the right thing? That's rich.

It's not the NBA (owners), it's the NBAPA (players).  It's coming out of their 49%-51% revenue split of BRI.

It won't be the NFL (owners), but you got to think the NFLPA (players) might step up.

It will be more difficult for NFL players.  There are as many players in training camp in five teams as there are roster spots in the NBA.  NFL players get paid less on average, which probably means union dues form a higher percentage of their paycheck.  Careers are shorter, which means players a) make less money, and b) would be insured for a longer period of time.  Finally, NFL players are much more likely to experience health problems, so the insurance would be considerably more expensive.

this seems to be a bit of a red herring to me.

exactly how much do you think current nfl players would have to pay each for such a program? i doubt it is going to be a large percentage of anyone's salary.

besides, they are also investing in their own futures since the current players would receive this benefit eventually.

it makes sense on many levels.

[Snakehead]

Nice to see.  Cool as a way for current players to pay back how much success has built up over the years to result in the NBA being in top shape today.

[saltlover]

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/17159276/national-basketball-players-association-fund-health-insurance-ex-players

Out of the blue, this came across the wire.  Great action by the current players.  Will go for all retired players with at least 3 years experience. 

This is the first US pro league to do something like this.

Wow, this is a great move.  I wonder if the NFL will follow suit at some point, given all of the concussion issues

The NFL...doing the right thing? That's rich.

It's not the NBA (owners), it's the NBAPA (players).  It's coming out of their 49%-51% revenue split of BRI.

It won't be the NFL (owners), but you got to think the NFLPA (players) might step up.

It will be more difficult for NFL players.  There are as many players in training camp in five teams as there are roster spots in the NBA.  NFL players get paid less on average, which probably means union dues form a higher percentage of their paycheck.  Careers are shorter, which means players a) make less money, and b) would be insured for a longer period of time.  Finally, NFL players are much more likely to experience health problems, so the insurance would be considerably more expensive.

this seems to be a bit of a red herring to me.

exactly how much do you think current nfl players would have to pay each for such a program? i doubt it is going to be a large percentage of anyone's salary.

besides, they are also investing in their own futures since the current players would receive this benefit eventually.

it makes sense on many levels.

I think it could cost upwards of $100 million a year to do what the NBPA is doing.  There are approx. 12,000 living former players.  Suppose 2/3 would be covered, that's 8,000 players.  It sounds like the NBPA is giving out top-of-the-line insurance.  Given the risk pool that NFL players could collectively be in, $10,000 per covered player isn't unreasonable.  Furthermore, the NBPA plan covers family members for players with a certain amount of service time, so the amount of covered individuals would rise further.  So yeah, $100 million per year.  That's probably $55-60k per active player.  That'd be over 10% of pre-tax salary for a LOT of players.

I don't see the NFLPA replicating this any time soon.  Maybe something smaller scale, like a subsidy for uninsured former players to purchase insurance on the marketplace.  But with all the health issues NFL players go through in retirement, it would be very expensive to cover them as a group.