Gridiron Greats Blog

KYLE TURLEY BLASTS NFLPA's ROBERT SMITH

2008-04-17T19:54:00Z

Kyle Turley, who created the Gridiron Guardian program benefiting the Gridiron Greats, dropped an "F" bomb on live radio while passionately standing up for the rights of retired players many of whom are in dire need during an interview on Miami radio station 790 The Ticket.

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Gridiron Greats Super Jam Party

2008-02-03T01:38:00Z

The Gridiron Greats Super Jam Party is about to get underway this evening and it is going to be a great!!

Scheduled to appear are the following: Dave Pear, Jim Marshall, Ty & Koy Detmer, Franco Harris, Ed "Too Tall" Jones, Eric Dickerson, Jerry Kramer, and many more.

In addition, the following will be all gathered in one place to hear a once in a lifetime multi genre rock & roll jam including Paul Rodgers (Bad Co & Queen), Pat Travers, Eric Martin (Mr. Big), Johnny Gunn (Eddie Money), Nels Lofgren (E Street Band), Sam Moore, Dell Bruchette (Greg Kihn Band), Tommy Miller (Gregg Allman Band), Steve Salinas (Cold Blood), Donny Baldwin (Jefferson Starship), hosted by CMT’s Cowboy Troy, and a special performance by Kyle Turley ( Kansas City Chiefs).

The evening is sure to be exciting and great fun.

Check back to the blog for more updates from players, celebrities and fans.

UPDATE: 9:15 Mountain Time:

The party is underway and the guest list is impressive. Already seen: Mean Joe Green, Kyle Turley, the Girls of the Tilted Kilt and many, many more... Check back later for image uploads...

Photos:

"Mean" Joe Green with Restaurant Owner

Coach Ditka and Kyle Turley addressing the crowd.

Harvey Magid - Fan

2008-02-01T21:26:00Z

The Wednesday dinner was spectacular and very enlightening. I was talking to Mel Renfro and he could not believe the progress that was made in one year and also made the comment that even the NFL could not have put on a dinner this good. When you are able to get Bob Costas to handle the presentation it is impressive. I was at a table with Ron "Jaws" Jaworski, Mercury Morris and Jim Kelly and the company was impressive.

The next best event was the press conference. They had 50 players 35 of which were HOF it was surpirsing to get as many reporters that they did as the Giants had a conference going on at the same time. Michael Irvin was sensational, Daryl "Moose" Johnston was great and of course Mike Ditka was fantastic for all of the time and money he has dedicated to this great cause.

Celebrity Poker Event

2008-02-01T20:58:00Z

The Gridiron Greats Celebrity Poker Event is about to get underway and it is going to be a great afternoon!! Dave Pear, Jim Marshall, Ty & Koy Detmer, and Tyrone Wheatley are just a few in attendance today.

Celebrity Texas Hold'Em, Gridiron Greats style as NFL Legends and fans partake in a fun-filled afternoon of poker to benefit the Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund.

Participants will play at a table with an NFL Legend and could win a brand new Harley Davidson!!!

Jan Stenerud

2008-01-31T23:43:00Z

We have come a long way in one year. A year ago when we started. It is remarkable. The cause is tremendous. There are so many people out there with disabilities that have gotten crippled from football. The cost of surgeries and stays in the hospital are too much. If there were improved pensions and disability benefits you would need an emergency fund from time to time. You would not have as many people that need help if the pensions were different. Even some type of insurance program will help.

What has happened this weekend is fabulous.

Mike Ditka

2008-01-31T23:40:00Z

It is incredible in one year what has happened. We have been gaining momentum with this cause.

Everybody has had fun this week, but more importantly, we are spreading the word. People understand the cause and they are sensitive to the cause, this makes a huge difference. It is a just cause, we all know this.

This is somehting that we have taken upon ourselves, because the people who should have not. The Gridiron Greats are providing stuff for men in dire need, and many of these men define the term "dire need."

We are not going to stop putting the pressure on and spreading the word.

Since the Washington event last September, Harry Reed continues going to go to the NFL and force them to come up with some facts. We are continuing to put on the pressure.

Nobody wants to get Congress involved, but we have to. Lets get these men taken care of and if it takes the Senate or Congress to do this, we will do it. We are trying to cut through the red tape which is hard to do with the NFL. They have made it nearly impossible for these men to get the benefits they deserve. The system is broken and needs to be fixed. We are trying to fix it.

We have talked about having about 4 golf tournaments throughout the year strategically positioned throughout the nation. With support from the players, we can get people, more people.

Thanks for all the support from the players, the fans, and the members of the foundation. It is a great cause and everyone has done a wonderful job making this happen.

Jim Marshall

2008-01-31T23:30:00Z

This has been a very successful event. It was great to see so many guys. Some I had not seen in 15-20 years. This is such a great cause because I have friends that are in nursing homes, friends that have committed suicide, all directly caused because of their participation by the NFL. Organizations like the Gridiron Greats are picking up the slack. It has been a great disapointment that the union has not stepped up. When I started playing football we had no unions. We thought we would create an organizaiton that would benefit players after football. With our union leadership this has not happend. We find it necessary to step in and do what we can do to help support the organizaiton and to support the cause so that our fans can have someone they can fall back on and finish their lives with dignity.

Gridiron Greats Golf Event

2008-01-31T18:30:00Z

One of the largest groups of NFL Legends ever assembled for the purpose of helping their retired NFL players will be taking to the McCormick Ranch Golf Club for a friendly tournament. The Grand Prize winner of the event will win tickets to Super Bowl XLII. This tournament is in support of the Gridiron Greats foundation and will assist in raising awareness for retired NFL players pension issues.

Gridiron Greats Press Conference

2008-01-31T18:22:00Z

This morning kicked off with a passionate Gridiron Greats press conference. Sitting on the press panel were some of the key Gridiron Greats including Mike Ditka, Gale Sayers, Daryl Johnston, Kyle Turley, Jerry Kramer, and Michael Irvin all provided insight to the media regarding this worthy cause.

"I have been to several press conferences that were impressive, but this was the single most impressive group I have seen at a press conference to back the Gridiron Greats foundation... I have not seen such passion around a given cause. You can definitely tell that this issue is very close to their hearts." - Chris Rapp

Gale Sayers, Kyle Turley & Daryl "Moose" Johnston discuss the worthy Gridiron Greats cause.

Kyle Turley

2008-01-31T05:15:00Z

For those who attended the event tonight thank you, what an incredible evening! For those who were unable, please continue your support and spread the word as this train keeps chugging along in search of justice for those in dire need.

Love and respect-

Kyle Turley

Andre Reed

2008-01-31T04:57:00Z

Here at the Super bowl party for the Gridiron Greats Foundation. With Hall Of Fame Legends Of the Game. This is truly a great cause.

Reg Hamlett - EA SPORTS

2008-01-31T04:17:00Z

Nights like this reward my sports jones. Every once in a while a sports junkie needs a fix to remind them of why this is so important.

For me, seeing Tony Dorsett and Ed 'Too Tall' Jones, reminds me why the 70s Cowboys inspired me so much. It is humbling to recognize that these legends have aged, giving so much of themselves in the process, because it means I have aged too.

My heros are a little grayer, a lot slower, but still able to create a sense of awe deep in my soul. Gale Sayers is here, which goes to support my belief that Brian's Song was the best sports movie ever, period.

So, to all of my heros, seen and unseen, I thank you for all you have given and hope that the honors of events like these somehow remind you of how important you are to true sports fans everywhere!!!

This Event is Unreal - Mike Johnson EA SPORTS

2008-01-31T03:28:00Z

I'm at the Gridiron Great event with my buddies from Telligent. This event might as well be a Hall of Fame dinner. So many greats, I'm beside myself. Being someone from the video game industry it's so great to be here because there would be no football video games without these guys. As I sit here I'm looking at Gale Sayers, Tony Dorsett among others. Absolutely unreal.

Leo Blavin - Fan

2008-01-31T02:30:00Z

This gathering is amazing. I will never forget this ever.

Ty Detmer and Koy Detmer

2008-01-31T02:17:00Z

We are here in AZ with the Gridiron Greats and are proud to be a part of the dinner event. We are currently working with Triton Financial in Austin, Texas.

Triton is a co-sponsor for the week of events. Being younger players we know the importance of the guys who built the NFL. We know there is enough money out there to be able to go back and help out the guys who need it. We are honored to be here and help with this cause.

We know there are a lot of young players out there behind this cause and look forward to helping out any way we can.