What Makes a Solid Citizen?

 George McCaskey found his inner George Bush this week.  The Bears’ chairman looked into the eyes of free-agent defensive lineman Ray McDonald and must have seen straight into his soul.  In any case, it was enough for the Bears to give McDonald a one-year deal.  As for those two sexual assault incidents (not to be confused with the time McDonald’s fiancé may have pulled a gun on him during an argument), well, where there’s smoke there’s not always fire.  Someone go tell Mrs. O’Leary.

Three days before the McDonald signing, Chuck Bednarik died at the age of 89.  Bednarik played both center and linebacker for the Eagles from 1949-1962.  The nickname “Concrete Charlie” had as much to do with Bednarik’s ferocity on the field as his offseason job selling the stuff.  Oh, and he flew thirty missions over Europe during WW II as a gunner on a B-24.  This is my kind of guy.

To the best of my knowledge, Bednarik was not known for beating on women; for that matter, neither are players from his generation.  Were they inherently better than the Ray McDonalds of the world?  I doubt.  Have Bednarik and McDonald trade birthdays, and they very likely would be trading reputations, give or take a felony.  Times are different, indeed.

Bednarik went to war before he played football, and he acquired a nickname in part due to the fact that he didn’t make enough money with the Eagles to kick back in the offseason.  Football for the Chuck Bednariks and Dick Butkuses even was a stage in life, not a career.  And, along the way, community expectations were placed on them—serve your country, use your God-given talents to provide for your family.  Money has changed all that.

No, I don’t want us going into another world war or revert to paying athletes chump change.  If owners can make hundreds of millions of dollars (or more), then players are due their millions.  What I do want is all millionaires and above to feel the same sense of humility that athletes once brought with them onto the field.  A little more Jackie Robinson and Chuck Bednarik would go a long way in keeping athletes’ names off the police blotter.