Curtis To Follow Tiki Into Retirement
by Lloyd Carroll, Chronicle Correspondent
02/08/2007
Giants fans are going to have to accept the reality that Tiki Barber has really hung up his cleats. To make sure everyone knew there would be no turning back, Tiki allowed the Manhattan glossy, Gotham Magazine, to throw him a gigantic retirement party at the East Village nightclub Capitale. Gotham was happy to oblige since Barber is on the cover of its current issue. Tiki has made it no secret that he wants to establish a career in broadcasting that is not limited to sports. He currently hosts a sports and news program on Sirius Satellite Radio with his brother, Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive back Ronde Barber — called, naturally, “The Barber Shop.”
It was rumored Tiki was about to sign with ABC/ESPN where he would contribute to both “Good Morning America” and “Monday Night Football,” but a new suitor, NBC, has come calling. The peacock network is looking to expand “Today” to a fourth hour and would like to have Tiki host the last hour of the show. On the same night that he was being feted by Gotham, Tiki’s longtime counterpart on the Jets and co star in those humorous McDonald’s TV spots, Curtis Martin, was being honored at the annual Thurman Munson Dinner. This event, named in honor of the late Yankees captain, has raised over $8 million to help developmentally disabled youngsters. Martin has steadfastly told sportswriters that he has not made any decisions about retiring from the NFL despite a nagging knee injury. A high school student who is a beneficiary of the Munson Foundation was able to glean from Martin what sportswriters could not. When the young man asked him if he would be playing football again. Martin answered plaintively, “I doubt it.” The subject of NFL injuries and how they not only end careers but permanently affect life post retirement has gained public awareness. Last week, HBO’s “Real Sports,” hosted by Bryant Gumbel, reported on the poor track record of the National Football League Players Association to provide disability benefits to former players who desperately need it. It makes you take notice when Conrad Dobler, the Bill Romanowski of his day, known for his toughness and yes, dirty play, talks about how his body aches so much that he often thinks of suicide. On the Friday before the Super Bowl, the New York Times ran a front page story profiling 34 year old former Patriots linebacker Ted Johnson, who is now suffering from the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. Gene Upshaw, the executive director of the NFL players association, says that his responsibility is to current NFL rank and file. I spoke with Giants wide receiver Amani Toomer at Barber’s farewell bash. He told me that he was disgusted and embarrassed by his union for several reasons — with its failure to look after former members at the top of his list. Martin was a bit more understanding of Upshaw’s position. “The truth is that for the first seven years of my career I did not think about how injuries could affect my post NFL life. It has only been recently that I have become concerned about it.”
Courtesy of FGPR
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