Chop block on Upshaw tells all about state of players union

There is nothing more stunning and entertaining than watching a group of spoiled, bratty athletes stab each other in the back. Gene Upshaw hasn't been kicked in the gonads like this since he was playing for the Oakland Raiders. By now you've heard of the insurgents who are trying to unseat the leader of one of America's most well known and lasting union leaders. A leader in Upshaw, by the way, who made some of the very same people attempting to unseat him extremely wealthy. It's the NFL Players Association version of the Menendez twins. When did Upshaw become the Emperor with No Shoulder Pads? When did he morph into Hedley Lamarr? Or Chancellor Palpatine? I've known Upshaw for almost 20 years. Our relationship has mostly been amicable though there have been some very nice-sized disputes over the years. He can be a bully and an intimidator yet I've always felt that while some of Upshaw's lieutenants were scoundrels and lightweights he was overall smart and decent. His tenure as leader of the NFLPA, for the most part, has been an adequate one. Upshaw hasn't been perfect but remember: unions are messy, bloody places. The steelworkers, the auto workers, the pilots and even the athletes have all seen internal bloodletting. There is no such thing as a blissful union, no such thing as a totally satisfied group. In that respect, Upshaw has been a solid leader, surfing the egos, manipulating the membership (sometimes intimidating them) but most of all making his membership filthy rich. This is what's fascinating about how suddenly there are more alleged coup attempts occurring in the NFLPA than 18th century France. CLICK, 2 pager