Page 21 - aruba-today-20170222

A21
SPORTS Wednesday 22 February

How long should injured pro athletes get workers comp?

KIANNAH SEPEDA-MILLER they require employers to
Associated Press compensate injured work-
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — ers for decreased earning
Should injured pro athletes potential. Bears officials
be allowed to earn worker argue that no state offers
compensation benefits un- payment for as long or as
til they are 67 years old, like much as Illinois does, but
other workers, even if their the players association
athletic careers normally contends that some state
would have ended more compensation laws are
than 30 years earlier? comparable.
That issue is being debat- The Illinois legislation is
ed between the Chicago backed by Chicago’s
Bears and the NFL Players other major sports teams —
Association in the Illinois the National Basketball As-
Legislature as one unlikely sociation Bulls, the National
element of a compromise Hockey League’s Black-
proposal to end a nearly hawks and the Cubs and
two-year-long fight over White Sox of Major League
the state’s budget. Baseball. All of them joined
The Bears are leading other the Bears in signing a letter
Chicago sports franchises last month to Senate lead-
in backing a measure that ership urging them to OK
would reduce a former the provision.
player’s ability to tap into The change was tucked
workers compensation af- into a proposed “grand
ter a career-ending injury. bargain” compromise the
They want to cap certain Senate is negotiating to
payments to athletes at no break the state’s budget
older than 35 or five years standoff. Republican Gov.
after their injury. Currently Bruce Rauner has pressed
they can claim benefits up for overall worker compen-
to age 67, like other work- sation reform as part of a
ers. deal. Though sponsored by
Neither the teams nor play- In this Jan. 13, 2016, file photo, Illinois state Sen. Napoleon Harris, D-Harvey, speaks Capitol in Senate Republican leader
ers’ advocates will say how Springfield, Ill. The Chicago Bears and the NFL Players Association are at odds over a worker com- Christine Radogno, the
much money is at stake. pensation benefit bill in the Illinois Legislature. provision’s prospects are
They agree it is not a rela- Associated Press uncertain as the impasse
tively big pot — while theo- his claim, but an appeals with longer careers in other NFL linebacker and now a grinds on between Rauner
retically some could claim court ruled he was entitled fields. Democrat in the Illinois Sen- and Democratic leaders
millions, most if not all ath- to receive an award based NFL Players Association ate, opposes the provision. who control the legislature.
letes settle their claims for on the difference between spokesman George Atal- He said it would unfairly Under current law, all Illinois
reduced sums up front, the his $130,000 Bears salary lah said the benefits pro- “carve out” professional residents can claim ben-
players association says. and what he later earned vide a lifeline to players athletes from laws meant efits for two-thirds of the
Only a handful of pro play- as a travel agent and whose athletic careers end to protect employees. difference between what
ers filed for the benefit sportscaster, which ranged suddenly — especially low- “It almost feels like play- they were making when
here in the past four years, from $87,000 to $36,000 be- er paid athletes performing ers are being used,” Harris they were injured and
although the association tween 1983 and 1986. just on practice teams or in said. “The owner’s not limp- what they’re able to make
would not identify them The Bears say Illinois’ law minor leagues, who may ing after the game, but the thereafter. Maximum dam-
or describe their individual regulating compensation is lack sufficient savings and owner’s collecting billions ages are capped at the
cases. overly generous. They also education to fall back on. of dollars in profits.” state’s average weekly
But one example in the argue the existing rules at- “The savings to these It’s not the first time NFL wage of $1,070, meaning
public record of an athlete tract players from other (team) owners are negli- teams have urged lawmak- no athlete could receive
who claimed this compen- states to file claims in Illinois. gible whereas the benefits ers to rein in compensation more than $56,000 per
sation is former Bears offen- “Will there be savings? Yes, to these players are every- claims. California passed a year in insurance pay-outs.
sive lineman Ted Albrecht, there will be savings,” said thing,” Richard Gordon, an measure in 2013 pushed by The change would not
a first-round draft choice Bears attorney Cliff Stein. attorney who represents the NFL that restricted out- limit athletes whose injuries
whose career ended with But the Bears say the mea- NFL players, told The Asso- of-state players from filing prevent them from hold-
a back injury in 1982. An sure is really about being ciated Press. there. ing any job from claiming
arbitrator tried to deny fair to other Illinois workers Napoleon Harris, a former States differ in how much benefits.q