Urbanski's wife says Goodell reneged on promise of financial help

[Southpaw]

Huh?

Reports: Urbanski's wife says Goodell reneged on promise of financial help

ESPN.com news services

Updated: February 17, 2008, 1:10 PM ET


Kathy Urbanski, whose husband, Tommy, was paralyzed in a melee at a Las Vegas nightclub that involved now-suspended Tennessee Titans cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones, said NFL commissioner Roger Goodell promised to help the family pay its mounting medical expenses, according to published reports.

She now says Goodell has reneged on his offer.

"Roger Goodell told me, 'You don't have to call us. We'll get in touch with you,'" Kathy Urbanski told the New York Daily News for a story published Sunday. "Now I realize he meant, 'Don't call us, we'll call you.'"

The Urbanskis' plight also was reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal in recent weeks.

Tommy Urbanski was one of three people wounded in the shooting outside the Minxx Gentleman's Club. He still has a bullet in his spine from the Feb. 19, 2007, incident, which occurred during NBA All-Star Weekend.

Kathy Urbanski told the Daily News she and her husband received two calls from the league about its desire to offer financial help, but when the Urbanskis called back, they received no response.

Prior to Super Bowl XLII, Goodell addressed the Urbanskis' difficulties.

"I'm sorry about the tragedy the family is going through, but I don't feel we have any responsibility," Goodell said.

Goodell added that Kathy Urbanski agreed with him during their discussion, but Urbanski later disputed the commissioner's recollection of their conversation.

"This is a David-and-Goliath situation, with working people against a very greedy and evil corporation called the NFL," she told the Daily News.

With a civil lawsuit filed by the Urbanski family pending, Clark County District Court Judge Jessie Walsh is due to hear arguments Wednesday on the NFL's claim that Nevada courts lack the reach to hold the league responsible in the wounding of Tommy Urbanski.

Previously, the Nevada court ruled the Titans held no legal responsibility for Jones' actions that night. The Urbanskis are challenging that decision.

Jones pleaded no contest Dec. 6, 2007, to a reduced charge of conspiracy to commit disorderly conduct, a gross misdemeanor, in regards to his actions in the brawl inside the Las Vegas club.

No one has been charged with the shooting outside, and Jones' lawyer, Robert Langford, has declined to say if Jones knows the identity of the gunman.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

She better have proof that Goodell said what she said he did.

Cause Goodell is right. The NFL and himself doesn't owe this family anything. Pac-Man Jones's posse owes the family $$$$.

Bad Situation.

 

[CardinalChris]

Seems like Kathy is trying to throw enough bad press at the NFL to force a settlement.

 

[CardsFan88]

Well if he promised or said in any way the nfl would help, then he should do it. You looked before you leaped.

Even if legally they don't have the power to sue the nfl, mr. goodell should have kept his mouth shut.

Even then one could make the argument that in spirit, not in legality, the fact the NFL provided the means for pac man to 'make it rain', the fact that there are a number of these beyond the law players, and one of goodell's main kicks is that he'll deal with problems and won't accept off the field issues....well by not helping you pretty much mess up your own reputation, especially if you said you would help.

But why am I not surprised this would happen, he won't even fork over enough money to help retired players get medical care, to the point where some are blowing their brains out. I guess who knows if more care wouldn't have resulted in the same outcome, but overall if they won't pay for their own retired players medical care when each team rakes in well over 100 mill a year just from TV revenue, then they won't pay for this guy's because he was shot in a situation involving one of it's players.

There's one more option that would help this guy, one that would greatly help say GM and Ford be more competitive too worldwide by bringing down the cost of each car from 2-6k, can't remember the exact figure, but that conversation belongs in another section of the board.

Looks like to me everyone passes the buck. I think goodell is behaving stupidly in this situation, and is definitely passing the buck, but so are many others, so he isn't alone. The key is that it gets done for this guy, and the old nfl guys, and well everyone imo. Sadly everyone points fingers so nothing or next to nothing is done....and if it is, then they are in debt for maybe the rest of their lives..or damn near it. Pretty sad if all this guy can do is call for pizza, yet can't afford it because of the bills. Not a perfect analogy, but the spirit in it is sound.

It's almost like 'pacman pays for it or no one else' attitude. Or, that's the breaks kid attitude. That's not freedom, and quite frankly we as a society should be ashamed that a victim like him should suffer any additional penalty, but it seems we do, and the use of legalities doesn't absolve people of their moral responsibility. (obviously the procedures were done to say save his life, but I would have no doubt if he needed 1-10 more surgeries, not to mention complications which may arise 10-20 years from now, and maybe surgeries for those complications, etc.) Maybe not all are life threatening, but if he's in debt, and/or just doesn't have access to the funds, he's outta luck.

You may be right legally, but you are also very, very wrong Mr. Goodell and now everyone should expect to look at your statements with much cynicism. You definitely dropped a notch in my book upon hearing this.

Well Mr.G, a few ten's or hundreds of G's would have done greatly for this individual, and looked great for the NFL. I bet the backflow from this, even if basically nothing overall in terms of brining in (or in this case bring in less) money, when compared to what you would give in medical costs.

The questions he should ask is this...if all he has in mind is the bottom line
If I spend 200K or so on this guys, then NFL will be out 200k. But if I don't do anything I could get the negative impact that 200 million in ads won't recover from. Which is better?
If I spent this 200k or so, would I not get the free publicity maybe worth 50 million of ads in of itself?
Or the all important, what is my legacy and word worth? 200k or so apparently

But in the back of my mind I have this being linked to the medical bills of NFL old time players. He probably thinks or was informed that it sets a bad precedent to maybe pay for this guy's bills and then continue to shaft the old players. That the 200k might end up costing the NFL 50 mill later in old NFLPA player medical bills or something. Or maybe just that it maybe would risk something on this topic would cause them to maybe shaft this guy.

Of course figures are subjective.
Just my thoughts or rant.

 

[PDXChris]

I think the NFL has to be careful, otherwise every Tom, Dick and Jane will start sueing because the NFL enpowered someone to effect their life. I look at it this way. I drunk driver kills a loved one. He happens to be a rich CEO at Honey Well. Do I then sue Honey Well for allowing him to make a ton of cash and drive a H2 that crushed my loved ones car. Nope, I go after the person who made the mistake. Nothing will happen anyways. A lawsuite against the Titans got thrown out already.