| Harry Carson | |
| Mike Ditka | |
| Tony Dorsett | |
| Donnie Green | |
| Daryl Johnston | |
| Cyril Smith | |
| Willie Wood |
| Michael Felix | Director |
| Dannie Fite | Co-producer |
| William J. MacDonald | Associate Producer |
| Rico McClinton | Producer |
| Roman Phifer | Producer |
| Collin Pittier | Screenwriter |
| Joe Ruggiero | Producer |
| Josh Salzberg | Screenwriter |
| Ryan Sheffer | Screenwriter |
| Louisa Spring | Associate Producer |
Anonymous
Posted October 1, 2010
I Also Recommend:
Roman Phifer - three time Super Bowl Champion and Assistant Coach for the Denver Broncos - and his business partners Rico McClinton and Joe Ruggiero produced this hard hitting film that focuses on the issues facing former NFL Players following their retirement, including their ironic struggle against the NFL Player's Union and the Owners they made rich.
The film features intense, passionate interviews with such notables as Mike Ditka (Player Super Bowl V, VI; Coach Super Bowl XX), Harry Carson (Super Bowl XXI), Willie Wood (Super Bowl XXIV), Cyril Smith, Donnie Green, Tony Dorsett (Super Bowl XXXVII), Darryl Johnston (Super Bowl XXX) who share heartfelt and personal testimonies of living their dreams as NFL players - as well as the dark side of that life and some of the unforeseen nightmares.
Anonymous
Posted October 1, 2010
The National Football League attracts 17.6 million fans and generates about $7.2 billion annually. As a result, the NFL Players Association, the union representing about 1,400 players, has amassed a war chest of $1.2 billion, yet largely turns a blind eye toward the health and welfare of former players who helped make the league what it is today, according to the documentary Blood Equity.
The film explores (a bit one-sidedly) the dark side of America's most lucrative blood sport and the struggles some players have regarding compensation for serious disabilities as a result of playing football.
Blood Equity features frank interviews about the horrific repercussions of football injuries with the likes of Mike Ditka, Harry Carson, Willie Wood, Cyril Smith, Donnie Green, Tony Dorsett and Darryl Johnston.
Specifically, the documentary focuses on the misfortunes befalling Hall of Famers Mike Webster and John Mackey. Webster's lawyer and son explain how the former Pittsburgh Steelers center, suffering from diminishing mental capacity, was continually denied benefits by the NFLPA until his death in 2002.
Considered the greatest tight end in NFL history, former Baltimore Colt Mackey was forced to go on his wife's health care plan as the once erudite player and businessman dealt with the debilitating effects of dementia and the NFLPA's tepid efforts to provide assistance.
Blood Equity is indeed a sobering look at pro football. It is also a snapshot of a callous, greed-driven business.
By : Erik Gruenwedel | Home Media Magazine | Posted: 24 Oct 2009
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