Grid Iron Mike

[Spook]

Tragedy for the Teaching


Mike and his wife Pam went out on the night of the NFL draft in 1974 because he never really thought he would be drafted into the NFL. When he got home, shortly after midnight in Wisconsin, the phone rang. It was Woody Widenhofer (one of Pittsburg Steelers’ assistant coaches) telling Mike Webster that he had been drafted in the fifth round. In 1974 there were 17 draft rounds, so the 5th round sounds more impressive than if the draft rounds were much shorter like those of today. Mike played four all-star games after his senior year of college before being drafted. He always woke up at 5am every morning, went to his father-in-law’s house in Lodie, WI to workout in the garage followed by running sprints with a sled. Fooball was his life.

Mike earned his nickname “Iron Mike” Webster because when he played he gave all. He never sat on the bench with an injury or at least not until much later in his NFL career. From 1974 to 1985 he played 177 consecutive games as center for the Steelers. He held the team record of 220 games and nine Pro Bowls (a record for an offensive lineman) during his 15 years. “Iron Mike” was inducted into the hall of fame with Mike Haynes, Don Shula, and Wellington Mara. Just one example of why he was called “Iron Mike” could be illustrated by this story:

“One time he sustained a very bad neck injury and spent an entire week in traction at the hospital. He had never missed a game yet, so on game day, he checked himself out of the hospital. When his teammates finished their pregame breakfast and walked into the locker room, there was Mike Webster putting on his pads.”

Many people may not remember or may never have known who Mike Webster was unless the person is a hardcore NFL fan or a Steelers fan. Most people tend to remember the quarterbacks or other offensive linemen, but rarely do they remember the centers. Iron Mike was quite possibly the greatest center in the history of the sport, and he was a very powerful center offensive lineman. He knew how to adjust constantly in order to get the most leverage possible against his opponent, and then he would come up in such a rising blow that his opponents always dreaded playing opposite of him. Even against Jack Lambert in practice drills, Lambert couldn’t hold his own against him. Iron Mike knocked him on his can everytime they drilled. A reporter one time observed a practice and asked the coach where the found the stiff Lambert.

Iron Mike had a solid iron determination and dedication to the game and his team. He possessed an iron will to play with a great many injuries during his career. Unfortunately, he incurred far too many injuries. In 1988, the Steelers forced him into retirement. Webster felt very betrayed by the organization that he have his life to and received so many injuries to make that team great. He did however play two more seasons, but it was for the Kansas City Chiefs. He wasn’t the same player though; the Steelers knew something that Webster refused to admit.

Mike was very humble about his achievements and was a very independent person. He was even self-effacing about his career and never displayed his mementos openly, but usually kept them in rooms away from the main rooms of the house. But his health was failing considerably now. He lost his stamina, his veins were enlarged, and he passed out twice (once while jogging and once at their pool). He was hospitalized in the summer of 1992 where his weight dropped from 255 to 235 in three days. He was diagnosed with cellulitis (bacterial inflammation of connective tissues), but the doctors also believed he had a couple of mild heart attacks as well.

Shortly after the hospital, Mike and Pam learned that they lost between $3.5 to $4 million they had invested in a Pittsburg business trust. The money was misappropriated by two lawyers (who were supposed to be his friends) and was tied up in loans. He could no longer pay his medical bills or anything else and they quickly began losing their possessions. A wedge was being driven between him and Pam at this point. They were broke and to make matters worse, Mike would disappear sometimes for weeks. Pam didn’t know where he was nor how to contact him. Sometimes he was looking for business opportunities, but sometimes he would leave the house and sleep in his car because he could no longer remember where he lived. The memory problems stemmed from numerous head traumas and his refusal to quit; he just continued to play with injuries. Mike thought that he might have Parkinson’s Disease from the bombardment of spasms, shakes, and convulsions that were occuring far more frequently. His memory kept failing more. He began forgetting and not recognizing old friends and family members.

His finances were in dire straits. His wife filed for a divorce and Mike was now homeless and living out of his car. His four superbowl rings were never seen and some people reported that he sold them for desperately needed cash, but he denied this vehemently and said they were in a safety deposit box. On the eve of his induction into the Hall of Fame he was trying to reassemble the pieces of his broken life. Mike was battling crooked lawyers, medical problems, and depression. Some people attributed his health problems to steroids, but Webster always denied using them. He did display some of the classic signs of steroid use such as rapid weight gain, hairloss, water retention, and symptoms of congestive heart failure. It could have been and probably was due to the repetitive head traumas he received instead. He admitted this during a very embarrassing 1999 press conference after being arrested for obtaining drugs with a forged perscription. As in accordance with his personality, he always felt uncomfortable in the media spotlight, but at this time the discomfort was immense because it was for all the wrong reasons. He broke down into tears when he apologized for embarrassing himself, his family and the fans of Pittsburg. After composing himself he expressed that he wanted no pity nor sympathy. Mike was convinced that he could make it on his own, he was always convinced and never wanted charity…it hurt his pride.

Warriors aren’t supposed to breakdown, but over the years of repetitive head trauma and numerous injuries, he was broken harshly where he should have only bent. “Iron Mike” Webster died alone.

As with anyone, we are all subject to bend and possibly break whether it is life that brings us trials, the grid-iron, or the gym and injuries that can be suffered there. One of the things I loved about Mike Webster was his resolve and determination. He was humble, independent, and had a “never-give-up” attitude. It is the achievements and successes in his career where a great amount of inspiration and motivation can be found. But, those positive attributes of his personality can also be weaknesses as well. Sometimes we need to know when to quit, but for the most part it really isn’t about quitting as much as it is to just take a break to let an injury heal or to let your body rest. If your persistence drives you to achieve, then keep your wits well enough to be safe while achieving your goals. You can be the most intelligent person alive but if you have no wisdom you are still a fool. Wisdom is not a cosmic mystery nor is it intelligence. Wisdom is the application of intelligence…the application of knowledge correctly. Be wise and be safe.

“We tend to forget that football is the be-all and end-all of these guys lives. It’s the father, mother and everything else. It tells you what time to get up, what to eat, and where to go. That’s a very structured, stabilizing force. I think that without the direction that football put in his life—put in our life—it was a very difficult transition.”—Pam Webster.


Spook
Administrator
www.massmonsters.com

*** "Why is it that when I'm in deep thought I have the same look on my face as when I'm constipated?" ***

[This message was edited by Spook on 04-01-03 at 03:36 PM.]