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Mike Ditka, well known for championing the cause of increased support for ailing or financially-strapped former NFL players, folded his charity yesterday.  USA Today recently reported that during its few years of operation, Mike Ditka's Hall of Fame Assistance Fund collected approximately $1.3 million, but only gave out $57,000.  Much of the fund's proceeds were spent on staging golf tournaments to raise funds for former players.

As a result, Ditka dissolved his charity and announced that he would split the remaining proceeds between two charities: (1) the Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund, a fund that esentially does what Ditka wanted to do -- help ailing or down-on-their-luck former pro football players, and (2) Misericordia, a Chicago charity for disabled children.

Despite the hits Ditka is taking (and will take) due to this story, its apparent that Ditka still plans to take an active role in advocating for the cause of ailing or down-on-their-luck former players.  In fact, the Chicago Sun-Times quotes Ditka on this issue saying "I'm ready to fight now."

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