From Pittsburgh: Is Big Ben Off-Sides?
Big Ben Roethlisberger has become our hometown hero as one of the best Quarterbacks in football. He helped the Steelers win games when it was so close, they may not have had that win in their column. We have held him up high as he himself raised the bar in football and raised the Lombardi Trophy over our city. Pittsburgh loves its heroes and Ben has been one who helped a city which is re-inventing itself, to promote that positive image. We stand by our own, even when many others give up. Now, however, he has once again brought questions about his character and may have lowered the bar in his personal lifestyle.
- Image by Getty Images via Daylife
In 2006 he nearly lost his life due to not wearing a helmet while riding and crashing his motorcycle. We chalked it up to his youth and rallied for his recovery. Then a hostess in Nevada accused Ben of sexually assaulting her. She had failed to file a police report and Ben denied the accusations. They settled out of court and many chalked this one up to a wanton woman wanting money from a Super (and rich) hero. The latest of Ben’s escapades, however, has us shaking our heads, talking in coffee shops and wondering whether Big Ben has been off-sides in personal life, thereby casting aspersions not only on himself, but on football, the Rooneys and this city of Pittsburgh.
As a woman I ask myself why a woman would go to the police and file a report of sexual assault, when we know that in courts, many women are re-victimized as every aspect of their personal life is examined and dissected in the search for her as being complicit. It is a humiliating process for women, and one does not take this step lightly. The twenty year old college student who happened to be in the same bar in Milledgeville, Georgia last week as Ben Roethlisberger, has taken the steps of filing a complaint of sexual assault against him with the police, hiring an attorney and thereby subjecting herself to scrutiny which will be denigrating and up-heaving. Ben has hired one of the top attorneys in Atlanta. Another high-profile case has begun, and this time it is not Tiger Woods or one of the Washington politicians. It is Big Ben, hometown hero.
The investigation continues and Ben is innocent until proven guilty. That is the law. What the law does not cover is that this 28 year old man should have better judgment. Whether he likes it or not, with the victories come the spoils and that should not include rotten behavior which denotes lack of character. Certainly he is no newcomer to fame. Whether on the field or off the field, he has a responsibility to conduct himself properly. He may be innocent. She may be seeking money. But this time, this time, Ben has us all wondering whether he deserves the status he has attained.
—cher
The whole thing is very disappointing. He’s grown enough and has been through enough to know better. You’d think one with so much to lose, AND having nearly lost it twice already, would have taken measures to ensure that nothing like it would happen again. That he continues along this shaky path shows that nothing has sunken in. He’s letting down his teammates, his bosses and his city.
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bluzdude,
I agree; no matter what, he has let us all down. His image, whether he likes this or not, is our image. He has embraced this city and we have given him much in return. Even if not guilty, he showed poor thinking. If he is an ‘open target for women’ he should be cautious about where and with whom he conducts activities. Let him be a player ON the field.
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I really don’t follow football so I’d never heard of him until these latest charges. In the past I used to assume that the woman had to be telling the truth, because why else would anyone put themselves through such scrutiny. Now there have been so many high profile cases with false accusations that it’s hard to know what to think. I definitely reserve judgment these days when I hear about charges like these.
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Tina T,
We need to reserve judgment about what really happened. My point is that no matter what the outcome, Ben needs to be cognizant that he has to maintain a certain decorum or he will continue to be targeted and/or scrutinized.
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ooo not good not good at all. rape or sexual harrasment has to be seen as a crime without gender; to be assessed and prosecuted properly. without an impartial eye, it becomes exactly as you said Cher, a case of lingering PTSD for no good end to the victim; or the crime. Thank God he didn’t pay her off and make her go away this time. he has a bad habit and someone needs to nuter it.
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Oh, I hate these situations. As you say, why would a woman report such a crime and subject herself to the scrutiny if it isn’t true? Then again, women have been known to do so before. If they are indeed lying then there is no pain in sitting in the spotlight and lapping up all of the attention.
I’m not too sure about saying that the sports hero needs to avoid such situations though. Let’s say he is innocent. Saying he should avoid going out, getting drunk and going home with strangers is exactly what we say when we blame women for “getting themselves raped”. He has a fundamental right to live his life in the way he wants to live it without being falsely accused of rape.
If he is proven guilty, then so be it. He then deserves whatever punishment they throw at him.
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ausetkmt,
No, not good at all. I hope Ben is innocent but you know how these cases drag out. At the very least it will be a distraction for his team as speculation continues and as he carries this shadow of doubt. Again, he is presumed innocent. Is the alleged victim always presumed guilty? I wonder….
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Emm,
Ben does have fundamental rights, but he also carries the fundamental burdens of his choice to be in the spotlight as a Pro Football player. He needs to weigh these issues and determine a lifestyle that will not put him in a dim light. It casts too many negative reflections, not only for him but for the game of football, the team and the owners he represents, as well as the city which has so embraced him.
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I know Pittsburgh loves Ben. It is true that he’s a gritty quarterback and done a nice job helping his team.
However, he seems to love being in the role of the “Average Joe.” Like he’s one of the guys, not to be confused with “One of The Guys.” But he’s got to realize he’s not just anyone. He’s a star and he’s in the public spotlight. What the hell is he doing at some dive bar at 2am in the morning? I mean that’s just stupid and asking for trouble.
The motorcycle incident and other rumors of sexual escapades seemed like passing mistakes, but now it’s starting to look a lot like a pattern, and for that he won’t be forgiven so easily.
But, I’m a believer in, Innocent until proven Guilty, so we’ll see.
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One of The Guys,
Yes, and just what is he doing in a college bar? Someone described him as having “arrested development.” I like that. Guilty or innocent he needs to learn the bounds of his success.
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A 27-year-old single man with that much money, that much testosterone, an outside-of-Pittsburgh college bar, and a “yes man” posse is a dangerous combination. Pretty soon you’re bound to be placing a call to Pacman Jones’ lawyer.
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Carpetbeagger,
It is the perfect combination for disaster, isn’t it? Reports are surfacing that Ben goes places and has his posse recruit women for him. Who knows? He did bring this on himself. There will be lots of stories circulating.
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