Ben Roethlisberger has one chance to stay with Pittsburgh Steelers
April 22, 2010 by William K. Wolfrum
Now that the NFL has decreed that un-litigated rape is worthy a four-to-six-week suspension along with a “comprehensive behavioral evaluation by professionals,” the future of Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is becoming slightly clearer.
From my perspective, however, there is only one way Roethlisberger should be allowed to stay with the Steelers - he has to go all in. Ben Roethlisberger doesn’t just need his mind tested, he needs his mettle as a person tested. Because on the field, Roethlisberger is fearless. Off the field, he’s a coward.
Let’s start this with a straight-forward premise: Ben Roethlisberger raped a girl at a nightclub. At very least, it was the second time he has run afoul of the law by abusing women sexually.
Let me also state that as a life-long Steelers’ fan, I’m willing to listen to claims of bias here. But part of being a Steelers’ fan is pride in how they refuse to allow trouble to take over their team. Last week they just gave away Santonio Holmes for infractions 28 other teams would have ignored. So I like Steelers’ football and Steelers’ culture.
Still, to me, Roethlisberger has just one shot to stay in the Black & Gold = he must become a feminist.
Ben Roethlisberger needs to learn about his problem and learn some more. He needs to do a lot of listening before he starts talking. He needs to see that he has horrifying inner feelings about women. He needsa to learn why and how to change that. He needs to speak out for womens` causes and use his celebrity to help bring more notice to Sexual Abuse programs for women.
And he must never back away from the allegations. He need not declare his guilt outright, but he must declare he is a sexual predator or something of that nature. He needs to stand by his past crimes as he works to change his image. And he must do it all because he wants to. Because he wants to respect women. Because he wants to be a good person. And it must be a life-time commitment.
At this very moment, Ben Roethlisber is a danger to society. Unless he approaches his past deeds in a comprehensive, never-before-see way, I have no use for him. And neither should the Pittsburgh Steelers.
-WKW
Yup.
Lifelong Steeler fan, huge Big Ben fan. The previous incident, the one with the civil suit still pending, I shrugged off because by all indications that woman is crazy and has filed more than one of those.
Then this. I hoped for a while that Roethlisburger was just an idiot for hanging at a college bar, where nothing but trouble could happen. But no, that police report is pretty damning. Drunken testimony from 20-year-olds may not be bulletproof, but I’m 99.9% sure my team’s QB is a rapist, possibly a serial offender. At the very least a contemptible human being.
Fuck.
At this point, if they get rid of them, I’d be OK with it. I waited 26 years between Super Bowls, I’ll wait another 26 if we have to start over. I can’t root for that guy. Maybe he grows up, maybe not, but I doubt it.
The “Big Ben is an asshole” stories have been coming out of the woodwork lately, and boy do they paint an ugly picture.
I’m not a Steelers fan (not even an NFL fan), but it does seem from all I’ve read that as a group, Steelers fans are showing a lot of good character in their response to this incident.
Still, to me, Roethlisberger has just one shot to stay in the Black & Gold = he must become a feminist.
*Love* this recommendation, but I can’t imagine it ever coming to fruition. Like expressing support for gay rights, taking a pro-feminist stance would, unfortunately, require actual courage for a high-profile athlete in one of our more popular faux-gladiator sports.
From my perspective, it seems like most “tough guy” athletes are tough in the Bush/Cheney sense of the word — outwardly aggressive in controlled environments where their “manly man-liness” can be celebrated w/out really being challenged.
Actually admitting weakness & demonstrating true compassion? Big ol’ Ben ain’t nowhere near man enough to do that.
Well said, Bill. With or without humor, you’re a helluva writer.
Thanks Bob, I really appreciate that from you.