Sports Illustrated skewers Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in a lengthy article in its latest edition, painting him as an egomaniac who's head exploded with fame.
Much of what is written in the story are personal accounts of people who have had brief meetings with the quarterback in different places. As such, some people will downplay those events.
But much of what is in the story also rings true.
Roethlisberger has been an arrogant SOB for much of his stay in Pittsburgh. But he's not alone in that. I've dealt with plenty of professional athletes or coaches who were.
Maybe his suspension by the NFL and scathing national stories such as this one will help him wise up.
It's not too late for him to change his ways and rehabilitate his tarnished image.
Some people will never accept him back, whether he turns a new leaf or not. But it will be interesting to see if the quarterback who finished the 2009 season is the same guy who shows up at training camp later this year.
so tired of this story
ReplyDelete..AND you know, Dale, that there are a LOT worse stories out there.
ReplyDeleteI personally think he is a douche, but the guy has talent. I think he will come back with something to proof and the Steelers will end up having a good season.
I, like Philip said am tired of this story. It is time to move on and hope he learned his lesson.
Will he improve as a person? Do leopards change their spots?
ReplyDeleteTime will tell if he can change his ways, though he needn't change all that much. As long as he keeps his egotistic remarks to himself and keeps his mouth shut, all he needs to do is be polite and nice, win football games and people, as well as fans will forget or downplay this whole incident to his lack of maturity in his young days. He must be really careful to whom he talks and what he says, what he does and all that, probably get a really good PR guy. I mean come on it isn't that hard, I know who we are talking about but did he learned his lesson, time will tell.
ReplyDeleteTo help relieve some of the tedium of reading all this negative publicity our team is getting could you tell us some of the guys you've encountered in the organisation who are at the opposite end of the spectrum? Surely there are some all 'round good guys playing for this team.
ReplyDeleteOn another note I also want to mention how encouraging it is to hear Casey Hampton is showing some dedication to the off-season training regimen this year. The glowing reviews from his teammates are a good sign (I hope).
When he first got to Pittsburgh, I thought Ben was pretty good.
ReplyDeleteHe was accomodating and cordial in his interviews and with the fans.
But since winning the first SB, he treated talking to the media as a chore - mind you, he only does it once a week for about five minutes - and the stories of his behavior grew.
As for the nice guys, maybe I'll do a post on that later in the week.
Be careful what you say about Ben, or the Steelers might revoke your press pass!
ReplyDeleteHe better com back 20 lbs lighter too and be a good little soldier.
ReplyDeleteGood guys have to be Heath Miller, Charlie Batch, Aaron Smith, Brett Keisel and Troy. Many more of course but those came to mind first. Keisel always seems willing to speak to media and fans and works hard year after year.
ReplyDeleteWanted to see if I could guess who Dale will list.
Aaron Smith and Brett Keisel seem to have much respect from their teammates and media, as do several others but if we are guessing nice guys Lolley will pick I say those 2.
ReplyDelete-Jordan
So how many in the local media knew about him riding the motorcycle without a helmet?
ReplyDeleteI know from all the rumors and/or eyewitness accounts of his behavior to women, especially waitresses that have ran rampant over the years, there is no way the media had not heard about it.
So my question is now that some of the truth of Ben being a jerk has came out, will the local media still protect him if he doesn't change his ways?
As for a good guy, I would think you could start with Troy. I don't know how he relates to the media and he beats to a different drum, but every off the field story I've ever heard about him has been positive.
Also I've been seeing Ward trashed on message boards lately as being a bigger jerk off the field and to the media than Ben. Of course I've heard the stories of Ward's divorce due to cheating, but please tell me he doesn't treat women as badly as Ben.
Charlie Batch was accused of being involved in a gang rape in Vegas a number of years ago. I hope there was no truth to it, but you never know.
ReplyDeleteIf Troy Polamalu isn't a genuinely nice guy I give up.
ReplyDeleteNaturally we like them because they're good football players rather than nice guys and I wouldn't be disappointed to find out a guy like James Harrison was "edgy" but I still like hearing some of the more positive sides of the team. It will be tough to put all this aside when the season starts. It's no good to dwell on it but you can't just pretend it never happened either. If Ben can ignore the constant heckling he's about to be barraged with when he comes back I'll be impressed.
Dale are you like KDKA and have been hiding the truth about Ben, to try to scoop you're brother journalists. I heard Bob Pompeaniwould sell his soul for a scoop.Bob'sa Lemieux suck up.Is there any truth to the Pittsburgh Police covering up for Ben's actions because he buy's them police dogs?
ReplyDeleteI haven't hid anything about Ben. I've never expressed any kind of dislike for the guy because he treats the media with contempt. Greg Lloyd did the same, though differently.
ReplyDeleteI've found that fans don't really care whether a guy treats the media well. They just care whether the guy plays well.
As for the helmetless motorcycle riding. I heard a rumor about it, but I've never seen it.
Dale,
ReplyDeleteWhy do you think KDKA covered it up? My opinion is they don't want to lose access to players and losing interviews.
Not all fans hold the media in contempt and some of us do realize all of you have a job to do. When these players employers give you guys/girls access to them it's their job to treat you guys with respect.
It sounds as if Ben has zero respect for anyone and I think if someone in the media had did a story of his lack of respect when he was winning fewer people would be attacking the media now for "piling on."
Nothing in this story is surprising to anyone living around the Pittsburgh area. Especially if your in your 20's. I have heard some of these stories in the SI article and I have heard more. I know of women who have had "encounters with him". I already knew what kind of person he was before this stuff even happened. Also, anyone who thinks he wasn't gonna ride a motorcycle again is naive. He dodged the question of whether he would ride again in interviews after his accident. I guarentee that their is at least one guy with the same behavior on every team in the NFL. Enjoy the way he plays football and wins...and move on.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone else see this SI story as a cheap shot against Ben? They are not really reporting anything other than tales of him being a bad guy. There aren't any laws or NFL rules being broken in the entire article. What exactly, is the point of the article? The timing of the story is cowardly in my opinion. If you're going to smear someone's character, don't wait until he hits rock bottom to do it.
ReplyDeleteI'm a "journalist" and to me, this SI story is pretty pathetic.
BR behaves in a boorish manner, a lot of locals know about and now everyone else in the country does, too. BR has no one to blame but himself for that. Don't want stories about you being a "bad guy"? Don't act like one.
ReplyDeleteWhy did you put journalist in " "? Weird.
ReplyDeleteThe question is, did Ben enjoy his skewering by SI as much as she did?
ReplyDeleteDale,
ReplyDeleteWhat's your take on this story in relation to the other SI Story yesterday about Head Injuries and Ben?
Throwing some more good guy names in there I have to add James Farrior. Hines Ward has a youth football camp here in Atlanta every year with several Steelers as instructors. 2 years ago, he had a Celebrity Car Wash where all the players went to his car detailing business to meet fans. There was a table set up and the players went in shifts. Farrior spent all his time out in the crowd signing stuff, posing for pics and talking with fans, especially kids. My 10yr old son was thrilled. Very polite and nice guy. He was the only one that did that
ReplyDeleteYawn... That story is as stupid as it gets. In a group of 50 people you will find atleast 5-10 people who behave like that. When it is not un-common in public... why would it be in Athletes?
ReplyDeleteIt is a cheap shot as said by Superfan99.
As far as winning over public i guess Ben, first, has to win over the locker room which is much much tougher. And if DD or lefty wins all the 4 or 6 matches he can never win back the team leave alone fans.
But if Steelers loose all the 4 matches, including 2 pathetic games, then things will get pretty different. He will be instantly forgiven by the fans and team alike.
Its going to be interesting 4 weeks of season. :D
I really have no idea about the concussion stuff.
ReplyDeleteI was on 93.7 tonight and they asked me about it. The first person that came to mind was Hoge. He damn near died and had to retire because of concussions. Haven't heard about him not being able to control himself around women.
an interesting part of him missing 4 games is going to be the adjustment he faces when he finally does play. I know Ben is a vet, but that is 4 weeks (5 with the bye) of the opponent playing at full speed and Ben hans't played a down. As good as he is, I don't see him coming in throwing strikes right away.
ReplyDeleteI'm really curious the Steelers record after those 4 games. 2-2 is the easy prediction.
And that article is half garbage. I think Ben is a moron for the situations he has put himself in and most likely he is probably an arrogant, full of him self celebrity. But wheres that news in that?
Some of the stories and tales in that article are from a guy (at TGI Friday's) who heard him say something to a waitress. Maybe Ben is terrible with how he deals with woman. But if we suspended every athlete for lewd comments to girls, then we wouldn't have very many sports to watch.
And Ben trash talks during pick up basketball games? The horror! the horror!
Dale why don't you write a story about the positive things Ben does in the comunity and quote some "sources" telling us that Ben said thank you when out and paid his bill or whatever.
ReplyDeleteI put "" around journalist because I write for a fantasy sports site. Not sure if you can call what I do journalism.
ReplyDeleteMost of us have already figured the head injury thing was going to used as an excuse at some point. I don't buy it.
ReplyDeleteBen was born a jerk and will remain so. I don't care about his football skills - he is STILL a J-E-R-K!
Robert
"Dale why don't you write a story about the positive things Ben does in the comunity and quote some "sources" telling us that Ben said thank you when out and paid his bill or whatever."
ReplyDeleteWhat the Hell is positive about BR?
A severe head injury causing a sharp change in personality is absolutely a legitimate possibility. I've seen it first hand. I'm not saying it's what happened with Ben, but it IS a possibility, whether you 'buy it' or not.
ReplyDeletealien abduction causing a sharp change in personality is absolutely a possibility. I've heard many people say it happened to them. i'm not saying it's what happened with ben, but it is a mathematical possibility, whether you buy it or not.
ReplyDeleteA leopard can't change his spots. Ben was a douche, is a douche and will always be a douche.
ReplyDeleteSo you mean to tell me he's a professional football player who isn't in the running for good-guy-of-the-year?! Good God. It shouldn't be that hard to fathom.
ReplyDeleteGo root for boy scouts.
That's a good point, Chris. Show me a team of choir boys and I'll show you a team that's probably not very good.
ReplyDeleteThat said, society does have its laws.
As I stated before, Greg Lloyd was and is a jerk. But he was a great player.
Let's not get carried away. Greg Lloyd was a good player not a great player.
ReplyDelete