In light of his recent troubles with not only the law, but also with the Steelers management, the NFL commissioner, and yes, us, the fans, the Duke of Fug and the Earl of Gross, Ben Roethlisberger is the subject of a tell-all Sports Illustrated article in which he is basically Kitty Kellyed.

Now, before I tell you what is contained in the article and what I think about the article, I need to give full disclosure here. I was contacted by Sports Illustrated about an interview for that particular article. I did consider giving the interview and I even set up a tentative time to meet with one of the writers, who spent almost a whole week in Pittsburgh getting the story straight from Burghers. I backed out when the writer contacted me to confirm a time, and the reason I backed out was as simple as this: a gut feeling.  I worried the article would be too negative and I didn’t like the idea of my name appearing in it. My opinions on Benny are well known by my readers and it didn’t seem like there is anything positive about me rehashing those opinions to a national magazine. And what if Benny really sexually assaulted this woman? Then I’m using a horrible situation to advance my own name? No thank you very much to that zooming Karma Boomerang.

Long story short, I said, “No thanks,” and the writer could not have been more understanding.

Having said that, whew! Bullet, dodged.

AN NFL SUPERSTAR’S REPULSIVE BEHAVIOR, THE ULTIMATE EXPRESSION OF ATHLETIC ENTITLEMENT RUN AMOK, HAS FORCED EVEN THE MOST DIEHARD FANS TO QUESTION THEIR TEAM AND THEIR FOOTBALL FAITH—AND MADE A SMALL TOWN IN GEORGIA WISH HE’D NEVER PAID A VISIT

Ouch.

The article’s most juicy bits are made up of he said/she said stories, second-hand accounts, and muck-raking details.

Here’s a few:

• Rumors of a video taken by KDKA showing Benny on a motorcycle, helmet-less, AFTER his accident and recovery, and Benny flipping them the finger as he drives away. KDKA higher uppers deny the existence of a video, but SI has nameless witnesses claiming they’ve seen it. Personally, I believe it exists. But that’s just an opinion. No facts in this here bullet point.
• “All my bitches, take my shots.”  We knew this one.
• Benny leaving waitresses with tabs, forcing them to chase him down.
• Benny asking a pregnant woman if her “boyfriend forgot to pull out.” Geez oh man.
• Benny’s friends shaking their heads at Benny for his behavior both in bars and clubs and, also, on the frickin’ pickup basketball court. Some friends.
• He’s banned from the Cabana Bar (never heard of it) for repeatedly demanding free entry.

Is Ben Roethlisberger an asshole? By all accounts, hell yes. Has he been a pretty lousy human being with a distorted sense of entitlement for some years now? Oh, heck yes. Is he a douche? Apparently! Do I want him traded away? Golly gee, I do!  Makes bad decisions? Yep! Treats women like crap sometimes? Yep!

I’ll be the first to point out his shortcomings, and, well, I have this here blog that does just that on occasion, but there’s a line and this article crossed the line from journalism to muck-raking. It went from a biography of a faulted man to a tell-all, leave-no-stone-unturned piece of garbage designed to do one thing and one thing only: kick Benny enough while he’s down to sell some magazines.

I have ragged on Benny for years for his sloppy appearance, his football lows, and his personal behavior, but I have never printed one single rumor I’ve heard about his behavior and guys, I have heard and been emailed quite a few. Sure there are consequences to poor choices and it seems okay to talk about them and say, “Whoa! You are making it hard to root for you.” But this article went beyond that and into territory usually reserved for politicians out to find every bad thing they can about an opponent. It doesn’t make it right, but really, how many NFL players are guilty of being jerks? I bet if I walked around Indianapolis long enough, I can find some people willing to tell me about the time that Peyton Manning guy was a real jerkwad to a waitress or a fan. It’s just in Benny’s case, they get to pair those stories with all of his recent problems and label him as “repulsive” for it.

It doesn’t make Benny’s behavior right, but it also doesn’t make this article anything more than tabloid-caliber sensationalism.

Benny has made horrible choices (hiya, mullethawkenberger) and he is facing the consequences for those choices. He’s lost the respect of a majority of this city. He’s got a majority wanting him traded away, if polls are to be believed. He’s got me really wishing he wasn’t a Steeler anymore just so we can stop dealing with the never-ending fallout of his behavior and shortcomings. He’s suspended for six games. He’s going through behavioral counseling. His “friends” are blabbing his on-court antics to national magazines. His jerseys might as well be tainted with Ebola, no one wants to touch them. I’m sure he is suffering for his mistakes and hopefully that will be the rock bottom he, by all accounts, needed to hit.

It’s Benny’s own fault he’s even looking at rock bottom, but Sports Illustrated is down there with him, mired in muck.

And with that line, I pretty much have destroyed any chance of ever being asked to interview with Sports Illustrated again, not even when I win my Olympic curling medal.

Meh.

Category: Ben Roethlisberger | tags: Ben Roethsliberger | May 5, 2010 | |

68 Responses

1. Carpetbagger Says:
   May 5th, 2010 at 4:46 pm

   Now if they would have put him in a swimsuit, THAT would have been news.

2. Mama Moose Says:
   May 5th, 2010 at 4:47 pm

   I was at the Western PA School for the Deaf yard sale this weekend and there was someone trying to give away– for free– a Roethsliburger jersey (I think it was an official one) and no one would take it. I thought that said a lot about how much trouble he’s in with the fans.

3. Tiffany Says:
   May 5th, 2010 at 4:54 pm

   I have heard rumors of the Burghs other golden boy athlete, and that is probably all they are, is rumors, and I think that’s what some of this is too.

   Ben is not my favorite person in the world, but I think it is time to focus on something more positive about this city. Props to you for going with your gut.

4. Steelerslover Says:
   May 5th, 2010 at 4:57 pm

   Sigh, that’s all I keep doing about this. I agree with Tiffany, I’m just so ready to move on past this. I’m not sticking up for Ben, but I agree there are a lot of players out there who have done a lot worse (Ray Lewis) and were not put through something like this. I’m so sick of it and ready to move on.

5. L-A Says:
   May 5th, 2010 at 5:00 pm

   You’re a smart cookie for staying away, Miss Virginia. I read the article and, as mad as I am at Benny, I can’t help but feel a bit sorry for him now. It was the least fact-filled article EVER. They could have at least pretended to show the good stuff he does (his work with police department K-9′s, his…well, i’m sure he’s done other nice things to actual humans, too, at some point), but they stuck to the US Weekly crap.

6. Stan Plock Says:
   May 5th, 2010 at 5:02 pm

   You know, we don’t tolerate this behavior amongst the Steelers, but NOBODY is wiling to openly talk about similar behavior at the CLO…you know who I’m talking about…

7. Kordell Says:
   May 5th, 2010 at 5:12 pm

   I never tried to Clinton no one and still got rode outta town

8. Monty Says:
   May 5th, 2010 at 5:20 pm

   I’m usually pretty squarely in your camp on these types of issues, but the tone of the article didn’t really bother me.

   I took it as an effort to convey to the rest of the country what, to me at least, has been the most interesting part of this story — Pittsburghers’ reaction to what he’s done as a result of the relationship that the city has with the team (as opposed to the reaction of Steelers fans who grew up in some other state during the 70′s and root for the Steelers because of their uniforms and history without understanding the city’s emotional attachment to a team that in many ways defines the people — the non-natives were largely focused only on whether his behavior was criminal and could care less about the impact on a town many of them have never visited). In order to get there, you almost have to understand the number of ways he’s dropped a rhino-sized turd on people who wanted to cheer for him.

   That said, I’m bummed out that it had to be written because it’s exacerbating our embarrassment. But at the core, it was his behavior that was tabloid-caliber. What else were they going to write about?

9. Jake Says:
   May 5th, 2010 at 5:20 pm

   If it’s the same Cabana Bar that I’m thinking about it’s up in Wexford in a “community center” surrounded by new development. It was also closed once or twice for serving minors – just his kind of place.

10. tw Says:
    May 5th, 2010 at 5:21 pm

    I give you props Ginny for staying out of it…wise and very mature.

    One thing I worry about is that Benny doesn’t seem to change when things come to blow. He’s been warned about his attitude before. I mean if Joey Porter taking you down a few pegs doesn’t do it for you then I don’t know what will. I’m just afraid he’ll put on a good face for a year or two and then we’ll hear all these stories all over again. It’s pretty tough for a leopard to change it’s spots, especially for a person who didn’t sound that apologetic to begin with. My expectations are unfortunately pretty low.

11. Virginia Says:
    May 5th, 2010 at 5:26 pm

    Monty, it’s a good point you make, but at the same time, Pittsburghers didn’t turn on Benny until Milledgeville. This article talks about a lot more than Milledgeville. We didn’t turn on him because he treated waitresses badly or because he’s a douche on the basketball court, so I don’t see how digging those things up is necessary to say this: “We don’t approve of what happened in Milledgeville.”

    But still, I can see your side of things.

12. MrsGJG Says:
    May 5th, 2010 at 5:31 pm

    I am so curious now as to what kind of funny business is going down at the CLO? Show tunes?

    I feel obligated to comment on the super fugginess of the cover photo. It’s nauseating and it’s only HALF his face. SI did the nation a favor by leaving the other half off.

13. Monty Says:
    May 5th, 2010 at 5:32 pm

    Fair point (and I’ll stop after this since it’s annoying when people hijack threads — no offense to anyone who posts under a name starting with Bojack), but Milledgeville went a LONG way toward validating a lot of things that previously had been rumors. It is a lot harder to compartmentalize those things with the sketchy Vegas accusations now.

    In any event, a 100% good call on your point for declining the interview.

14. Virginia Says:
    May 5th, 2010 at 5:34 pm

    Let me beat Bojack to the punch:

    !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    ??????????????????????

    

15. Tiffany Says:
    May 5th, 2010 at 5:43 pm

    @MrsGJG, I agree, is there a rusty trombone going on at the CLO that no one knows about or what? You can not throw that out there and not explain!

16. Pensgirl Says:
    May 5th, 2010 at 5:44 pm

    Sigh, when you said this morning that you saw “the” Sports Illustrated article, I was thinking of the one on Sid. Hadn’t learned about this one yet at the time.

    Read the Sid one.

17. Leslie in Dayton Says:
    May 5th, 2010 at 5:58 pm

    Ginny, good for you for going with your gut. It never lies. We know all too well the power of the karma boomerang.

    That said – one of my friends (who is a Bengals fan) sent me a link to that article, and I was also struck by how tabloid-ish it was. However, I also see Monty’s point as well. I’ve never lived in Pittsburgh – I’ve visited – so I can’t fully understand the depth of how bad it feels for you. I will say, though, that coming here has shown me how much you guys love your sports teams, and yes, how much they are a part of you and Pittsburgh. I envy that.

18. Greg Says:
    May 5th, 2010 at 6:27 pm

    Not that I am in support of Benny’s actions… I am very angry that SI, which I am a subscriber to, for writing this kind of article. Perhaps I should rephrase that, former subscriber. And they will be getting a very nasty letter from me as well, for their TMZ style of journalism. VERY irresponsible for a national magazine about sports to write an article about this.

19. Taylor Says:
    May 5th, 2010 at 6:29 pm

    Seems that KDKA is taking issue with SI too:

    The tale of the tape from the Post-Gazette…..

    KDKA and the Roethlisberger mystery tape

    In a new Sports Illustrated cover story, the magazine suggests KDKA-TV sat on video of Ben Roethlisberger riding a motorcycle without a helmet a few months after his motorcycle accident for fear of damaging its relationship with the Steelers. (KDKA has a marketing partnership with the Steelers and often features segments with Steelers players during KDKA newscasts during the NFL season).

    Acting news director Anne Lineaberger said she was not aware of such a tape.

    “Both the news director at the time, John Verrilli and assistant news director Anne Lineaberger, both people of impeccable integrity and people I trust, say they’re not aware of the existence of a tape and they never saw the tape,” Pike said.

    I suppose it’s possible the tape exists and someone lower down the station pecking order put the kibosh on airing the tape. But if you look at the rest of KDKA’s coverage of the Roethlisberger scandal, it has not felt to me like Channel 2 pulled punches in an effort to curry favor with the Steelers organization. They sent reporters to Georgia on several occasions and the story was all over KDKA newscasts.

    “It’s sort of ironic that national websites like ESPN or Sports Illustrated were quoting KDKA reports on the story as it was breaking … and then they would raise this,” Pike said. “We’ve covered this story and Santonio going back to when he was drafted, Jeff Reed’s incidents. I’m absoutely comfortable we cover it as it’s newsworthy.”

    http://community.post-gazette.com/blogs/tunedin/archive/2010/05/05/kdka-and-the-roethlisberger-mystery-tape.aspx

20. Erin Says:
    May 5th, 2010 at 6:31 pm

    Not sure if people realize this or are just skipping it to continue the Ben focus, but in the very same issue of SI featuring our “favorite” creepy quarterback is a very nice piece on what a great player and person Sidney Crosby is:

    http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1169156/index.htm

    Also, a well-written piece on Yahoo Sports last week about how to/how not to behave as a professional athlete in the Burgh (Crosby and the Pens vs. Creepy and some fellow Steelers).

    http://sports.yahoo.com/top/news;_ylt=AooegVDmMK.xBi3Yh89i2FZ7vLYF?slug=ea-crosbyrulespittsburgh043010

    A tale of two franchises/people/schools of thought.

21. Cassie Says:
    May 5th, 2010 at 6:34 pm

    Again, we look terrible. What’s worse is that it’s the Pittsburgher’s view on the whole situation, which if they had asked me, would have summed it up as, “It sucks.” And left it at that. It’s bad enough it makes our city look terrible, but then to ask everyone their ‘opinions’…I don’t know. I’m probably not one to ask, because, well, I’ve never liked the guy. I had the unfortunate experience of “serving” him at a restaurant I used to work at. He was harsh, grabbed my ass and WAS an ass. Then he left me a dime after his whole meal was paid for. He wouldn’t even go back and talk to the kitchen. I don’t even want to know what they did to his food…

    I’m glad you didn’t do the article. When there’s really nothing more to say than “He’s a smug little prick,” What’s the point of going on and on in an article?

22. Shane Says:
    May 5th, 2010 at 7:31 pm

    I was confused by the Cabana Bar reference and felt like a loser for not having ever heard of it considering how popular SI tells us it is.

    Btw, also on the SI website now is an article about how repeated head injuries may be contributing to Ben acting the way he does:

    http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/david_epstein/05/05/ben.roethlisberger/index.html?eref=sihp

23. Mac S. Says:
    May 5th, 2010 at 7:41 pm

    In half-sleep very late last night or early this AM I saw/heard a clip of the article writer claiming that when he called places in da Burgh to leave his name/reason for calling to interview someone else about this piece (when researching it) that the person taking his MESSAGE would be all ‘Yeah, you know let me tell you what he did to my cousin’s girlfriend at XYZ or he was an A**hole to my sister when she bumped into him, blah blah…’. In other words, people wanted to talk.

    Now that could have been him playing offense against any anticipated “gossipy journalism” criticism but I find that possibility interesting. So, are we a city of gossips selling out (with no credit) to any sports writer who calls or is enough finally ENOUGH and #7 won’t get the free pass on decent human behavior anymore?

    The article, unfair or harsher than he deserves, is the result of the last few years of chicken’s coming home to roost. After reading it I do actually feel sorry for him because – wow – what a public pillorying. I sincerely hope that he turns it around.

    That said SI had every reason to run that piece.

    I agree with Cassie above, you did the right thing by not joining in…what else could have been added?

24. tw Says:
    May 5th, 2010 at 7:56 pm

    Who knows…the article (through national humiliation) might help him see how poorly he’s acted. Honestly, when I listened to Ben’s first GA response and then later his written post-punishment statement it didn’t sound like someone who feels he did something wrong (just someone who has to state something for the public eye). And for the record, as a Steeler fan I didn’t turn my back on him b/c of this GA thing. He slowly was eroding my respect for him with all the rumors and antics (they can’t all be lies) that’s out there. The GA thing was just the last straw on a long list of things I’ve cringed about him. I believe Ginny was right not to attach her name to the article, but I do feel SI had a right to try and knock some sense into him. In my eyes his remorse has not been true.

25. richrovs Says:
    May 5th, 2010 at 8:04 pm

    I have only lived here 20 years so maybe I don’t qualify as a Pittsburgher, I am a huge fan of the Steelers and feel very let down. Great job Ginny. But he deserves every bad thing that comes his way. I will not watch the Steelers until he is gone and that really sucks because like I stated earlier, I love the Steelers. Thanks for listening.

26. Sooska Says:
    May 5th, 2010 at 8:09 pm

    There have been rumors about all kinds of stuff regarding all the famous athletes in town. If you are smart you believe none of the rumors. They are ridiculous-I am not talking Ben here.

    In that same issue there is THIS ARTICLE about Sid Crosby.

    KDKA would have every incentive to hide such a tape as they are the affiliate that carries the Steeler games. Don’t think the NFL would have liked it too much at the time. Now-who cares?

    KDKA has a lot of nerve citing news integrity. I recall a few stories they aired over the years that had no business even being considered “news.” One in particular was a story they “investigated” as they delved into the life of a private citizen with no fame or celebrity or even street cred or a blogger or anything – just a guy. Like you, or me. The “story” led directly to a tragedy. They should not try to take any high road as they made that turn years ago.

    PS Good for you Ginny. wise decision.

27. Scott Says:
    May 5th, 2010 at 8:30 pm

    *sigh*

    I miss those good old days of the G-20…

28. Bonnie Says:
    May 5th, 2010 at 8:42 pm

    Interestingly enough, SI.com has the following article posted this afternoon.

    http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/david_epstein/05/05/ben.roethlisberger/index.html?eref=sihp

    Almost seems to be a counter-balance to the tabloid-y piece. Even though I initially scoffed at the idea of what the article suggests, it does present some compelling information worth considering.

    Cabana Bar is well-known in the north hills. It’s part of the Oxford Athletic Club in Wexford(high end sports complex not a community center) and, to my knowledge, has never been closed for serving minors. Only open in the summer, it’s a very nice outdoor establishment with a “beach” theme. Think sand, fire pits and cozy chairs circled around.

29. bucdaddy Says:
    May 5th, 2010 at 9:04 pm

    Carpetbagger Says:
    May 5th, 2010 at 4:46 pm
    Now if they would have put him in a swimsuit, THAT would have been news.
    —
    Thanks for that image.

    *Pictures Ben in a Speedo. Retches violently.*

30. Kacie Says:
    May 5th, 2010 at 9:15 pm

    Peyton Manning is a good guy!

31. J Says:
    May 5th, 2010 at 9:25 pm

    Lukey doing the same kind of thing (taking advantage of who he his)? Would this happen at Las velas? Me thinks no…

    from my cousin’s facebook update:

    Whatever “partystahl”…. We’ve been waiting for a table for almost 2 hours and u just roll up in here and get a table… It’s good to be mayor… A real man of the people… Wrong time to pull rank @ Emilianos Southside

32. T Says:
    May 5th, 2010 at 9:30 pm

    Kicking him while he is down? Feel sorry for him? Angry at Sports illustrated? Please.

    The guy, just like some of our local politicians, is a pig. I don’t see how anyone with a daughter or sister could root for a guy like him. Personally, I liked the article. When you treat women the way he does, you deserve this kind of exposure.

33. Xena Says:
    May 5th, 2010 at 9:54 pm

    Ginny, your mention of Karma suggests that Ben himself might be just running into the mother of all Karmic boomerangs. He has the motorcycle accident. Learns nothing. Has Joey Porter and then perhaps another famous Steeler call him out for being selfish. Learns nothing. Gets into tangles with various waitresses, bartenders, and the like. Learns nothing. Gets sued for sexual assault and accused of rape. Learns nothing. Gets caught in Pittsburgh with his entourage funneling women into a VIP area. Learns nothing. Stiffs waitresses and gets a guy fired for doing his job. Learns nothing.

    Now we have the Milledgeville incident and the NFL suspension. He shows up to give a press statement looking like a thug. None of his statements to the press indicates that he has learned a thing. Now the dirty laundry, the sad and sorry arrogance, is all hanging out. It’s not just Steelers fans on talk shows and relatively short news articles that he can avoid. He made the cover of SI for being a stupid douchebag. If he doesn’t get it now, he never will. But how does someone this selfish, entitled and just plain mean “change”?

    The Rooneys ought to suspend him for the year and then see if he can, in fact, change. No reason to cut the ties or trade him. Just wait and see. But meanwhile, give him a year to do some real changing, if in fact he can or will.

34. Andy Says:
    May 5th, 2010 at 11:33 pm

    I am so pleased to see that SI wrote this article because too many people have tried to defend Ben by saying that he was never charged with any crimes and if he is not charged, then it must follow that he is innocent. If he is innocent, he is our 2 time Super Bowl winning quarterback and we should give him a free pass. Sorry, but Ben and every professional athlete should recognize that they are not merely paid to throw footballs, hit home runs, dunk basketballs and beat goaltenders like rented mules. They aren’t just the Steelers, the Pirates and the Penguins. They are the Pittsburgh Steelers, Pittsburgh Pirates and Pittsburgh Penguins. That means that while employed by those organizations, athletes are members of the community and very public ones at that. I don’t expect a role model for children (although it’s great if they do hold up to thst standard), but it’s imperative that they comport themselves in a manner that properly demonstrates the values of our city and region.

    My fear was that without an article like this, that once the legal matters subsided and the suspension was over, that everything else would have been swept aside and forgotten. Perhaps if I could find a single Yinzer that has had a positive first-hand experience with Ben, I wouldn’t be so insistent. But I haven’t found any and I’ve even had someone tell me that Jeff Reed was a fabulously nice guy. So I say rip the hell out of Ben to make absolutely, positively certain that he gets the idea to start acting with a modicum of common courtesy, sincerity and humanity when in public.

35. Baraboo Says:
    May 6th, 2010 at 12:19 am

    Love this blog, and will continue to love it from here on out but this is the first time I completely disagree with what you’ve had to say, Ginny.

    You get back what you give in this world. I firmly believe this.

    And I firmly believe Ben is an asshole and he’s long since overdue to have this backlash coming his way – his own doing.

    This isn’t about an article in SI. This is about a man, and a sorry excuse for a man he is.

    Ben’s a prick and I wouldn’t be surprised if all this doesn’t equate into not only a person not changing but one becoming a bigger prick that has become bitter.

    Afterall, can an asshole, mean person really change their ways?

    If so, Ben would be the first.

36. Nick Says:
    May 6th, 2010 at 4:21 am

    Shit, you bring up a good point about the jersey, I might have to get a new one now without the number 7 on it. Hmmm, now that I moved to Holland, that’s not going to be very easy…

37. Craig Says:
    May 6th, 2010 at 5:50 am

    Two things:

    A question, number seven jerseys used to be a top seller, where are they now?

    Don’t you think South Park got it right? “Entitlement” sounds like a good name for an alien.

38. Butcher's Dog Says:
    May 6th, 2010 at 7:45 am

    Life-changing events are, in fact, life-changing because of their impact. Think Ebenezer Scrooge, for one fictional example. Let’s wait and see (and it’ll be a long wait, microwave-attention-spans!).

    Piling on gets you 15 yards in penalties on the football field. SI seems to be piling on. Where’s the penalty?

    A fraternity brother of mine living in Buffalo (and out of college 40 years) would take Benny for the Bills in a heartbeat. Somehow we’ve morphed sports stars into community icons when their main function for, like, forever has been to win games. Period. Fats Holmes tried to shoot down a helicopter in a chemically induced rage and was still cheered once he got back on the field. Not defending Ben’s actions, but “trade him and go 4-12 with upright citizens” would grow old in a major hurry.

    I’m guessing the CLO reference was satire. Confirm, please?

39. JO Janoski Says:
    May 6th, 2010 at 7:54 am

    I feel, I dunno, violated that SI mouthed off about what is our ‘family’ business. And they did a crappy (tabloid) job of it at that. He’s a jerk, but he’s *our* jerk. Do I sound provincial? We’re just that kind of town…

40. Cindy T. Says:
    May 6th, 2010 at 8:23 am

    What the hell happened to the guy who had PFJ (Play for Jesus) on his shoes? I’ll bet Ben wishes he could turn the clock back a few months…maybe years.

    P.S. My son told me last night he’s glad his girlfriend got him the Troy jersey for Christmas instead of Ben’s.

41. Jill Says:
    May 6th, 2010 at 8:40 am

    Totally disagree. Ben is getting exactly what he deserves. Truth is, with the way this city feels about the Steelers, Ben’s behavior has probably been much much worse than even the SI article portrays – for every story someone is willing to tell there are probably a dozen more that will never be told. Are there other local athletes that are jerks that we never hear about – yes – but that probably just proves how completely over the top Ben’s behavior has been. I think the rest of the country, including SI, has been looking at the situation and wondering, “how could this happen?” SI found the answer – the guy is really a complete jerk!

42. Lynn Says:
    May 6th, 2010 at 9:09 am

    Well put Ginny!

43. facie Says:
    May 6th, 2010 at 9:12 am

    I have mixed feelings about the article, but I think it says a lot that they wanted to interview you, someone who has a big following and who has had, to the best of my recollection, nothing positive to say about BB. I mean no disrespect when I say this, but if you had been defending Ben in your blog all this time, I am guessing they would not have wanted to talk with you; it seems to me they did not want to include anything positive in it, at least that is what I got from my skimming it.

    I realize no one may have anything positive to say, but the article might have been more balanced had it said just that.

    Maybe now we can all move on. Though I am sadly not sure if Ben will.

44. Erin Says:
    May 6th, 2010 at 9:14 am

    A few thoughts:
    1) Let’s be careful not to hang our hat on Sid being the next Hero to Save the Day. Not that I have heard anything bad about him, but why do we have to have a Hero like that? He’s just human. I just don’t want to the day to come where we hear that Sid acted like a jerk and we’re all stunned and it makes front page news.
    2) Hines Ward was quoted in the article. I’ve heard bad behavior stories from enough various people about Hines that I can’t help but think there is probably some truth to them.
    3) I have a REAL hard time cheering for this team now. I hate to run into jerks in my daily life; why would I want to CHEER for them? I don’t know what I’m going to do this fall.

45. Ginny's Dad Says:
    May 6th, 2010 at 9:17 am

    Gin

    You are right on. Ben has done some disgusting things and has treated people like his possessions, but SI has hurt their image by delving into the world of the tabloids. Gossiping and rumor-mongering have no place in any magazine and especially SI. I suspect that readership is declining and the SI execs are looking for new ways to attract readers. If I was a subsbcriber to SI, I would cancel it.

46. DuranieGirl Says:
    May 6th, 2010 at 9:59 am

    Again, I’ll still be wearing my #7 jersey. He sounds like a lot of people I know and I’m sure many athletes/celebrities/politicians act just like HIM. Some people just have too much attention, fame, money. Maybe if these athletes/celebrities/politicians got paid like the rest of us regular joes, this stuff wouldn’t happen. As in the words of Cyndi Lauper “money changes everything”. Seriously Ben’s got issues but I still love him.

47. ColorMeSurprised Says:
    May 6th, 2010 at 10:03 am

    Interesting that one of the few defenders of Ben is Butchers Dog, a Frat Boy.

48. Scott Says:
    May 6th, 2010 at 10:04 am

    Just an fyi, grown men wearing jerseys with another man’s name on the back is really, really lame. Seriously.

49. andrea Says:
    May 6th, 2010 at 10:30 am

    @ Sooska — Thank you for remembering KDKA’s total lack of news integrity. In my opinion, they are responsible for the suicide death of the minister they “investigated” for shopping at a porn store. He was unknown to any Pittsburghers except for his small parish, whose members are the only people who should have had any concern over his personal struggles.

    Instead the painful details of his private life were broadcast during sweeps week, and the shame made his life unbearable. How was this news? What public purpose did it serve?

    How can anyone listen to the little a-hole now on their talk radio side who did that story? As far as I’m concerned they have the minister’s blood on their hands. They TOTALLY sold out their profession.

    And for the same reason that many Pittsburghers did not stop watching KDKA news after the minister’s death and probably don’t remember how KDKA drove him to it, the same people won’t stop watching Ben play ball.

    Given KDKA’s general sleaziness, the loophole wording in their tape-denial is interesting…

50. jennviolet Says:
    May 6th, 2010 at 10:33 am

    Agree w/#32. Plus, that was probably the first article I’ve EVER read in SI so I couldn’t really link it to the likes of a tabloid. Reads like a fine article to me. Roast the M-efer.

51. Miamihawks Says:
    May 6th, 2010 at 10:41 am

    Ben is and always was a creep even in his days at Miami. Not only has his tarnished the reputation of my beloved Steelers but also my alma mater Miami University. He had such potential to represent his team, city, and school and he screwed it up.

52. VAgirl Says:
    May 6th, 2010 at 10:56 am

    I am waiting for the book.

53. Der Burghermeister Says:
    May 6th, 2010 at 11:10 am

    @Erin Sid clearly prefers privacy, but there are stories of “do goods” by Sid in public. A friend of a friend (FoaF) story, but it goes something like this…

    Sid is quietly eating lunch at a Sewickly establishment. FoaF notices and decides to pay for Sid’s lunch quietly without bothering him. Waitress informs Sid who in turns gives a friendly TOTH to FoaF. Fast forward a month or so, and FoaF is eating at same place in Sewickly. To his surprise, when the meal ends the waitress informs him that Sid bought his lunch when he noticed him across the room. Now that’s someone who is genuinely a nice person…

    Anyhow, Sid doesn’t need to be a hero, just a good person and he will be forever cherished in the Burgh. I doubt the words cherish and Ben will ever be conjoined in a sentence around these parts…

54. Kathy Says:
    May 6th, 2010 at 11:48 am

    #48 Scott: LOL! I couldn’t agree more!!

55. Andi Says:
    May 6th, 2010 at 11:50 am

    I think Ben should live at Mario’s house, sequesterd from the young Lemieux girls, of course. Nathalie will MAKE him learn to respect women and Mario will teach him to be a gentleman and a humble sportsman. Knock some manners into that idiot!

56. toni Says:
    May 6th, 2010 at 11:58 am

    No offense Virginia, but please don’t play the Pittsburghers only turning on him recently card, when our local news keeps things on the quiet to stay in the good graces of the Rooneys.

    The only reason this got played up was there was no way something this bit could not be news. If Sports Illustrated went too far in muckrakery then our local sources ( KDKA, PPG, etc) keep far too much under wrap about the scum side of our football players.

    I was getting ticked for awhile with Hines because it looked like he was whining about Ben too much until some of this crap FINALLY started coming to light. I’ll tell you what I’ve never saw in ANY of our local sources about Peezy calling Ben out but I bet they all know it happened.

    Sports Illustrated could have saved the gas milage and just turned on the radio to hear endless stories from the service sector who has seen boorish Ben upclose and personal.

    All Pro athletes at some time act boorishly…when it becomes chronic and when it becomes borderline questionably criminal THEN you report it and stop trying to smother the stories.

    And no Ginny, from what I heard from Pittsburghers coming out of the woodwork with their stories about Fugly, he was not loved by the Burghers…they didn’t just turn on him. It just cemented their feelings in place.

57. Elmer Fudd Says:
    May 6th, 2010 at 12:10 pm

    When I was in EMS I had a front row seat to Domestic Abuse..Real men do not abuse women..

58. Meghan Says:
    May 6th, 2010 at 12:26 pm

    I’m sure he’s an idiot. But a part of this stinks like Steelers backlash to me. I remember sitting next to a guy at a Super Bowl party & when the Steelers won, he said “I’m kind of getting sick of them now. I’m going to have to root for someone else.” I hate being in the position to have to defend a douche…

59. Vivian formerly NY Luvs Pitts Says:
    May 6th, 2010 at 1:23 pm

    bucdaddy Says:
    May 5th, 2010 at 9:04 pm
    Carpetbagger Says:
    May 5th, 2010 at 4:46 pm
    Now if they would have put him in a swimsuit, THAT would have been news.
    —
    Thanks for that image.

    *Pictures Ben in a Speedo. Retches violently.*

    —–
    OMG!!! ROTFLMBO!!!

60. Matt Says:
    May 6th, 2010 at 1:25 pm

    A slightly different perspective. The article may have been unfair in some ways — standards of journalism have been slipping for years — but the angle was different from the usual coverage of misbehaving athletes: local rejection of the miscreants. For that voice, your blog is Ground Zero to outsiders, even though you cover lots of other stuff, too. Giving the interview probably wouldn’t adversely affect your chances of hanging out with Benny. I’d have leaned toward my standard definition of “good publicity,” i.e., anytime they spell your name correctly. But it’s a judgement call, and I understand your reasoning.

61. Vivian formerly NY Luvs Pitts Says:
    May 6th, 2010 at 1:25 pm

    Whenever a Steeler makes the cover of SI I run out to get it. When I saw this one I was like…never mind. Now I’m glad I didn’t buy it.

    Thanks Ginny for taking the high road.

62. stephanie Says:
    May 6th, 2010 at 6:35 pm

    after reading the other reminders about kdka’s sleaziness i can’t help but be reminded of the time david highfield showed people on the street the video of the beheading of nick berg in iraq and asked people for their reaction. my reaction? david highfield is the sleaziest douchebag “reporter” ever.

63. oddmanout Says:
    May 7th, 2010 at 1:26 am

    I am with you, I refuse to pile on or feed into this. So he’s a jerk, it’s not like I am going to invite him to my house for dinner….This is a teaching moment, to get the message across to our children and friends that rude, borish, sleezy behavior by ANYONE is unacceptable! All one has to do is go into any of the bars and clubs in the strip or the southside on a weekend and you will see the exact same behavior……from men and from women….we ALL at some point are guilty of stupid behavior…..

64. Amy Says:
    May 7th, 2010 at 11:17 am

    Just saw this follow up – too funny and love how they are trying to make his antics related to his head trauma:
    http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/david_epstein/05/05/ben.roethlisberger/index.html

65. Matt Says:
    May 7th, 2010 at 1:56 pm

    I just read the full story. The following quote appeared: “A neighbor who lives near Roethlisberger in a tony section of Gibsonia, Pa.,. . . ”

    Now, I’ve been gone awhile. I grew up in Gibsonia in the 60s. This is the first time I have ever seen (or imagined) the words “tony” and “Gibsonia” appearing in the same sentence, uless it was a reference to the excellent mechanic who used to fix my ’66 Falcon at Rudolph’s gas station. I guess things have changed a little.

66. The Blog of Burgher Jon » Updating the Blog Roll Says:
    May 7th, 2010 at 3:15 pm

    [...]  Recently though, I’ve begun to change my mind about that.  Specifically, her posts around Big Ben and her work with Make Room for Kids (a play room for kids at Children’s Hospital) have made [...]

67. Deby Says:
    May 7th, 2010 at 3:30 pm

    I haven’t read all of these comments yet, but hope to be able to do so. At any rate…yay for you, Ginny, and not just for the SI pass, but also for saying what you did in your post. This is not, of course, to exonerate or excuse anything Ben may have done, but…who among us isn’t guilty of a little ugliness now and again? I believe that, through the course of this, I’ve heard it said that the Super Steelers of the 70s weren’t exactly angels, either, but there didn’t exist the 24/7 news coverage back then, not to mention things such as iPhones, Twitter, you take my point. Again – if he did sexually assault a – or several – women, then he’s not yet suffered enough for that. And nothing entitles him, or anyone else, to much of anything. But the great majority of folks guilty of “bad behavior” don’t have to contend with everyone they’ve ever met running to the press, either. Another thing that galls me is that those purported “friends” who spoke to SI were probably more than happy to travel, or club, or whatever, at Roethlisberger’s expense. Things have gotten too sensationalistic for a “stick to the facts” approach but, as you said, there are lines.

68. That's Church » Here’s my earrings and pass the Vaseline. It’s on like Donkey Kong. Says:
    May 7th, 2010 at 5:45 pm

    [...] Pittsburgh, and while we are divided in our opinion of what should happen with him, we know how to discuss those differences with maturity and with the best interests of the team and our city at [...]