Anyone who has ever had more than a five-minute conversation with me knows how much I love the Steelers.
Growing up in Pittsburgh, I fell in love with the team when they played (and lost to) the Dallas Cowboys in the 1996 Super bowl.† I pledged my allegiance to the Terrible Towel in first grade, and my Barbies preferred to go on dates with corner back Rod Woodson, not Ken.
Iíve stuck with the Steelers through the Kordell Stewart and Tommy Maddox years, to see the rise of the young star quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and to see Jerome ìthe Bus” Bettis make his final run.† I saw the end of coach Bill Cowherís tenure with the team, and was hopeful when rookie coach Mike Tomlin first came to the íBurgh.
I went wild with excitement, along with every other member of Steeler Nation, when the team brought the Lombardi Trophy home not once, but twice, in the past few years. I am no fair weather fan.
One thing I am not a fan of, however, is seeing headlines about my quarterbackís negative actions off the field.† Recently, Roethlisberger was accused of sexual assault in a club near his home in Georgia.† This comes on the heels of an accusation in 2008 that Roethlisberger raped a woman in a Lake Tahoe hotel and casino, an allegation he strongly denies.† Roethlisberger has since pursued counter-damages in a lawsuit against the woman.
While the first case against him was dismissed as a falsehood created by the woman, further investigation is being done into this second allegation.† The two-time Super Bowl quarterback has hired attorney Ed Garland, the same lawyer hired by Ray Lewis when he was accused of murder 10 years ago, a move which has spurred further questioning of his innocence.
Putting aside the question of Roethlisbergerís guilt or innocence, one thing is for sure: his actions are completely inappropriate and he needs a serious change of attitude.
Roethlisberger has never been shy about his party lifestyle and enjoying himself off the field.† However, as the star quarterback of an NFL franchise, he is the face of the Steelers, a team that has always been known for its well-behaved and respectable players, which is a tribute to its owners, Dan Rooney and his family, who are known for their own humility and sincerity.
Roethlisbergerís actions in the Georgia night club were just plain stupid, and leave fans wondering if his 2006 motorcycle accident (when he was not wearing a helmet) left the Super bowl MVP with permanent brain damage.
What Roethlisberger fails to comprehend is that, despite being a star NFL quarterback, he still needs to treat women with respect and show some class while out in public.† This is something he should have learned after the first allegation of sexual assault was brought against him, if not years ago growing up in Ohio.† Roethlisberger, who turned 28 a few weeks ago, needs to cut back on the party lifestyle and learn some respect, responsibility and humility.
The Rooney family and coach Mike Tomlin should bring Roethlisberger up on disciplinary actions within the franchise, whether by official suspension or simply benching him, until his actions off the field reflect a changed attitude and any legal proceedings are over.
As a fan who bleeds black and gold, I would rather wave my Terrible Towel for a player whose actions I can be proud of on and off the field.
And right now, Big Ben doesnít measure up to his name.