The accusations are piling up against Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, but the claim that he sexually assaulted a college student in Georgia might not be as hard to defend as the attacks on his integrity.
Since the nightclub incident became public, talk-radio phones have been ringing off the hook. Die-hard black and gold supporters are chomping at the bit to call out their disgraced quarterback.
Allegations flooded the airwaves on KDKA, a Pittsburgh area radio station: “Ben left me a small tip… Ben demanded a free meal… Ben talked down to me... Ben refused to give an autograph….”
The same Pittsburghers who once adored him, buying up his jersey in every color (black, white, and pink), are now eager to take the witness stand to provide key testimony in the court of public opinion.
At least in the sexual assault case Roethlisberger can stand behind high-powered lawyers and the “innocent until proven guilty” refrain. Additionally, no charges have been filed as of Friday. The people don’t wait for a plea to find him guilty on several counts: narcissism, immaturity, selfishness, hypocrisy, and fistful of expletives you can’t say on the radio.
Ben unknowingly entered his plea. Callers relayed that in each case Roethlisberger looked for preferential treatment saying, “Don’t you know who I am?”
Perhaps that’s the biggest problem in Pittsburgh. Roethlisberger has shown the public two conflicting versions of who “Ben Roethlisberger” is—the public Ben and the unfiltered personal Ben.
In the spotlight, Roethlisberger paints himself as a different breed of athlete, a gentleman with a team first attitude. He signs autographs at training camp long after the others have retreated to the locker room, kissing babies and shaking hands like a politician.
One the other hand he signs them only the way he wants to— only on his own jersey, his own picture, or a football. A kid’s notebook, a Steelers roster, or even the sacred terrible town aren’t worthy of Big Ben’s John Hancock.
He scribbles PFJ (play for Jesus) on his cleats and points to the heavens after each touchdown pass.
The sexual assault allegations—even if he’s innocent and the acts were consensual—show that Ben has done some things that Jesus would certainly not do. And that’s putting it mildly.
He appears at public fundraisers and generously donated a police dog to the Cleveland’s canine unit.
One of the KDKA calls was from a topless dancer who claimed that Roethlisberger refused to tip her. Several waitresses also claimed to have been stiffed by Ben (Not like that you pervert.)
As the years have worn on Ben’s act has worn out. The personal Ben, the brash and egotistical one, has come to the public’s attention. The guy that seemed to be doing all the right things—signing autographs and giving credit to the linemen—seemed to be doing it for all the wrong reasons.
The claims only continue to build against Roethlisberger. And maybe time is running out for Big Ben in Pittsburgh.
It’s going to take one of Big Ben’s legendary last minute comebacks if he hopes to save face in Pittsburgh.
