| 16 April 2010
Santonio Holmes has his issues. I am disappointed that the team lost a great receiver. I am disappointed that a former Buckeye has conducted himself in a way that has made the team feel like they had to part ways with him. I hope he gets his act together. That situation pales in comparison to what is going on with Ben Roethlisberger. I am having a very hard time with the accusations against him. I know some will argue that he has not been convicted or anything. He has not even been prosecuted for anything. I ask those that would defend Roethlisberger to answer me one question. How many guys do you know who have been accused of rape twice in a lifetime? Ben has been accused twice in about a years time. I know one guy who was accused of rape. We did not believe he did it. When it happened a second time, this time he was blatantly guilty, we knew he was guilty of it the first time. I am 50 years old and have come in contact with just this one guy. Lots of athletes are running around with lots of women. We know of a few who have been accused of rape. We know of some who have been falsely accused of rape. Michael Irvin was accused twice. Both times it was strippers who were found out to have an agenda. What we have in Bens case is a hotel executive and a college student. I don't know if rape occurred. Only Ben and the two accusers know for sure what happened. What I do know is I find all this to be very suspicious. I find it to be uncomfortable. I have no tolerance for sex offenders. I am supposed to enjoying cheering for the Steelers when I suspect the star quarterback is a man who abuses women?
I have been thinking about this for days. I can say I am preoccupied with it. I love soccer and boxing. I am a huge MMA fan. I enjoy college basketball. In reality, they are all distractions until the next football season. I actually get a little depressed after the NFL draft and the Spring Game, as I wait for football season to start again. It all came to a head when I read these absolutely disgusting details from this ESPN report:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5094224
What was banging around in my head since this latest incident has been the idea of parting with Ben Roethlisberger. Imagine my delight at seeing these two stories:
http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d8178b2b1&template=with-video-with-comments&confirm=true
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/rumors/post/Steelers-listening-to-offers-for-Roethlisberger-?urn=nfl,234419
I doubt anyone else wants him right now. I love the idea that we would just give him up. I don't want him around. I want to be one of the first Steeler fans to step up and say release him. I am much more comfortable losing for a few years as we try to find another quarterback than I am with this person wearing a Steeler uniform. Yes, I am saying that. He has not been found guilty of anything? I don't care.Two sexual assault accusations in one year. I can't wrap my mind around that.All the players out there being "playas" and no accusations of rape. Ben gets two in one year. Neither of these women fit the profile of gold diggers. All the guys out there living the life that single, rich and famous young professional athletes have the opportunity to live, and this one guy ends up with two rape accusations. There is something wrong with that no matter how you add it up.
The Steeler ownership wants to separate the franchise from all the others. We are a cut above. Prove it, Mr. Rooney. Make this decision beyond the football field. Making a stand against behavior this unacceptable. We are not talking about DUI. We are not talking about smoking weed. We are talking about a player whose behavior fits the profile of a sexual predator. Make a stand. I believe most Steeler fans will stand by the decision.
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