Dave Zirin: Ben Roethlisberger: No Justice, No Play?

[marmar]

from the Nation:



Ben Roethlisberger: No Justice, No Play?
By Dave Zirin

April 20, 2010


Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger should be thanking the heavens that he possesses the unique skill to throw a football sixty yards. If he was Ben the 28-year-old mill worker accused of raping a 20-year-old student in the bathroom of a college town bar, he'd be in prison awaiting trial.

Ben Roethlisberger should be thanking the heavens that he is white. If he was Ben the black guy accused of sexual assault in Georgia, he might not even make it to trial.

Ben Roethlisberger should be thanking the heavens that he is rich. If he didn't have the lawyers to block any volunteering of his DNA, as well as lawyers poised to spend hours investigating the last details of a 20-year-old woman's sexual history, he would be wearing the steel bracelets. And he likely wouldn't have had his accuser, after going through the ordeal of a "rape kit," deciding that a high publicity rape trial was not how she wanted to spend the next two years of her life.

Instead because he resides on a white pedestal of wealth and fame, Ben Roethlisberger gets Ocmulgee, Georgia, District Attorney Frederick Blight telling Ben to "grow up" and little more. He gets DA Blight saying that he couldn't indict because he didn't think the case could be proven "beyond a reasonable doubt" or that he could make the case "100%." .........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.thenation.com/doc/20100503/zirin

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

1. It's more about money than fame, skill, or race.

The only difference is the media cares if the person is famous.
(OJ, Kobe, Big Ben, etc...)

[rpannier]

9. You are right

It is about money

People like him can pay for high priced attorneys that are able to outsmart the system
If he was famous and had limited income he'd be in trouble

[Angry Dragon]

2. It is just the pedestal syndrome

It is just the syndrome of worshiping people that do not deserve respect. Because a person can hit a golf ball, throw a football, run fast we think they are kings and queens.

This country has lost its moral guide and it does not rest in religion but in the people that actually care about others and toil without praise nor recognition.

[DebbieCDC]

3. I am a born Steelers fan and I wish Dan Rooney would kick Ben out of Pittsburgh

Pay off his contract and get rid of him. Art Rooney wouldn't have put up with that BS from any of his players and his son Dan shouldn't either.

[exboyfil]

5. Three way trade with the Redskins and Raiders

Ben to the Raiders where he will fit in. Draft picks to Washington. Jason Campbell to Pittsburgh. Won't happen because Ben may be the greatest big game competitor at quarterback of our age (more so than P. Manning or T. Brady). May not have the stats, but he comes to play. I know he cut my heart out a few times already. Pittsburgh would get the bad end of this trade, but Campbell can be had even up for Ben through Oakland. Oakland won't care about what he has done, and they need a quarterback. The Steelers get to remove the stink from their locker room.

Some of the most talented people are the biggest jerks. Ben is definitely in that category. He makes Tiger look like Cliff Huxtable.

[DebbieCDC]

6. Damn straight, he'd be right at home with the Raiders

[Grand Taurean]

4. Any monkey can thrown a ball.

I could throw or kick a ball. I could even hit it with a stick. Does that mean I should be paid $,$$$,$$$ for doing so?

[rpannier]

8. Can you do it and win 2 superbowls?

[Blue_Tires]

7. UPDATE: looks like he'll sit for 6 games

[awoke_in_2003]

10. not enough, IMO...

and let Al Davis have him

[countryken]

11. As someone who bleeds black and gold

I can't envision myself sitting at a local Steeler bar on a Sunday afternoon getting excited about the serial rapist (alleged) shaking off a tackler and throwing a touchdown pass anymore. I've been a Steeler fan all my life (and I was at the Immaculate Reception game) but if they keep him, I'll be taking this year off and I'll find something productive to do on Sunday afternoons.

Please send him to Oakland or Cleveland.

[classysassy]

12. Winning super bowls

is not an e excuse to break the law