Just like last year, there is some news peripherally surrounding the Super Bowl. The Occupy Movement will protest the Super Bowl against labor laws in Indiana. If you don't like the idea of this post, then don't read, and move along. You may not like the political views contained here(both sides, I guess), but there are some that might. Either way, it's Super Bowl news.

I feel it necessary to post, just like the peripheral news last year about child prostitution during the event's festivities. I tried to search for it but it is either eluding my queries or it was mysteriously removed.

If you feel like discussing, have at it. If not, this post is an FYI. A few sides of the reporting :

Continue reading this post »

I think I might believe in karma. You know, that stuff that nobody can put their finger on, or explain with science. That invented concept defined as follows by the google overlords :

·  (in Hinduism and Buddhism) The sum of a person's actions in this and previous states of existence, viewed as deciding their fate in future existences

·  Destiny or fate, following as effect from cause

Yes, I know. It’s stupid. I don’t believe in things you can’t prove. Or at least prove with verifiable facts, anyway, and even then it’s subject to interpretation.  I’m not a religious guy, and most everybody knows that, but the second definition is what intrigues me. Cause and effect. This is verifiable with science. The law of inertia comes to mind.  “Don’t borrow trouble” and “…turn around and bite you in the ass” are popular phrases that also describe “karma.” I think we all like to believe in karma, at east as a tool to motivate us, but we can’t really know for sure.

The one thing I do know for sure is that every article written this week about the Steelers’ game against the Patriots included the words “own” and “Brady has Lebeau’s number” along side of “Belichick is a genius” – all supported with fun facts and fancy charts describing each game going back 10 years.

Frankly, I think it’s all horseshit.

Every game is different, and is viewed alongside what happened before and what happened after. Last year’s game wasn’t a must win situation, and was littered with Steelers injuries throughout the game.  Ward was concussed early, with no penalty if I remember correctly (and no fine either), and Heath dropped a very timely pass that would have changed the momentum of the game, or at least in the minds of the rest of the team. That’s the game where Troy Polumalu twisted or sprained his ankle, ultimately affecting him for the rest of the season.  Oh yeah, Maurkice Pouncey injured his ankle as well.

I guess that was all Brady’s fault.

At any rate, they still went to the “dance” and participated in the championship game, but we all know the league loves pretty boy Brady. Handsome if not girly, stoic, smart, and machinelike in his playing style, but certainly not infallible.  I remember back when Michael Jordan played, most teams folded before the ball toss. Referees would call blocking fouls when it was charging, or ‘steps’ and multiple times Jordan would use his forearm on a defenders face and shoulder to lift himself in those highlight reel dunks. I’m not taking anything away from Jordan, arguably one of the best to play the game, but seriously.  Jordan single handedly changed the NBA. I can’t say the same about Brady, regardless of his stats. He’s good, but so is Rogers and Roethlisberger, just in a different way.  Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, and Bill Walsh changed the game. The 70’s Steelers changed the game. Dick Lebeau changed the game. Goodell is changing the game. Brady plays it very, very well, and Belichick coaches in an extremely intelligent manner – and both have had success. But not in the last 6 years.  If they were so good, wouldn’t they have won more titles? Last time I checked, that’s the barometer to go by, not stats and flashy passing plays. Unfortunately, that’s not what the league or the media uses as measuring sticks. Good looking quarterbacks with fashion model wives is the same as television and movie actors with perfect teeth and unrealistic lifestyles. It’s not a reflection of reality, and also misguiding in what is really important in life.  Unfortunately, everybody’s getting fooled, but that’s another non-football post elsewhere.

I think the Patriots are scared. They have no answers for the Steelers wide outs, and I think their defense is more porous than is reported.  Belichick’s philosophy is not playing your opponent, but playing the clock. Take that away and the house of cards falls.  Stick with them point for point in the first half and the game comes down to the final possession. Add up the karma and the Steelers will hold them once or twice scoring in response, pressure Brady into making one or two mistakes resulting in points,  and will run the ball effectively eating up the clock in the second half. Just like any other game.

Football is a game played by and officiated by humans. Humans get affected by psychology, and all this talk about the Patriots being so good against the Steelers is getting really old.  It’s borrowing trouble. It’s just another game, another challenge, and another story waiting to unfold. Karma can go both ways. The arrogance and presumption of Brady and the Pats can easily backfire. Changing the attitude in the Steelers’ locker room can also have an “effect” just as generating all the bad karma by continuing and propagating narratives that cater to one dimensional stories in mainstream media. It’s going to get into someone’s head, guaranteed.

The Pats have been riding the wave of false karma for years generated by rules that support pass happy quarterbacks that would be lost if they played 20 years ago. Maybe it’s time it “bit them in the ass.”

Karma. Yeah. That’s it. Karma.

Go Steelers!

Okay, the fat lady sang. Stick a fork in it. The curtain has come down and the season is really over.

The Steelers are super bowl losers.

There has been drama, comedy (of errors), controversy, intrigue, and adventure - even a few ‘miracles’ along the way, if you will. The Steelers came close but as we all know, close only counts with horseshoes and hand grenades (well, and sometimes Polamalu). No Head butts or butt slaps. The voices are silent and shiny eyes stare into the distance. There are no cigars to pass out or toasts to be made, and celebrations will have to be rescheduled.

The prognosis is good however. Then there will be discussion, arguments, points and counterpoints, and strategies and tactics to be evaluated but in the end, if history is any indicator, the Steelers will be back; probably stronger, and hopefully more consistent.

Reality Sandwiches and Humble Pie.

I have a confession. Lately, I’ve been in dire need of a distraction. Only in this last year have I started reading more frequently about the Steelers and commenting on BTSC. I used to live in Pittsburgh and am a closet Steelers fan since 1970 when I watched all the games as an adolescent. I became quite accustomed to Steelers football and their winning ways, but I never really admitted it in public. My persona was that sports figures and their ilk make way too much money for what they do, and it’s frivolous. We should all do more productive things with our time. Proponents of team sports espouse benefits like leadership, a good work ethic, determination, and teamwork, but I never saw that in the neckless jock that sat in front of me during biology and threatened me with bodily harm on a daily basis. Only my partner knows I watch the games when I can and regularly visit blogs and mainstream sports entertainment media websites. For me anyway, it’s all about escapism.

All I can say with any degree of certainty is that Sunday’s loss was horribly embarrassing and painful. Like the rest of Steelers Nation, I wanted the seventh trophy. It had a nice ring to it; especially when it was Ben Roethlisberger’s seventh season, and number seven is on his jersey in honor of the ‘comeback king’ and two-time super bowl champion, John Elway - who also wore number seven. It was also defending the integrity of the organization under all the rhetoric surrounding the team since their last title and a little Steelers pride as well.

However, the team that showed up on that fateful Sunday were outplayed and out coached through and through. They choked, were overconfident, or were simply tired and worn out. Is this is why the Steelers were so vocal about the proposed 18 game season? Perhaps. It’s well known that many of the Steelers are not exactly spring chickens, and are already stretching their tired old bodies to the limit. The Green Bay Packers were the better team that day hands down. Some offensive players did well (Ward, Legursky, even fumbling Mendenhall), and the defense appeared to lack intensity and focus, but the most crucial position of all, the quarterback - played like a rookie.

Mind Games

I’ll get right to the point. I’m not going into the morality or culpability, but I think the media and the NFL had much to do with the state of mind of Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers It ultimately had an effect on the game. It’s only natural to expect that he might be tentative, hesitant, or try to overcompensate in response to all the criticism considering his style of play. This has happened all year but the Super Bowl is not a regular season game. It’s not like he is a pocket passer going through the motions and following decision trees like Tom Brady that makes it easy to be machine like and stoic. All the underhanded, back stabbing, psyche rattling crap that was piled onto Ben Roethlisberger leading up to the game made a huge difference, I think. They might have been able to overcome the loss of Aaron Smith, a crippled pro bowler and Defensive Player of the Year Troy Polamalu, phenom rookie center Maurkice Pouncey’s ankle sprain, excessive penalties and fines (inhale), musical chairs at the offensive line, as well as a quarterback with a busted nose and a broken foot, but the hill leading to franchise championship number seven was just too steep to summit.

Every major media outlet was consumed with Green Bay being a superior team, Aaron Rodgers’ exceptional skills, and the Ben Fiasco. Roethlisberger’s ‘alleged’ indiscretions were always in the news, and the "press" continuously asked him questions about redemption and contrition. Online essays flourished about how he should "admit to his sins and repent." He was under a microscope, and the constant rehashing of the past was surely a distraction beyond acceptable media fodder during pre-game hype. They all but called him a rapist, sexual abuser, thug, arrogant entitled athlete, you name it, whilst riding their high horse and using ‘allegedly’ to keep them from litigation.

Now imagine if you did nothing wrong.

Pause.

Now imagine if you did.

I think it would be naïve to think it wouldn’t have an effect, in either case. Just look at Michael Vick. His performance wasn’t exactly stellar when the game was elevated to playoff intensity. Interceptions at crucial times constitute the opposite of stellar play, I would say. Ben threw two of them resulting in 14 points. Whether or not the public dialog was influenced on purpose is irrelevant, and most would say both brought their circumstances upon themselves. In Roethlisberger’s case, I believe some members of the "press" - and I use that term loosely. Very loosely - chased a popular story because conflict and controversy always gets the front page and moral ambiguity is pretty juicy. On top of that, by all accounts Ben wasn’t exactly accommodating with those that follow football for a living. As Mike Tomlin stated, football is an emotional high stress game and part of his job is to take the emotion out of it. The media certainly appeared to try very hard to put it back in. I seriously wonder about the mob mentality influencing our lives, but it’s no secret that I disdain the lowest common denominator, the lack of reason and rationality, and the blatant and willful disregard of logic and neutrality because of selfishness, individualism, and false ideology.

Regardless, I’m thinking Ben wanted to do it all, prove everybody wrong, and shut the mouths of all pundits and self-righteous bloggers and walk away with the win and the MVP. He wanted to have the last laugh. I also wonder about how it affected the rest of the team. Ben was able to overcome much adversity during the season, and maybe the team expected him to pull another rabbit out of the hat. Hey, they should have lost to the Ravens after being down by 21 but Ben brought them back with a little help from turnovers and his steel resolve.

As with all events of this stature, the question of previous experience undoubtedly comes up, especially since most of the Steelers squad had played in one, if not two championship games. Frankly, the fact that Aaron Rodgers wasn’t affected and Roethlisberger was speaks volumes about their psychological make up prior to the game. Roethlisberger’s reputation was at stake, whereas Aaron Rodgers already had a place among the "elite" quarterbacks and everybody would be putting them at the top of the list of contenders. Remember, Roethlisberger’s capabilities were always up for debate before opening kickoff– even with two titles. Right or wrong, history has shown that winning is the path to acceptance, and winning the big one goes a long way. This much was debated publicly.

While Rodgers won the quarterback match up, Wallace, Sanders and Brown were relatively quiet despite over 250 total yards. I would guess that experience was a factor late in the game for the Steelers talented young receiver corps, and the loss of Emanuel Sanders to injury didn’t help. I also think the defense was concerned about the officiating crew reflecting the flip-flopping NFL policy on tempering violence because they were timid and lacked intensity, but his is pure speculation.

Show Me.

Hokusai, the great Japanese printmaker said it is a poor student who doesn’t surpass his master. In this case, it seems Dom Capers has clearly done his homework. Dick LeBeau invented the zone blitz defense from what we are told, and Coach Capers used it at his discretion while the defensive coordinator in Pittsburgh during a stretch in the 90’s. LeBeau - ‘Coach Dad’ - as defensive backs coach and Capers as defensive coordinator worked together under Coach Cowher to develop new techniques to battle the west coast offense. The Master exposed his secrets to his student only to have the mechanics of the zone defense and ‘safe blitzing’ be used against him by his protégé in the biggest game of all. I wonder if he’s proud of his legacy, but it must be difficult to reconcile that with a super bowl loss at the hands of your student.

In the end, Dom Capers out coached Dick LeBeau, and offensive coordinator Bruce Arians’ plan had no contingencies or adjustments for an inconsistent effort and a defensive scheme that shut down the edges and long downfield passes. I know that’s not all the Offensive Coordinator’s fault. At the same time, his counterpart across the field did a fine job of exposing key match ups and capitalizing on them. The Steelers didn’t capitalize on anything of any consequence, so it seems. At any rate, it’s the first time that Arians did better than LeBeau, scoring points albeit sporadically, to keep them in the game; interceptions and fumbles notwithstanding. That’s a switch. Usually it’s the defense that drags them into victory. Agree or not with play calling during the season, Arians should be commended for his tactics that kept it close.

Coach Tomlin said that Aaron Rodgers is going to get his points, so you just have to minimize his impact and shut down the rest of the team. Conversely, the Packers let the Steelers run the ball, but shut down the passing attack completely when they had to. How is it that Green Bay could use the dink and dunk, pick apart the zone blitz seams on a well known defense, and yet there was no game plan to do the same thing to a defense that was modeled after their own? How did an offense that has the brain trust behind the most effective defense in the last decade not be able to move the ball effectively against a carbon copy? What we do know is that they were flat, with no intensity and drive whatsoever until they had to, and by then it was too late. Super bowl pressure at that point was just too much to overcome.

As much as I respect Mr. Tomlin and am pleased he is the Steelers coach, I have an issue the ‘standard" he keeps referring to. When one single player is out due to injury – I’m speaking of Troy Polamalu specifically - the whole defense falls to mediocre. Where can you find a substitute for one of the biggest game changers in the NFL? I know "The Standard’ was a motivational ploy, but so was "Unleash Hell" and we all know how that turned out. Whatever.

Veni, Vidi, Dormivi

Nobody knows which Steelers team is going to show up. Roman gladiators and Greek warriors fighting valiantly for duty, pride, and survival, or Christians and Jews obediently led to their slaughter. Close games against Miami, Buffalo, Baltimore, and Cincinnati (at the end of the game) is par for the course with these Steelers. They barely got out of the AFCCG against the Jets after letting the foot off the gas in the second half. Don’t get me wrong, there is a lot of talent on this team, and the coaches have done an excellent job in spite of all the injuries. There were some outstanding players (and coaches) all year, and some even did very well in the big game. But there needs to be some degree of consistency in their play. Execution, intensity, a solid game plan, as well as focus and concentration were all lacking. They are either ‘on’ or ‘off,’ and when they are neither, they are what might be described as lucky.

Good Fortune and Serendipity.

If it came right down to brass tacks, you’d have to admit that Ben has been very lucky in his short illustrious career, regardless of his "clutch" playmaking abilities. He has in fact landed on a championship caliber team with an outstanding defense backed by one of the most recognized and successful organizations in the NFL. That can’t be understated. It’s not the same thing to be drafted by and playing for Lions – no disrespect and condolences to the fans in Motown. The Steelers organization must have seen something worthwhile to draft him, and some statistical interpretation for his first seven years points to a talented individual headed for the hall of fame. At the same time, I have to acknowledge that when one relies too heavily on spontaneity and cleverness, fickle results are to be expected.

In 2010, three or four plays were the difference in getting to the big game. Troy’s strip sack at Baltimore, Antonio Brown’s helmet catch against the Ravens’ in the divisional game, and the first down in the last minutes against the Jets during the AFCCG are the biggest three plays, in my opinion, in getting them to the title game. The blown call on Roethlisberger’s fumble at the goal line late in the game against Miami and the Bills’ Steve Johnson’s dropped touchdown pass in overtime also compete for the top three. Take away any combination of those plays and in all likelihood the Steelers are couch bound during the playoffs for the second straight year. I understand that as an organization the Steelers placed themselves in a position to win, and agree there are good front office decisions, good coaches and players, but the reality of playing and winning in the NFL is another thing altogether.

They did many things to win this year. Solid play defensively, a sporadic but timely offense kept them on top, but the Ravens meltdown in the second half of the divisional game paved the way for the AFCCG at home that was totally unexpected. Nobody thought the jets could take it to the Pats in Foxborough, and it was suggested that if the Steelers had to travel during the playoffs it’s highly unlikely that they "get to the dance." Yes, yes, yes, I know. Sometimes things go your way and sometimes they don’t. On the other hand, everybody has some lucky stars looking after them at one time or another. It is what it is, and as a fan I’ll take it but it doesn’t mean they are the team of the decade. We all know this is football, and ‘on any given Sunday…’ blah, blah, blah. At any rate, they say luck is where preparation meets opportunity, and everything points to that statement being true. But alas, the Steelers were neither prepared nor "opportunistic.’

Sometimes Attack!

Green bay seemed to move the ball at will, and should have had at least two more touchdowns if it weren’t for dropped balls. Rodgers placed the ball perfectly all night. Ben tried to squeeze the ball in twice, and that lack of good judgment cost them the game. You don’t turn the ball over. Period. You don’t try to squeeze one in on a double team and if you can’t throw the ball far enough because of oncoming rushers, then you look somewhere else, throw it away, or take the sack. Those are rookie mistakes and Ben had a horrible game. No two ways about it, as he confessed in post game interviews. We will be hearing about this for the duration of his career, unless he changes and becomes smarter and learns to read defenses and not rely on sandlot football. He missed plenty of reads, left open receivers, and over and under threw the ball. The wide receiver play was abysmal towards the end, especially with the packer secondary missing Woodson. In crucial moments, the offense stalled, and failed to move the sticks when it counted, but the bottom line is that the Steelers didn’t score when they had to, missed filed goals and all.

Defend what?

The defense was the only thing that you could count on this year. They were strong and quick, and mostly smart. The Steelers defense did a fine job of employing the "bend, don’t break philosophy," all year but all they seemed to do on Sunday was bend and bend until they broke - unfortunately at the most critical moments. All of the Steelers defensive stars were silent. Polamalu, Harrison, Keisel, Woodley. There was no will to impose on the Packers. I don’t know for sure if injuries played a part, but it seemed that they had zero energy, and played lethargically like a high school team waiting for practice to be over. They simply could not stop Aaron Rodgers and their passing attack. How is it that in the most important game of the year Troy and Co. had absolutely no effect?

All three teams that beat the Steelers handily this year used the same strategy. The Steelers defense has intrinsic flaws that rely only on pressuring the quarterback. If that doesn’t happen, the defense falls apart partially because it leans heavily on play making ability as a result of athleticism. Take that away because of injuries and the holes get bigger. It’s kind of like putting all your eggs in two baskets, namely the safety and Gatorade with ace bandages and oxygen. NE, NO, and GB, and even the Jets exposed that weakness. Ben’s ability to work with busted plays uses the same concept. Plays fall apart - either as a result of defense pressure or lack of execution and winning the point of attack. The offense by nature of the engagement (they know where they are going) will always win forward momentum. Once you figure out the disguises, you remove the confusion and expose its vulnerability - especially with a smart, talented, and mobile quarterback. The defense can’t keep up the intensity of defensive pressure for over 30 minutes. It was all too easy to pack it in, so to speak, when your offense commits three, count ‘em, three turnovers. Who would have thought that the defense that consistently held up their end of the bargain all year would be their Achilles heel?

Destiny or Destination?

Overall, the Steelers have been inconsistent all year. Offensively, anyway. They either play lights out (occasionally), win squeakers (mostly), or get embarrassed. There is no middle ground with this team. Come to think of it, they’ve been inconstant for the last three or four years, including the super bowl win against Arizona. They almost lost it at the end, and if it weren’t for Santonio Holmes and his big playmaking yards after catch getting them close to the goal line, there wouldn’t have been "The Catch." Forget about James Harrison’s pick six.

If you examine the stats, Green bay led in two categories. Well, three if you include the biggest one of all. Points. They led in passing yards and turnovers won. I guess with passing yards comes the quarterback rating, but I don’t put much credence on fantasy football stats. The Steelers led every other major category. Third down efficiency, rushing yards, time of possession, special teams, take your pick. Therefore, whatever Green Bay did to win and win big isn’t on the stat sheet. The Packers had a better game plan, and coached their players to execute more effectively than Tomlin when they needed it. The operative phrase being ‘when they needed it.’

It’s a testament to intangibles we all like to point to conveniently when arguing statistics. In other words, it’s the right balance between goals and strategic approach, maintaining focus and intensity, physical conditioning, and controlling emotion. Managing all these things is what Mr. Tomlin gets the big bucks for, I guess.

When all is said and done the Steelers were in the Super Bowl again, and that’s not something to take for granted. Eight appearances is not a bad number when statistics matter, and if Ben Roethlisberger and a few others played slightly better, the record might have been 7 -1.

Optimistically, I expect the coming seasons to be just as successful as this year despite the ‘parity,’ because that Standard I criticized so freely is in fact what always keeps the Steelers competitive. There are six Lombardi trophies and numerous divisional and conference championships to prove it.

Go Steelers, and good luck next year!

*Image courtesy Sports Illustrated, 2010

Not that anybody asked, but……

Now that the suspension has been issued, I have some random thoughts on the whole Ben Roethlisberger episode that I’d like to share, if that’s alright. I hope you will forgive me for my verbosity. Most of you who have read my posted comments know basically how I feel on the subject and I reserve the right to repeat myself. I won’t get offended if you disagree and call me names, just don’t call me late for dinner.

The suspension is in and as we all know, Ben Roethlisberger has been suspended for 6 games, with the possibility of being reduced to four after comprehensive evaluation and rehab or counseling. Why you ask? Loosely quoting the commish, it was because he placed himself and others at risk where they might endanger themselves as well as providing alcohol to minors that were already likely intoxicated; Pattern of behavior unbecoming to the league’s image. I’d like to know what image that is. Is it the all American squeaky clean sport where big lovable burly guys go out and push each other around battling over a pigskin ball reflecting the benefits of team sports, leadership, practice, determination, teamwork etc., or is it the billion dollar business where decisions are made based on profits, patterns of steroid use are of historical record, manipulation and abuse of men in their formative years all developed and nurtured to express violence and anger every Sunday in front of rabid crowds cheered on by girls wearing bikinis asking for debilitating hits on the opponents receivers, dangling in front of them the carrot of fame and fortune and/or escape from hopelessness and desperation? They then abandon them after having given their bodies for “the game” and served as laborers in the trenches of the gridiron. All for big corporations like the GM, Walmart, Home Depot, ADM, and Anheuser-Busch.  I exaggerate on both descriptions but only for effect. It seems that we are becoming a society of extremes, and routinely ignore that which we don’t want to deal with or lands somewhere in the middle between opposing views and ideologies.

Anyway, in thinking about the suspension I wondered about the fact that the girls were underage. So it’s simply a technicality? For all intents and purposes then, if the girls were of age, all this would all go away? And if he’d paid attention to Terry and not had that motorcycle accident, this wouldn’t be a pattern of arrogant self-absorbed behavior based on one official accusation, fraud, hearsay and rumor – oft quoted as another reason for his guilt? Not bloodly likely. The media circus over this has been astonishing, and provided an opportunity for self righteous individuals to call for his head on a platter and sell more advertising dollars.  He’s such a bad apple, and none of our other shining league representing quarterbacks or players aren’t in situations like this….

Wait.

They are

I’d like to know why Mr Goodell sent a memo with an addendum to the conduct policy prior to handing down his decision allowing him to include simple accusations or activities that do not paint the NFL in a positive light.  I have a feeling that the NFL has probably received complaints over the years from parents and others about NFL stars engaging in debauchery with their loved ones, and this one was public enough to warrant action to protect the brand. This morality issue has been gnawing at Goodell over the years and “Pig Ben” (thanks, whoever you are) was his opportunity. A high profile athlete caught in moral ambiguity, one we didn’t like anyway for his arrogant glib attitude, so let’s make an example of him. Smiley face. At the same time, they’re reaping profits from beer advertisements during games as well as sales at the stadiums while admonishing a player for buying a 20 year old girl alcohol who in all likelihood participates in this kind of activity every week end with her sorority sisters.  Well, it is entertainment after all, but the hypocrisy is astounding. Sex permeates sports websites and television programs. Fox Sports has an attractive blonde “weather girl” wearing short skirts and high heels in front of a weather map while cutting to 1:00 pm games showing girls sipping beer in the stands, because girls like their alcohol just like men do. At least that’s what the NFL wants us to believe, because low calorie beer is specifically targeted towards women and is littered throughout Sunday coverage on multiple channels. Yes, yes, yes, I know. Drink responsibly -but be sure to drink. I guess the girls in that Capital City night club were immune to that message or simply are not under the same set of rules as the rest of us. What happened to context? These girls were not model citizens, and specifically went to the vip area to get free booze and hang out with a sports celebrity and have a brush with fifteen minutes of fame. That doesn’t mean it gives football stars an excuse to abuse women, but it considers context. It’s about two adults consenting to behavior typical in a government sanctioned venue. He probably got female company and the possibility of getting intimate with one or more of them in return for giving them what they wanted. This arrangement happens quite often with many, many, sports figures, and has for a long, long, time. It seems that the commissioner wants to change that.

The fact that his father was a republican senator from New York, an education in economics, a news anchor as a wife for the Fox News Network (The mouthpiece for the ‘right wing conservative’ agenda), and a brother working for an energy conglomerate explains a lot about where he is coming from.  His college education from Washington & Jefferson College, located in Washington PA just outside of Pittsburgh, as well as his work with former NFL commissioners Pete Rozelle and Paul Tagliabue cements his ties to the Rooney family. He’s been hired by the owners, and Dan Rooney was appointed to a committee to search for Tagliabue’s successor, so this also sheds some insight to the decision. It’s not only the league brand but the Rooney family legacy at stake here as well. I can see how this is important and current in light of the recent video of Dallas owner Jerry Jones on a drunken rant (more hypocrisy). Shouldn’t Jones be “punished” as well? Doesn’t this, as well as scores of others like Eric Foster of the Colts, also accused of sexual assault, or Corey Dillon for DUI, warrant suspension for behavior detrimental to the league’s image? Why was there no outrage with Eric Foster’s sexual assault allegation when it occurred last year, during the Colt’s Super Bowl run?  I wonder if the bottom line had anything to do with that call. This is a dangerous precedent, and I hope the NFLPA steps up to the line of scrimmage and makes Goodell fight for every inch, and not allow the chains to move towards another extreme conservative benchmark. Pretty soon profanity, non league sanctioned tattoos, and “gangsta rap” will be prohibited in the locker rooms. There are no checks and balances, and Goodell is single handedly imposing his will on the NFL and not looking back.

In addition to sidelining Roethlisberger’s career, this suspension has effectively handicapped the Steelers for an entire year, not only on the field but off of it as well – with a financial hit of losing endorsement dollars for the Steelers (and the league), merchandise sales, etc. so the Rooney’s are shooting themselves in the foot by standing by the decision or by opposing it, thanks to all the Ben Bashers spewing hate and assumptions. While it has been made public that they are shopping him around, it’s highly doubtful they would give up a player of his caliber and possibly two more championships in short order because of hearsay and ‘buying girls drinks’ at a club in Georgia. Ok, even multiple times, but I could be wrong. Looking at it from his perspective though, he has destiny on his side. The table has been set. All the flatware, china and glasses are there. The best outcome for him would be to run the table and bring the trophy home to the ‘burg.

There can only be two reasons for why they would agree to and not fight the suspension (and why Goodell arrived at six - with the possibility of more if he slips). One being they know something the public does not, such as other incidents where settlements were awarded with the caveat it not be made public, or they are in fact trying to use this as a message to players and protecting the league brand and the media fabricated Rooney’s reputation and good standing. Don’t get me wrong. I admire and respect the family for having a work ethic and honesty that not only reflects the Pittsburgh tradition but the American Dream. The Rooney’s have a history of being an upstanding model of how to run a professional football organization –and have six Lombardi’s to prove it. Unquestionably and without a doubt in my opinion, the most successful organization outside the Yankees in the three big American organized sports. But I can’t get over the “We can have wife beaters on our team, but not drug dealers or serial serve-alcohol-to-minors-and-mutually-consent-to-sex-in-public offenders.” I also think there is a certain religious undercurrent here, and a line in the sand is being drawn on gender politics. It’s the new NFL - big brother is watching and totalitarian control over our minions is not far behind.  This makes me wonder, from a civil liberties point of view, how far will they go? How far is acceptable? Private companies can require certain standards of their employees, but when does it cross the line?

So in the end it’s either a business decision or taking the moral high ground, or both. Most likely both, if you ask me, but the extreme nature of the suspension made me take a closer look. This whole episode got me thinking about he said-she said conflict, and how alcohol has played a key role in the outcome. From my understanding, according to the law you can't charge a man with rape because she consented while drunk, because conversely, you'd have to charge her with rape because he consented while drunk as well. Unless he forcibly poured alcohol down her throat (which is clearly NOT the case), the consent while drunk argument holds no water. Men do not have a greater responsibility moral or otherwise, and the letter of the law sees it that way as well. It’s clear that the commissioner has made a conscious departure from the law, and based his suspension on his interpretation of morality. He seems to believe in the sexist view that men must police other men in dealing with women, yet ignores the personal responsibility aspect of our liberty. Women have no recourse, so somebody has to take a stand. The more think of it, he’s starting to sound like a man on a bully pulpit preaching the benefits of abstinence and self control –but only for men. It’s a double standard if you ask me, but those types don’t see it that way. 

I know it’s no consolation to rape victims that can’t prove it, but all we have that is fair is to rely on and trust law enforcement, the justice system, the facts, evidence, and eye witness accounts. This is something you consent to when you make the choice to live in this society, pay taxes, and wait for the fire department to put out the fire in your kitchen. We can't have different rules for different people or that favor one gender over the other, regardless of how they are sexually wired.  It’s a democracy, and the constitution states we are all supposed to be equal under the law. In this case, the DA decided there wasn’t even probable cause. I must say at this point, that if new evidence, or other factors surface that tip the scales, then throw his ass in the slammer. I admit it’s a conundrum and a frustrating situation, but one must rely on the facts for a decision, not emotion. In addition, statistics do not and should not affect objectivity in specific cases where there is this kind of ambiguity. I think one would agree, so saying that the overwhelming majority of rape cases are men assaulting women, does not mean that in this case, based on statistics, he raped or assaulted her. The logic here is simple. Morality however, is another discussion....

I don’t know what it’s like to be a famous million dollar athlete, but I would venture to say that finding female companionship isn’t easy. You also have girls falling all over you, and some really want to take your money, or at least get ride on the gravy train for a short while. Who can you really trust? Again, I’m not advocating any aggression towards women, but fact is fact, and we all must acknowledge testosterone as much as estrogen. Normal guys and girls go to bars, clubs, and places to meet people. Society has condoned people going out and drinking with the expectation of hooking up, or trying to, and again, both men and women participate in this behavior. Clubs and bars are set up for social interaction. It’s a business sanctioned by society and government. It is socially acceptable to look for temporary mates, even while a bit tipsy. It is not morally wrong, despite everybody's claims unless you are ultra orthodox religious type, or looking to extend the story so your website gets more clicks, or on internet discussions validating yourself.  If you think that we live in a squeaky clean world where ethics, morality, equality and justice, as presented on television is the world we live in, then you are naïve. It’s propaganda for our democracy and beacon on the hill arrogance. Men chase women, women play hard to get, etc., and we all know the cliché’s of the process of starting relationships. The simple fact is that we do not know if he coerced, forced, or took advantage of this girl. All we have is her account, and we simply do not know. Calling him slimey and immature is unfair and inaccurate. I would say he does in fact have a self absorbed view of life, but that doesn’t make him morally corrupt. The line in the sand is really quite simple and clear. Did he or did he not forcibly engage in sex with this girl, because if he did start, and then stopped because she was too drunk, then this whole thing is a farce, and he is just as much an upstanding citizen as your brothers, husbands, and fathers. He realized that imposing himself on somebody who is incapacitated is wrong. Yet we still do not know. Decisions are easily made when you let ideology guide you. It’s much more difficult when you use objectivity, neutrality, skepticism and reason to gauge the truth.

If you think it's morally wrong to have sex with a drunk girl (whether or not she agrees while drunk or otherwise, or if he’s drunk as well), try to look at it objectively and in context. You will undoubtedly arrive at the conclusion that he wasn't doing anything that hasn't been done before countless times with no moral code being broken. It’s also important to note that other countries have drinking ages below twenty one, and have perfectly sound and solid morality. I am in no way advocating sexism, misogyny, or any other type of violence or abuse towards women. If you don't agree because you have a different set of moral codes, or your morality is shifted towards men or women, alright then. Maybe you even expect him to be a role model that abstains from normally acceptable behavior to provide a facade to children, then fine. But if you are going to do that, then you might as well blame society, and say we are morally corrupt because pornography, frat parties, vip areas, prostitution, scantily clad cheerleaders, sponsors that use sex as a tool for profit are all permissible. Not to even mention how overpriced these athletes are and how that brings a sense of entitlement. It’s hypocritical to say that two strangers getting drunk and having sex in Wherever U.S.A is ok, and then turn around and say BR can’t because your kid likes him and wears his jersey. He who lives in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.

The reason this is of concern in my opinion, is that neither equality nor justice is being applied here, or anywhere else for that matter these days. This is just another manifestation of extremism with the spread of misinformation, manipulation, spin, and the constant bombardment of “opinion” until it becomes the truth. This is dominating and clouding our judgment.

But then again, in the end most all opinions and judgments are made based on conjecture anyway, and we’re all entitled to them.

Go Steelers.