Crying Black and Gold Tears
It has been sitting in my closet since 2004.
It took three games for me to make the decision. Three times I watched this rookie go out on to the field and do what rookies aren't supposed to be able to do. He remained calm, composed, and got the job done. It was time for me to buy a Steelers jersey, so it was a no-brainer. I searched store-to-store until I found it. I bought #7, because I was impressed with the rookie quarterback.
I wore the jersey every Sunday for two seasons. And then, a little something happened. It was nothing major, certainly nothing that in any way impacted his performance on the field, just a little something one day while I was eating lunch. I had an in-person encounter with #7 and walked away from it a little uneasy. I know that NFL players often have almost split-personalities, that often they are not exactly The Finest of Men off the field, but the incident left me just plain not liking the guy. Sometimes, it's not the on-field stuff that is most important. Sometimes the quality of the human being does matter.
I tucked the jersey into the back of the closet.
Some time after that, Holmes was accused of domestic violence. I placed a little mental red check mark next to his name. Although the charges were dropped, simply being involved in such a situation made me uneasy. I didn't want him to be a Steeler anymore.
Then it happened again, this time with Harrison. Again I placed that little mental red check mark next to his name, this time with an even heavier heart. I was disappointed in the direction that his life had gone after all of the hard work he had done to get where he was. I didn't want him to be a Steeler anymore.
Then it was Reed. Over and over. I skipped the little mental red check mark and went for the Big Giant Mental Red Check Mark. I not-so-secretly hoped for a on-field failure so that the Steelers would be done with him, once and for all. Yes, you read that right--I have wanted Reed removed from the Steelers roster since his first run-in with the police.
And now back to #7. That jersey still sits in my closet, crumpled up on the floor in a ball. I can't imagine myself ever wearing it again. I can't imagine myself doing anything other than cutting it into pieces.
Right now, I can't imagine myself watching a Steelers game with Ben Roethlisberger on the field.
Football players don't need to be saintly. They don't need to be perfect human beings. They don't even have to be nice people. In my eyes, however, they do need to be decent human beings. They do need to act like grown-ups with real jobs. And if they are going to wear the black and gold, they need to avoid doing things that will result in a call to a police officer.
Would I give up those two recent Super Bowl victories to have a team I could be proud of? Yes. Yes, I would.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Reader Comments (23)
I wholeheartedly agree.
I've been saying that I'd rather lose football games than be embarrassed of being a Steeler fan.
@ErinPatricia--Yup. Considering I was a Pacers fan for a very long time, there is precedence that I will stick with a team through losing seasons and winning seasons. It wasn't until they held onto Stephen Jackson for too long that I started to drift away.
I love you for this.
So many people think athletes should be able to do whatever the hell they want when they're off the field. But seriously dude? NOT ok.
I'm more of a baseball girl than a football girl, and I'm from NYC so I worship the Yankees, but you can bet if my beloved Matsui (ok so he's not really a yankee anymore) pulled that sort of crap I'd be burning his jersey on my damn grill.
Well said ma'am. Very well said.
I totally agree. If you are in the spotlight, and these guys know they are , you should RESPECT the spotlight. Don't be foolish. Don't be stupid. Don't waste the G-d given talent with which you were blessed. *sigh*
I hear your frustration in this post. I agree with you 100%.
I am simply writing a letter to the Rooney's and sending them my #7 jerseys back.
When a person has that much influence, they need to conduct themselves appropriately off the field. It seems to me, some players got a little too big for their britches. I think that some Steelers athletes could take a lesson or two from the Pens athletes. In my opinion.
Well said. For the first time, I am ashamed to be a Burgher because of this situation. Morals > Winning ... in sports and in life.
...and big FAIL on my part for owning a #7 and a #10 jersey.
Especially because it isn't just adults that watch and admire these players. Its kids too. You want the money and respect that comes with fme and super bowl rings? Then don't be an idiot.
Agreed 100%.
If he doesn't get magically traded during the draft proceedings, I will also be sending the Rooneys my #7 jersey with a letter.
I have photos of all 4 of my kids wearing a #7 jersey. I'll also be writing a letter if they don't get rid of this jagoff (sorry. Is that profanity if it's spoken in Burgh-speak?).
I hate that some folks want to give him a pass because he made some "bad choices". He's a bad, bad person (possibly criminal) and should be treated as such. Makes me glad I bought a #86 for myself (so far).
My nephew went to college with #7 at Miami of Ohio. Everyone (naturally) asks if he knew him or had class with him, etc. His only story? He cut in front of him in line at a fast food joint. That story speaks of someone with SERIOUS entitlement issues. He should no longer have anyone's respect...including his teammates. And without that, he CANNOT lead a team - nor should he be afforded the opportunity.
No, they don't have to be good guys, but they shouldn't be criminals.
i own two jack lambert jerseys (one autographed) and one franco harris jersey. if i buy another steelers jersey it will be mel blount, not a current player.
My husband had a run in with Ben. How he describes him since that run in... he's a pig. These situations that Ben has intentionally put himself in only further reinforce that. My daughter and I have not touched our #7 jerseys for some time and I think we will be shopping for new ones this year.
I definitely would not feel bad if he was traded. I agree with a previous commenter that some Steelers need to take a note from the Pens.
My almost 8 year old will never again wear his #7 jersey.
THANK YOU. Perfectly written.
You said this so well. I got into this very argument with a coworker just yesterday; she was upset that he'd been suspended (she's a Steelers fan, we even have them here in Michigan because - well, the Lions are hard to support sometimes). She was miffed because what he'd done had nothing to do with the sport. I couldn't believe that a WOMAN would feel that way. How dare he abuse his privilege? It's just sick.
I love reading that you - a HUGE fan - see this just the same way as I do.
Wonderful post and I absolutely agree. And as a resident of Phoenix where the Cardinals are looking for a new quarterback and are apparently considering Ben, I wish he'd stay away because there aren't many who can fill Kurt Warner's shoes. When I lived in St. Louis there was a player for the Rams who was driving drunk and killed a mother of five. I was disgusted when they let him back on the team.
I couldn't agree with you more. Perfectly said!
When Ben first got to Pgh he was shopping in a store that my friends daughter was working. He wrote his phone number on a piece of paper and handed it to her. She threw it back at him and said "you pervert, I'm only 16!)
Her mom and I laughed about that for years. Now I'm thinking, boy did she ever do the right thing.
The sad thing is that when he gets the ball 90 yards down the field in record time for that OT win, all will be forgotten and he'll be the big hero again.
(Applause)
Bravo! I thought it was a rather classy move for the Steelers org to let it be known that they're open to offers. That sends a pretty strong signal to the rest of the team. Know what I would have loved even more? If the 'Skins hadn't picked up McNabb and Cowher refused to make an offer. Alas.
Sigh. Why can't the bad boys of football suck it up if only for the thousands of kids who EVERYONE KNOWS worship at their feet? There are so many players who are upstanding individuals and do so much to give back to the community and these knuckleheads give the entire league a bad name.
@Katie in MA--I actually try pretty hard to make sure that Alexis doesn't get the impression that athletes are "heroes." It's not really a fair pedestal to put them on. That said, they still don't need to be complete douchenuggets. NOBODY does.
Amen.
And at the moment, Clausen is still available. lol