One would like to think that having raised the Lombardi Trophy twice, by winning your second Superbowl in the last four years (2005[XL] & 2008 [XLIII]). As is the case for Pittsburgh Steelers’ quarterback Ben Roethlisberger . There would be the thought that you’d be viewed as the all conquering hero within the city of Pittsburgh , if not across the entire state of Pennsylvania.
Roethlisberger (left) and then teammate Jerome Bettis celebrate the team's victory in Superbowl XL . The Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Seattle Seahawks 21-10 at Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan infront of a capacity attendance of 68,206 and tens of millions watching on television worldwide. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Marshall Richardson ..............
And for Roethlisberger , ever since his introduction into the NFL. Where he burst unto the stage with some authority, showing his grit and determination . It was viewed that he was still something of a raw talent , who still had the prerequsites of becoming good , if not a great quarterback. In his 6 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, he’s accomplished far more than most players have achieved in their entire careers within the NFL. Think Dan Marino ? The latter of whom it can be said, is often viewed as one of the very best to have ever played the position of quarterback. But who over his long and distinguished career never won a Superbowl.
The Steelers for their part , are viewed as te epitome of how an NFL franchise ought to be ran and how it conducts itself both on and off the field. The Rooney family, as the long tenured owners of the team saw fit to that. That legacy lives on through the sons of Art Rooney. And with this new era, wherein Dan Rooney and his brother Art Rooney II tether the reins of the franchise. The thinking where the their father left off . Now it is their time to write a new chapter in the Steelers’ story and its legacy.
Quarterbacks Eli Manning (left) and Ben Roethlisberger (right) on NFL Draft Day 2004. Manning who was originally picked by the San Diego Chargers but later traded to the New York Giants in exhange for Phillip Rivers. Roethlisberger who was also taken in the first round out of Miami (Ohio), was the eleventh overall pick, taken by the Pittsburgh Steelers. That pick has paid dividends for both the team and the player. As he's guided them to two Superbowl wins in five years. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Richard Marcincus ........................
It is often viewed that when you’ve got an accomplished quarterback , who then becomes the the face of the franchise . The chances are that you can ride the crest of a wave , when there’s already been a great deal of success achieved. Roethlisberger has achieved that and is now looked upon as the vocal leader of this team. Granted , he’s had his mishaps that can often be associated with a brash young quarterback. His motorcycle accident a few years back, almost put an end to his then young and flourishing career. He obviously learnt from that mistake. And heeded the advice offered to him by his peers on the team at the time.
With the new found acclaim , came the wealth and notoriety. And as an eligible bachelor , who becomes the staple for many of the tabloids , who sees fit to place an athlete up on a pedestal, only to tear them down at what they perceive to be the first sign of impropriety. Roethlisberger’s private and public life is open to close public scrutiny. The media is often viewed as a pariah and a parasite , whose only view is to report the salaciousness of a story . Rather than being an informative source of information when reporting the news. Then again , when an athlete places themselves in a compromising position . Then it is the press’ right to report that story factually and verbatim.
Somtimes an incident can be compromised when it’s not reported. Merely because those involved choose to cover it up by not making it public at all. And when that tends to happen, the ramifications can be disastrous and also lead to a great deal of speculation. In the case where that incident is one , where it’s sexual in its nature . Then for both of the parties involved it can be a case of “he said, she said.”
This all now comes full circle as to an allegation now being made by a female employee of Harrahs , the noted hotel and casino chain. This female alleges that she was sexually assaulted by Ben Roethlisberger , in his hotel room after it was alleged he asked for assistance in trying to repair a television set that didn’t appear to be working. The female employee who was working the front-desk at the time states that she went to his room to assist the player , in his request. What may , or may not have taken place that night in Lake Tahoe, Nevada , is clearly open to a great deal of speculation. But what further makes this incident on appearance seem all the more incredulous, is the fact the victim of this alleged crime didn’t initially report to the police or her superiors. As to the reasons why, who knows ?
Roethlisberger (7) of the Pittsbugh Steelers looks to evade the Arizona Cardinals Gerald Hayes (54) during Superbowl XLIII played at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa , Florida. picture appears courtesy of getty images / Jamie Squires ........................
And the denials have already been forthcoming through Roethlisberger’s lawyer and agent. And the speculation has become widespread , due to the fact that the player and several of Harrahs’ employees are said to be close acquaintances. It has been said that a security staff members may have known about the incident , failed to report it, as it was known that Roethlisberger was said to be the known assailant, of the victim. VIP , celebrity status or not , if true ,this is a troubling assertion. The player is a regular visitor to many of their establishments around the country. In particular the venues in Atlantic City, Renoe / Tahoe and Las Vegas.
Courtesy of Yahoosports in conjunction with AP:
Deputy: No plans to investigate Roethlisberger
By Scott Stoner , Associated Press Writer
RENO, Nev. (AP)-Law enforcement officials in Nevada have no intention of opening a criminal investigation into allegations Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger raped a woman at a Lake Tahoe hotel-casino a year ago, the sherrif’s department said Wednesday.
Douglas County Sherrif’s Deputy Theresa Duffy said the accuser would have to file a criminal complaint to trigger an investigation into the incident the woman says occurred during a celebrity golf tournament last July while she was working as an executive casino host at Harrahs Lake Tahoe.
“The victim is the only one who can do that,” Duffy told the Associated Press. “Unless there was a third party that actually witnessed the incident , which according to the civil case, was not the case here,” she said.
The 31-year old woman who was working as a VIP host at Harrahs Lake Tahoe at the time has filed a lawsuit saying Roethlisberger raped her in a hotel penthouse across the street from the golf course , a claim he vehemently denies.
The woman a native of Canada who had worked at Harrahs since 2003, never went to the authorities with her story , and it’s unclear why she decided to file the lawsuit seeking hundreds of thousands of dollars a full year later.
“Ben has never sexually assaulted anyone . The timing of the lawsuit and the absence of a criminal complaint and a criminal investigation are the most compelling evidence of the absence of any criminal conduct,” Roethlisberger lawyer David Cornwell said in a statement. “If an investiagation is commenced , Ben will cooperate fully and Ben will be fully exonerated.”
He did not immediately reply to a phone message and e-mail seeking more comment. cont’d ……………….
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In light of what took place with regard to the ‘Kobe Bryant incident’ in Eagle, Colorado. It’s hard for an athlete to place themselves out of harm’s way even in the most innocuous of circumstances. In Bryant’s case even though a criminal case wasn’t deemed necessary as the plaintiff did not want to proceed forward with the claim. It has to be said , Bryant on his part used poor judgement in the course of his actions.
For Roethlisberger , he now has to fight the assertion that he’s just another highly overpaid athlete who can flout the law, and act out as , and how he pleases. But at the same there’s no burden of evidence to state he acted inappropriately. However, something had to have taken place in order for the victim to be making these allegations to begin with. Moreover, now she also can’t be excused for her inaction for not first reporting the incident. Which now leaves us with a dilema . Who are we to believe ? The athlete who proclaims his innocence ? Or an alleged victim who may well be looking to extort money from an athlete whom she thought she could catch in all too compromising position ?
The truth at times can compromising in terms of its shades. There’s the allged victim’s side and then there’s the defendant’s. But somewhere in between lies the real truth and that evidence isn’t always abundantly clear to begin with when first looking for an answer. As alluded to earlier in cases likes this ….it all comes down to ” he said , she said ”
And the justice system for its part doesn’t always get it right to begin with. The alleged victim as in the plaintiff, in the proposed civil suit now can use a device. Wherein she tries to push the defendant to prove his innocence. But bearing in mind ,the burden of proof lays with the veracity of the argument being out forth by both sides. Nothing is ever as clear cut , as it first seems.
