All of the football news the past week or so has been great for a few different reasons. It is always awesome to finally get training camp started and launch a new season, but this season it has felt especially refreshing to watch/talk about real football after the Ben Roethlisberger saga this summer.
I’m sure Big Ben was more excited for training camp than anybody…and so far he has made the most of it. Since he arrived last week with his offensive lineman in a fleet of Mini Coopers, Roethlisberger has been a model of good behavior. He’s been signing autographs for fans, interacting and joking with the media, and putting in work on the field.
I thought it was interesting hearing all of the beat reporters and the like remarking that Roethlisberger was greeted with cheers and no audible boos were heard on the opening day of practices and I haven’t heard about any heckling directed towards Big Ben since. I’m sure he will hear it at every away venue for the rest of his career — opposing fans don’t forget things like sexual assault chargers. But, as things are shaping up now, at least Roethlisberger will feel welcomed at Heinz Field.
(Don’t get me wrong, I’m not condoning Roethlisberger’s immature partying, rude behavior, and whatever may have happened during that summer night in Georgia. But at some point, you have to say enough is enough and move forward. No matter how loud people boo Roethlisberger, he can’t go back and time and change things, though I’m sure he wishes he could. I guess I can’t get upset with Steeler fans booing him, but I don’t really see what it will accomplish.)
Professional athletes who hit rock bottom usually do not stay there for very long. As much as the media and sports fans love tearing an athlete down, they too love building one back up. See: Kobe Bryant, Alex Rodriguez, and especially Tiger Woods. Woods was a punchline and a laughingstock for a long time. But now he has tons of people rooting for him and his popularity among golf fans hasn’t really taken that much of a hit. When he finally wins a tournament, he will be cheered for more with more gusto than has ever experienced. And the win will probably be among the most special in his career, even if it is some two-bit tournament in Nebraska or something.
Roethlisberger still has a long hill to climb, but I really think he is working his way up from rock bottom. He is already making progress in the first step in his road to redemption — earning back the trust of Steeler Nation.
If Roethlisberger keeps acting like a real man should and plays well when he comes back from his suspension, his image and popularity will be as strong as ever. And it certainly won’t hurt the Steelers offense either.
