Oh Ben, Say it isn't So

I have sat back, watched and listened, while the NFL considered the facts in the Big Ben sexual assault/harassment case. I was not surprised to see the league suspend the QB for six games to start the 2010 NFL season. Most people who read this blog know I am a passionate Steelers fan, but I too am disgusted with the behavior of our franchise quarterback. I have long bragged that the Steelers organization is built on principles like loyalty, character, integrity, and patience. We have never been the type of team to chase the Terrell Owens or Pac-Man Jones of the professional football world. In fact, when one of our young players shows signs of questionable character, or is fixated on becoming a "Me" player (See also Plaxico Burress, Joey Porter, etc...), the organization generally shows these players the door. Now, the team finds itself between a rock and a hard place because of the actions of a few of its players ( See also, Ben and Santonio Holmes). Holmes was shown the door last week, and the Steelers are rumored to be entertaining offers for their star QB.

I have long been troubled by the behavior of pro athletes off the field, but that is only a microcosm of what is happening in modern society. The most baffling part of all of this for me is how willing these athletes are to throw it all away. Most of them will make more in a year than any of us will ever make in a lifetime, yet they are willing to throw it all away for a few thrills in a nightclub. I have always believed that nothing good happens in any establishment that serves alcohol after midnight. I guess we have to ask ourselves why athletes continue to put themselves in such compromising situations. Perhaps, its because they feel invincible or somehow protected from all the power, money, and adulation that follows them wherever they go.

I read an article about Ben several months ago before all of this surfaced. He was asked a question about the hardest job he ever had. His response was that he has never had a job outside of football. I actually found it rather sad that he doesn't have any work experience outside of being a football player. I believe there is something to be learned from washing dishes in a busy kitchen, putting shingles on a hot roof, or marching in formation under a hot sun. These sorts of tasks aren't associated with making lots of money, idol worship, or scoring with the ladies. Rather, they teach one the importance of hard work, discipline, and how to get through life's hurdles without a posse, publicist, or grandiose sense of entitlement. We have built the modern athlete up so much by massaging their egos and closing our eyes to their discretions. The only thing we ask in return from them is that they win. Just maybe, we ought to start asking our heroes to be more self-less. Isn't that what a hero really is anyway? Did the countless men and women who rushed to help those trapped in the burning towers on 9/11 stop to think of themselves first?

Isn't it time we also start demanding that our athletes learn a little more about being humble. Instead, we put way too much attention on pride in our society. In fact, I have seen hundreds of t-shirts in my day that have the letters P-R-I-D-E printed on them, but I have yet to come across one that had H-U-M-I-L-I-T-Y as the main slogan. Now, I know that athletes who deflect attention from themselves aren't generally going to make the headlines on Sportscenter, but there is something to be said for giving some credit to the other guy. Let's start teaching young athletes that humility is the first step to building a great team. If they don't want to buy in to the humility message, then we can point to athletes like Tiger and Big Ben as great examples that Pride Cometh Before the Fall.

Lights out.