Test Your Toughness
- Thursday, May 6, 2010 4:28 PM
- Written By: Mike Rosolio
There is no tougher city to play in that Philadelphia. It’s a town with a chip on its shoulder unrivaled in the world. It hates New York for being a bigger, better city and hates DC for stealing the capital from it 210 years ago. They’re never satisfied with any semblance of winning, because no amount of winning will ever be good enough. It’s for this reason that the biggest star in the history of Philadelphia sports is a fictional boxer who always gets to win in the end (or come to a draw, which is a moral, arty win).
On the flipside, there probably isn’t an easier city in play in than Pittsburgh. It’s hard to find an example of a player or coach that has played in that city that wasn’t embraced in a blind zeal. Throw a couple touchdown passes and they’ll name some jerky after you. You get to go into any club for free and never pay for anything. The only real way you can screw up is if you’re a serial rapist.
Cool, an example.
The somewhat scattered point is that Pittsburgh fans have turned hard on Ben Roethlisberger, way harder than any fanbase ever has with a current player. But the details of the guy’s life, chronicled in TMZ-style detail by a recent Sports Illustrated cover story, shows a guy who is entitled, misogynistic and just a world-class asshole.
Pittsburgh fans have been playing defense on this guy for a while. “Oh, there was no criminal charge in Tahoe” and “Well, he was just targeted for money in Georgia.” A lot of them still will, especially if he wins a couple games this year.
But in reading the killer article and studying the situation, I don’t think he can handle this.
Take Donovan McNabb, the toughest skinned guy in the world who was only the best athlete the Eagles have had in the last 20 years, tied maybe with AI and Reggie White, and yet was run out of town. But as the villagers came after him with pitchforks and fire, McNabb had a smile on his face. The first seconds McNabb experienced as an Eagle was soaked in a chorus of boos, as the Philly "faithful" wanted Ricky Williams to clambake the Vet. This is a guy who could handle absolutely anything, and is personally responsible for every single game the Eagles won under his guidance.
Roethlisberger, on the other hand, is a guy who rode the coattails of a running game and defense right out of the gate. He had a better supporting cast than any rookie in the history of the game. But he always wanted the spotlight. You can tell based on his dour response to the Steelers' Super Bowl win in 2005, in which they won in spite of him. Now Roethlisberger has become a really good quarterback, there’s no denying that, and slowly but surely the Steelers have become about him. The team even abandoned their decades-long tradition of Strong Running Game First to placate him. He got his wish.
Now what?
His teammates don’t like him. It’s no secret there. And while he’s always been booed mercilessly in opposing stadiums, it’s going to get damn specific when he hits the road in 2010. Baltimore and Cleveland especially, two of the more hostile places to deal with, are going to do nothing shy of read the deposition outloud on the Jumbotron. But pros are pros, and every enemy territory is tough. But what about the home being tough? What about this weird trauma-victim urge ol’ Ben has to be the center of attention and hailed as a king? What if that goes away?
In all likelihood Ben’s handlers and agents will fulfill the requirements set by Roger Goodell to return after the minimum four games, unless he assaults another co-ed (which is certainly not impossible given his track record of "making better decisions"). Then the Steelers have a bye week, then three in a row on the road. So actually, either way, Ben’s first home game is going to be Week 10 against New England. I’m guessing the pregame announcements will be the defense.
But he’ll take the field eventually. Does the guy who has to be loved have the fortitude to block out the reign of doom that will come from the friendliest crowd he’ll face all year? It shouldn’t be too hard.
Just like riding a bike.
