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Wednesday, 28 July 2010 16:48

Written by Dan Gigler

... Or at least Sports Illustrated's Jeff Pearlman seems to think so. Or that you're all at least enablers. Along with the rest of America. Somehow.

In his most recent column, Pearlman attempts to link Ben Roethlisberger's behavior, and the tacit acceptance of it by seemingly anyone who has ever at least casually liked football, as further evidence that we are a society jogging toward Gomorrah and probably a 2012 Armageddon.

This is who we are.

This is a shame."

Regardless of your opinion of Roethlisberger, and his actions -- real and alleged -- Pearlman's piece is at best trite and lazy and at worst insulting by suggesting that Steelers fans (and by extension, fans of all teams and fans of all sports) are trained clapping seals that cannot think for themselves, and couldn't possibly be intelligent enough to hold conflicting opinions on a matter, e.g., I do not like Ben Roethlisberger, nor do I condone anything he's done, but I still love the Steelers, they've been my favorite team for decades.

Thank God Pearlman is around to set everyone straight. This column was first pointed out to me by an email discussion group that I'm on; later I read the NC-17 'refudiation' (as ShakesPalin might say) of the column on Kissing Suzy Kolber.

Read Pearlman's column for yourself and weigh in with your thoughts.

Comments (3)

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written by djbst75, July 29, 2010 - 03:29 AM

that is to be expected by that awful rag SI jumped the shark ten years ago........

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written by blitzum, July 29, 2010 - 10:18 AM

why is it always all or nothing? Can I not have a strong personal opinion about Ben's bonehead behavior and still support him on the football field? Without fact I can not completely judge and if I walked in his shoes would i be so different?
No one is happy about what happened. Ben has paid, and will continue to pay, a big price. Everyone gets second chances, even writers. Let's get ready fro camp!!

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written by Jopa-n, July 29, 2010 - 06:07 PM

There are so many things wrong with Pearlman's view it would take all day to answer it in full.
Condensed version:
Any human being has the right to feel how they feel about this. Pearlman attempting to play the holier than thou and talk down to fans is revolting. The fact that he attempts to magnify and create a factual incident out of a very complicated situation, while passing, on other clear incidents of guilt with others, shows is lack of integrity. Why does a players personal life have to supercede his value to a fan if the player is not a convicted felon? We don't even know what the truth is about the situation yet we are suppose to overlook others who have done terrible- proven things- that have hurt or killed others. Where does Pearlman come off as the one and only who will stand in judgment? Not only in judgment of Ben, but of you and I. Well Mr. Pearlman, I already wear my #7 jersey proud as can be, and am not going to have someone else tell me why I shouldn't wear it. I also will wear it for my reasons, any of which is none of Pearlman's business.

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