Sometimes I can't believe how naive you are. There is an old adage that just because you get away with something doesn't make it right...
And sometimes, Mo, I have trouble believing that you have any semblance of social life outside of following football and the Patriots.
Doing something that isn't against the law becomes a big deal when you promised your employer you would never do it again because you realize how foolish and risky it was and you want him to believe you have matured to the point you realize that and are worth investing further in. That's what Ben did, he lied and established that as his pattern behavior to get people off his case under any circumstances. Then he cavalierly proved his word in all circumstances is essentially worthless because he still believes he can do whatever he wants short of committing an easily provable felony...by riding that bike again helmetless in public in Pittsburgh no less...
Once again, millions of people in the world pay lip service to their employers about something that occurs or occured inside the office. What he did was pay lip service to his employers about something that he does in his free time OUTSIDE of work. I don't care about the fact that he makes millions. It does not make this situation any different. What right does an employee have to tell you what to do outside of work? In my opinion, they have no right to do that if you aren't actually breaking any laws, which Ben was not. If there is a law which requires bike riders to wear helmets (which there should be), then I'd be the first one to harp on Ben about this. However, this is not a big deal considering everything else he did. Let's take a look at that, shall we?
1. Accused of rape by several women.
2. Accused of assault on the part of his bodyguards during the night said rape took place.
3. Made fun of a waiter just trying to do his job to the guy's face then got him fired just because he could.
...and we're seriously still harping on him because he chose not to wear a helmet on a bike and then flipped the press off when they were nosy enough to try to tape him and rat him out to his employer? Really? This is just getting pathetic now.
Given that however, I have no sympathy for this particular employer because I guarantee you they knew he was among other things an entitled, pathological liar incapable of accepting responsibility or accountability for his actions on and off the field. They've been covering for his behavior for years.
I can't disagree with this. The Steelers are a Grade-A scumbag organization from their owner on down.
Believe me, this had a lot to do with Cowher's decision to walk away and take a sabatical... He could see the handwriting on the wall with Ben, knew he wasn't going to be able to control him on or off the field because of his own miscalculation early on in not establishing tougher ground rules with him because they were winning. Up until 2006 Cowher had been the face of their franchise. Once it became increasingly difficult to coach the meathead he drafted with both a ring and a reconfigured face who had apparently learned nothing in the process beyond becoming increasingly empowered by his seemingly inate ability to escape failure and even death..., Cowher knew what he had to do. Move on, because the Rooney's were committed to meathead becoming the long awaited QB the face of the franchise and if there were problems with that scenario going forward Cowher would be the one taking the heat.
I sincerely hope that this is just speculation and, if it isn't, you have actual proof of this. I have to believe that if Roethlisberger and Holmes (among others) forced him to walk away then Cowher would have taken one of the many jobs that was offered to him after he left the Steelers. Personally, I'm not as willing to invest time and energy into conspiracy theories as you are. Is it possible that these situations forced Cowher out? Sure. But it's highly unlikely. Cowher just looked like a guy that needed some time off from the stresses of being a professional football coach after 2006. He looked tired and old. Now that he's doing broadcasting, he looks rested and healthy. I prefer to put two and two together.
Now the Rooney's are at that same juncture with Ben. And they aren't in that position because he's broken ANY law. They are there because he paid them lip service about making better choices and that's all it ever was...and up until now nobody chose to call him on it and hold him accountable for bs'ing them. Ben has yet to realize that life is all about choices and consequences, and just because you consistently got away with something in the past doesn't mean you will always continue to. Reminds me a lot of some posters here...
You seem to have as much of a problem with understanding where I'm coming from as efin does. I never once said that Ben hasn't made any bad decisions. In fact he has. The fact that he isn't wearing a helmet is one of them just because of it's sheer stupidity. I feel that way about everybody (which would be thousands, if not millions, of people) that doesn't wear a helmet while riding a bike. However, that is entirely his prerogative and, compared to everything else he's done, it just seems pointless to harp on that and not concentrate on the things the actually DO make Ben a bad person.
