Say it isn't true Big Ben - fact or fiction ? you decide

[slashsteel]

Just returned from Vegas,

Prior to going arranged transport to and from the airport. Just makes things easier when we travel.

Ran into this one driver who has driven a bunch of Steelers back n forth. .Really easy for anyone to tell I am a fanatic as I show out well. So we begin a back n forth Steelers conversation. Anyone affiliated, or having run ins with the Steelers I naturally grill with questions.If given the opportunity.

Well F like he likes to be referred as, tells me some stories. Some that a few may have heard thru the grapevine, one way or another. None the less I will touch on a few, then will throw Big Ben on the clock.

Troy Aumua Polamalu - he couldn't say enough good things about him. Always polite, one time apparently he bought a bunch of blankets distributed them out to the homeless. No media was alerted per his wishes. Nothing new to Steeler Nation, but always a good hear.

Plaxico- he said he saw two versions of him. the earlier tool version, then the later - I almost shot off my penis- version. F said he had a totally different demeanor. Moral of the story, Plax stayed calm, didn't lose his head.

Heath Miller - As advertised,.all class

Ramon Foster - Said he was a real stand up guy. Personable always friendly.


And now I'll throw Big Ben on the clock. One day someone who knew the Rooney's (again per F) came in contact with Ben. Said hi to him, Big Ben looks at the guy and blows him off, mumbling a quick gesture. The guy responds to Ben, "you know what you haven't changed one bit, I know the Rooney's I'll make sure I will mention how you responded to me".

Ben's "tude" quickly changed to friendly

F then mentions every encounter with Ben (as he has driven him many of times) never a word, just a cocky *** attitude.

Now this is just a report, it won't stop me from cheering on him or the team. But it does give me the impression the old pompous Big Ben is probably still the newer (trying to paint the media a different image) Big Ben.

I will also add on another thing I heard prior to this encounter.

A girl that dated Big Ben for years. Mentioned Ben was dating a lot of women besides her. (No biggie to me)

Anyways thought it was odd that his wife came into the picture, and nobody knew her. Basically as it wasn't one of his long term dates.

Was the marriage a part of a cover up to help repair his image?

Who knows?

I thought I would share what I heard,

How much of it is fact or fiction ? we will leave that up to you...................

 

[Coach]

Ben was a bit of a tool off the field and not well like by some teammates including Ward.

He has matured some since getting married.

 

[slashsteel]

Ben was a bit of a tool off the field and not well like by some teammates including Ward.

He has matured some since getting married.

has he? that is what the report focuses on

plus he could have matured and still be a ********/tool

 

[diver]

Who cares? I don't. As long as he wins football games.

That said, I also don't care about any struggles he has had personally. I don't want to hear it.

I am really only taking these athletes at their word. In 40+ years of watching sports, whenever one of them gets in trouble, I have had to hear that we shouldn't worry about that, only worry about what they do on the field. That is what I do.

 

[Steelerfan81]

People like to paint athletes with the reps they are protrayed as. I'm sure Ben is a dick sometimes just like any of us. I have been around Hines Ward when he was a complete *******. It always depends on the day.

I try to put myself in their shoes. They don't live the same life as us. I imagine that they'd just like to go to the store or the casino without being noticed once in awhile. I know if seems like an easy trade off for millions of dollars but I'm sure it isn't always pleasant.

 

[slashsteel]

Who cares? I don't. As long as he wins football games.

That said, I also don't care about any struggles he has had personally. I don't want to hear it.

I am really only taking these athletes at their word. In 40+ years of watching sports, whenever one of them gets in trouble, I have had to hear that we shouldn't worry about that, only worry about what they do on the field. That is what I do.

Of course we want him to win football games.


As far as who cares? just a report I heard

some will find it interesting some won't....

obviously it won't change our watching of him or the game....

but if someone thinks he has changed his ways, perhaps that viewpoint might change

or maybe not

 

[slashsteel]

People like to paint athletes with the reps they are protrayed as. I'm sure Ben is a dick sometimes just like any of us. I have been around Hines Ward when he was a complete *******. It always depends on the day.

I try to put myself in their shoes. They don't live the same life as us. I imagine that they'd just like to go to the store or the casino without being noticed once in awhile. I know if seems like an easy trade off for millions of dollars but I'm sure it isn't always pleasant.

not sure if it is a "sometimes" or a "most of the times"

 

[Fuzzy Dunlop]

Can't "decide" based on hearsay, but there is very little that would actually surprise me to hear.

 

[Litos]

snitches get stitches

 

[POP]

People like to paint athletes with the reps they are protrayed as. I'm sure Ben is a dick sometimes just like any of us. I have been around Hines Ward when he was a complete *******. It always depends on the day.

I try to put myself in their shoes. They don't live the same life as us. I imagine that they'd just like to go to the store or the casino without being noticed once in awhile. I know if seems like an easy trade off for millions of dollars but I'm sure it isn't always pleasant.

1.) Some people are more likeable than others and some will never become truly likeable even if they can "act" as if they are in the media.

2.) Ben is a football God in a city that worships its team more than God himself at times. That would mess with your head unless you are naturally truly humble, like Troy. Ben isn't that guy.

3.) Even if he can be impersonal and jerkish, as long as he isn't doing **** to get suspended or arrested, it really doesn't matter to me, UNLESS it hurts team chemistry. All signs point to it not doing that.

4.) Yes, getting married and having kids MAY have been part of a reputation repair agenda, but all signs appear to him loving his family and having grown up some.

That all being said, maybe Ben can still be some what jerkish to the public, but as long as it doesn't hurt the team's chances of winning, I really don't care.

 

[Litos]

1.) Some people are more likeable than others and some will never become truly likeable even if they can "act" as if they are in the media.

2.) Ben is a football God in a city that worships its team more than God himself at times. That would mess with your head unless you are naturally truly humble, like Troy. Ben isn't that guy.

3.) Even if he can be impersonal and jerkish, as long as he isn't doing **** to get suspended or arrested, it really doesn't matter to me, UNLESS it hurts team chemistry. All signs point to it not doing that.

4.) Yes, getting married and having kids MAY have been part of a reputation repair agenda, but all signs appear to him loving his family and having grown up some.

That all being said, maybe Ben can still be some what jerkish to the public, but as long as it doesn't hurt the team's chances of winning, I really don't care.

nice post

 

[Skott]

Yes, Ben was a cocky prick early on.

Then he grew up, much of it in he spotlight.

But I'd rTher him grow up into who he is today; then to remain the ******* he once was.

 

[Steelerfan81]

If you were 23, just won the SB, had millions of dollars, banging different puss every night.. would you be humble?

 

[Drink IRON City]

Usually what you hear isn't 100% wrong as to NOT 100% right either. I'd say he didn't JUST get married for reputation sake. I'd think he truely loved this woman enough to have kids and family. Happy for him. I'm sure like anyone, @sshole can come out at times. UNTIL one walks a mile in his shoes, there should be no judgement. Hear say is a "Take It for What It's Worth" at best.




Salute the nation

 

[SteelerFan448]

Phew, I was scared that this was a "Ben plans to retire after the season" rumor thread.

I've heard more than a fair share of people call certain athletes terrible people based off one or two experiences. I don't put much stock into it whether it's good or bad.

 

[Stryker]

Ben met his wife, who is a physical therapist, while rehabbing from an injury. Sparks flew, and low and behold, Ben marries a stable woman, instead of an unstable bar hopper.

The best choice he could have made.

 

[CharlesDavenport]

Ben is a complete douchebag. Lets move on. This never ends well for me.

 

[jitter77]

Maybe Ben heard F goes around and snitches on players and just chooses to ignore him

 

[CharlesDavenport]

If you were 23, just won the SB, had millions of dollars, banging different puss every night.. would you be humble?

Yes

 

[Ron Burgundy]

I've been acquainted with some famous people, sports and otherwise. In my opinion most of them become ******** just from a lot of people bothering them for attention or money. I just talk to them like regular people, DO NOT ask for an autograph (that's the worst thing you can do), and attempt conversation at something other than what it is they do. It doesn't always work but most times it does.

Ben met his wife, who is a physical therapist, while rehabbing from an injury. Sparks flew, and low and behold, Ben marries a stable woman, instead of an unstable bar hopper.

The best choice he could have made.

It doesn't hurt that she's far better-looking than any of the bar rags he was linked with.

 

[SCSteeler4life]

Who cares, he can sling it !

 

[deljzc]

If Ben isn't a perfect example of a jock meathead and likely bully in high school, I don't know who is. The guy was probably bigger, stronger, faster, more athletic than anyone from the time he was 5. He was doted on, praised, center-of-attention.

Combine that with average intelligence, parents that probably lived vicariously through his success and you get an A-1 *******.

Is what it is. Our society produces people like this all the time. Many that don't sniff professional sports. Ben made it and is a superstar.

This game doesn't care about moral character. It cares about production. All sports do. So you are bound to get a spectrum of people that have been raised right and those raised wrong. Those with moral fiber and those without. Those with criminal tendencies and those without. Those that care about others and those that care about themselves.

In retrospect, that's part of the fascination with sports. It's a window into our society. All the good and bad.

 

[Superman]

http://persephonemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/attempting-to-give-a-****.jpg

 

[MTC]

If you were 23, just won the SB, had millions of dollars, banging different puss every night.. would you be humble?

Probably not

 

[Slash#10]

As long as Big Ben isn't into "criminal" activity I can careless about his dismissive demeanor or interactions with strangers and people he doesn't know.

Just to add to the OP.. The Bus was a stand up guy as well. I know multiple ppl who were around him from the clubs to the barber shop. Parents definitely raised a gentleman.