NFL Playoffs/Ben
Last week, 2 – 0 (Postseason, 7 – 3)
So, the stage is set for Super Bowl XLV. The Green Bay Packers took care of business in Chicago by dispatching the Bears, 21 – 14, and claiming the NFC Championship. While quarterback Aaron Rodgers did not have his best day as a pro, he did enough to get the job done. Throwing two interceptions is not a good M.O. to reach the Super Bowl, but the rest of the Packers came up big in support of their team and their quarterback.
The Pittsburgh Steelers claimed the AFC Championship as they put together a textbook first half of football Sunday night, then had to hold on for dear life as the New York Jets mounted a furious comeback. While the final score was 24 – 19, it should have been a lot worse. What the Steelers need to do, now, is take the second half of the Baltimore game, the first half of the Jets game, and put them together next Sunday night in Dallas. They will need four quarters of football to beat the Packers.
What we have, now, is a match up for the ages. Two old school franchises, steeped in tradition, playing for supremacy in the NFL. It is even more fitting that these two teams are playing in Cowboys Stadium, the home of a team they have tormented over the years. While Dallas gets the moniker of America’s Team, it’s the Packers and the Steelers who have more titles, each separately, and more obviously together. There could not be a better place to stage a Super Bowl than in the home of the Cowboys!
Next week, we’ll take a look at this battle more in depth, with the game only mere hours away. This week, we’ll take a look back at an issue that seems to almost have resolved itself and has a direct impact on the possible outcome of this game. It was nearly a year ago that Ben Roethlisberger got himself into a quandary in Milledgeville, Georgia. It was anything but pretty and it could have had a devastating effect on many levels.
What he did angered a region, its fans, and the organization. It painted all involved in a very bad light and it was going to take some monumental damage control to even attempt to recover from this. Ben received his suspension, originally six games, and it was narrowed down to four.
Many among the faithful got rid of their Ben and #7 jerseys, and that was understandable. No one wanted to be associated with him and the fans were practically demanding he be traded. It was going to take time, and a lot of it, to blow over and for everyone to attempt to heal. This was far worse than his motorcycle accident back in 2006. This was a matter of reputation and integrity, something that this region thrives on.
Had Ben not engineered two Super Bowl titles, it’s likely that the decision to try and move him might have been a foregone conclusion. But, when you are the franchise quarterback and one of the faces of the team, that makes the decision a whole lot tougher. Ben was told behind closed doors that his behavior would not be tolerated and that he had a lot of cleaning up to do with regards to his image. To his credit, Ben succeeded.
Let me take this a little bit further. We hold our athletes and entertainers to a different standard, right or wrong, good or bad. When they do wrong, we act with a boycott. Okay, maybe that’s understandable. However, as I like to say, and to coin the old adage, let he who is without sin cast the first stone. That makes you take a step or two back and realize that none of us are without sin. We all do wrong and we all make mistakes. That’s how we learn. But we all acted as if Ben was the ultimate pariah. There are many who have done a lot worse than what he did and have gotten away with it. No, there is nothing right about crimes against women; however, the girl that night wasn’t exactly Cinderella, and there are others who have gotten several women pregnant and have illegitimate children running around everywhere.
I have stated that I do not condone what Ben did, or was alleged to have done. He was not charged with any crime, but he was told to start growing up. That I can agree with. All of that success so soon could spoil almost anyone. He made his mistakes and he is on his last chance, and he knows it. He also knows not to blow it. Perhaps getting closer to 30 starts to change the mind of an athlete a little bit, as Ben will be 29 in March. By rites, he is only entering the prime of his career, and he is fashioning an impressive resume.
I have two Ben jerseys, now, as I ordered one back in the fall. America is about second chances, whether or not you agree with that. I have given Ben a second chance, as he quarterbacks my football team, as a fan, and he has delivered two more titles to this storied franchise. He appears to be genuine in his changes and wants to be a much better person. That is a great start. Now he just needs to maintain that. I believe he can.
We all spend so much time tearing people down and while building ourselves up. Well, in the case of certain people I mention in Random Thoughts, that stands to reason and is valid. But we need to learn that none of us lives a perfect life. It just so happens that most of us are not famous and any sin we commit only affects ourselves and our families. It doesn’t affect an organization and a region. That is a major difference.
Ben now has the golden opportunity to add to his legacy by winning three Super Bowls, which would put him in the stratosphere with Troy Aikman and Tom Brady. He and Brady would be the only active quarterbacks with three Super Bowl titles. And to Ben’s credit, he wants one more than everyone else, which means at least five, which is on more than both Terry Bradshaw and Joe Montana have. The good part is that he is plenty young enough to do it, as long as he stays healthy and has the team around him to compete.
This was, indeed, a hard, and harsh, lesson to learn. A man of his age should not have been hanging around a college town, college girls, and having a party to celebrate his birthday in this kind of establishment. He now knows that. A lesson learned better late than never. Whether or not the rumor of his engagement is true, it doesn’t matter. His personal life is private and personal. I really don’t care. What matters is that he is getting his life turned around.
By winning two Super Bowls, he has established himself. By winning three, he puts himself in a different zone that few others have achieved. That is the difference. It is very possible that he can get it done next weekend. He has a very unique team around him. One that plays for one another and genuinely cares for one another. That is another touch by the Rooneys – putting together a group of individuals that just doesn’t just play football, but acts like a family and pulls together like one. Now, there is one more hurdle to clear.
Next week, a preview of Super Bowl XLV between the Steelers and the Packers. A game for the ages, to be sure, plus the prediction. After a slow start, the postseason picks have picked up steam. Now, one more pick for all the marbles. This will be a weekend without football, unless you count the Pro Bowl, which I do not. Then, football season ends next Sunday night. Let’s enjoy every moment of this buildup leading to the game for all the bragging rights.
So, the stage is set for Super Bowl XLV. The Green Bay Packers took care of business in Chicago by dispatching the Bears, 21 – 14, and claiming the NFC Championship. While quarterback Aaron Rodgers did not have his best day as a pro, he did enough to get the job done. Throwing two interceptions is not a good M.O. to reach the Super Bowl, but the rest of the Packers came up big in support of their team and their quarterback.
The Pittsburgh Steelers claimed the AFC Championship as they put together a textbook first half of football Sunday night, then had to hold on for dear life as the New York Jets mounted a furious comeback. While the final score was 24 – 19, it should have been a lot worse. What the Steelers need to do, now, is take the second half of the Baltimore game, the first half of the Jets game, and put them together next Sunday night in Dallas. They will need four quarters of football to beat the Packers.
What we have, now, is a match up for the ages. Two old school franchises, steeped in tradition, playing for supremacy in the NFL. It is even more fitting that these two teams are playing in Cowboys Stadium, the home of a team they have tormented over the years. While Dallas gets the moniker of America’s Team, it’s the Packers and the Steelers who have more titles, each separately, and more obviously together. There could not be a better place to stage a Super Bowl than in the home of the Cowboys!
Next week, we’ll take a look at this battle more in depth, with the game only mere hours away. This week, we’ll take a look back at an issue that seems to almost have resolved itself and has a direct impact on the possible outcome of this game. It was nearly a year ago that Ben Roethlisberger got himself into a quandary in Milledgeville, Georgia. It was anything but pretty and it could have had a devastating effect on many levels.
What he did angered a region, its fans, and the organization. It painted all involved in a very bad light and it was going to take some monumental damage control to even attempt to recover from this. Ben received his suspension, originally six games, and it was narrowed down to four.
Many among the faithful got rid of their Ben and #7 jerseys, and that was understandable. No one wanted to be associated with him and the fans were practically demanding he be traded. It was going to take time, and a lot of it, to blow over and for everyone to attempt to heal. This was far worse than his motorcycle accident back in 2006. This was a matter of reputation and integrity, something that this region thrives on.
Had Ben not engineered two Super Bowl titles, it’s likely that the decision to try and move him might have been a foregone conclusion. But, when you are the franchise quarterback and one of the faces of the team, that makes the decision a whole lot tougher. Ben was told behind closed doors that his behavior would not be tolerated and that he had a lot of cleaning up to do with regards to his image. To his credit, Ben succeeded.
Let me take this a little bit further. We hold our athletes and entertainers to a different standard, right or wrong, good or bad. When they do wrong, we act with a boycott. Okay, maybe that’s understandable. However, as I like to say, and to coin the old adage, let he who is without sin cast the first stone. That makes you take a step or two back and realize that none of us are without sin. We all do wrong and we all make mistakes. That’s how we learn. But we all acted as if Ben was the ultimate pariah. There are many who have done a lot worse than what he did and have gotten away with it. No, there is nothing right about crimes against women; however, the girl that night wasn’t exactly Cinderella, and there are others who have gotten several women pregnant and have illegitimate children running around everywhere.
I have stated that I do not condone what Ben did, or was alleged to have done. He was not charged with any crime, but he was told to start growing up. That I can agree with. All of that success so soon could spoil almost anyone. He made his mistakes and he is on his last chance, and he knows it. He also knows not to blow it. Perhaps getting closer to 30 starts to change the mind of an athlete a little bit, as Ben will be 29 in March. By rites, he is only entering the prime of his career, and he is fashioning an impressive resume.
I have two Ben jerseys, now, as I ordered one back in the fall. America is about second chances, whether or not you agree with that. I have given Ben a second chance, as he quarterbacks my football team, as a fan, and he has delivered two more titles to this storied franchise. He appears to be genuine in his changes and wants to be a much better person. That is a great start. Now he just needs to maintain that. I believe he can.
We all spend so much time tearing people down and while building ourselves up. Well, in the case of certain people I mention in Random Thoughts, that stands to reason and is valid. But we need to learn that none of us lives a perfect life. It just so happens that most of us are not famous and any sin we commit only affects ourselves and our families. It doesn’t affect an organization and a region. That is a major difference.
Ben now has the golden opportunity to add to his legacy by winning three Super Bowls, which would put him in the stratosphere with Troy Aikman and Tom Brady. He and Brady would be the only active quarterbacks with three Super Bowl titles. And to Ben’s credit, he wants one more than everyone else, which means at least five, which is on more than both Terry Bradshaw and Joe Montana have. The good part is that he is plenty young enough to do it, as long as he stays healthy and has the team around him to compete.
This was, indeed, a hard, and harsh, lesson to learn. A man of his age should not have been hanging around a college town, college girls, and having a party to celebrate his birthday in this kind of establishment. He now knows that. A lesson learned better late than never. Whether or not the rumor of his engagement is true, it doesn’t matter. His personal life is private and personal. I really don’t care. What matters is that he is getting his life turned around.
By winning two Super Bowls, he has established himself. By winning three, he puts himself in a different zone that few others have achieved. That is the difference. It is very possible that he can get it done next weekend. He has a very unique team around him. One that plays for one another and genuinely cares for one another. That is another touch by the Rooneys – putting together a group of individuals that just doesn’t just play football, but acts like a family and pulls together like one. Now, there is one more hurdle to clear.
Next week, a preview of Super Bowl XLV between the Steelers and the Packers. A game for the ages, to be sure, plus the prediction. After a slow start, the postseason picks have picked up steam. Now, one more pick for all the marbles. This will be a weekend without football, unless you count the Pro Bowl, which I do not. Then, football season ends next Sunday night. Let’s enjoy every moment of this buildup leading to the game for all the bragging rights.
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