View Full Version : Long-time Pittsburgh sportscaster unloads on Big Ben
Dee Dub
03-12-2010, 02:38 PM
Posted by Mike Florio on March 11, 2010 8:29 PM ET
As we've mentioned a time or two this week, the tide of public opinion in Pittsburgh has turned dramatically against Ben Roethlisberger in the wake of a second allegation of sexual assault.
Local talk radio has featured plenty of anecdotal evidence regarding generally boorish behavior from Big Ben (we've heard a couple of stories that we possibly will be posting, once they are vetted by the PFT legal team -- i.e., me), and his defenders are becoming fewer and farther between.
Perhaps most jarring is the maiden blog voyage of long-time, old-school Pittsburgh sportscaster John Steigerwald, who spent more than two decades on KDKA-TV, who has hosted radio in the Pittsburgh area, and who currently appears on a weekly Sunday night show on WTAE-TV.
Here's what Steigerwald says about Roethlisberger: "First of all, none of this surprises me. Ben is a bad citizen. He doesn't know how to treat people and he definitely doesn't know how to handle being the quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers. In my more than 30 years of working in the Pittsburgh sports media, I have never had any player come close to generating as many unsolicited questions from fans as Roethlisberger has. They want to know why he's such a jackass. And these aren't just Steelers fans who got turned down for an autograph. It's men and women from all walks of life."
Steigerwald specifically points to a Make-A-Wish child that Roethlisberger allegedly blew off. Per Steigerwald, KDKA opted not to pursue the matter as a news story. Steigerwald later spoke to the parents, who did not want to go public on behalf of their daughter, who had cystic fibrosis.
Steigerwald's verdict? "Roethlisberger is a punk who needs to be knocked down a peg or two."
As a general matter, Pittsburgh-area sportscasters tread lightly when it comes to the Steelers, if they value access and cooperation from the organization. Steigerwald's atypical candor is a sign that, when it comes to Big Ben, the local journalists have either gotten a nod from the team to take off the gloves, or they just don't care.
ttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/201 ... n-big-ben/ (ttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/03/11/long-time-pittsburgh-sportscaster-unloads-on-big-ben/)
Ouch!
there is a reason KDKA didn't renew his contract after 22 years with the station...
Steigerwald has to be the most miserable person on the planet. Paul Steigerwald, his brother is always out drinking around Pittsburgh and guess what? He has women hanging all over him and he's twice the age of Ben.
Just implying that Ben wasn't drunk but may had been high on something else shows just what a d-bag Steigerwald is.
feltdizz
03-12-2010, 03:15 PM
there is a reason KDKA didn't renew his contract after 22 years with the station...
Steigerwald has to be the most miserable person on the planet. Paul Steigerwald, his brother is always out drinking around Pittsburgh and guess what? He has women hanging all over him and he's twice the age of Ben.
Just implying that Ben wasn't drunk but may had been high on something else shows just what a d-bag Steigerwald is.
WTF do we care about a sports writers brother? If his old azz can get young tail well, more power to him.
Steiverwald can be the biggest d bag in the world. No one cares about his personal life.
there is a reason KDKA didn't renew his contract after 22 years with the station...
Steigerwald has to be the most miserable person on the planet. Paul Steigerwald, his brother is always out drinking around Pittsburgh and guess what? He has women hanging all over him and he's twice the age of Ben.
Just implying that Ben wasn't drunk but may had been high on something else shows just what a d-bag Steigerwald is.
WTF do we care about a sports writers brother? If his old azz can get young tail well, more power to him.
Steiverwald can be the biggest d bag in the world. No one cares about his personal life.
that's what I'm saying, he writes an article ripping Ben, yet his brother does what Ben does and he himself is an arrogant jerk that wouldn't give anyone walking down the street the time of day. Another holier than thou, better than everyone hypocrite chimes in about Ben.
And FWIW, I've run into Ben several times as have several others I know and I have never seen Ben act like a jerk or have the others.
NW Steeler
03-12-2010, 03:25 PM
It's been my experience through out my life that people that pass judgement on others are the biggest hypocrites alive. Not one jackass fishwrap hack or reporter knows what it is like to be in Ben's shoes. It seems like a lot of these reporters were little geeks in school and always have a chip on their shoulders when it comes to famous, rich athletes. If Ben is an a-hole, then so be it. I only really care about his performance on the field. When he does things that interfere with his ability to play, then yes, I have an issue with that.
feltdizz
03-12-2010, 03:44 PM
It's been my experience through out my life that people that pass judgement on others are the biggest hypocrites alive. Not one jackass fishwrap hack or reporter knows what it is like to be in Ben's shoes. It seems like a lot of these reporters were little geeks in school and always have a chip on their shoulders when it comes to famous, rich athletes. If Ben is an a-hole, then so be it. I only really care about his performance on the field. When he does things that interfere with his ability to play, then yes, I have an issue with that.
Now reporters are jerks and jealous haters?
Newsflash, this is why they are sports writers and it's pretty funny how half the players and coaches retire and run to TV stations to become analyst.
This the job of reporters... tell the story, embellish the story, rehash the story.
Ben's job off the field is to prevent stories like this from happening. I could see if reporters made up stories from scratch.
It's been my experience through out my life that people that pass judgement on others are the biggest hypocrites alive. Not one jackass fishwrap hack or reporter knows what it is like to be in Ben's shoes. It seems like a lot of these reporters were little geeks in school and always have a chip on their shoulders when it comes to famous, rich athletes. If Ben is an a-hole, then so be it. I only really care about his performance on the field. When he does things that interfere with his ability to play, then yes, I have an issue with that.
Now reporters are jerks and jealous haters?
Newsflash, this is why they are sports writers and it's pretty funny how half the players and coaches retire and run to TV stations to become analyst.
This the job of reporters... tell the story, embellish the story, rehash the story.
Ben's job off the field is to prevent stories like this from happening. I could see if reporters made up stories from scratch.
Problem is, Steigerwld didn't tell the story, he spewed rumors and sounded like a raving lunatic.
Steigerwald got blasted, deleted all negative comments left about him and changed his blog.
http://justwatchthegame.com/blog/roethl ... n#comments (http://justwatchthegame.com/blog/roethlisberger-again#comments)
costanza2k1
03-12-2010, 04:19 PM
Steigerwald unleashed hell on Ben. Wow WTF?!?
SteelAbility
03-12-2010, 04:37 PM
Steigerwald unleashed hell on Ben. Wow WTF?!?
Whatever happened to unleashing fiery hell :twisted: ?? Isn't that the Steeler way? :P
steelblood
03-12-2010, 06:16 PM
I don't agree with this article's thrust. But, in general, I don't have a big problem with the blog. If that is his opinion, I have no problem with him printing it. The only part that is really out of line is the drug suggestion. That really comes out of left field.
NW Steeler
03-12-2010, 06:36 PM
It's been my experience through out my life that people that pass judgement on others are the biggest hypocrites alive. Not one jackass fishwrap hack or reporter knows what it is like to be in Ben's shoes. It seems like a lot of these reporters were little geeks in school and always have a chip on their shoulders when it comes to famous, rich athletes. If Ben is an a-hole, then so be it. I only really care about his performance on the field. When he does things that interfere with his ability to play, then yes, I have an issue with that.
Now reporters are jerks and jealous haters?
Newsflash, this is why they are sports writers and it's pretty funny how half the players and coaches retire and run to TV stations to become analyst.
This the job of reporters... tell the story, embellish the story, rehash the story.
Ben's job off the field is to prevent stories like this from happening. I could see if reporters made up stories from scratch.
This guy is not an ex-athlete, is he? No. And not all of them are "haters". But the media has gotten progressively worse over the years as far an sensationalism and the like. Their job is to report the facts. Not embellish, change, twist or manipulate the facts. Nor is it their place to pass judgement on anyone. It's a world of TMZ and Celebrity Insider these days, and that isn't a good thing.
costanza2k1
03-12-2010, 06:44 PM
Steigerwald unleashed hell on Ben. Wow WTF?!?
Whatever happened to unleashing fiery hell :twisted: ?? Isn't that the Steeler way? :P
haha, who knows maybe it was fiery hell, his stache probably absorbed some of the flame.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c362/pittblogger/johnsteig.jpg
Shawn
03-12-2010, 08:27 PM
there is a reason KDKA didn't renew his contract after 22 years with the station...
Steigerwald has to be the most miserable person on the planet. Paul Steigerwald, his brother is always out drinking around Pittsburgh and guess what? He has women hanging all over him and he's twice the age of Ben.
Just implying that Ben wasn't drunk but may had been high on something else shows just what a d-bag Steigerwald is.
WTF do we care about a sports writers brother? If his old azz can get young tail well, more power to him.
Steiverwald can be the biggest d bag in the world. No one cares about his personal life.
that's what I'm saying, he writes an article ripping Ben, yet his brother does what Ben does and he himself is an arrogant jerk that wouldn't give anyone walking down the street the time of day. Another holier than thou, better than everyone hypocrite chimes in about Ben.
And FWIW, I've run into Ben several times as have several others I know and I have never seen Ben act like a jerk or have the others.
Generally those who are most bothered by a certain behavior that another human exhibits display that same trait. This doesn't shock me. I have even noticed that in my life. Everytime I'm judgemental about another human being it's usually about something I struggle with myself.
feltdizz
03-12-2010, 10:16 PM
It's not about us.... this is about Ben.
Shawn, why do you keep bashing the people commenting on Ben's situation?
Shawn
03-12-2010, 10:21 PM
It's not about us.... this is about Ben.
Shawn, why do you keep bashing the people commenting on Ben's situation?
And this is what we call denial. :D
NJ-STEELER
03-12-2010, 11:42 PM
i didn't know until today that this guy is the brother of the penguins play by play guy.
sounds like he's a bigger idiot then paul, and thats saying something
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.5 Copyright © 2024 vBulletin Solutions Inc. All rights reserved.