Big Ben Mired In Controversy; ESPN Turns Cheek

(Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Thank you, ESPN, for once again proving that your journalistic standards are flawed beyond repair.

You dragged Michael Vick's name through the metaphorical mud, a Judas to stone in the middle of the town square. However unjustifiable as his actions were, you created the controversy surrounding him.

You wrote disparaging pieces on Marvin Harrison, claiming that beneath his solemn, stoic exterior was a deranged killer with a happy trigger finger. Yet you did not bother to fix his image once the charges were dismissed, after police recognized they had no reason to believe Harrison was involved and no witnesses could be presented.

You allowed your talking heads to discuss how Steve McNair was under the influence of alcohol at the time of his murder, a fact that is completely irrelevant and aimed only to cause headlines and create gossip, further tarnishing a dead man's reputation when he had already done so sufficiently.

Yet you turn the other cheek to rape accusations brought up against Ben Roethlisberger, as if to say, "Yes, we have an agenda. No, we do not follow common journalistic code. And no, there is nothing you can do about it."

Why does ESPN have to stay in Roethlisberger's good graces?

He is just as worthy of airtime as Tony Zendejas, who was acquitted of rape charges and is now suing to clear his name. Roethlisberger is innocent until proven guilty, and although no files have been charged, it concerns one of the biggest names in sports.

If he was black, would this already be headline news?

ESPN should be covering this story as the Associated Press is and just as often. Cover this story as most other on-line sports outlets are. Cover it more than just posting "rape accusation" as an aside on his ESPN Player Card.

Cover this story as it supposed to covered: with honesty, with clarity, with integrity. You can avoid it for only so long, but eventually the story must be written.

Prove to us that you sell what you say you do: journalism.

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