All The What If's Dont Matter!

I hear everyone chiming in on the Big Ben sititiuation. From Steelers nation to General Fans of the NFL. All I hear is the negative. The bad he has done. It seems everyone has forgoten some of the good things. The time and money he has given to charity, the autographs and pictures he has taken with fans.

My first incounter with Ben came in the preseason of his second season in the NFL. MY Brothers and I went to a Steelers preseason game against the Miami Dolphins. It was around the same time Rickey Williams came back from suspension for pot.

We waited out a 2 hour severe weather delay, before the game even started. The Steelers won a meaningless game.

It was after the game in which things got intresting.

Right after the game we went out the gate and watched the steelers players leave. Player after player walked out and stayed as far away from the gate as they could. It was like the fans had the plague. Tommy Maddox walked out and smiled but quickley got in his car and left. The same for Hines and Jerome.

All of a sudden the fans got loud with Ben, Ben, Ben. Ben was on his phone and had a three verry large men with him. My brother said "he will never sign". Thats exactly the oppisite of what happend. Ben got off his phone call walked over to the gate and asked if anyone had a sharpie. A little girl up front said i do Ben. He said ok stay right there ill sign for you last and make sure you get this back.

Ben started signing as more fans came running for an autograph. The fans started pushing and shoving. Ben told everyone to quit pushing he would sign for everyone and didnt want anyone to get hurt. He sign a hat for my one brother and even sign a plastic bag for my other brother. He seen he was wearing a number 7 jersey and said "you want me to sign the bag". My brother replied with and enthusiastic yes. Ben laughed and ok.

He countinued signing and warning people he would quit if they keeped pushing and shoving. Finally the shoving got to much and Ben said ok im done. He stuck to his work and signed 3 or 4 things for the little girl, gave her sharpie back. Before he left he thanked everyone waved and left.

I remember thinking to myself while all this was going on wow this guy gets it. He understands that the fans make him.

A few years later my Brother in-law and I went to pittsburgh for a browns-steelers game. I told him after the game well go out and watch the players leave. Theres a good chance we can get Bens autograph.

Just after the game we went out to the gate were the players leave. Only this time the only one to sign was Allen Faneca. Ben even went as far as to take a white van to his suv to avoid fans.

I guess what im trying to say is Money and fame change people. Could it even change a kid from Findley Ohio. The answer is yes. Did it, I dont know. Just like I dont know what happend in Reno, and what happend in Georgia last month.

What im saying is we know how the worlds become with people trying to get rich anyway possible. They dont care whos name they take to garbage dump as long as it benifits them. Its become human nature. Im not in no way saying Ben is wright for putting his self in that sitituation. Just as im not condoning A 20 year old girl putting her self in a bad perdicament.

All Im saying is lets give Ben one more benifit of the doubt. He has spent time and money in charities. He has been generous with autographs and and photos. We hear this and that about him. From walking out on a check at a resteraunt to sexuall assault. No one but the folks that were there know what happend.

If Ben has went wrong and the fame and money has going to head. I say he can change back into the quite boy from Findley again. He can find Ben, He just has to search. So give him a chance.