I’ve been a Steelers fan for most of my life.  I became a Steelers fan because my father was, and since the Patriots sucked until I was deep into college, it was enormously convenient to be a fan of a storied and successful franchise instead of one that played its games in a strip mall in half way to Rhode Island.  I’ve been put in a tough box this year because the Steelers’ resident genius and franchise quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger is serving a several game suspension after he spent his off-season being charged with aggravated sexual assault, after spending the previous off-season getting sued for sexual assault after spending the off season prior to that getting his face put back together after he crashed his motorcycle while not wearing a helmet.  I’m generally a pretty big fan of presumed innocence, but when the charge is consistently being an idiot, no jury is needed.  The box I’m in is that I want to support the team that has played well without him but refuse to support an organization that is willing to repeatedly risk its reputation on someone who doesn’t respect anyone else, including his teammates.  The box I’m in is complicated further because I’ve spent the beginning of this season rooting for Michael Vick.

When Michael Vick had his initial fall from grace, which was actually just more of a fall from perceived stupidity, recklessness and thuggery into actual stupidity recklessness and thuggery and prison, I came to his defense.  I came to his defense not because I approved of his behavior, but because I thought the piling on was unnecessary and partially fueled by race.  I also hated the fact that the public had taken the position that his punishment should be a lifetime bar from the sport for which he had uncommon skills and believed taking his ability to earn a living went beyond what was just punishment for his violations of law. 

I realize my stances on these athletes could be viewed as contradictory but I think there’s good reason to embrace Michael and leave Ben to walk around college bars with his pants down.  That difference to me is the price each has paid for his stupidity and the way each responded to the problems presented by his own behavior.  If Vick had followed the athlete playbook he’d have maintained his innocence, gone to trial and thrown his friends under the bus, and had his agents talk about how “athletes are targets because of their wealth and fame” which is what athletes always say when they do something stupid, such as shoot themselves in the leg while carrying a gun to a night club (see: Burress, Plaxico).  Big Ben has used this joke of an excuse several times to explain his repeated conundrums which should offend all but a handful of professional athletes who enjoy the company of many women but manage to avoid assault suits and charges.  Vick (after some initial falsehoods) admitted his mistakes, owned the consequences, and worked hard to do his talents justice. 

This season, luck, and an injury to Kevin Kolb have given Vick a chance at football resurrection, a chance to regain some of the ground he lost, and even more, a chance to make up for all of the effort he failed to put forth when he had it so good the first time.  It has been a pleasure to watch him play, and an even better pleasure to see how his teammates and coaches have welcomed his return.  

I don’t want Ben to do well because he hasn’t learned a thing, hasn’t lost a thing, and is still the same blank-slate dumbass he was last year when he was allegedly forcing a 19 year old into a bathroom.  His arrogance and disregard for basic societal rules has caused repeated harm to his organization and teammates and since the best he’s been able to muster was some vague commitment to “becoming a better person” we can expect another episode soon.

So this year I’ll be cheering for Vick.  He’s a great talent, a guy who’s made mistakes, and who’s finally recognizing that he should be thankful for the privileges he enjoys.  The only real problem I have is that he plays in Philadelphia, but for one season, and for a chance to watch him truly live up to his potential, I’ll hold my nose.