I am going to break this down in two sections so we can clear up some misconceptions. First let me say I am getting most of my info from the great Mike Florio at Profootballtalk.com who does an outstanding job getting all of the inside scoop.
Before I get into the ESPN thing I want to talk about the compliant about Ben Roethlisberger. Long story short he is being accused of sexual assault against a hotel employee. The employee is named Andrea McNulty and here is her account of what happened according to a report on Profootballtalk.com:
McNulty claims that, when she arrived at the room, he was wearing a T-shirt and athletic shorts. She adds, for no apparent reason other than to show the clarity of her recollection, that the room was a mess.
Roethlisberger showed her the television that was malfunctioning, located in suite's bedroom. Using the remote, she determined that there was no problem with the television or the sound system.
She claims that, as she tried to leave the room, Roethlisberger blocked her path, and that he "grabbed [her] and started to kiss her."
She claims that she was "shocked and stunned that this previously friendly man, that appeared to be a gentleman in her previous contacts with him was suddenly preventing her from leaving, was assaulting and battering her."
McNulty admits that she didn't try to fight Roethlisberger, citing his size and strength. She claims that she "communicated her objection and lack of consent," and that he nevertheless began "fondling [her] through her dress and between her legs."
She claims that he pushed her onto the bed, and despite her alleged protests he "pulled her underpants off and proceeded to penetrate her."
McNulty claims that she told him, "You don't want to do this." She also claims that she said, "Please don't," and that she told him she was not on any type of birth control.
She claims that he said in response, "Don't worry, I'll pull out," which he ultimately did.
At that point, he allowed her to get off the bed. McNulty claims that she went to the bathroom, and "tried to pull herself together." When she emerged, she claims that Roethlisberger asked, "There are cameras on this room, aren't there?"
She responded by saying, "Yes, there are cameras everywhere."
McNulty alleges that he then seems worried, and that his tone became "stern."
"If anyone asks you, you fixed my television," he allegedly said. "You fixed my television. Now go!"
The alleged assault happened in 2008 at the Harrah's hotel in Nevada during the American Century Celebrity Golf Championship.
First thing that came to my mind when I read this:
KOBE BRYANT
Then I took a step back, thought about it and here is my opinion.
We will never know exactly what happened. The young lady could be a complete liar, she could be telling the truth or it could be somewhere in the middle.
The one thing I don't like is that "sexual assault" is a serious crime. It is a crime, that if it happens needs to be prosecuted to the highest extent of the law. The fact that she did not file a criminal report, doesn't mean I don't believe her, but hurts her credibility with me.
It doesn't matter if Ben Roethlisberger is an athlete, if he truly did what she claims he should be in jail point blank period. If he didn't then his name should be cleared.
By going straight to a civil suit you have to question the validated of the complaint. Once again doesn't mean she is lying, but definitely will be doubts that this is a money grab.
The point being very similar to the Kobe Bryant's Colorado situation no one will ever know what went on in that room except them two, so no need to speculate.
Now to the ESPN not reporting the story.
The explanation I got was that ESPN does not report on civil cases that don't have criminal complaints. I was told that the policy has been in effect for twenty years and since Miss McNulty did not file a criminal complaint it was a "non-story". They sent out a memo stated no one could in the company could talk about the story per the policy.
The policy excuse is weak. That may have been a good policy twenty years ago, but it doesn't apply now since ESPN is the first to jump on an athlete for almost anything.
How many stories have there been about T.O. or Chad Johnson with no criminal element, but they made it certainly appear criminal in their obsession with it?
Are you telling me twelve stories about Brett Favre working out at a high school is a bigger story than the Super Bowl winning QB being hit with a civil lawsuit about sexual assault?
Floyd Mayweather owes the IRS that is reported. T.O. can't find a house in Buffalo because neighbors don't like him that is a story. Former athletes going bankrupt front page story. If a player sniffs a steroid the Outside the Lines crew are in front of his house.
Pacman Jones at a strip club throwing money around in a case that he was never charged huge story.
But not Ben Roethlisberger?
I don't care about the technicalities, the woman is stating in no uncertain terms that Ben Roethlisberger raped her, but not a whisper from the World Wide Leader?
Regardless of the policy if there is one person in the world who believes that ESPN would not have reported this story if the name was:
TERRELL OWENS
And not
BEN ROETHLISBERGER
Is being very naïve. One of the reasons a lot of people are turned off by ESPN is the perception they protect certain players, coaches and teams.
I honestly do not believe it is a racial issue, I just believe they slurp the bath water of certain individuals and it is very annoying.
It makes no sense that every other news/sports organization in the US has this story and the #1 Sports Network in the world does not.
The only person happy about that is Ben Roethlisberger.
After I posted this article I got a flood of emails and texts stated ESPN has reported several civil cases tin the past that did not have a criminal case. From Randy Moss back in the day to recently Shannon Brown of the Los Angeles Lakers.
The point is this we all know that the "policy" excuse is just some nice window dressing.
I feel bad for the ESPN anchors, on air talent and writers who can't speak their mind without worrying about being suspended by the network. No journalist wants to be censored. Our whole profession is based off freedom of speech. It is why we got into the industry.
One of the reasons people go to ESPN is to hear opinions.
Do they not have enough faith in their network to report the story accurately or has it come to a point that ESPN is judge and jury in regards to who are the bad guys and who are the good guys in the world of sports?
I made this point years ago don't be manipulated by the media. Look at the facts and make your own opinion. Don't be a puppet to the ESPN dictatorship.
shit if this was TO ed werner would be camped out at his house hiding in the bushes waiting for hime to get home and they would be interviewing the broad and her attorney on sportcenter
All I can say is that ESPN needs to be watched carefully from this point going forward to be certain that they are being consistent with their policy. If it is shown they are breaking it, they need to called out on it loudly.
Damn, Rob. It only took me a quick Google search to see that ESPN is full of sh*t. First the report of the Shannon Brown suit (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2009/news/story?id=4219580) and then the Roberto Alomar suit (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4142266). I'm sure I could find more if I really tried.
ESPN has said they have a STRICT policy against reporting civil cases WITHOUT a criminal case being present.
That is an absolute Joke!! Remember the Randy Moss case just Last Year, NUFF SAID! No criminal charges were ever filed in this case.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3201588
All the Moss, T.O., Vick, & Pacman bashing and NO reports on Big Ben. Can't help but notice the color of skin on this one!
if u take off the hat..cut the hair...and slap on a goatee the accuser would look just like big ben..they both have that long goofy chubby face
You do not become the unrivaled leader in Sports entertainment without knowing which stories to publicize and which to bury.
Also, everything in entertainment involves roles. Big Ben fits the role of the hero more than the villian so the story gets buried. Michael Vick, Terrell Owens, and Pacman Jones have just the right look and style to make a perfect villian. What do they all have in common??? Diamond Earrings.
Big Ben, Tom Brady, Peyton Manning= no diamonds earrings
I appreciate Walt Disney chiming in
I don't get these women. If they are being sexually assaulted, why not scream like bloody murder??
AC, when that happens to someone their scared and embarrassed to the nth degree. And some women even try to rationalize it like they did something wrong to get raped, it's a big psychological battle. Think about it like this, you as a man if you got raped, would you run to the police and tell them right away?
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If it was Terrell Owens...shit... they would cancel Baseball Tonight, have a special edition of Outside the Lines, and a hour long NFL Live interviewing everyone who ever met the woman. But.. "theres no story here".
Plain and simple, protecting one of their golden boy QBs.
See what happened was one day athletes started getting paid ridiculous dollars. "People" started idolizing them, wearing/buying jersey, inviting them to their parties, introducing them to their kids.
Then said athletes started fluckin up..getting arrested, flossin, alleged rape, makin it rain shooting themselves in the foot( a normal weekend in my hood) and people were appalled.
Now said "PEOPLE" (this includes ESPN) are on the hunt. They pick out those with permanent tan much easier( we like to stay out in the open)
Its 2009 but the game aint change that much since 1789
Aside from the bias can someone answer this:
Im a woman but what woman waits a year to report what she is describing as rape in the form of a civil suit. Last i looked up the statute of limitations on rape in Nevada is four years and longer for sexual assault.
A civil suit? This screams I'm trying to get a dollar" to me. How does this make the perpetrator pay for anything? How do you get your control back with a civil suit?
Who did she get here legal advice and rape counseling from?
It's funny how far the media will go to excuse themselves from not reporting something. Especially ESPN. With no real competition, I guess they feel they control what is and what isn't a story.
ESPN ARE RACIST SCUMBAGS. IF THIS WAS A BLACK PLAYER THEY WOULD HAVE TRASHED HIM AND DRAGGED HIS NAME THROUGH THE MUD!
ESPN are scumbags but not sure I'd say they're racist they also love Shaq and LeBron who last I checked were both black.
If anything they are favoring Ben but not because he's white because he's Ben Roethlisberger.
They do love Shaq and LeBron, but they had no problem reporting all of Shaq's personal financial info from his aborted divorce filing or the claims that Kobe made about him in Colorado. They also keep Skip Bayless employed, whose only reason for being seems to be to berate LeBron. So, this is not exactly an apples to apples comparison.
Uhhh.. Maybe it is because this whore waited over a year to say anything and she never went to the police. Kobe's accuser went to the police right away so the crime looked more legit. Don't blame the media for not buying this. Any fool can see this is BS.
Anyway maybe this is why they were so qucik to convict Kobe and disregard Ben.
From the Bureau of Justice:
"In the United States in 2005, 37,460 white females were sexually assaulted or raped by a black man, while between zero and ten black females were sexually assaulted or raped by a white man."
Why show the pictures?
Do you even have permission to show them?
Been watching ESPN all day (day off) and they are bending over backwards to stress the word "civil" in their coverage of this. It's worse than those people that try to pronounce foreign words but really can't so they overemphasize syllables. ESPN is a joke.
my first instinct is to not believe these allegations based on her compromised credibility. i'll wait to see how this plays out.