Once Again for Ben?

It still shouldn’t suprise us that once again another superstar athlete is in trouble with the law. This time the allegation involves alcohol and young women, a combination that over the years has been a recipe for disaster. For the second time in a year the suspect, Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers franchise quarterback, has been accused of sexual assault.

Roethlisberger continues to face a lawsuit from last July by a woman who says he raped her at a Lake Tahoe hotel and casino in 2008. Roethlisberger has continually fought these allegations since the case began.

Roethlisberger’s agent, Ryan Tollner, said in a statement that he is very skeptical of the alleged victims motives consider the happenings at the previous Lake Tahoe events two years ago. Roethlisberger, is currently not in custody and has not been criminally charged with either case.

The accusation came in a local college bar called Capital City, which is located in downtown Milledgeville, Georgia. According to the alleged victim, Amber Hanley, a 21-year-old college student, she and a few friends were in a VIP area in the club with Roethlisberger. She said she asked the quarterback to take a photo with her friend, whose boyfriend was a fan, but he seemed disappointed that's all she wanted. Hanley said she rolled her eyes, and Roethlisberger called her an expletive and walked away.

The nature of the occurrence was not described, yet Deputy Police Chief Richard Malone indicated that the incident was being termed a sexual assault. Malone added that Roethlisberger and the alleged victim were interviewed and the woman was taken to a hospital, where she was treated and released.

Guilty or not, I will never understand why these high-profile athletes feel the need to put themselves in these unwise positions. In this specific case, there was no reason for the 28 year-old Roethlisberger to be in a COLLEGE club consisting of young COLLEGE aged kids. There is nothing but trouble to find in such a place that is not meant for anyone of his persona. Especially after the past years episode, you would imagine that Roethlisberger would for steer clear of any night-club atmosphere let alone young college-aged women.

I understand that athletes are human beings just like the rest of us and that they also enjoy having a good time. However, there is a time and place for enjoying oneself and the nightclub atmosphere is just not the ideal place. I shouldn’t have to recount the various sexual assaults, shootings and robberies that athletes and other high-profile stars have been associated with while being inside and out of nightclubs. Do the names Adam Jones, Plaxico Burress and Darrent Williams ring a bell?

In the end, I don’t quite believe that Roethlisberger is quite foolish enough to commit such an act. His recent one hundred million dollar plus contract should might something to do with that. Either way, I hope that justice is served however that may be. With that being said, this last event will hopefully put an end to the partying days of Ben Roethlisberger. It’s about time that athletes grow up and avoid childish situations. There’s no question of your innocence if you’re at home taking care of business.