Commentary by John Mehno
PITTSBURGH – Steelers rookie quarterback Ben Roethlisberger can rewrite the record book all he wants. But when he starts scribbling on his shoes, the National Football League draws the line. The NFL warned Roethlisberger last week that messages he’s been writing on his shoes violate the league’s uniform policy and are subject to a fine. Roethlisberger has been decorating his shoes with “PFJ” (Play for Jesus) and “40” (the number of Pat Tillman, the NFL player who died in the war earlier this year).
More evidence of the “No Fun League?”
Not at all. The NFL has no choice. If it has a uniform policy, it has to be enforced uniformly.
While Roethlisberger is celebrating his faith and saluting the memory of a player who quit a high-paying job to serve in the military, maybe other intentions won’t be quite as acceptable.
What if some player writes a satanic message on his shoes or displays the initials of his street gang? If the NFL tried to pick and choose what was acceptable, the alphabet soup would soon include the ACLU – the American Civil Liberties Union, which routinely defends unpopular speech on Constitutional grounds.
So the NFL has an across-the-board policy on altering uniforms. In this case, it happened to snare a player with good intentions. It shouldn’t be a big deal and the NFL doesn’t deserve heat for the warning.
There are surely better – and classier – ways to make a point than taking a Magic Marker to a pair of football spikes.
People who complain the NFL is too stodgy should explain why baseball is more “fun” because players are allowed to wear crusty batting helmets and pants that cover their shoe tops.
Local TV stations minimize sports coverage on the news because surveys show most viewers don’t care. But when the Steelers are 10-1, suddenly every station has a Steelers-related story within the first 10 minutes of the newscast.
The most excruciating moment was provided by WTAE-TV where starry-eyed Sally Wiggin got a one-on-one with Roethlisberger and breathlessly asked him, “Is there a significant other?”
Given the difference in their ages, you were left with the feeling Roethlisberger was being grilled by a buddy’s nosy mother.
Memo to TV news directors: The release of a new Steelers t-shirt isn’t really a news story any more than the temporary return of the McRib sandwich to McDonald’s menu is.
Unless you’re ready to do a live shot from the Golden Arches (“Patrice, these tasty McRibs are literally flying off the grill…”), spare viewers the free commercial for overpriced t-shirts.
Barry Bonds said he rubbed a clear substance on his legs to relieve arthritis pain and had no idea the stuff was a steroid. That sounds like the lamest explanation since Bill Clinton said he smoked marijuana but didn’t inhale.
Sports correspondent John Mehno can be reached at johnmehno@lycos.com.