NFL

Alone Among Media Outlets, ESPN Ignores Ben Roethlisberger Story

Posted Jul 22, 2009 12:35AM By Michael David Smith (RSS feed)

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The civil lawsuit accusing Ben Roethlisberger of sexually assaulting a woman has been major news all across the sports media all day Tuesday -- except at ESPN, which has maintained silence across all its platforms.

The Worldwide Leader has run nothing on the Roethlisberger case -- not at ESPN.com or ESPN Radio or any of its several television networks. When an automated headline about the Roethlisberger case appeared on Roethlisberger's ESPN profile page, it was quickly removed.

More: Goodell Says NFL Will Look Into Allegations

FanHouse contacted ESPN spokesman Mac Nwulu via e-mail, and he issued the following statement:

"At this point, we are not reporting the allegations against Ben Roethlisberger because no criminal complaint has been filed. As far as we know, this is a civil lawsuit that Roethlisberger has yet to address publicly."

Roethlisberger's lawyer, however, has addressed the lawsuit publicly. An Associated Press article that is running on several major sports Web sites (but not on ESPN.com) contains the following:

"Ben has never sexually assaulted anyone ... The timing of the lawsuit and the absence of a criminal complaint and a criminal investigation are the most compelling evidence of the absence of any criminal conduct. If an investigation is commenced, Ben will cooperate fully and Ben will be fully exonerated," David Cornwell, Roethlisberger's lawyer, said in a statement released early Tuesday.

Reached in a follow-up phone interview, Nwulu told FanHouse that ESPN does not consider Cornwell's response enough to warrant ESPN reporting on the issue. Nwulu added that ESPN's policy, while guiding the lack of coverage on Tuesday, does not mean ESPN will never cover the Roethlisberger story. Nwulu said that ESPN will continue to monitor how it impacts both Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

However, Nwulu stressed that ESPN strives to be very cautious with civil suits that impugn a person's reputation or character. He added that ESPN considers both the subject's track record and whether similar allegations might impact the subject's professional performance.

While the story has been absent from ESPN, it has played out on Twitter. ESPN commentator Jemele Hill referenced the story in a Twitter post, as did NFL reporter Adam Schefter, who will begin working for ESPN next month.

But no one at ESPN has reported on the story in any official capacity. And that led the legendary Associated Press sports writer Dave Goldberg to tweet asking how ESPN can "ignore an obvious story and call yourself the 'worldwide leader'?''

Ben Roethlisberger Photos

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, front walks onto the 12th green followed by former NBA star Michael Jordan, left, during the American Century Golf Championship on Saturday, July 18, 2009, at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course in Stateline, Nev. (AP Photo/Brad Horn)

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger throws a football to a fan on the 17th hole during the American Century Golf Championship at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course in Stateline, Nev., on Saturday, July 18, 2009. (AP Photo/Brad Horn)

NFL football player Ben Roethlisberger arrives at the 2009 ESPY Awards Arrivals at Nokia Theatre LA Live on July 15, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. 2009 ESPY Awards - Arrivals Nokia Theatre LA Live Los Angeles, CA United States July 15, 2009 Photo by Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic.com To license this image (16869798), contact FilmMagic.com

Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic.com

LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 15: ***EXCLUSIVE*** (L-R) Comedians Andy Samberg and Seth Meyers with NFL players Ben Roethlisbergerand Santonio Holmes backstage during the 2009 ESPY Awards held at Nokia Theatre LA Live on July 15, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. The 17th annual ESPYs will air on Sunday, July 19 at 9PM ET on ESPN. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images for ESPY) *** Local Caption *** Andy Samberg;Seth Meyers;Ben Roethlisberger;Santonio Holmes

Getty Images for ESPY

LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 15: ***EXCLUSIVE*** NFL player Ben Roethlisberger backstage during the 2009 ESPY Awards held at Nokia Theatre LA Live on July 15, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. The 17th annual ESPYs will air on Sunday, July 19 at 9PM ET on ESPN. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images for ESPY) *** Local Caption *** Ben Roethlisberger

Getty Images for ESPY

LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 15: ***EXCLUSIVE*** NFL players Ben Roethlisberger and Santonio Holmes backstage during the 2009 ESPY Awards held at Nokia Theatre LA Live on July 15, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. The 17th annual ESPYs will air on Sunday, July 19 at 9PM ET on ESPN. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ben Roethlisberger;Santonio Holmes

Getty Images

LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 15: Football players Ben Roethlisberger, Willie Colon and Darnell Stapleton arrive at the 2009 ESPY Awards held at Nokia Theatre LA Live on July 15, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. The 17th annual ESPYs will air on Sunday, July 19 at 9PM ET on ESPN. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images for ESPY) *** Local Caption *** Ben Roethlisberger;Willie Colon;Darnell Stapleton

Getty Images for ESPY

Tags: Ben+Roethlisberger

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

7-22-2009 @ 1:07AM

Zachary Hubbard said...

ABC owns ESPN and ben is gonna film with Shaq
suppost to be firday or soon
but they dont want a rapist to be on their show Shaq vs so they dont comment on it
but my local news owned my ABC did

7-22-2009 @ 3:26AM

Mr.G said...

I don't even like Ben,but this is a bunch of frivolous bullcrap if I've ever heard it.I hope the bitch gets thrown in jail for it.

7-22-2009 @ 6:22AM

coachmikepcolabc said...

Good for ESPN---no different than that skank ho who lied about Kobe---Civil trial is another word for money grab

7-22-2009 @ 1:28PM

taoofryan said...

Kobe admitted that he understood how the woman could think that she had not consented to sex. That means she didn't. If she didn't consent to sex then it was rape.

This one is pretty suspicious in that she didn't report it to the police. But she has claimed that she reported it to the head of security where she worked and they told her to forget about it.

Calling anyone who claims of rape a whore or worse is part of the problem and contemptible. We don't know all the facts yet so people should refrain from persecuting either of them.

7-22-2009 @ 7:45AM

slingersg said...

Kudos to ESPN for not getting involved in something that is not FACT. The power of the media is not something to take for granted.

7-22-2009 @ 7:58AM

yelee said...

I hate to be the one to bring this up, but i'm almost certain that if it was Mcnabb or vince young or even jason campbell, i wonder if ESPN will take the same stance.

7-22-2009 @ 8:59AM

ross said...

your an idiot. It would be the same if it were a black quarterback. This is nowhere near as compelling as the Kobe case because Ben isnt as big of a star as Kobe, ben isn't married like Kobe, Ben doesnt have kids like Kobe. As stated previously the duke lacrosse case shows that ESPN will cover as white case

7-22-2009 @ 9:21AM

RAF 803 said...

Yalee, just shut up.
take your race bait and just SHUT UP

7-22-2009 @ 7:51AM

buford1 said...

I want to know why there was on mention of police activity here. It is most unusual for someone to file a civil suit for sexual assault (Rape?) without police involvement. Did she file a complaint with the police?

Someone needs to do some investigation. Surely some reporter has contacted the police to see if they were ever involved. Did they look into it and say there was no evidence to support an arrest?

We need sone real answers before Ben is ruined. I am not a Ben fan or a Steeler fan but right is right. Let's get some facts. Go Colts and Giants.

7-22-2009 @ 8:41AM

soulsojourn72 said...

Just look at the Duke Lacrosse case, along with what happen with the Kobe case, and you will see why ESPN is leery to cover the civil allegations of sexual misconduct. The Duke case also shows they will cover it when they are Caucasian people involved. This is not about them covering it up but more of them not wanting to be involved anymore when they are unproven and unsubstantiated accusations against someone.
If Ben did this not only should he pay in civil court he should also have to do jail time. If he didn’t do it then this lady should have to pay in civil court for libel and slander and also do jail time.

7-22-2009 @ 8:59AM

Janice said...

Had this been Donovan Mcnabb, they would have been all over it. It would have been the lead story every hour on the hour. Now i don't believe Ben did this and that the woman is lookig for her pot of gold, ESPN does what it always does and the white media period.. Things never and will never change.

7-22-2009 @ 11:08AM

cjgdnight said...

he's married... Ben is not... the shame of Kobe was that he was married and conducting himself badly... not that he had sex with a woman.

Superstar + married man + alleged rape = news coverage

If Ben did this, then he should pay. To my knowledge, Crimanal charges were not filed... which is very strange... and should be a warning flag to ESPN and everyone to be leary of the "story".. which in my mind should only be told once the trial is over.

7-22-2009 @ 9:05AM

m21148 said...

yes but marvin harrisons gun case last year was a civil matter and ESPN had wall to wall coverage!!!!!!!!!looks likes someone has some explaining to do......."um we like big ben,so let just hope this all goes away"

7-22-2009 @ 1:22PM

Monique said...

I am a HUGE Steelers fan and therefore have nothing against Big Ben, but I have lost a great deal of respect for ESPN. I expect them to COVER the story, debate the merits of the case and offer insight and commentary as they would with other athlete. I DON'T expect them to ignore a story because they like the individual involved. Even if the story is how vulnerable athletes are to frivolous lawsuits, there IS a story here.

7-22-2009 @ 9:21AM

TOM said...

JULY 08, THIS SO CALLED HAPPENED..
WHERE IS THE POLICE REPORT..
GREAT, IS THE WORD FOR E S P N, NOT SPREADING THE RUMORS FOR THIS WOMAN...
HURRAY FOR E S P N........

7-22-2009 @ 9:23AM

RAF 803 said...

Janace, you can shut up also.

you are soooooo prosecuted ..

wa wa wa wa wa SHUT UP ! ! ! !

7-22-2009 @ 10:58AM

King D said...

It seems to me ESPN is babying Big Ben. Had this been a story on a prominent black athlete, i.e. Kobe Bryant, every media outlet, INCLUDING ESPN, would've be salivating over the story, spending countless hours repeating the same facts over and over again. I am not one to pull the race card, but give me a break! ESPN should start reporting on THIS rather than posting another Brett Favre thread. Suspend Ben for the first 4 games with no pay, then let him back.

7-22-2009 @ 11:37AM

reesechiro1 said...

I think ESPN is hedging their bets. Based on the info so far, it would seem that Ben is going to be fully exonerated. No police investigation means no physical evidence. He can deny even having sex with her. The fact that this occurred a year ago with no criminal charges ever being filed will give more credence to his story verses her story.

If Ben fights this and wins, he will remember that ESPN had his back whereas all the other media outlets covered this story with all the embarrassing details.

Who do you think will get all the exclusives from the two-time Superbowl champion quarterback?

7-22-2009 @ 11:38AM

WHATZ UP? said...

THE HO JUST LOOKING FOR A BIG CHECK.

7-22-2009 @ 1:39PM

henry davis said...

ESPN REALLY DON'T GIVE A DAM ABOUT IF ANY CHARGES WHERE FILED.!!! THEY COULD HAVE REPORTED ON THE STORY LIKE THEY TO ON EVERYBODY ELSE!!! TOO EVERYBODY WHO SAY ESPN IS RIGHT IS FULL OF B/S.

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