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Ben Roethlisberger with MJ on golf course in Tahoe, July 2009. AP Photo
During MLB's All-Star game in St. Louis, Cardinal's slugger Albert Pujols anwered thousands of questions but one of them made me stop and wonder. It was about the efforts he makes to avoid allegations of sexual misconduct.
He said that he exits elevators if an unaccompained woman gets on and he waits for another elevator if he sees a woman in the car by herself.
At the time I read it I thought it was taking caution to a ridiculous level and now I understand why he supposedly does this.
Profootballtalk.com (PFT) has reported that a civil complaint was filed in Nevada that names Steelers' quarterback Ben Roethisberger as a defendant in a sexual assault case. Mike Florio, the site's honcho is vouching for the authenticity of the complaint. Our College Football Examiner, Jacob Osterhout had the story early this morning and you can read his take on it, here
I will not recite the details of the complaint which you can read at PFT but here are the bare-bones facts as alleged in the filing. The complainant, Andrea McNulty was employed at Harrah's in Lake Tahoe and Roethlisberger was a guest at the hotel in July 2008 while participating in the American Century Celebrity golf tournament.
She was employed as a concierge on the penthouse floor of the hotel and was called to the quarterback's room to trouble-shoot problems he was having with his television. When she tried to leave, she was physically prevented from doing so, fondled inappropriately and ultimately sexually assaulted over her objections.
No criminal complaint was filed at the time and no investigation occurred, according to PFT. Roethlisberger was served with papers when he returned to participate in this year's golf event. The woman is represented by an attorney that PFT characterizes as no ambulance-chaser.
No statements were available from the NFL, the Steelers or Roethlisberger himself. His attorney, David Cornwell has strongly denied the claims and says that his client will fully cooperate in the hope that these allegations are proven false.
The one gossipy item about all this that I will talk about is a discussion on deadspin.com and PFT about ESPN's decision not to cover the story. Or shall I say, report the story since this isn't opinion that we're speaking about. This is a real civil complaint filed in a court in Nevada. If ESPN wants to be certain it is not speculating wildly and printing or reporting rumor it can keep it to the bare minimum, just the way I did and let others careen into potential libel and slander territory.
Profootballtalk.com has the latest, here.
Comments
It's a shame that we have to question the validity of this woman's accusation, but we do of course. Not saying that Roethisberger is innocent, but a woman should never ever make a false report on such a serious crime, for it hurts other victims cases in the future. Hopefully if he's guilty he will be punished. As a husband, a son, and a brother, I find rape and sexual assaults on women to be one of the most vile crimes out there, and for a man guilty of a crime like that to get off scott-free is equally disgusting.
These crimes, when they actually are crimes are heinous. But the flack even an innocent victim takes when accusing a famous person can dissuade her, perhaps wrongly, to back away. I just don't know what she gains from a small six-figure settlement with the hate already out there about her.
Paula, I agree with Eric! I find rape as one of the most disgusting and vile crimes out there and the punishment should be a big circumcism... But as for this; had Ben not been in Nevada, who would she have selected/ Michael Jordan? Charles Barkley both on the same floor? I've talked with people close to this story and they've all said the woman is a whack job, who sees invisible people at times. This is just another example of someone trying to cash in, unless like Monica Lewinsky she has saved the clothes. In that case then I'd say toss the book at Ben.
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