Despite news outlets picking it up, ESPN remains steadfast in its stubbornness to ignore the Ben Roethlisberger lawsuit story. Last night, it was reported by various media outlets including CBSSports.com, Yahoo!, Pro Football Talk and others that the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback is being sued by a woman who alleges she was sexually assaulted by Roethlisberger in a Nevada hotel last year.
Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio wonders if ESPN is attempting to protect a relationship with the quarterback. In the story, it’s pointed out that Roethlisberger is appearing on ESPN corporate sibling ABC next month in Shaquille O’Neal’s new reality show.
But shortly after 1 p.m. ET today, Florio discovers that ESPN has issued a strict “DO NOT REPORT” order, baffling its staffers. Thanks to the Sports Media Watch for the link.
So is ESPN protecting Roethlisberger to maintain a corporate relationship and access to the athlete? If it is, it’s another arrow for critics to shoot at ESPN as allegations continue that the network gets too close to certain athletes it covers.
In addition, the network’s silence on the story while others report is a hole too big to ignore. And the fact that ESPN jumped all over the Pacman Jones story while refusing to mention Ben Roethlisberger now gives the African American community fodder that the Alleged Worldwide Leader caters to white athletes.
The criticisms may not be true, but as long as ESPN executives continue to hide under their desks on the Roethlisberger story while other outlets continue their investigations, the arrows will continue to be fired at the sports behemoth.
UPDATE, 3:10 p.m.: In an update to an earlier post, Deadspin says it’s heard from an ESPN staffer saying it won’t report on civil lawsuits against athletes. But while other outlets still report the story, ESPN’s stance on this particular development is quite strange indeed. However, ESPN.com did make one particular reference to the story.
