In June of 2006, I was doing afternoon shifts on WTPA-FM in Harrisburg. Yes, at one point, I was an FM Radio DJ. Most of the timeslots I had were late at night or overnight (Midnight-6AM)
Needless to say, I’m not an FM Radio DJ anymore. But it was a fun little stint of my life.
One afternoon (a Tuesday, I think) I came to the station about twenty minutes early to prepare for my shift. And this particular week, all that anyone could talk about was the unfortunate motorcycle accident involving Pittsburgh Steelers Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
For the record, your honor, I must state that I am not, nor have I ever been, a football fan. (Or any major-league sport, for that matter.). It’s just not in me. Never have, probably never will. So on the day after Big Ben’s motorcycle crash, I decided to kick off my shift (at around 3PM) with a break informing the hundred-thousand-or-so listeners that I would not be discussing the motorcycle accident of Ben Roethlisberger at all during that day. My justification was three fold- 1. EVERY single other media outlet was discussing it. 2. I’m not a sports fan and 3. Well, take a listen:
Before the air had exited my mouth of the last sentence about “Big Ben”, the phone lines were jammed. I got calls threatening to KILL me. Literally. Some dude called in and said that he was going to kill me for talking so badly about “Big Ben” – the guy who won the Super Bowl. The Crown Jewel of Pennsylvania sports.
“Trapper” – one of the other jocks on the station – called in to the hotline (the line assigned for inter-office communication) and also joined the “I’m gonna kick the shit out of Jersey Mike” party. You see, “Trapper” is a big motorcycle buff AND a big Steelers fan.
So shortly after the break, the program director buzzed in and advised me to offer an “apology” on air. Which you can hear here: apology
Not only that, but the following morning, I got an email advising me that I was on a two week suspension from the station. (Which didn’t really hurt, considering part-time radio jocks earn less than a clerk at Sheetz. I think my rate was around seven bucks an hour)
So the point of this post is simple: I was right, you were wrong, WTPA staff and hundreds of people who wanted me dead. The guy now has his very own “Likes Not Being Raped By Ben Roethlesberger” Facebook Page. I wonder if Trapper and the rest of the crew at WTPA “Like” that page as well?
Look, I know that sometimes I can be off base or “hit below the belt” – but I never say or type anything that I don’t stand behind 1,000%. And that goes for everything.
Hahaha, well done, sir.
God forbid you have some kind of opinion.
And Trapper isn’t there anymore. He had a gig teaching at a college, but then lost that after a semester or two.
Dude sounds like a real class act
Jersey,
I fail to grasp to correlation between Ben being in a motorcycle accident and him being accused(not charged) of morally questionable acts. Sarah is right, you are entitled to your opinion, but I am also entitled to mine. If you think someone famous crashing a motorcycle and almost dying makes them a asshole then go for it. At the same time you should also respect other people’s opinions. This is a huge Steeler market, whether you like football or not, so yes stories pertaining to the Steelers will dominate the headlines. Do I think it’s overkill, Yes. What if the same thing happened to your beloved Huey Lewis? That’s all I’m saying.
So you’re saying you win because this guy committed libel?
@Tony
Well, I believe he wrecked that bike because he was drunk and riding a 1300cc racing bike like a douche through heavy traffic. It came to light that he had neither a PA motorcycle operators endorsement OR proper insurance. Which would mean most likely he had not completed the requisite training to ride. Furthermore, I recall that his contract with the steelers forbade him from riding motorcycles.
So in this instance, yes, that would make Mr. Ben an asshole.
It’s relevant because the incident sheds light on the probability that he has no concern for others and thinks that the rules everybody else has to follow don’t apply to him and he seems to think its fine to put others at risk to get his ya ya’s out.
Just another douchebag jock.