Ben Roethlisberger: A Fake Town’s Native Son

If his teammates and coaches are to be believed, Ben Roethlisberger has redoubled his efforts to be a good teammate and role model to fans in the wake of a second sexual assault allegation and subsequent suspension from the league. Which is something he pretty much had to do.

Nevertheless, it’s a long, long road to repairing Ben’s image, especially when large portions of the country, regardless of evidence, are convinced of his guilt. That, and the media has spent months dredging up every moment of his past where he might have acted like a jerk.

In a move that’s either part of that process, or a bizarre expression of hurt, Roethlisberger has changed the listing of his hometown from Findlay, Ohio, to Cory Rawson. Which is fine, except that place doesn’t actually exist.

Roethlisberger will only say that he did not actually live in Findlay, but went to Findlay High School. Rawson, Ohio, also in Hancock County, is 10 miles from Findlay. There is no Cory Rawson, Ohio, nor is there a Cory, Ohio, but there is a Mt. Cory which makes up part of the Cory-Rawson school district.

It’s an odd move, to be sure. Roethlisberger was likely miffed about something that happened, because otherwise what’s the point of changing that listing? Coming from a small town, the negative opinions of a few people he’s known his entire life regarding something Roethlisberger may not have done could certainly be hurtful.

Of course, Ben is being hyper scrutinized for any action in the wake of what happened in Georgia, so the dimestore psychologists of the sports world would suggest this move could mean Roethlisberger hasn’t learned his lesson. Though it’s unclear how him being upset with his hometown’s reception and, you know, getting into situations that could land him in trouble with the authorities or the league have anything whatsoever to do with one another. But then again, that’s the enduring theme of this unfortunate saga: into the absence of facts rushes speculation and nonsense.