Big Ben, Michael Vick, and The Prodigal Son

 
Growing up, just like any other normal Ukrainian Orthodox kid sitting in religion class at a Catholic all-boys high school, I was taught the parable of The Prodigal Son.  I was never a big fan of this story.  You've probably heard it before.  The younger of two sons asks his father for an early advance on his inheritance (the 2,000 year-old equivalent of asking your roommate for his stereo before he tries that ski jump).  After ditching town and blowing all his money on booze and hookers, the Prodigal Son comes back to his family out of desperation.  Rather than punish him, his father rewards him with a feast where he slaughters the fattened calf (the 20 A.D. version of a 1983 Chateau Margaux).  This leaves the older, more loyal, brother to wonder why he stayed home and worked on the farm for his whole life.

After seeing the kind of treatment that Ben Roethlisberger and Michael Vick have been getting recently, I'm feeling a lot more sympathy for that older brother.  The main storyline leading up to the Super Bowl was Big Ben's apparent chance for redemption.  The media announced that a Super Bowl win would somehow erase the crimes he had allegedly committed, while Roethlisberger did his part to play the victim.  He proudly stated that "When you're faced with challenges, you find ways to overcome them."  It's truly a shame when people judge you for your past actions.

Roethlisberger received this year's Good Guy award from the Pittsburgh beat writers for being the most media-friendly Steeler this year.  He admits that he "wasn't always the nicest guy to them" but now he is "easier to work with."  Does Big Ben deserve that award, or does he just seem to deserve it because his new personality is such a drastic change from his old one?  Coincidentally, last week Michael Vick was awarded a key to the city of Dallas, a week after he was given the presidential suite in Hawaii for the Pro Bowl.  Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway presented Vick with the key, saying that "the wayward children that were there needed to have hope."  Is Vick a better role model for children than other football stars because he used to kill dogs and now doesn't?

For the record, I do believe in second chances and people's ability to change.  I didn't agree with those asking for Vick to be banned from football after he served his prison term.  But I do believe that there's a difference between forgiving someone's past transgressions and placing them above others for finally becoming a decent human being.  If Roethlisberger and Vick have changed, I'm happy for them and I hope that others follow their example.  But I don't think they should be praised for finally reaching the point of decency that the rest of us have been at for years.  To put it another way, I'll welcome them back with open arms.  Just don't expect me to slaughter the fattened calf.