How Arnie Palmer Put Ben Roethlisberger in His Place
by Ryan Ballengee on Mar 13, 2010 8:53 PM EST
in HALL OF FAME
22 comments
This story was told to me just a few days ago from a very credible source.
The Steelers have their training camp in Latrobe, PA - a town absolutely owned by Arnold Palmer. Near the training camp is Laurel Valley golf club. It has hosted several major championships and is a big deal club in the area. Ben Roethlisberger came by during training camp one summer and said he wanted to get on the course to play. The pro shop said that they would accomodate him but that members that had tee times would go ahead of him and they would work him on.
So, Ben looks around the pro shop and starts buying up stuff. Makes his purchases, then disappears to the first tee. He's teeing off out of turn. The pro shop wrangles him down in the first fairway and demands that he return to the clubhouse to wait his turn to play. Eventually, he gets to go off. He runs into a bunch of people who naturally want his autograph. He says no to all of them. Doesn't want to be nice to the people letting him play their exclusive track.
When he's done with the round, Ben goes into the locker room in the clubhouse. He takes a shower and comes out, when a man comes up to him and tells him, "What you are going to do right now is go into the pro shop and sign autographs for every single person who wants them, and then you will never come back here again."
The man who told him that? Arnold Palmer.
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Ben Roethlisberger is such a terrible person
"There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics."
-Mark Twain
Geez, .....
If Arnie tore a strip off Big Ben for not signing autographs, whaddya imagine he’ll have to say to El-Dick, (should TW play Bay Hill,) about his behavior ? I’d love to be privy to that conversation. I’m thinkin’ Woods doesn’t play BH…………………Z
you're still away,...choke on it !
How did
we get from a story about Arnie, into another rant about Tiger? There are plenty of other threads about Tiger without bringing him into this.
Nice to see an arrogant piece of work get his comeuppance. Just a pity it doesn’t happen more often. Good story Ryan.
Play it as it lies
Tiger vs Arnold Palmer
Tiger’s issue is within his family. Ben was making an ass of himself at Mr. Palmer’s house. He was totally within his right to check Roethlisberger.
I love stories like this. Even the big jocks have to be taken down a step now and then. If this was a few years ago, Rothlisburger had to be just out of college and still getting used to being “The Man” with all the money and fame. I hope he learned a lesson that day.
Back in the early-mid 90’s, Orel Hershiser (LA Dodgers pitcher) tried to get onto a course that Braves pitchers John Smoltz, Tom Glavine, and Greg Maddux were always welcomed to play as guests. Herschiser tried to barge in with the old “do you know who I am” line in the pro shop. The guy in the pro shop asked the same question in return. When Herschiser said “no”, he was told, “I’m the guy who decides who plays here and who doesn’t,” and he excused Herschiser from the course. It pays to be nice and do things the right way. The Braves players were welcome because they always called ahead, were polite to the people who worked there, and they tipped well.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Wow...
That story has been told sooo many different ways, it’s comical. And, it’s not true. Sorry, buddy, but your “credible” source isn’t too credible. A reporter for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette was asked about this story a few weeks ago and he said that the PG found it not to be true. Over time, I’ve heard that it was some random guys and I’ve also heard that it was Mr. Palmer’s grandchildren that Ben wouldn’t sign for. Way too many versions of this story floating around for it to be anything other than an urban-legend.
Nice try though with jumping on the Ben-bashing bandwagon.
Yaaaa,...Big Ben is a real "prince" isn't he ????
The recent sexual assault accusations, reported by the same PG, are just “urban legend” too,…RIGHT ???? Maybe Ben should try and be more like Sidney Crosby and less like the “entitlement” A$$-HOLE he is. Perhaps he hit his head too hard when he wiped out while “show-boating” on his Harley a few years back. Yea, that’s it. We’ll call it post concussion syndrome. LMFAO
you're still away,...choke on it !
PG ?
You’re jumping to conclusions, 3. Nothing has been proven in this accusation – and the other time it happened with Rothlisburger, it was proven that the woman was a whack job and a liar. And the Harley incident – he got hit by a little old lady – he wasn’t showboating….stupid for not wearing a helmet….but it wasn’t something he caused. (I know I know – he’s riding a motorcycle without a helmet – you have to expect the unexpected)
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Conclusions ????
No jumping here Court,….I specifically said “accusations” and Big Ben is under investigation. The other gal was a whacko ???…..don’t athletes normally pay off whacko’s ? It is understood that Woods has paid off several recently,…maybe Ben should hire some Woods people and his problem will go away,lol. Seriously though, Ben stands acused and one just hopes DNA will not do him in. The Arnie story is completely believable to me as Ben does act like an entitled prick from time to time. So I’m votin’ yes to Arnold and a definite “maybe” on the assault “accusation”. Given NFL players propensity for legal setbacks lately, another would not surprise me……………..Z.
you're still away,...choke on it !
Yes – you did say accusations – but last time I checked, the phrase is “innocent until proven guilty”, not “guilty as soon as accused.” You threw the guy under the bus.
You also jumped to the conclusion that he paid off the whacko. Wrong. She was proven to be a whacko when even her best friends admitted that she was chasing him and didn’t start crying assault until he told her to go away.
Wow – an athlete making millions of dollars acting like a dumb jock from time to time. An UNMARRIED athlete out having fun. Does he need a little wake up call ? Definitely. Be a LITTLE more careful who you’re hanging out with – but as we’ve seen from the NBA all too often, there are ho’s out there willing to do anything to get into their bank accounts.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
aaaah Court ???
Big Ben doesn’t have to defend himself yet, because he HASN’T BEEN FORMALLY CHARGED with anything !!! So nobody through anybody under the bus. You do have command of the English language? I said clearly,….there is only a complaint ,…“accusing him of sexual assault”. Only after the investigation is complete may a charge be contemplated and a court appearance scheduled. Then again, he may just pull a Michael Jackson/Tiger Woods and pay off the skank. Let’s all hope the PGA Tour doesn’t become the cess pool that is the NBA.
you're still away,...choke on it !
I'm assuming that with your own masterful grasp of the English language....
that you would use the word “Through” properly. Perhaps you meant “Threw”, but someone who commands the Englisgh language so well would already know that.
Fail
"Damnit mom! You almost ran over Greg Lloyd!"
at an autograph signing back in 95. He walked out in front of our minivan, and my mom almost hit him. He apologized.
by PA ARMY OFFICER on Mar 15, 2010 8:08 AM EDT up reply actions
Oooops, spellcheck failure
My bad ! I’ll blame this on my “sexual addiction” issue. Seems to be the # 1 cop-out for screw ups these days. LMFAO……………………Z.
you're still away,...choke on it !
I just got a hot flash here,
no, not that kind, I mean like women get….Didn’t Natalie Gulbis date Big Ben for a while? it seems to me I remember some article that said her dad wasn’t too happy about that…And 3 Irns just threw the TW stuff in to keep it interesting…Even if the story itself isn’t true, I can just see Ol Arnold saying something like that…ya gotta love it….STUB
BEN IS THE MAN
SORRY SOME LYING DRUNK SLUT GOT YOU ALL UPSET,HE SHOULD HAVE KNOCKED ARNIE ON HIS ASS
Caught a link, new to the site, but I am a Steelers fan...
So I thought I’d read the article.
First off, I read above this story is not true. I don’t know either way, but this does sound like something Ben would do. While I have not heard many stories about him not signing autographs for fans, I have certainly heard several of him acting entitled and arrogant (rudeness to random people, running out on restaurant tabs, playing the “Do you know who I am” card, etc.). Him not getting his way in terms of playing time at the course may have caused him to act like this to the fans on said course. Which doesn’t make it right at all, I’m just saying I could see it happening that way. If this was true, then big kudos to Arnie for putting him in his place. Ben needs more Arnold Palmer’s around him, it seems to me.
Second, I read above that someone stated Ben’s Colorado accuser was a whack job, and either has been or should be paid off. That case is still in courts, so despite the friends of the accuser saying what they said about her, the judge feels the trial should continue.
As far as the most recent case goes, most of us over at BTSC, myself included, are in wait and see mode. This is too sensitive a subject to jump to conclusions on, either way (though some have).
Intersesting story that kind of fits with the public image of Ben though, whether the story is true or not. Either way, cool site. I’ll be back again, with the weather in the north east US finally warming up it will be time to hit the links sooner than later, and I can’t wait.
(PS, I know this isn’t the place, but since it’s my first post, let Tiger live his life already. The man made some mistakes, he’s admitted that. What he did is between him and his family, we should respect that.)
"One important key to success is self-confidence. An important key to self-confidence is preperation."
-Arthur Ashe
by NYSteelersFan4 on Mar 15, 2010 10:46 AM EDT reply actions
The first allegation is not in the courts anymore. The case was dropped when the evidence against said “whack job” started getting confused with the Rocky Mountains.
The guy may be arrogant, he may be a bad drunk, he may think he’s above a lot of social expectations – but those things aren’t against the law. Falsely accusing someone of a crime is. Unfortunately, this sort of thing only makes the papers when the girl goes crying to the media with her accusations. The police rarely persue the charges against the women who bring the false charges.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Not sure the case was dropped, its just being “processed”:
[Calvin] Dunlap (Andrea McNulty’s attornery) tells TMZ that the case has temporarily been put on ice while the Nevada Supreme Court decides where to try the case
I think it holds no water, and I reserve any type of judgment on the current case until I get a clearer picture.
With the 18th pick of the 2010 NFL Draft the Pittsburgh Steelers select Florida QB Tim Tebow. (not a RB!)
I live in the Latrobe area and heard a similar story. However I was told that it was Mr. Palmer’s grandson who asked for the autograph…
by Mary Jane Kolling-Firment on Mar 19, 2010 4:02 PM EDT reply actions
BEN AND ARNIE
VERSIONS OF THIS INTERNET TALE SAY IT OCCURRED AT LAURAL VALLEY GOLF CLUB “AT LATROBE” BY ONE ACCOUNT OR “NEAR THE STEELERS TRAINING CAMP”. LAURAL VALLEY GOLF CLUB IS AT LIGONIER, PA. I COULD NOT FIND A WEB SITE. MR. PALMER IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE LATROBE COUNTRY CLUB…TWELVE MILES FROM LAURAL VALLEY GOLF CLUB.
ONE VERSION STATES LAST SUMMER ANOTHER VERSION MENTIONS ONE SUMMER. ONE VERSION BEN WAS RUDE TO AUTOGRAPH SEEKERS….ANOTHER VERSION STATING IT WAS SOME “KIDS” HE BLEW OFF WHO WERE MR. PALMER’S GRANDCHILDREN. MR. PALMER’S SITE LISTS TWO DAUGHTERS LIVING IN NORTH CAROLINA AND FLORIDA AND GRAND DAUGHTERS AGED 29, 28, 26, 23, AND 13: GRANDSONS AGES 23 AND 16. SEEMS LIKE ONLY 2 GRANDCHILDREN QUALIFY AS “KIDS”….. I DOUBT THEY ROAM THE GOLF COURSE.
MR. PALMER HAS GOLFED WITH A NUMBER OF STEELERS INCLUDING BEN ROETHLISBERGER AND STATED, “BEN WAS OUTSTANDING. HE DID A GREAT JOB AND I ENJOYED IT VERY MUCH.”
DOESN’T SOUND LIKE THEY’RE ON THE OUTS. MY VERY CREDIBLE SOURCES ARE THE ARNOLD PALMER WEB SITE, STEELERS.COM, AND MAP QUEST.
A CALLER STARTED TELLING THIS STORY ON THE “STAN AND GUY” PROGRAM ON ESPN 1250. STAN SAVRAN CUT HIM SHORT SAYING THE POST GAZETTE HAD CHECKED OUT THE STORY AND FOUND NOTHING. SEEMS ANY STORY WITHOUT ENOUGH FACTS TO MAKE THE PAPER IS BLOGGED UNDER “I DON’T KNOW IF THIS IS TRUE…..”
IS ROETHLISBERGER A SAINT?? PROBABLY NOT….BUT HE ISN’T EMPLOYED AS A MINISTER.
by CAPTAIN CONSUMER on Mar 25, 2010 6:33 PM EDT reply actions
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