Hines Ward

There's a long article about Hines Ward in Sports Illustrated. He comes across as one mean, selfish son-of-a-bitch.

Steeler fans have always loved Ward. We've been oblivious, I think, to all the egotistical whining about not getting respect which appears to consistently simmer beneath his surface. He's been the ideal running-game wideout. His intense jealousy of, and perceived disrespect from, the Edwards and Burress signings are totally childish. So is his disrespect for Cowher.

Few fans, I'd guess, care much about the individual context. We love Ward because he beautifully exemplifies the kind of "Steeler football" we want to see year after year.

I find this disappointing because here I thought Ward had figured out what "Steeler football" can be, and here I thought he had just gone out and done what was best for the team. Like he was "one of us." Now it seems like he lucked into his opportunity to be a Hall-of-Fame caliber player. Does he really think the team would have been better off with a gameplan that regarded him as a Randy Moss?

The front office could not have handled him better, if we judge by the results that have come from Hines being Hines in the opportunities he has had. If he's too selfish to realize that, fine. More power to him.

I'll be happy to "disrespect him" if he'll get his revenge on the field.

... let me add, I'm not saying he's a bad person. He comes across, however, as a troubled kid, as yet another one of these great athletes who appear to derive their motivation from a combination of intense self-centeredness (i.e., egotism) and a desire to revenge what they regard as an endless series of personal attacks.