Sports

LEBANON — Reality chipped away at perception at the Marvin Lewis Golf Classic at Shaker Run Golf Club on Sunday, May 18.

The perception: The Cincinnati Bengals remain the NFL's poster children for players behaving badly because of the lingering effect of 10 players being arrested — six are no longer with the club — from December 2005 through June 2007.

The reality: Many current and former Bengals are making a positive impact through charitable work that either goes unnoticed or gets submarined by bad-news headlines.

"Those negative things get put on the news and on the front sports page, but this is a great event, and Marvin's foundation is outstanding," former Bengals wide receiver Isaac Curtis said. "There are so many guys doing fantastic things in the community.

"It's important to give back, because they live here. They've done well here, and the community has supported them. We have to invest in the kids and the community we live in."

Former Bengals safety David Fulcher said it's important for fans to understand players "are human and everybody makes mistakes. The only problem is that when a ballplayer makes a mistake, it's bigger than everybody else's."

Spearheading the Bengals' drive for community involvement is head coach Marvin Lewis. His golf event raises money for the Marvin Lewis Community Fund, which benefits numerous nonprofit organizations and other programs, mostly geared toward empowering youth.

Players are following Lewis' lead.

Cornerback Leon Hall and long-snapper Brad St. Louis are conducting free football clinics. Defensive tackle John Thornton raises money for autism. Center Eric Ghiaciuc is involved in Special Olympics. Shayne Graham's work with Doug Pelfrey's "Kicks for Kids" is noteworthy. The list of players involved in community outreach — Carson Palmer, Willie Anderson and Herana-Daze Jones, among others — goes on and on.

"I've tried to push it, and our players have taken the lead and done it," Lewis said. "They've found that by going out and getting involved, it gives them something to look forward to other than football.

"We're very fortunate. When you have an opportunity to give back and touch somebody else's life, that's what it's all about. Young people look up to these guys. They look forward to being around them, and touch them, and see that they're real."

Bengals' hall-of-fame tackle Anthony Muñoz's community involvement is legendary.

"You've got 70,000 people cheering you in the stands, and all of a sudden you have an opportunity to give back to those people who are supporting you," he said. "It's a great responsibility and a great opportunity to use the platform we've been given to give back."

Former Pittsburgh Steelers great L.C. Greenwood, wearing his signature gold shoes with black stripes, called Lewis' golf classic unique.

"I've been to a lot of these charity events, and I don't know of any other coach who does as much to promote the team as well as impact the community," Greenwood said. "Coach Lewis is a great guy, and this event is absolutely great. It's raising money for those who are less fortunate."

Added Cleveland Browns legend Leroy Kelly: "Guys like doing things for good people. That's why I'm here."

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2253 or cludwig@DaytonDailyNews.com.

Celebrity highlights

Former Bengals quarterback and current Steelers quarterbacks coach Ken Anderson — who won the closest-to-the-pin "celebrity contest" on the 125-yard practice hole with a pitching wedge to 2 feet, 9 inches — has high hopes for Ben Roethlisberger in 2008. "We hope he can continue to build on what he did last year," Anderson said. "He bounced back from an off year two years ago and had his best year ever, so we need him to continue in that vein."

Ravens quarterbacks coach Hue Jackson on his search for a starter: "It's a nice competition, a friendly competition, to have two veteran players — with Kyle Boller being the older of the group, and Troy Smith playing a little bit last year. Then there's Joe Flacco, the rookie we drafted. It's a great opportunity for someone to take over the reins of the quarterback position."

Leroy Kelly, enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1994, turns 66 on Tuesday: "My favorite memory as a Cleveland Brown was playing with Jim Brown. I had the opportunity to play two years with him, and it was just great. Definitely, Jim Brown was the greatest running back of all time."

Former Houston Oilers defensive end Elvin Bethea on being inducted in Canton in 2003: "To get that call meant everything. To think I'm in the same room with Gino Marchetti, Joe Namath and Jim Thorpe, it's truly an honor."

Ex-Bengals safety David Fulcher on the importance of community service: "This is what we want to do. This is what we try to do. Any time a former player can help out in any charity, we're excited about it."

Former Bengals fullback Pete Johnson worshipped Woody Hayes, who was like a father to him: "I went to Ohio State, and Woody preached it daily. 'You've got to always give back.' "

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