Porter’s visit to practice should be encouraging for team

I heard the most ridiculous rumor on the face of this earth the other day from a friend…. I heard the most ridiculous rumor on the face of this earth the other day from a friend.

He told me that the shot that was fired into the buttocks of Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Joey Porter late Saturday night was a setup. He went on to explain that Porter’s backup, Clark Haggans, who was reportedly with Porter earlier the night of the shooting, had something to do with the shooting, having been motivated by jealous rage and wanting to take Porter’s starting position.

Haggans is rumored to be starting in place of the injured Porter in this week’s opener against the Baltimore Ravens. He will temporarily fill the shoes of Porter, which cements his alleged motive, but to believe such an outlandish theory is absurd.The fact that a human mind created such cynical gossip absolutely boggles my mind. Unfortunately, in the world of sports, there are outsiders who make up these ridiculous statements and have these theories without having a clue as to what really goes on in sports.I also heard that Porter should was shot because he should not have been in Denver in the first place – that he should have been in Pittsburgh, with his team, getting ready for Sunday’s opener.

What Porter and Haggans, or any athlete, for that matter, do in their spare time should not impact judgment as to where a player and team stand on the field. I couldn’t care less where Porter got shot and why he was where he was.Personally, as a football fan, I am entirely more worried about when he will return to the field and how well the team performs in the weeks of his absence.But for the record, Porter had every good reason to be where he was in Denver Saturday night. His weekend trip revolved around watching his former college team, Colorado State, play its season opener, an act of a classy guy who has enough money to afford such luxury.

The fact that he went to a sports bar after the game to have a drink with some friends is no more improper than you or me hitting up the South Side or the Strip District for a cocktail or seven.

It’s what we do.

He’s young, wealthy, successful and, most importantly, human. What Porter was doing that night was nothing more than many athletes, celebrities and ordinary people do: drinking, socializing and having fun.

Porter is a classy guy. Going to see his former college play a game is nothing short of a class act.

What is even more impressive, and what makes me more optimistic about his return, is the fact that Porter showed up at the Steelers practice Wednesday afternoon. Surprising his teammates and walking with only a slight limp, he came to prove to the team that he’s going to be okay and tell them to move on and focus on this week’s game.

Such a gesture, an inspirational moment for the team, will lift the Steelers this week and make the team stronger as a whole.

Porter just so happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, the victim of a lot of bad luck. But the fact that he will soon recover is nothing short of a miracle, and one that I think will make him a better player and create a better team.I have a funny feeling about the Steeler defense shutting out the Ravens this week, without Joey Porter. This may turn out to be the best thing that happened to the team as the season progresses, and the only ones hurting from Porter’s gunshot wound will be Pittsburgh’s opponents.Ryan Faloon is a columnist for The Pitt News.