As a child you likely believe Santa Claus is real, everybody is treated equally all the time and your favorite athlete is a true role model.

But hopefully at a tender age you realize the importance of accountability.

Normally, I’m not upset by allegations of a professional athlete cheating on his wife. There isn’t much innocence left to be stunned by in sports. Yet, what Ben Roethlisberger and Brett Favre allegedly did went beyond simply using or cheating on women.

Roethlisberger was accused of sexually assaulting two women in the span of a year. Most notably in April, when he was accused of sexually assaulting a college student at a Milledgeville, Ga., bar.

Charges were not filed but questions into how seriously Milledgeville Police investigated the case were raised. Evidence was not deemed definitive, but Roethlisberger’s claim of her “hitting her head on a bathroom sink” was disproved by her physical examination. Further examination showed possible signs of forced penetration.

The accuser in the Milledgeville case wrote the Defense Attorney asking charges be dropped due to intrusive media attention, but stood in her accusation.

At the very least, Roethlisberger has been accused of sexual assault twice — and that is a lot closer than a man should ever come to such a situation. Because of his poor choices, Roethlisberger was suspended six games, subsequently reduced to four.

He returned last Sunday to a standing ovation. While watching the game, I saw shots of men waving signs welcoming him back. I thought to myself “this doesn’t seem right.” Then I saw women waving signs welcoming him back. I thought to myself “this really doesn’t seem right.”

Meanwhile, I saw every NFL media outlet basking in the glow of his return, as if he were a martyr of misunderstanding, or actually, a beneficiary of fickle fans irrationality.  I thought to myself, “what if he really did rape those women, what is going through their heads right now?”

At times, I wonder if race still drives public perception.

Let’s consider Kobe Bryant. Unlike Roethlisberger, Bryant was brought up on charges of rape. He went to trial, and throughout he was vilified. The story never left your cable channel. His endorsement deals were temporarily pulled. Many assumed guilt.

Though I thought the verbiage in Bryant’s settlement did come off a bit unsettling, he still went through much more than Roethlisberger was ever made to go through in court and in public.

I parallel the Brett Favre “sexting” scandal to Tiger Woods extra marital affairs.

We all remember the oddity of Woods Nov. 27 single-car accident that spurred his controversy. From that point, more and more women claiming to be his part-time lover emerged. Nike did not pull its sponsorship of Woods, but according to the Associated Press he lost 22 million dollars worth of endorsements in the fallout.

The media picked and pulled Woods apart. If he wasn’t being criticized, he was being laughed at. Suddenly the legitimacy of sexual addiction, a proven psychological condition which Woods claimed he suffered from, was being questioned.

The Favre sexting scandal first arrived in an Aug. 4 report from the sports humor and tabloid website deadspin.com. Slowly the story gained steam until eventually photos of Favre’s penis, along with two voicemails were revealed on Deadspin.

When Tiger Woods’ voicemail was released by media, many people considered it conclusive evidence of his infidelity. But with Favre’s voicemails, accusations were made that Deadspin paid someone to imitate his voice, or used advanced “text to talk” technology.

ESPN has had minimal coverage of the Favre story, only with slight updates on the NFL’s ongoing investigation. Note ESPN was criticized for not reporting Roethlisberger’s first sexual assault charge.

I’m wondering why ESPN reporter Rachel Nichols was cheerfully covering the return of Roethlisberger Sunday, and not camped out at the NFL offices in New York, such as she was stationed in Hattiesburg, Miss., awaiting Favre’s hold out … excuse me, I meant “indecision.”

Most of what could happen to Favre rests on the cooperation of Jen Sterger, the woman whom Favre allegedly targeted. Even if she keeps mum, I remain skeptical towards the intentions of Favre, though consent is in question.

Favre, who has had prior issues in regards to womanizing, possibly committed adultery – something Bryant and Woods were ridiculed for. In my opinion, Favre has dodged harsh criticism.

Maybe watch-dog tabloids like Deadspin and TMZ are the only sources of accountability athletes have to face.

Bryant and Woods were vilified for their actions. But Roethlisberger and Favre, two white, Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks have not, in my opinion, faced that same wrath.

Favre is being vigorously protected by the mainstream media and defended by much of the public. Roethlisberger had his suspension reduced and then was warmly welcomed back.

It is something you learn when you grow up; Santa Claus isn’t real. Racism exists. And the public and media treat accountability like an athlete treats his mistress.

Kyle Bauer is a contributor at The Oakland Post and co-host of The Real Deal on Sports heard every Thursday at www.detroitsportsnation.com.