The late Chicago columnist Mike Royko was always perplexed by the nationwide angst over O.J. Simpson's murder charges. The way Royko saw it, all he knew about Simpson was that he could run well with a football. That tells you nothing about someone's character, good or bad.

Likewise, we could see an actor's entire repertoire and never know him or her. Their acting is all we really know about most of them.

Thus, there is no reason to be surprised at Christian Bale's arrest in London for alleged assault against his mother and sister. All most of us know about him is that he's the title role in the summer blockbuster film The Dark Knight.

It makes for sensational headlines when "Batman" is arrested. But it is, as his sister told reporters, a family matter.

We know little more about this guy than we do about the fellow behind the burger counter.

Actors just get paid more -- more money, more attention. That's the chief difference.