Slapshot Monday
I had to drive out to Burbank today and I turned on the NFL channel on my radio. The topic today was Ben Roethlisberger. For those of you not familiar with Ben (Im going to call him Ben or Big Ben because I dont want to re-write his last name any more) he was a rookie quaterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers the year before last who went 15-1, the 1 being in the playoffs. An amazing feat for any QB, but for a rookie its unheard of. To follow up his amazing first season, he took his team to the Super Bowl and won. Big Ben has been what every team owner hopes for, a draft pick that comes in, takes the team on his shoulders and just wins.
There is another player, Kellen Winslow JR. who was a first round draft pick of the Cleveland Browns. Winslow got into a motorcycle accident in the off-season and missed the entire 2005 season and its still not certain whether hell be back for 2006. When this happened, reporters went to every player in the NFL that was known to ride a motorcycle and asked their opinion. Ben was one of those people and his attitude was that riders had to be extremely careful when they ride. Ben also rides without a helmet since there is no law in Pennsylvania making it mandatory. When asked if he would go on the football field without a helmet he replied: Theres a law in football saying you have to wear a helmet.
Now according to reports, the Steelers had a team meeting where they told their players to NOT ride motorcycles. There is also rumors that in Bens contract he is forbiddened from riding.
If youve gotten this far into the piece then you probably already know something bad has happened. Ben was riding his bike this morning when a woman pulled out in front of him. Ben went threw the womans window. The report is he broke his jaw, his nose, collapsed a sinus cavity, has a nine-inch gash on the back of his head and minor damage to his knees. He was taken into surgery. The doctor reports that all his facial fratures were repaired and his brain, spine, chest and abdomen are without serious injury. The family requested no other information be released.
Its been years since I rode a bike and the majority of my riding was done on the dirt. The concept of riding a motorcycle on the streets and highways just isnt in my future. I have friends who ride one of them a mother of three but none of them would ride without a helmet. Ben has a contract worth millions based on his physical abilities that fact that he would risk that by not only riding but riding without a helmet just doesnt make sense to me. What if he lost an eye in the accident? He would never be able to play football again he wouldnt get the rest of his contract money everything would be over because he wanted to ride.
The big topic of the day had to do with taking the responsibilty for your team and your contract you signed. Too many people in this world do what they want to do without the thought of the consequences. On the field Ben seems wise beyond his years but not today. I wish him a speedy recovery and hope that riders out there everywhere keep that in mind when they decide whether to wear a helmet.
I had to drive out to Burbank today and I turned on the NFL channel on my radio. The topic today was Ben Roethlisberger. For those of you not familiar with Ben (Im going to call him Ben or Big Ben because I dont want to re-write his last name any more) he was a rookie quaterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers the year before last who went 15-1, the 1 being in the playoffs. An amazing feat for any QB, but for a rookie its unheard of. To follow up his amazing first season, he took his team to the Super Bowl and won. Big Ben has been what every team owner hopes for, a draft pick that comes in, takes the team on his shoulders and just wins.
There is another player, Kellen Winslow JR. who was a first round draft pick of the Cleveland Browns. Winslow got into a motorcycle accident in the off-season and missed the entire 2005 season and its still not certain whether hell be back for 2006. When this happened, reporters went to every player in the NFL that was known to ride a motorcycle and asked their opinion. Ben was one of those people and his attitude was that riders had to be extremely careful when they ride. Ben also rides without a helmet since there is no law in Pennsylvania making it mandatory. When asked if he would go on the football field without a helmet he replied: Theres a law in football saying you have to wear a helmet.
Now according to reports, the Steelers had a team meeting where they told their players to NOT ride motorcycles. There is also rumors that in Bens contract he is forbiddened from riding.
If youve gotten this far into the piece then you probably already know something bad has happened. Ben was riding his bike this morning when a woman pulled out in front of him. Ben went threw the womans window. The report is he broke his jaw, his nose, collapsed a sinus cavity, has a nine-inch gash on the back of his head and minor damage to his knees. He was taken into surgery. The doctor reports that all his facial fratures were repaired and his brain, spine, chest and abdomen are without serious injury. The family requested no other information be released.
Its been years since I rode a bike and the majority of my riding was done on the dirt. The concept of riding a motorcycle on the streets and highways just isnt in my future. I have friends who ride one of them a mother of three but none of them would ride without a helmet. Ben has a contract worth millions based on his physical abilities that fact that he would risk that by not only riding but riding without a helmet just doesnt make sense to me. What if he lost an eye in the accident? He would never be able to play football again he wouldnt get the rest of his contract money everything would be over because he wanted to ride.
The big topic of the day had to do with taking the responsibilty for your team and your contract you signed. Too many people in this world do what they want to do without the thought of the consequences. On the field Ben seems wise beyond his years but not today. I wish him a speedy recovery and hope that riders out there everywhere keep that in mind when they decide whether to wear a helmet.