TS: Ben Roethlisberger's Blog vs Peyton Manning's Blog

when i was a kid i made a vow to myself that i would invite willie stargell to my wedding, but then he died. :(

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2480830

Obviously I hope he's OK, but bragging about riding without a helmet had bad karma written all over it.

xpost oooooooo

found this while i was searching for info on the crash.

http://home.columbus.rr.com/flymo/the_tackle.jpg

PITTSBURGH -- Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was badly hurt in a motorcycle crash Monday and undergoing surgery. The extent of his injuries was not known.

Roethlisberger was in serious but stable condition, said Dr. Larry Jones, chief of trauma at Mercy Hospital.

"He was talking to me before he left for the operating room," Jones said before the operation. "He's coherent. He's making sense. He knows what happened. He knows where he is. From that standpoint, he's very stable."

One Steelers source told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that Roethlisberger was in surgery for a broken jaw, an injury that can take approximately seven weeks to heal. The Steelers season starts in 12 weeks.

The 24-year-old Roethlisberger likes to ride without a helmet, a habit that once prompted coach Bill Cowher to lecture him on the dangers.

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported that Roethlisberger wasn't wearing a helmet. The Associated Press reported it wasn't clear whether he was wearing a helmet or not.

The crash happened at an intersection at the edge of downtown at about 11:30 a.m. A pool of blood was still visible there by early afternoon.

Police spokesman Lt. Kevin Kraus said police and homicide units were investigating the crash, something standard when there is an accident with critical injuries. Kraus would give no details on the extent of Roethlisberger's injuries or if anyone else was injured.

The accident occurred on Second Avenue near the intersection of 10th Street in Pittsburgh, around 11:30 a.m. The route is one often taken in traveling to the Steelers' facility in the Southside section of the city.

Steelers backup quarterback Charlie Batch was at the emergency room. He had no comment.

A silver Chrysler New Yorker with damage to the front passenger fender was removed and Roethlisberger's bike was loaded onto a flatbed truck. Police were detouring traffic around the crash scene as onlookers and media gathered.

One of his agents, Ryan Tollner, is in route to Pittsburgh for what was supposed to be a pre-planned trip and will arrive later Monday.

In only his second year in the NFL, Roethlisberger became the youngest quarterback to lead a team to the Super Bowl championship. He was 23 when he did it last February.

Roethlisberger has said in the past that he prefers not to wear a helmet. He has pointed out Pennsylvania's 35-year-old state law requiring helmets to be worn was amended to make helmets optional.

In May 2005, Cowher warned him about safe riding after Cleveland tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. was injured in a motorcycle accident. Winslow tore knee ligaments and was lost for the season.

"He talked about being a risk-taker and I'm not really a risk-taker. I'm pretty conservative and laid back, but the big thing is to just be careful," Roethlisberger said at the time. "I'll just continue to be careful. I told him we don't ever ride alone, we always ride in a group of people, and I think it makes it even more safe."

Roethlisberger continued to ride after Winslow's accident and that angered Terry Bradshaw, who quarterbacked the Steelers to four Super Bowl victories during the 1970s.

Visiting the Steelers' training camp last summer, Bradshaw remarked: "Ride it when you retire."

;_;

POSTED: 11:50 am EDT June 12, 2006
UPDATED: 3:08 pm EDT June 12, 2006
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PITTSBURGH -- Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is undergoing surgery after a motorcycle accident on Monday morning, doctors at Mercy Hospital said.

Roethlisberger is in serious but stable condition, according to Dr. Larry Jones.

According to a police source, Roethlisberger suffered a broken jaw, broke his left sinus cavity, suffered a 9-inch laceration to the back of his head, lost many teeth and has severe injuries to his knees from hitting the pavement.

A plastic surgeon has been called in, the source said.

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review said the accident happened on Second Avenue near the 10th Street Bridge. Police have shut down the bridge, Second Avenue and the Armstrong Tunnel.

A witness told Channel 4 Action News that Roethlisberger went over his handlebars, hit the windshield of a car and then fell to the ground.

The witness said she saw the accident and went over to help but did not recognize Roethlisberger. When she asked him what his name was, she said he replied, "Ben."

The woman added that Roethlisberger asked her a series of questions, including where he was and what state he was in. He attempted to stand up but the woman said she encouraged him not to move until paramedics arrived.

The bike and the car, a silver Chrysler New Yorker, have been towed to a police facility in Troy Hill for investigation.

The driver of the New Yorker is not believed to have been seriously injured.

Roethlisberger was not wearing a helmet, according to the Tribune-Review. In the past, he has publicly said he prefers to ride helmetless, which is legal in Pennsylvania.

Former Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw has been an outspoken critic of Roethlisberger's motorcycle activity, saying Roethlisberger should stay off bikes until his playing career ends.

I bet Peyton Manning doesn't ride a motorcyle in the off season. I bet he is more of a Lincoln Town Car kind of guy.

jesus christ!!! that's a lot worse than I thought. also, lololol forever @ ally's well-timed ;_;

http://photo-origin.tickle.com/image/115/3/4/O/115343114O447025374.jpg

Apparently Ben did NOT injure his knees though! He just Mark Hamilled his face. A tragedy definitely but he will play again!

Oh and priceless psuedo-drunk interview with Eli Manning regarding this on NFL network. By interview I mean 10 second soundbite. He needs to perhaps go to the Tom Brady school of talking in public.