“Thank you Ben!”
Hello,
My name is Jake and I am currently a student at the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University. As a Business Sports and Media Studies Major, I am in a student organization called Sports Business Association. SBA has been great at finding members internship and volunteer opportunities in the sports industry.
One of the opportunities that we had a chance to volunteer at was the Bruce Arians Celebrity Golf Classic located at The Westin Kierland Resort and Spa in Scottsdale, Arizona last weekend. The event was set up for the Arians Family Foundation that supports CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) in making sure that children who are involved in the court system, as a result of abuse or neglect by their families, receive the love and help they need.
Many celebrities and athletes came to participate and support the foundation by playing in the golf classic. Athletes included: Larry Fitzgerald, Carson Palmer, Patrick Peterson, Andrew Luck, Jerome Bettis, and your very own Ben Roethlisberger!
Big Ben was one of the athletes that I really had the pleasure of meeting! He was one of the first guests to show up to the golf event and can really hit the golf ball! I heard he hit a 370-yard drive! While working at one of the golf holes, Ben came up to all of us and introduced himself. He was super friendly and took pictures with everyone. It was an awesome opportunity I could not pass on.
After the golf classic, we had a dinner and live auction with all the guests and athletes. Ben of course, was one of the first to show again! He was a stand-up guy, making everyone laugh and was as friendly as he was on the golf course!
It was awesome representing my school, ASU, in the picture I got with him. I was able to support my organization SBA by showing we are truly a great organization by finding such great opportunities such as this.
I am the one on the right, putting up the fork (hand gesture) to support ASU. On the left, my friend Nick, who is part of the SBA board that helped get us involved and eventually got us the chance to meet Ben Roethlisberger! — Jake Hernandez
Ben also played the […]
“Roethlisberger has been Steelers’ constant amid change”
From Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Ben Roethlisberger not only played in every game for only the second time in his 10-year career, but he also played every snap for the first time (though not all at quarterback because they used the wildcat on occasion).
So, having turned 32 March 2, it’s probably time for Steelers fans to stop fretting about his health. He’s fine. His knees are fine, his head is clear and his arm is as good as ever.
Operating behind what often was a makeshift line, Roethlisberger had another strong season. His 4,346 passing yards and 28 touchdown passes were second most in team history — records he owns. He set team records with 375 completions on 584 attempts. He increased his team record to 34,105 career yards.
“What we have to do is surround him with the best talent,” general manager Kevin Colbert said. “And he has to play to that level that he’s capable of playing to if we do get that talent around him. We all have to come together to try to win the Super Bowl. But we understand that there are only so many snaps left with a franchise quarterback.”
The Steelers want to ride Roethlisberger as far and as long as he will take them.
“In regards to Ben and his window closing, I think first of all we’re very fortunate to have a franchise quarterback because the majority of the teams in this league can’t say that and we have one,” Colbert said. “There is nobody we’d rather have than Ben. That’s a big part of where we are. As an organization we have to, and we realize that he doesn’t have 10 years left. We all would acknowledge that. Does he have two, three or five? I don’t know. Hopefully he stays healthy and we get the maximum amount of years out of him.”
You can read more from Mr. Bouchette’s Sunday column here.
Big Ben checks in from Arizona!
And look who he ran into while attending the Welcome Party & Cocktail Reception on Friday evening at the Westin Kierland Resort and Spa in Phoenix for the Bruce Arians Inaugural Arizona Celebrity Golf Classic:
“At BA’s event last night with Kevin Farley. What a funny guy!!” — Ben
The tournament benefits The Arians Family Foundation which supports CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) in making sure that children who are involved in the court system, as a result of abuse or neglect by their families, receive the love and help they need.
You can read about the projects that actor/comedian Kevin Farley, brother of the late actor/comedian Chris Farley, has lined up here!
You can also see a photo that Ben snapped of actor David Spade here.
Photos from Saturday’s tournament are here.
Students raise money in Rocco’s memory
…to donate to The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation!
From Michele Digiacomo:
Our school, Saint Raphael (Pre-K through 8th grade), is located in the East end of the City of Pittsburgh. The students organized a ‘dress down’ day on the day of Rocco’s Memorial to show their support. Each child was asked to donate at least $1.
The students raised $300, all of which we sent to Ben’s foundation.
The 8th graders designed their own shirts in memory of Rocco for the day, and our art teacher, Nikki Puskar, also painted Rocco on a shirt. The shirt is now framed and awaiting presentation to Officer Lerza, along with a copy of the letter we sent to Ben’s foundation with the donation.
I went to the memorial service for Rocco in February and it was beautiful. Being a law enforcement spouse, I truly appreciate the K-9 officer. Rocco paid the ultimate sacrifice but he saved those officers lives.
I thank Ben and his foundation for giving police departments this very valuable tool!
And we thank you, Michele, Nikki Puskar, and the students at Saint Raphael for your hard work and the funds you donated to The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation!
You can read Ben’s statement about Rocco here, and about the grant to the Pittsburgh Police Department here.
News, Notes, Pics & Quotes
Heads up for Steeler Nation Arizona:
Big Ben will join Jerome Bettis, Andrew Luck, Larry Fitzgerald, Carson Palmer, Merril Hoge, and many others at the Bruce Arians Inaugural Arizona Celebrity Golf Classic charity event next weekend March 7th-9th at the Westin Kierland Resort and Spa.
The tournament benefits The Arians Family Foundation which supports CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) in making sure that children who are involved in the court system, as a result of abuse or neglect by their families, receive the love and help they need.
You can get more info here.
Birthday Hoops:
Ben and his lovely wife, Ashley spent his birthday weekend (well, at least Saturday night) front and center at the WPIAL Basketball Championship between New Castle and Hampton.
“I don’t remember a WPIAL title game that created such ticket demand as the New Castle-Hampton game. The contest was sold out. It even brought out Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger. Pitt coach Jamie Dixon came straight from his team’s game at Notre Dame. Dixon and Roethlisberger sat next to each other on the floor under one of the baskets.” — Mike White, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
You can see a few photos here.
Simply put:
“Ben.” — Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Ed Bouchette, when asked in his on-line chat yesterday who would he take in the NFL Draft, Ben or Terry Bradshaw?
The Best of Ben, 2013:
Stop by Steelers.com this week and check out their slideshow of the “Top Photographs of Ben Roethlisberger” from last season.
And while you’re there, watch their video montage of Ben’s best moments from last season as well.
Ben’s Birthday Contest
UPDATE: We have a winner!! Congratulations to Tabatha House of Las Vegas, Nevada!!
Today is Ben’s 32nd birthday and one lucky fan will receive a gift from him!
To celebrate…
The 302nd emailer (3/02 – today’s date) will receive this autographed 8×10 photo from Ben. It’s that easy! No quiz to take, no caption to think up, no questions to answer…just be the right emailer!
However, before you email, please follow these two rules:
1. Emails for the contest WILL NOT be accepted until 12 NOON ET and after (this gives fans in different time zones a chance to participate).
2. Please, just one email per email address only (subsequent emails from the same address will be discounted).
Send emails to: bigben7website@gmail.com
Winner will be notified via email and their name will be posted here in an update this afternoon! Good Luck!
THANK YOU Steeler Nation for ALL of the birthday wishes today! Here are just a few of the many, many that Ben received via email, Facebook & Twitter:
“Happy Birthday Ben! Hope you have an amazing day. Thank you again for all of the touching, sweet photos and stories- they are just great.”— Love and very best wishes, Maria Van Buskirk
MR.Jackson @ChrisTurbo
@_BigBen7 Happy Birthday #7! Have a Fantastic Day. Much love & Respect from #SteelerNation
Happy Birthday Ben! Thank you so much for the birthday wishes for my grandson at the golf tournament. You’re awesome!! — Deborah Thieret Farr
“Happy Birthday Big Ben I hope yo get to play with Ben Junior in the Snow tomorrow. Make it a Great Day!” — Mike Robinson, Frederick, MD
Sending lots of love and great big Happy Birthday Wishes! Stay blessed and enjoy your day! We love our QB! HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEN!!! — Tammy Devine Palmer
Happy Birthday Big Ben….I cant think of a better person to share a birthday with. Enjoy your day! — Dustin Houseman
40-19 @JRocc205
Happy Birthday to my QB! @_BigBen7 Respect The Legend! @Steelers #SteelerNation
You are my favorite person to share a birthday with. — Becky Oratto
Happy birthday Benito! Regards from Mexico City! — Ivonne Alonso
“Happy Birthday Ben. I have been a huge fan even though you went to Miami Univ. and I went to Univ. of Toledo. Hope you […]