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.

…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.

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.

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 […]

Whew!


We have it on good authority that the official colors of the 2014 Polar Vortex are Black & Gold, and the official snowman is Big Ben:


From left to right:

Enjoying the SC winter storm as Steelers fans! — Jeff Sprowls @jeffsprowls

Enjoying the snow down in Carolina! — Bryan @Bryans_A_Baller

Showing some Steeler Nation love in the snow from the Deep South!!! — John Thomas @jothomas32



We have the newest and cutest Steeler fans making their first appearances:


From left to right:

Steelers babies Laynce Atherton, Logan Fanzo, Cooper Taylor, & Makalya Michaels all dreaming of future Super Bowl wins!


And we have more Lil’ Fans; a Lil’ Teammate; a few big fans, including one young man reppin’ his team in Peru, and some proud Steeler Nation parents…and last but not least, we have a Yorkipoo puppy in a hoodie named “Benny“!


*Once again, thank you to everyone who shared their photos!

After a fog delay this morning, Ben took the course this afternoon at the Honda Classic Gold Pro-Am in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, and we have a few photos to share!



Branford Marsalis (saxophonist, composer & bandleader), Ben, Toby Keith, Roger Clemens, and Irish pro-golfer Darren Clarke pose with members and honorary caddys from the Caddy For a Cure Foundation.

Just saw Ben Roethlisberger hit a 350 yard drive #BigBen — Stevie Seefried @sseefried3

What did Irish Pro Golfer Mark Murphy (@MarkMurphyGolf) have to say about Ben’s golf swing?

“Looks really good!”

And then in a retweet:

“nice move BB!”

(A man of few words with a great golf swing himself!)


Pro Golfer and Pittsburgh native Brian Cooper approved as well:

@_BigBen7 looks good Ben, now either bring that to AZ or let’s play when I get back to the burgh in June! — Brian Cooper @CoopsGolf

Big Ben working the gallery like a political candidate, shaking hands and posing for selfies. Rocket’s here to play golf. #HondaClassic — Matt Porter @mattyports

“Ben was so awesome signing autographs and greeting fans today!” — Cathy Krol via Facebook



You can see a few more here.


*Thank you to Martin at Palm Beach Autographs, Matt Porter, John Evenson & PGA Sports Media!