While enjoying some vacation time in VA Beach this week, Ben, with his wife Ashley and their friends, stopped by Flip Flops Restaurant one evening for a little dinner…and a little informal Meet & Greet with both employees and diners!

He also gave the thumbs-up to one of the restaurant’s most famous dishes:


According to Mandy Banks, who served Ben and his party, he heartily approved of their BBQ Fish Tacos that were featured on the popular Food Network show, Diners, Drive-ins, & Dives.



Mandy said she didn’t even realize it was Ben that she was waiting on until she was telling him and his party about the specials on the menu:


“He was awesome to serve, and he, his wife, and their friends were so down-to-earth and such wonderful people. He was very cool and understanding because Flip Flops gets super busy, especially in the summer time and we were really busy that night. I actually met him a few years ago in the Bahamas when I was there working during Michael Jordan’s celebrity golf tournament. He was just as down to earth and personable then too!” — Mandy Banks



Ben then stopped on his way out to pose with Flip Flops owner Kris Thurbon and his children, Max and Aubrey:


“Ben was a super nice guy & Kris was thrilled to have him stop by for dinner. He appreciated Ben taking time out to take photos with everyone. It was a great night for us!” — Camy Thurbon



Big Ben was also a big hit at Buffalo Wild Wings while at the beach:


“Ben was a class act. I asked him for a picture and he did not hesitate at all! He got right up and took a picture with me and my buddy, Doug Tojeiro. Ben was not looking for any attention or anything – he was just like a regular person in Buffalo Wild Wings. I also wished him the best of luck this upcoming season. Stand up guy, he was a down to earth person. Mad respect to him and I hope he has a good […]

…rocked the house on Sunday, June 2nd at Jergel’s Rhythm Grille!

The fundraising event was a tremendous success thanks to the local community – 268 people came out to enjoy the “strolling dinner”, music performed by The American Flyers Show Band, and to participate in both the Live and Silent Auctions!

“It means a lot to me. We are in such an awesome spot. I have such an opportunity to give back to the community I call home. Pittsburgh is home to me. I love doing things for the community, for the kids, for people, just helping out. This is a small thing I feel I can do to help.” – Ben

The event raised close to $50,000 which will benefit both of Ben’s Foundation causes: the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Greater Pennsylvania and Southern West Virginia as well as K-9 Police and Fire Units across the country.


The party host on stage with his Master of Ceremonies, DVE‘s own Randy Baumann got the crowd bidding like crazy for many of the amazing Live Auction items, including a trip to Costa Rica, a golf getaway to Georgia, and the opportunity to see an L.A. Red Carpet Premiere!



And the amazing items didn’t stop with the Live Auction!


These are just a few of the autographed items that were up for bid on Jergels’ dance floor during the Silent Auction – a plethora of Pittsburgh Sports memorabilia! Needless to say, they all found new homes by the end of the evening!


You can see more photos, INCLUDING Ben’s turn at the drums with the band, here (pages 1 through 3)!


THANK YOU to all our sponsors for the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation Fundraiser: Legacy Lanes; Chrislynn Energy; Broadway Collision; and Jergel’s Rhythm Grille.

From Ron Cook at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette this morning:

The best part about Big Ben’s visit to Big Ben last week was the picture that captured the moment for history’s sake. The photographer did a fabulous job finding just the right angle to make Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger look every bit as tall as the London landmark. Roethlisberger almost seemed larger than life.

That started me thinking.

That’s how Roethlisberger must play this season if the Steelers are going to get back to the playoffs and take a run at another Super Bowl. Maybe not larger than life. But better than ever.

A lot of clubs wish they had a quarterback as good as Roethlisberger.

I learned a long time ago to never write off a team with Roethlisberger as its quarterback.

He’s good enough to cover a lot of blemishes.

It’s hard to believe Roethlisberger is 31, getting ready for his 10th NFL season. What isn’t so stunning is that he’s more interested than ever in his legacy. He has always said the only statistic that matters to him is wins. Wins and Super Bowls.

“Absolutely, that’s still the goal. It’s not going to be easy. But getting one wasn’t easy. Getting two wasn’t easy. Getting to a third Super Bowl wasn’t easy. If it was easy, a lot more guys would be doing it.” — Ben, on winning five rings.

Roethlisberger already has topped Bradshaw as a quarterback for me. Bradshaw played on much stronger teams with eight other Hall of Famers. How many Hall of Fame-caliber teammates has Roethlisberger had? Jerome Bettis for two seasons? Alan Faneca for four? Hines Ward? Troy Polamalu? Maybe Maurkice Pouncey?

But it’s still fun to think about the possibility of Roethlisberger winning a third, fourth and even a fifth Lombardi Trophy.

“I’m not getting any younger, but I feel young,” he said. “I feel great. That’s still the goal and it’s got to start this year.”


You can read Mr. Cook’s full column here.


Photo: AP

Happy Fourth of July Weekend Steeler Nation!

Celebrating Independence Day at the Irish U.S. Embassy with Ambassador Rooney, who is hosting a flag football game today:


Ben, Ashley and Mr. & Mrs. Rooney pose in front of the Ambassador’s residence this afternoon.




Big Ben and Ambassador Rooney pose with Dublin Footballers Eamon Fennell, Barry Cahill, Jason Sherlock and Tomás Quinn this morning at the Ambassador’s house prior to the game.




The official coin toss by Ben, overseen by Mr. Rooney, to start the game!


You can see more photos here!


*Thank you to Eamon and once again to Mr. Lauten, Steelers.

“I would like it for him. That’s how much he means to me and I think everyone on our team would say that. Even if guys said they would never want to play in London, 100 percent of the guys on our team would say they would play in Dublin for Mr Rooney. I’d do it for him.” — Ben

From Brendan O’Brien and his interview with Ben for the Irish Examiner:

The NFL in Dublin: it’s the tease that just won’t end.

For years Dan Rooney, chairman of the Pittsburgh Steelers and a former US Ambassador to Ireland, has been talking up the prospect of his beloved football club playing a regular season game in the Irish capital and the project got another airing yesterday when the 81-year old returned to these shores.

Accompanying him for the Fourth of July celebrations at his former residence in the Phoenix Park was Ben Roethlisberger, the Steelers’ quarterback and one of the most recognisable faces in gridiron this past decade. Naturally, he too was dragged into the debate.

Rooney’s role in the success of one of the US’s most successful sporting franchises was barely touched on during his official three-year stint on these shores, between 2009 and 2012, but the 6’ 5” superstar spoke volumes for the dynasty first established by his father, Art Rooney Snr.

“People are what makes Pittsburgh special. Why the tradition, why the history, why the most Lombardi’s (trophies)? To me it starts at the top. That’s him, Art his son and his family. When he was in Pittsburgh, we saw him every day. After every game win or lose. For us to see our owner every day, whether out at practice, just working out and them saying ‘hi’ to you, sit down and have lunch with you, to me that speaks volumes.”


You can read the rest here.

You can also listen to the podcast of Ben’s interview with “Game On” reporter Diarmuid Byrne here!

And you can see all the photos from Big Ben’s UK Tour here!


Photo: Ben poses with the U.S. Marine Color Guard at the Irish U.S. Embassy. Photo: Mr. Lauten, Steelers

“I didn’t know what to expect – there’s a lot of football fans over here so we’re excited about that!” – Ben, during his live on-air interview.

“People say that you should never meet your heroes. These people clearly haven’t met Ben Roethlisberger.” — Josh Perry, Steelers UK fan.

Ben was a guest today on Sky Sports studio and told them he is looking forward to reporting back to teammates that there is definitely excitement across the pond for live NFL action:

“It was eye-opening for me to realize that there are so many fans and that the sport is growing over here…it was neat for me to see that and go home and tell my team-mates and other players that this is not going to be a business trip, we can go and enjoy a good football game.”

Ben believes that logistically, especially with family situations, having a team based out of London would be difficult, but a game or two during the regular season is a fun, different idea:

“I think it’s fun, it’s neat for players to travel abroad, to see a different country and see fans from over here.”

What does he expect the energy level of the fans to be at Wembley Stadium in September for the game against the Minnesota Vikings:

“I’ve talked to many players that have come over here in years past to play before and they say how loud it is and I’m looking forward to seeing that as well.”


You can watch the video here.

You can also read an interview with Ben conducted by Joshua Modaberi here.



And speaking of the fans…

UK fan Andy Duncan wanted to give American fans an idea of what transpired at the Meet & Greet between Ben and NFL-UK fans last evening at The Grosvenor House Hotel in London:

Tuesday evening in London, England there was a unique event put on by the NFL to promote the International Series football games that will be played during the regular season at Wembley Stadium.

Twenty six English football fans were invited to attend a meet and greet session with Ben Roethlisberger. The audience wasn’t entirely made up of Steelers fans, but as will happen in September when the Steelers […]