From the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review this week:

A South Allegheny Elementary third-grader was recognized by the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Make-A-Wish Foundation for his charitable efforts.

Tony Cook, 8, of Liberty served as the foundation’s special ambassador for a presentation on Friday and watched the Black-and-Gold practice.

Tony has been instrumental in raising about $44,000 for Make-A-Wish, which includes a $30,000 contribution from the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation.

He shared his experience with classmates on Monday morning.

“It was really cool,” Tony said of his visit with the Steelers. “They made it sound like they were at a real game.”

He showed the class an autographed football, picture and jersey worn by Roethlisberger during the game against the Oakland Raiders. He also received a Terrible Towel signed by other players, watched practice at the Steelers’ South Side facility and checked out Roethlisberger’s locker.

“It’s like a really big locker room,” Tony said. “I found he had the left top corner (locker).”

Roethlisberger on Friday presented a $30,000 check from the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation to Make-A-Wish president and CEO Judith Stone.

Tony handed over his savings to Make-A-Wish last year, making a Christmas donation of $185.35. He raised $264.50 this February through a bake sale during parent-teacher conferences at the elementary school, and continues to raise funds through other bake sales and a golf outing organized by his uncle, David Hoffmann, and DB Root & Co.

“He’s a very nice guy,” Tony said of Roethlisberger.

Students were impressed with Tony’s memorabilia and stories.

“I think you should let him have a homework pass,” classmate Brielle Boyle said to teacher Julie Doughty.


You can read more here.

You can also watch the video of Ben’s presentation to Make-A-Wish here.


*Photo: Cindy Shegan Keeley

“There will be no quit! You know you won’t get any quit from me, but I will make sure no one else does. If anyone’s ready to quit and chalk this season up, then they need to get off the train because I’m going to keep it moving.” — Ben, on his show today.

Ben was on the air in his regular time slot this morning at 11:00 AM as part of 93.7 The Fan’s Vinnie & Cook Show:

The Pittsburgh Steelers are 2-6, but don’t expect QB Ben Roethlisberger to throw in the towel on the season. The #1 Cochran Ben Roethlisberger Show features the quarterback’s weekly visit with Vinnie & Cook on Sportsradio 93-7 The Fan.

Roethlisberger did not quit against the Patriots; in fact, he did not leave the game even after the score became lopsided.

“Coach never came to me or asked what I wanted, and I hope it was never even a discussion in his mind,” Ben says. “If he takes me out, he’s going to have to call timeouts, because I’m going to be on the field. I’m not going to leave my guys out there.”

Ben noted something bizarre during the Patriots game that contributed to his first-quarter fumble.

Upon returning to the sideline after the play, “I looked down at my hand and it had blue paint all over it from the field. They painted the field and the ball had blue paint on it. That’s why it slipped out of my hand. That’s a little thing that’s just unfortunate that’s happened. It’s not an excuse, but that’s what happens, and it kept us from starting as fast as we wanted to.”

Roethlisberger also tells how the offense was able to climb out of a big hole, reacts to the situation with the Miami Dolphins, and looks ahead to this week’s meeting with the Buffalo Bills.


Catch all of those thoughts in the complete interview here (you can listen to the podcast at the bottom of the page)! The #1 Cochran Ben Roethlisberger show airs on Tuesdays at 11 a.m. exclusively on Sportsradio 93-7 The Fan.


As always, thank you to 93.7 The Fan, and Vinnie & Cook!

Final score: Patriots 55, Steelers 31

“They would have had to drag me off. I’m not going to quit. I’m going to stay out there and fight to the end.” — Ben, on staying the in the game until the end.

Ben spoke to the media after the game about the goals going forward, players continuing to fight, and staying in the game till the end.


You can watch/listen to his interview here (video).



Much respect:

“Roethlisberger is tremendous, it’s almost like playing that backyard streetball!” — Patriots Cornerback Kyle Arrington on WEEI Radio today.

“When someone has a wish and that’s what’s so great about Make-A-Wish, they grant pretty much everything other than going to the moon. But you can do pretty much anything you want. To come hang out with us, and just to see the fun and to see guys like Anthony get the picture with everybody and go in our locker room and just to hang out. I know we were talking about how his friends are going to be jealous and his brothers and everything like that. To me, that’s what it’s all about. It is so special.” — Ben

From Teresa Varley at Steelers.com today:

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger loves when he has the opportunity to put a smile on the face of a child who visits the team through the Make-A-Wish® foundation. The reaction he always gets from the kids is one of pure joy, making the day of a young fan that definitely can use a boost.

On Friday he did even more to help, presenting a check to Make-A-Wish® Greater Pennsylvania and West Virginia for $30,000, a donation from the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation. Roethlisberger made a similar donation last year and said hearing from the kids who had their wishes granted as a result made it extra special.

“I got a packet and an envelope with a bunch of letters in it from Make-A-Wish kids whose wishes got granted,” said Roethlisberger. “I could just see the smile on their faces as I was reading the letters. It means so much to me and my family and the foundation to be able to help out Make-A-Wish.”

Roethlisberger presented the check to Judith Stone, President and CEO of Make-A-Wish® and eight-year old Anthony Cook. Cook, a huge Roethlisberger fan who had his wish of going to Disney World granted and in turn has given back by donating the money he received from the tooth fairy and getting a good report card to help other kids.

The wide-eyed Cook was in awe meeting Roethlisberger and some of his teammates, watching practice and then heading into the locker room.

“It felt really good to meet Ben,” said Cook, “I was really excited. We went in the locker room and he made me find his locker.”

Roethlisberger also gave Cook the torn jersey he […]

Breaking News: A little monkey has escaped from the Pittsburgh Zoo on Halloween night and is reportedly causing much mayhem at the home of the Roethlisberger’s!

Happy Halloween Steeler Nation, from our little monkey! — Ben & Ashley

It’s a Black and Ghoul…er…Gold night across the Nation!


A couple of #7’s:


Kendall Cawthorn heads out to do some Trick or Treating wearing her football hero’s jersey while being escorted by her every day hero, her dad Steve.



A couples night out:


Left: Cynthia Filmore as Coach Tomlin and her boyfriend, Michael, as the best TE in the business! Right: Michelle Stiehler as Troy, and her husband, Al, as the EXTRA-LARGE bottle of Head & Shoulders shampoo!



A “Throwback Thursday” Halloween:


That’s Hannah and Jake Prokopchak heading out for Halloween, circa 1998, and with their parents today!



And a “four-legged” Halloween:


Left: Duce, named after the Steelers’ Duce Staley, wants to know if any of the humans in his neighborhood are handing out cats on Halloween? If so, he’s going to need a bigger Trick or Treat bag! Middle: Emma waits at the door in her #43 jersey for the night’s Trick or Treaters. Right: Kismet is going the “formal costume route” – wearing a gold tie with the uniform in hopes of getting a big haul to hide in the backyard!



We have a lot more Halloween photos to share with you right here!


*Thank you so much to everyone who sent in their photos!