…to purchase your advance tickets for the Chantilly Show!

Ben is scheduled to appear at the Collector’s Showcase of America‘s Chantilly Sports Show from 12:00 P.M. to 1:30 P.M., which will be held at the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly, VA on April 1, 2012. Advance ticket sales ends on Sunday, March 25, 2012 at 5:00 p.m.

The three-day show (March 30th – April 1st) will feature autograph sessions with Ben and teammates Antonio Brown, Mike Wallace, Ryan Clark, Cameron Heyward, and Lawrence Timmons (all on Sunday, check times for their appearances).

Other Steelers greats include Jerome Bettis (Saturday), Hines Ward (Sunday), Rocky Bleier (Sunday), Franco Harris (Sunday) and NFL HOF’er Joe Greene (Sunday).

Also signing autographs: NFL HOF’er Joe Schmidt (both on Saturday); seven-time Pro Bowler Jason Witten (Saturday); Miles Austin (Saturday); Matthew Stafford (Sunday); Sam Bradford (Sunday); Robert Griffin III (Saturday); NBA Top 50 players Bob Cousy (Saturday) & Dolph Schayes (Saturday); and MLB Rookies of the Year Wally Moon (Sunday) & Albie Pearson (Sunday).

If you want to wait until the day of the show, tickets will be available for purchase throughout the weekend: March 30th -April 1st.

CSA suggests that you purchase your unsigned merchandise (for autographing) prior to the show to save money. You can do so through their website or over the phone. More info here.

Before and after getting your item(s) signed, you can wander through the Show’s many sports dealers booths.


Please check out their website to read about pricing for autograph tickets and to purchase yours online!


The Dulles Expo Center is located in Fairfax County, VA. For a map and directions, click here. For a list of hotels in the area, click here.

Ben’s appearance courtesy of the Sports Emporium, Gamebreaker Sports, and The Jersey Source.

From Patrick Varine, at Your PennHills.com this afternoon:

This year, Penn Hills police will benefit from a grant that will help fund an additional police dog for the department.

Chief Howard Burton said this is the second time his department has benefited from the foundation’s generosity.

“A couple years ago, we got a grant from them for a dog, Riggs, who is a Dutch Shepherd, about 4 years old,” Burton said.

Riggs has been with the department a little more than two years, and came on board as the result of a June 2008 grant from Roethlisberger’s foundation. He is partnered with Officer Ryan Walters (pictured above with Riggs).

“When you get a dog like this, you get the dog and you also have a handler, and you have to pay to train both. The cost is about $14,000 for all of that,” Burton said.


You can read the rest here.



Also Today:

Fan Rick Kennedy of Lima, Ohio sent in a photo of his ‘Steelers Man Cave’ in progress.

“I would like to think I’m Ben’s biggest fan,” said Rick.

One only has to look at the overall theme of his bar to know he is certainly on the right track!


You can check out his photo here.

Me and Toby Mac playing golf in Nashville, at Toby’s course. — Ben























You can see all of the photos in Ben’s album here.


You can keep up with Toby Mac (and listen to selections from his new album, “Tonight”) on his official website.



Also Today:

Check out this photo of Shelby Morris, who was Ben’s Birthday Contest winner earlier this month, posing with her prize.

Shelby insists she is Ben’s BIGGEST fan in Maryland!

From ESPN‘s John Clayton this afternoon:

The Pittsburgh Steelers extended one-year offers to six of their seven restricted free agents, including receiver Mike Wallace.

Wallace made the Pro Bowl after leading the Steelers with 72 receptions for 1,193 yards and eight touchdowns in 2011. He’s one of the NFL’s top deep threats with an average of 18.7 yards per reception during his three-year career.

Wallace said repeatedly throughout the season and in recent weeks through his Twitter account that he wants to remain in Pittsburgh, where he has developed a solid rapport with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and is the leader of a talented young group that includes Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders.


You can read more from Mr. Clayton’s column here.



Also Today:

— Coach Tomlin talks Kirby Wilson, Todd Haley, and the 2012 offense.


— ESPN AFC North blogger Jamison Hensley gives his opinion on the Steelers needs for 2012. Do you agree?


— The Steelers Footballers Basketball Team has several up-coming games scheduled this month: one is this Thursday, March 15th at the Poland Seminary High School (OH).

Other games include March 16th at the New Bethel Park High School (PA)! Pregame festivities start at 6 p.m. Cost: $7 in advance, $9 at the door. Tickets are on sale at Evey True Valley Hardware in Bethel Park, Eat’n Park on Route 88 and the police records room at 5100 W. Library Avenue. Proceeds fund the Sgt. Charles Bonczek/Bethel Park Police Association college scholarships.

The team will play on March 22nd in Washington, PA and will play against the Washington School District Faculty. Tickets are $7. You can get more info here.

They will also play three games at West York High School against the Middle school Faculty (March 23rd) at 7:30 P.M., the Elementary School Faculty (March 24th) at 1:00 P.M., and the High School Faculty (March 24th) at 7:30 P.M. You can get ticket information here.

Note: The names of the Steelers players attending/participating are not announced until game day.

You can see more game photos from Jack Megaw here.


— If you are […]

…at the recent Archery Trade Association Show (ATA) in Columbus, Ohio!




























On the last day of the show, Ben stopped by the Bowtech booth to check out all the new archery products. While he was there, he couldn’t resist challenging friends Nick Sampson and Lonnie Price to a “shoot off”.

The Challenge: who could shoot the most flying targets with Bowtech’s hot pink bow that was on display in the booth!

Who won?

“As much as it hurts to say it – Ben beat us both,” says Nick. “He only missed one target in the whole round!”


Is anyone really surprised?



You can see more photos here.

From Teresa Varley this evening at Steelers.com:

How long do you see yourself playing this game?

Ben: “Hopefully I will play until the good Lord says I shouldn’t any more. That is the key, you play until you feel you can’t. You hope that nobody has to tell you when to stop playing, that it’s on you. That is the goal, you go until you and your family decides it’s not right to play anymore.”


Wanting a long career, does it make sense that there has been talk about you tweaking your game from the standpoint of protecting yourself?

Ben: “Absolutely. That is part of the discussion I had with Mr. (Art) Rooney. In order to play hopefully another eight years or whatever it is, you have to take care of your body. That is one of the reasons I am working out and doing the things I feel are necessary to be in the best shape of my life so I can improve my on-field play and longevity.”


You can read more from Teresa’s interview with Ben here.