Sports photographer Jack Megaw was courtside at Hampton High School earlier this month (see April 15th news below) as Ben and the rest of the “Footballers” took on a team of Hampton Township teachers in a friendly game of basketball.

It was also for a good cause – the money raised for the event will go to the senior class for their prom and graduation festivities.

Mr. Megaw captured the action on the hardwood and was delighted to share them with us!


You can see his photos in the gallery.

You can also check out more of his wonderful sports images on his website.


*Thank you to Mr. Megaw!

ESPN.com‘s writers ranked the top 10 quarterbacks today….

Ben was ranked at Number 5!

Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers were ranked ahead of him.


You can see the rankings and ‘somewhat’ of an explanation here.



From the AFC North blog of James Walker on his rankings:

Two AFC North quarterbacks made the top 10. Ben Roethlisberger of the Pittsburgh Steelers was a no-brainer. He’s played in three Super Bowls, winning two. Roethlisberger finished No. 5 in the rankings behind Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers. I voted Roethlisberger fourth and Rodgers fifth, but you can make a strong case for both quarterbacks, who are at the top of their game.

Is Flacco a top-10 quarterback? He was tied for the final spot with Tony Romo of the Dallas Cowboys to make the cut. I’ve watched more Flacco games in person than anyone on the panel and he didn’t make my top 10. I had Flacco rated No. 12 on my ballot behind Romo (No. 10) and Matt Schaub (No. 11) of the Houston Texans.

In three seasons, Flacco has yet to beat the Steelers when Roethlisberger is at quarterback and needs to perform better in the postseason. Therefore, I cannot consider him elite.


You can read the rest of Mr. Walker’s opinion here.



Also Today:


A “SHOUT OUT” to a very special fan….

10-year old Brian Marsh is a fifth grader at Mauger School in Middlesex, New Jersey! He is a BIG Ben and Steelers fan and just like Ben, he not only likes to fish and hunt, but his favorite baseball team is the New York Yankees.

But Brian doesn’t just watch sports, he participates as well – he is both a football and a baseball player as well as a wrestler. Oh, and did I mention that Brian recently won the Citizen of the Year Award in his hometown?

Brian has been battling a pretty tough illness, but one thing we know about Brian – he is fighter….

But even the toughest fighters need support!  Let’s make sure […]

April 24, 2004: A long day at the NFL Draft for the future Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback…

Ben arrives at Madison Square Garden that Saturday morning with plenty of supporters in his corner – his parents Ken and Brenda, his sister Carlee, his agents Leigh Steinberg and Ryan Tollner, and his college coach, Terry Hoeppner and his wife Jane.

At 11:20 a.m., Ben and four others – Eli Manning, Roy Williams, Robert Gallery, and Kellen Winslow Jr. – are introduced to the crowd.

Green Room waiting –

• 12:25 p.m.: NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue announces that the San Diego Chargers have selected Eli Manning with the No. 1 pick. Eli emerges from stage right and is greeted by unwelcoming chants by the Chargers fans in attendance.

• 12:58 p.m.: NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue announces that the New York Giants have selected NC State quarterback Philip Rivers with the No. 4 pick. Soon thereafter the trade with the Chargers is announced – Eli Manning is headed to New York, Philip Rivers to San Diego. Both fanbases seem pleased with the outcome.

• 1:57 p.m.: Pittsburgh is on the clock. “We see Ben Roethlisberger on the phone,” ESPN announces for the television audience. Sure enough, it’s Steelers coach Bill Cowher calling to tell Ben the Steelers are going to choose him with the No. 11 pick.

• 2:00 p.m.: NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue announces that Ben is indeed headed for Pittsburgh. Ben arrives on stage and dons a Steelers ballcap and holds up a Steelers jersey.

• 2:01 p.m.: The Steelers fans in the crowd begin to chant, “Ben, Ben, Ben….”

• 2:02 p.m.: Just off stage, Ben does a press conference for television reporters and then disappears from the public room to do a few interviews with the Pittsburgh media.

• 2:43 p.m.: Ben emerges from the players’ party room where a press conference with print media is set up. An ESPN media representative announces, “Call from Steelers owner Mr. Rooney…” Ben takes the phone and his first words, “Yes sir, Mr. Rooney…”.

• 2:48 p.m.: After another media conference and a round of short one-on-one interviews that last until close to 3:30 p.m., Ben heads for the door – Steelers jersey still slung over his left shoulder.


(The above time-line was made from […]