A time to stop and give thanks…


With all my heart I give my thanks,

to those in uniform regardless of ranks.



You serve our country and serve it well,

with humble hearts your stories tell.



So as I rest my weary eyes,

while freedom rings our flag still flies.



You give your all, do what you must,

with God we live and God we trust.


Amen. — (author unknown)


Thank you to Greg Yakubick, Lance Cpl., U.S. Marine Corps, for sending the prayer.

Thank you Chad Wilson and Chris Camp for sending their photo – supporting their Steelers while serving their country in Afghanistan!


You can see more photos from our fans in the military here (second & third rows)!

Because we could use a little football while we wait for football!


This week on NFL Network:

Quarterback Challenge, May 2005

The competition tests the NFL’s premier quarterbacks in four different skills competitions, including accuracy, speed and mobility, distance, and ”No Huddle.” Participants include: Jake Delhomme, Matt Hasselbeck, Ben Roethlisberger, Drew Brees, Joey Harrington, Byron Leftwich, Carson Palmer, Torry Holt, Joe Horn, Chad Johnson, and Keenan McCardell.

Part I – Friday, May 27th at 2:00 P.M.

Part II – Friday, May 27th at 3:00 P.M.


On May 25th, 2005, Ben wrote on his official blog about participating in the Challenge: “I had a lot of fun. I got to hang out with a bunch of great guys. I can’t tell you how I did because it is going to be on TV and I don’t want to ruin the whole show, so I hope that you all watch and see what happens. Anyway, while we were down there we had a lot of fun. We all went jet skiing in the ocean, played ping pong, had a golf outing, and ate a lot of great food.”

Boy, do we have photos!


Mr. Drew Moniot, Creative Development Manager for KDKA-TV, was called into action with his camera on January 27th when Ben made a guest appearance on “The PNC Steelers Huddle” show with Antwaan Randle El and Ryan Clark.

He took some great photographs both backstage and on stage during the taping of the show before a live audience and is sharing them with us!


You can see them here (pages 1 & 2).


*Thank you to both Mr. Moniot and KDKA!



Also Today:


“Huge Big Ben fan” Roger Saucedo of Monterrey, Mexico made the trip to Dallas for Super Bowl XLV and has sent a few photos to share with other fans here in the U.S.

He and his friends (at left) have formed a Steelers fan group they call “Regios de Acero”, which means “men & women of steel”.

The group meets every Sunday at a local bar in Monterrey to watch the Steelers play.They also make a trip to the U.S. every year to see a game. Roger said his dream is to visit Heinz Field someday to see his beloved team play at their home stadium.


You can see the photos here.


Thank you to Roger and “Regios de Acero” for sharing their photos!

The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation at The Giving Back Fund has announced the new grant guidelines for the 2011-12 season.

This marks the fifth grant cycle for the Foundation. The majority of the grants distributed will help K-9 units to purchase dogs and dog safety vests, but other types of needs are also considered.

The Foundation will be distributing grants in the cities and surrounding communities of each regular season away game for the Steelers during the 2011-12 season. The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation invites police and fire departments in these eight cities to submit proposals detailing their needs.

For the first time this year, if the Steelers make the playoffs, the Foundation will also make grants to two cities anywhere in the United States that would not otherwise be eligible to apply. In addition, the Foundation will continue to make grants to several police and fire department K-9 units in the Pittsburgh area following the Super Bowl XLVI.

The Foundation distributed more than $110,000 in grants to K-9 units around the country during the 2010-11 Season.

Eligible departments must apply to The Giving Back Fund by August 1, 2011. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.


To view the full grant requirements, eligibility and evaluation process, click here.


For more information, please contact Jessica Duffaut at jduffaut@givingback.org

From WTAE this evening:

Members of the Pittsburgh Steelers, including quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, played in the “Hoge, Starks and Ward Celebrity Golf Classic for Children” at Southpointe Golf Club in Canonsburg today.

The annual event benefits the Highmark Caring Place, which champions the cause of grieving children by creating awareness of their needs, providing programs for them and their families, and empowering the community to effectively support them.


You can watch and listen to interviews with Merril Hoge, Ben, and Max Starks here.

Then NFL Network has you covered!


Starting at 2:00 p.m. (ET), NFLN will show five back-to-back episodes of their Emmy award-winning series, “America’s Game” featuring the Pittsburgh Steelers.

You can kick back and relax in the Lazy Boy and spend Sunday afternoon watching five hours of the Steelers Super Bowl seasons through NFL Films footage, videotape, audio clips, and interviews.



Schedule:

2:00 p.m. – 1974 Steelers: Re-live the story of the 1974 Steelers through the eyes of Joe Greene, Andy Russell and Franco Harris. Narrated by Ed Harris.

3:00 p.m. – 1975 Steelers: Re-live the story of the 1975 Steelers through the eyes of Lynn Swann, Mike Wagner and Dwight White. The 1975 Steelers were voted as the 7th greatest Super Bowl-winning team of all-time by a panel of football experts. Narrated by Bruce Willis.

4:00 p.m. – 1979 Steelers: Re-live the story of the 1979 Steelers through the eyes of John Stallworth, LC Greenwood and John Banaszak. Narrated by Ed Harris.

5:00 p.m. – 2005 Steelers: Re-live the story of the 2005 Steelers through the eyes of Bill Cowher, Jerome Bettis and Joey Porter. Narrated by Tom Selleck.

6:00 p.m. – 2008 Steelers: Re-live the story of the 2008 Steelers through the eyes of Mike Tomlin, Ben Roethlisberger and Troy Polamalu. Narrated by Jon Hamm.


Then at 8:00 p.m., tune in for the third episode of The Top 100: Players Of 2011, counting down players listed 80 to 71.


For more on the “Top 100”, click here.