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Last additions - Miscellaneous |
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August 3, 2012 - "The Ben shoe journey"658 viewsAfter meeting Ben at training camp and receiving an autographed Nike from him before they left, Jeffrey Metz insisted he was going to take his new prized possession with him to Disney World and pose with Mickey Mouse…and the shoe! Jeffrey is a man of his word! After returning to his uncle’s home in Orlando, Jeffrey took an unscheduled visit to Disney World.
You can read his fan story here in the gallery, or here:
http://bigben7.com/a-special-fan-friday/
Photo: Mickey MetzAug 07, 2012
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August 3, 2012 - The "Ben shoe journey"643 viewsMickey Mouse is only too happy to sign Big Ben's jersey, at the request of Jeffrey Metz! You can read his story here in the album or here:
http://bigben7.com/a-special-fan-friday/
*Thank you to Mickey Metz and his nephew, Jeffrey!Aug 07, 2012
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Training Camp - August, 20121108 viewsAshley and Carlee Roethlisberger pose with "the biggest Steeler fan on the planet, Emily Duncan"!
Photo: Wendy BennettAug 07, 2012
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Training Camp - August, 2012891 viewsRob "Mookey" Gratson snapped this photo of Ben posing with a young fan.
Thank you Rob!Aug 07, 2012
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July 27, 2012 - Jeffrey Metz930 views This is a story about a young man and his courage. Jeffrey Metz was born in San Diego, CA with cerebral palsy. My name is Mickey Metz, Jeffrey's uncle. I'm originally from the north side of Pittsburgh, but have been living in Orlando, FL since 1985. We have family in Mt. Pleasant, PA so I decided to invite Jeffrey to go on a road trip to Steelers training camp with me, my son, and my brother. His parents were reluctant to allow him to fly by himself to Orlando because of his physical disability, but Jeffrey won out and flew from Bakersfield, CA to our home in Orlando to start the road trip to Pennsylvania. He flew 3,000 miles and rode for 1,200 miles.
Friday, July 27, 2012, the first day of camp open for the public was the day that changed Jeffrey's life forever.
We arrived at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA at noon. Upon arriving I sought out several staff members to see if there was any assistance (a wheelchair) for Jeffrey to get to the playing fields and unfortunately they couldn't provide any. We weren't sure how to get Jeffrey down the hillside from the handicap parking lot but Jeffrey knew the only chance he had to meet his favorite player, Ben Roethlisberger, was to climb down all the steps to the playing field. So even with a major fear of steps, he made it to the bottom - one slow step at a time, with crutches, to watch the players on the field.
After practice, Jeffrey climbed down the few remaining steps to the field level in hopes that Ben would notice him wearing his #7 jersey. However, Ben walked the opposite way from us to the other side of the grandstand to sign autographs. Still determined, Jeffrey climbed back up the stairs, walked to the other side and then back down the steps to the side where Ben was. Unfortunately, by this time Ben was already a distance away from where Jeffery was. Other fans noticed Jeffrey and his obvious desire to get Ben's attention, so they started chanting, "Ben, Ben, Ben", but Ben didn't realize what was happening, so he just smiled at the fans and kept moving down the line signing more autographs. Jeffrey was not giving up! He walked along the hillside around another large group of fans to get along the fence in hopes that Ben would still be signing at the end of that row where he now stood.
Ben finally reached Jeffrey and signed his football. He also stopped to take a photo with Jeffrey (above)....Aug 03, 2012
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July 27, 2012 - Jeffrey Metz925 views...As Ben continued to move down the row, Jeffrey turned around, hugged me, and started to cry. Then I started to cry. Others around us had tears in their eyes. Suddenly, Ben came back to Jeffrey, looking concerned, and asked him what was wrong? Jeffrey told Ben he had come a long way on crutches to meet his hero! At that point Ben reached down and took off his right shoe, signed it, and gave it to Jeffrey. Ben then asked us where we were parked and how Jeffrey was going to get back up there. We didn't know.
Ben then ordered a golf cart and then HE got in the drivers seat and drove us up the hill to our car in the parking lot! Once we got up there, Ben walked Jeffrey to our car and stayed for a few minutes to chat and pose for more photos before saying goodbye...
(Ben poses with Justin, Jeffrey and Mickey Metz in the parking lot of St. Vincent College)Aug 03, 2012
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July 27, 2012 - Jeffrey Metz916 views...Jeffrey calls his experience with Ben "A miracle in Pennsylvania"! Later that night, Jeffrey took his shoe into the Mt Pleasant Dairy Queen to show all the employees what Ben gave him. The manager even posted a photo of Jeffrey with Ben's shoe on Facebook . Many family, friends, and even strangers have heard this story and everyone has gotten both chills and tears in their eyes.
The shoe has already traveled to Richmond, VA for a visit, and the next stop is Disney World, because Jeffrey wants to share it with Mickey Mouse. Jeffrey says he just wants to make a difference in this world and for some one to hear him, and on Friday July 27, 2012, the one person Jeffrey journeyed 4,200 miles to see in person did hear him ... and that was Ben Roethlisberger.
Ben's kindness brought joy to Jeffrey's daily struggles and made him forget them for one day. Jeffrey says it was the best day of his life. Thank you for allowing me to share this story, this memory will never end!
(Jeffrey poses with his cousin Joshua and his autographed Big Ben shoe)
Story & photos: Mickey MetzAug 03, 2012
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Portrait by fan Jim Kessler2159 viewsJim has a christian art ministry on the web. Seven years ago he painted this incredible life size portrait of Ben!
*Thank you Jim!Aug 02, 2012
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Happy (Training) Campers!1145 viewsJuly 27, 2012: The Davis girls show off their autographed mini-helmets signed by Big Ben after practice. From left to right, Abi (7 years old), Ami (7 years old), Ali (17 years old), and Emily (5 years old).
While at training camp, Kevin and his daughters witnessed an event unfold between a young man with cerebral palsy named Jeffrey Metz and Ben. Kevin wanted to share it on the website:
I wanted to share an amazing experience from my family’s first trip to Steelers Training Camp on Friday July 27th, 2012.
No matter where I have lived, I have always bled Black and Gold, so it was a special day for my family. My oldest daughter turned 17 and I turned 40 that day. We could hardly contain our excitement. Being as close as we were to the players was amazing.
We were sitting on the hill when practice ended, and when we saw how many people were lined up in front of the UPMC Experience, we wrote off the opportunity to get autographs. Then we noticed a crowd gathering about 30 feet to our left. Ben Roethlisberger was signing autographs!!! Erin, Ben was fantastic! He signed helmets for ALL FOUR of my girls and my nephew. Ben worked all the way down the fence and was good enough to sign my jersey too! As great as that was..that’s not the amazing part of this story.
As I was waiting, a handicapped gentleman was trying to make his way to Ben with the aid of metal crutches with leather straps. He was drenched in sweat, the effort to get to Ben a feat in itself. Steelers fans are the best fans on the planet, and many moved aside to let him get to Ben at the fence. I heard his uncle tell how far they had walked to get to him, after driving to Latrobe from FLORIDA to watch Ben practice.
After Ben heard the story, he turned to a worker near him and asked if they could get a wheelchair. When no one responded, Ben shouted out to a guy sitting in the last golf cart “Hey, C’MON!!†and waved him over. Ben turned to the fan and said, “You’ve done enough walking for today. I’m going to get you a ride.†Ben asked the fans to step away from the fence so he had a clear path to the cart. I also heard Ben say that he was going to ride with them back to their vehicle! The fan made his way along the fence, overcome with emotions, to the applause of the other fans lucky enough to be there. Ben signed autographs for another 10-15 minutes (it seemed like over an hour total time) before finally meeting the gentleman and his family at the golf cart.
Most guys in Ben’s position would not have done the same thing. But Ben showed no hesitation at all to help the guy out. As a parent of 4 I’m always looking for “teachable moments, “ and I can’t think of a better example of how to treat your fellow man. My daughter Ami Suffers from Turner’s Syndrome, and having a child with her own set of challenges really made this experience resonate with my family. Ben might remember the little girl in the pink dress he couldn’t see until she held her mini helmet up over her head. He looked down at her through the fence and said, “There you are sweetie. I got you!â€
It’s sad that no matter how many media personalities I have reached out to, no one seems interested in the good deed stories. It’s a shame that in today’s society a failed drug test is front page news, whereas a humanitarian deed is not newsworthy.
My message to you: Ben’s good deed did NOT go unnoticed! Please thank Ben for me. My family is grateful to have been a part of that day, and to have witnessed the true heart of our quarterback.
Sincerely,
Kevin M. Davis – Steelers fan for life!Aug 02, 2012
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Mr. Ben, will you sign my puppy?936 viewsJuly, 2012 - Training Camp: That little guy is JoJo Gratson! His parents said the moment he saw Ben, he ran to him….and right past Security! Before they could turn him around, Ben saw him and walked right over to him. When Jojo handed him the dog Ben asked, "What do you want me to do with this?" Jojo just smiled and handed him the sharpie! Then Ben "started all kinds of conversations with him" while he signed that dog.
Jane Gratson said Ben told JoJo he had a Steelers dog just like that one!
*Thank you to Rob & Jane Gratson, and to Tammy Palmer (who made the Steelers dog!).
Aug 02, 2012
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Carlee's Big Brother!9203 viewsThis is one of Carlee's "favorite moments"! Think she's always been more than a bit proud of him?
*Thank you Carlee!
**Click on any photo for a larger version!
Aug 02, 2012
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Training Camp - July, 2012630 viewsIke Taylor and Ben can't help but smile at little Antonio Brown, Jr. who apparently preferred to shoot some hoops rather than participate in football practice!
Photo courtesy of BHR Photography
Check out their website: http://bhrphotography.zenfolio.com/Aug 02, 2012
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