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Most viewed - Fan Photos/Fan Stories |
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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)....
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Chris & Camille Zozula927 viewsShow their Steeler pride at the Great Wall of China!
Photo: Chris Zozula
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July 27, 2012 - Jeffrey Metz924 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)
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Showin' their Steelers pride far away from home!924 viewsfrank liberoni â€@liberonif
@_BigBen7 in Dominica getting ready for the game.
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November, 2014: Fan Photos923 viewsKevin Murray's friend, from Syracuse, NY has a 16-year daughter who LOVES the Steelers and Big Ben! I have a friend driving into Pittsburgh tomorrow for the game from Syracuse, NY.
"This drives her Dad nuts because he is a Buffalo Bills fan and they have never even lived anywhere near Pittsburgh. Being a good Dad he is driving them all the way up here for a game. Haley has every Ben jersey there is. Every Sunday she sits in front of the computer in her Ben jersey and watches the game with the NFL ticket which she pays for while here Dad watches the Bills." -- Kevin
Dad, sorry to make you crazier, but we're posting your Steeler-lovin' daughter's picture on Big Ben's website!
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July 27, 2012 - Jeffrey Metz915 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 Metz
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Tom & Alexis Keen - January 8, 2013 915 viewsMy wife and I were driving home from Florida after visiting her parents for the holidays and we ended up staying at the Hyatt Regency in Louisville Kentucky. It was funny because it was probably a 1 in 30 chance that we ended up at that hotel because we used Priceline to book it so we didn't get to choose where we stayed.
We were up in our room and looking on the Facebook page when we realized Big Ben, Brett Keisel, and Merril Hodge were in the area at the ATA Show. We decided to get dressed and walk around the hotel a bit, never thinking we would run into them. We walked down to the lobby and lterally two minutes later Big Ben walked in the front door.
Being huge Steelers fans for 25 years, my wife and I were totally stoked! I called out to him that I would love to get a picture with him and he hollered over to me, "Let's do it"!
We were so excited that night we could hardly sleep. Thank you so much Ben for stopping for us to get a picture and to make such an awesome memory.
Congratulations to you and your wife on having Ben Junior and much luck next year. Hopefully you can bring home number seven -- Tom Keen
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Becky and Gianna Speziale912 views...are all smiles thinking about their favorite football team!
Photo: Becky Speziale
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August 21, 2016 - A Pre-Season Steeler Nation Sunday901 views“Train them in the way they should go.. Passing down the knowledge of a Dynasty!†— Amanda Battle.
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August 4, 2011 - Training Camp895 viewsPhoto: Lexi Fanty
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Training Camp - August, 2012890 viewsRob "Mookey" Gratson snapped this photo of Ben posing with a young fan.
Thank you Rob!
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June 4, 2012 - Office Decorating 101889 viewsHow does a diehard Steelers fan decorate her office in the middle of Ravens land?
Well, if you’re Marilyn McClellan, you have your three autographed jerseys framed and hung proudly in your office…in the middle of Baltimore!
Marilyn attended the Show at Chantilly on April 1st this year and not only posed for a photo with Ben, but got him to sign a jersey as well. “Mean Joe†Greene was also in attendance and signed a jersey for Marilyn too.
All that was left to do was have them, and her Troy Polamalu autographed jersey framed and viola! Steelers Country in the heart of Baltimore!
Thank you Marilyn! It was a pleasure meeting you at the Show!
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