Congratulations to James Conner!
He was selected as the Steelers “2019 Ed Block Courage Award” recipient!
From Teresa Varley, at Steelers.com:
‘Conner Strong’
Those two words are emblazoned on James Conner’s arms, one on the right, one on the left.
For those that don’t know his story, they simply might think it’s a description of how he attacks every play, every carry he makes as the Steelers’ starting running back.
But those two words mean so much more.
Because ‘Conner Strong’ is a mindset, one that got him through the toughest time in his life.
And it is that strength that earned Conner the Steelers 2019 Ed Block Courage Award, an award he will receive at the Annual Art Rooney Courage House Luncheon on Nov. 5 at Heinz Field, which benefits Holy Family Institute. The award is voted on by his teammates and given to a player who has shown courage either coming back from an injury or a life-altering situation.
“It’s an honor first and foremost to be recognized, but especially by my teammates, the ones I am with every day,” said Conner. “They are the ones I go to practice with, compete on the field, essentially go to war with. For my teammates to vote for me shows the mutual respect we have for one another and it’s such an honor to win this.”
In Conner’s situation, it was definitely a life-altering situation that had his teammates voting for him.
You can read more here.
Speaking of James….
He is very happy when Big Ben is at practice –
“Yeah I love it when he’s back. Just catching up with him, happy to see he’s in good spirits. It’s like connecting with an old friend.” — James to the media today.
Bye Week Blues?
Always rocking @_BigBen7 on game day, at home or @heinzfield!
Always rockin the @_BigBen7 jersey!
@_BigBen7 Always got the whole family covered! #HereWeGo
Hey @_BigBen7 I’m celebrating my birthday today in style with my Ben Roethlisberger jersey. #Steelers #HereWeGo
I’m not crying, you’re crying. #HereWeGo
@steelers @heinzfield @_BigBen7
@_BigBen7 our newest addition, named after yours truly, hope you like!
These fans even take their Big Ben jerseys & Steelers gear on vacation!!
@_BigBen7 Representing our 🐐 at one of the “7” wonders of the world, Petra in the country of Jordan.
Steeler Nation represented in Lima, Peru! @steelers @_BigBen7
Always steelers!! @acereros @SteelersUnite @steelers @_BigBen7
“A lot of fans view these men as sports figures and that’s it — just a sports figure
…but they’re also humans that go through things that everyone goes through, and so do their families. Not only did I want to let people know what I was going through, I wanted to say: It’s OK to be scared, regardless of your situation.” — Kelly Stafford.
From ESPN.com: Kelly Stafford’s recovery from brain tumor – ‘My biggest fear is not being here’
Editor’s note: Kelly Stafford, who is the wife of Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, had a tumor removed from her brain in April. Below is her first-person account of the experience.
The first moment I was really concerned was last January. I was in Michigan, and had just gotten a massage. When I walked out, I just didn’t feel right. I was lightheaded and it felt like the world was spinning around me. I texted Matthew: “I might need you to come pick me up.” But then I waited a little bit in my car, and started feeling better, so I drove home myself.
A week later, it happened again. This time, I was holding our daughter, Hunter, who was just an infant. The room started spinning around me and I felt like I was going to fall down. I almost threw Hunter to Matthew, because I didn’t want her to go down with me.
Matthew was obviously concerned. “We can’t have this keep happening,” he said. “We need to get you checked out.” He figured I might be dealing with vertigo.
Looking back, there were other moments over the past year where I was feeling “off.” Like when I would show my girls how to do a front roll or twirl in ballet class, then immediately felt dizzy, or like I couldn’t balance. I mean, those were things I had done my entire life, and suddenly they were difficult. Maybe I’m just aging, I had figured at the time. My mom quickly shot that down. I wasn’t even 30.
But you know how things go. Matthew and I have three girls under the age of 2. I had my hands full. As a mom, you’re always on the run. You’re chasing after your kids or worrying about your family. You tend to put yourself on the back burner. So I didn’t feel the urgency to go to the doctor.
The day I almost […]
Singing the National Anthem at Heinz Field
Throwback Thursday
“Yup! They’re all here to see ME! Heh heh!” — Bodie.
“Yikes!! They really are ALL here to see ME!! Holy Cow!!” — Bodie.
Dulac: How Ben Roethlisberger gave the Steelers some ‘perspective’ this week
“For a player like Ben Roethlisberger, who was born to play football, it says something about the man. It opens the eyes and hearts of those players who, maybe in the back of their minds, take it for granted.” — Alejandro Villanueva.
From Gerry Dulac, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
It wasn’t a classic moment that will find its way into sports lore. It did not elicit the same emotional response as Knute Rockne’s “Win One for the Gipper” pregame speech. It did not tug on the emotional heartstrings in the manner Lou Gehrig did with his “luckiest man on the face of the earth” address. Nor was it the life-changing moment speech by Herb Brooks to his U.S. “Miracle on Ice” hockey team.
But before Monday night’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals, the Steelers received a locker-room speech from a person who didn’t even play in the game that many players said was heartfelt and inspiring.
The person was Ben Roethlisberger.
“He just talked about the opportunity and not taking for granted being able to play,” cornerback Joe Haden said. “Coming from Ben, knowing he played such a long time and see how much he misses it, how much he wants to be out there, it puts it in perspective for a lot of guys.”
For most of the second half against the Seahawks, Roethlisberger stood by himself on the sidelines, upset and concerned about his injury, perhaps that it could be the end of his sterling career. It was a different Roethlisberger this time when he joined his teammates on the sideline against the Bengals.
“That’s our leader, so his presence was definitely felt,” said running back James Conner. “Just having our leader there was huge for us and having him on the sideline, communicating, relaying messages to Mason (Rudolph), him telling us what he sees. He did everything he could except play.”
Roethlisberger usually leads his teammates in a pre-game prayer in the locker room, which he did Monday night. But according to several Steelers players, he also stood up and addressed the team, telling them to appreciate their opportunity, the chance to perform on national television in front of their peers, and understand it can all be taken away in an instant.
You can read the rest here.
Photo: Matt Freed