Congratulations to the Dapper Dan Sportsman of the Year, Antonio Brown and Lifetime Achievement Award winner Jim Kelly!

“The thing about Jim and why I had his poster on my wall is he was tough. Was there anybody tougher than Jim Kelly? I always thought, if you look up toughness in the dictionary, there are two things for certain you would see … the city of Pittsburgh, and Jim Kelly, no doubt about it. There’s Pittsburgh tough, but you know what? There’s Kelly tough. Nothing is tougher than Kelly tough.” — Ben, during his presentation of Jim Kelly’s award.

From Teresa Varley, Steelers.com:

Antonio Brown joined a list of illustrious former Steelers when he was presented the Dapper Dan Sportsman of the Year Award at the Dapper Dan Dinner & Sports Auction on Tuesday night at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. The award has been presented annually by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette since 1939 and the dinner benefits Dapper Dan Charities.

Brown is the first Steelers player to win it since Jerome Bettis won in 2005, and fourth member of the Steelers’ organization in recent years as Ben Roethlisberger won in 2004 and Coach Mike Tomlin won it in 2008. Former Steelers who won the award include Hall of Famers Terry Bradshaw, Joe Greene, Franco Harris, Chuck Noll and John Stallworth.


“It’s a tremendous honor, it’s prestigious,” said Brown. “With the guys who came before me who won it it’s huge. It’s a great feeling. It’s a great opportunity.”

Other awardees at the dinner included World Championship Gold Medalist and Olympic Silver Medalist volleyball player Christa Harmotto Dietzen (Sportswoman), former Buffalo Bills and Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly (Lifetime Achievement) and Pirates general manager Neal Huntington (Dr. Freddie Fu Leadership).


You can read more & see more great photos here & here.

You can also read a wonderful recap of the evening, along with video highlights, here.

“Just wanted to share the photo Ben was sweet enough to take with me over the weekend.”


“I had gone out with family to see my cousin’s band play, and I thought for sure I saw Ben go past us. Awhile later, I was sure it was him. I asked for pic, and he said, ‘Next time back through!’. He was a man of his word. He couldn’t have been nicer, and truly made our night. Please tell him thank you!!” — Carla Weaver


Carla, thank you for sharing the photo with us!

…but Garth Brooks said:

“The most important thing I’ll do this whole weekend is right here.”



That most important thing was hosting a football camp on Saturday at the Steelers practice facility for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Western PA…with the help of a few Steelers players!

Part of Garth’s World Tour will include a Teammates ProCamp at each tour stop.

The Garth Brooks Teammates for Kids Foundation and ProCamps have been impacting kids across the nation for 10 years, and have been instrumental in providing scholarships for underprivileged children – allowing them to attend ProCamps Sports Camps hosted by some of the biggest names in professional sports, including Big Ben.


You can see more photos here, and enjoy a video of the day’s activities from Missi Matthews here.

…is backstage at the Garth Brooks World Tour Concert with Garth and Trisha Yearwood (and then staying for the concert, of course!):

Garth Brooks is in concert this weekend in Pittsburgh playing to a sold-out crowd all four days at the Consol Energy Center.

WTAE’s Amber Nicotra & Kelly Brennan caught up with him last night during his sound check and he had something interesting to say about #7 and being a member of Steeler Nation:

“What I love about Pittsburgh is its people. I’ve been a Pittsburgh fan forever, but it’s Ben Roethlisberger that said the quote that defined Pittsburgh, that I went, ‘Of course!’ They said, ‘What is it about Pittsburgh?’ He said, ‘People here expect you to get back up.’ That’s my kind of people. I love that. That’s a great explanation of this town – hard working, good, honest people.”

Ben shared photos (like the one at left) from a trip to Nashville in July of 2013.

He and Ashley were guests of Garth and his wife, Trisha Yearwood at their home for a private concert to thank supporters of Garth Brooks Teammates for Kids foundation:

“We are at an Appreciation Party for ‘Teammates for Kids’ with Garth Brooks and my wife is on Cloud 9! Thank you Garth and Trisha for your amazing love and friendship!” – Ben, July 13, 2013.

Teammates for Kids focuses on helping children in the areas of health, education, and inner-city outreach. From funding Child Life Zones for pediatric hospital patients, to raising money for youth sports leagues, to paying for complicated facial and dental surgeries. They accomplish these goals by partnering with professional athletes, corporations, celebrities, and individuals from the private sector.


You can learn more about Garth’s foundation here.

You can see more photos here & here.

Tanner Montgomery @Tanner_M
Back in the day when @_BigBen7 used to babysit me and @Cole1Peterson at @MiamiOHFootball #Miami #Redhawks


Tanner’s father, Shane, was the offensive coordinator at Miami University from 2001 to 2005 before becoming the RedHawks 32nd head football coach, succeeding Terry Hoeppner, from 2005 to 2008. He is now the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Youngstown State University.

Cole Peterson’s father, John, is the Offensive Line Coach at the University of Pittsburgh, but from 1999 to 2003, was the offensive line coach and run-game coordinator for the RedHawks.

And apparently they put Ben on babysitting duties back in the day, which didn’t appear to go all that well (at least in this photo)!


Tanner shared another photo with us last year.