Where is the dedication?
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by user DRE-LO
There are times in which I really wonder what is on the mind of these athletes on the playing field as well as off. Do they realize that they are part of something bigger than themselves? Do they realize that they have to conduct themselves professionally on as well as off the playing field? These are questions that we did not even dare think about years ago that come to first mind today. Suppose you're a 24 year old quarterback coming off a Super Bowl season in the middle of training camp to get prepared for a season in which you have to defend your trophy and with every team gunning for you. Would you:
a {Prepare and Condition for another grueling NFL season and stay away from any and all risky activities. b.{Ride a motorcycle without a helmet risking your life and not to mention a career-threatening injury.
Unfortunately, Ben chose the latter.
Big Ben made all the big time clutch throws, decisions and a season saving tackle on Eric Harper next year to guide the Steelers to Super Bowl Glory. Ironically, his worst decision-making came when he was away from the field. I'm not even going to get into the stupidity of him not putting on a helmet because I'd write a strongly worded essay with four letter words.
Why get on a motorcycle to begin with? It'd be interesting to see if this violates a clause in his contract. After all, Aaron Boone lost money for tearing his ACL playing basketball. Now Big Ben is not the first to get injured doing nonsense in the offseason. We all know about Kellen Winslow Jr.'s injury taking a jolly old ride on a motorcycle. How many NFL games has he played? Jay Williams nearly got killed during his motorcycle accident after his rookie season. He is now trying to make a comeback with the New Jersey Nets and also to learn the point guard position from Jason Kidd.
But this is Ben Roethlisberger. Ben fricking Ben Roethlisberger. The guy who represented the new generation of great quarterbacks in the NFL. The guy who outplayed Jake Plummer so badly in the AFC championship game that the Denver Broncos went and drafted a QB in the first round. The guy who was supposed to be the face of the Pittsburgh Steelers for years to come.
With one stupid mistake, the Pittsburgh Steelers are now SOL and JWF. {If you listen to George Carlin, you'll know what I mean} After all that they did to make Big Ben into a quarterback with a winning record that rivaled the USC Trojans the past couple of years. Steeler nation should be pissed off. I'm not even a Steeler fan and I'm stupified.
When you hear the words "critical condition, stable and serious condition" setting a timetable for a return to the field is the least of one's worries. I hope and pray that everything works out for Ben as far as his health is concerned.
But at some point, athletes are going to have to realize that there have no choice in the fact that they are role models to fans and part of a team. They will have to realize that it is important to bring your body physically as well as mentally back in one piece. It's not even the daredevil activities that show an alarming lack of professionalism. It's gaining 15-25 pounds during the offseason and not having the same stamina that you had the year before. Look at Shawn Kemp who ballooned his way to 300 pounds before giving his walking papers.
What would New York Yankees fans think if Derek Jeter got in a motorcycle accident?
What would New York Giants fans think if it happened to Tiki Barber or Michael Strahan?
Michael Jordan with the Chicago Bulls?
Dirk Nowitzki with the Dallas Mavericks?
They're the captains of their respective ships. They determine and set the course of where their teams will go.
Ben was the captain of his ship.
He abandoned it for a motorcycle.
With no helmet.
Date
Mon 06/12/06, 7:48 pm EST
