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PrintSteelers fans should stop the criticism and be thankful Roethlisberger is still alive
I have heard all of the chatter about Big Ben: He should have been more responsible than to ride without a helmet; the Steelers should have a clause in his contract; and he should think about his responsibilities to the fans and team.
I don't believe this.
As fans we need to realize that we are lucky to still have Ben with us instead of criticizing him for his decision to ride without a helmet. We need to be more sensitive to the fact that a human being (not just a football player) was hurt and that his family and friends are concerned about his health and livelihood. In addition, we need to realize that the personality traits that put him on that motorcycle are the same qualities that helped him lead us to a Super Bowl championship last season. Perhaps rather than throwing stones at a young hometown hero and the leader of the Steelers, we need to understand how lucky we are that no football-related bones were broken and no brain damage occurred.
Big Ben does not need to read the papers and listen to the radio to hear our criticism of his mistake. He will have a lasting reminder of it everyday when he sees the scars in the mirror.
Hopefully Ben bounces back quickly and this accident only adds to his mystique in the NFL and throughout the national media as the tough, gritty QB in Pittsburgh.
JARED ROBERTS, Mt. Lebanon
Stop, watch and listen
I am ashamed by all the news stations, reporters, newspapers -- local and national -- who based their reports Monday on Ben Roethlisberger on conjecture, unsubstantiated information, half-truths and opinion. Some of things that were written and said were downright ridiculous.
Whatever happened to news for news' sake?
And rather than an air of caution and concern for the health and well-being of a local sports figure who we lauded months ago, suddenly it's a soapbox frenzy to fill the Internet, airwaves and papers with idle chatter and hearsay.
I suggest that people, including and especially the media, take a good look at their own "spotless" lives before they are so quick to opine and judge.
LORI FRAMIGLIO, Shadyside
We have rules for a reason
I would like to make a comment about the obvious ongoing debate here: Helmet requirements have now peaked because of Big Ben's horrible accident.
I have heard and read several commentaries from people that support Roethlisberger's decision not to wear a helmet when he is riding his motorcycle, stating that it should be left up to the individual to choose whether or not they wear one.
Yes, we all have rights as U.S. citizens and as human beings. But with those rights come responsibilities, not only to the Steelers, their fans, etc. as Ron Cook mentions in his article ["Unnecessary accident is a letdown for many," June 13] but also to the laws that, whether we agree with them or not, keep us safe, or at least safer than we would be if we chose to act upon our own desires.
Seat belts are not always comfortable to wear. I'm sure children would rather not be strapped in car seats. Twenty-five mph speed limits on straight-shot roads become frustrating, especially when we are delayed already. But they're there for a reason.
Currently there is no mandatory helmet law within Pennsylvania. But by nature of the laws mentioned above perhaps it would make sense to step in, as has been done before with seat belts, car seats, etc., to regulate what will potentially protect thousands of people, from the average Joes to the Big Bens of the world.
BRIANNE STEINMILLER, Carnegie
What was he thinking
Like everyone else I am shocked and saddened by Ben Roethlisberger's accident. My boys grew up playing high school basketball against Ben. We are big Ben and Steelers fans.
I just have to wonder at what point did Ben feel he was immortal? Terry Bradshaw said it best by pointing out that he and Cowher had spoken to Ben after the Kellen Winslow incident. Did he not understand that an accident could kill him or injure him?
Other professions, like doctors seem to know that. For example, surgeons don't use chain saws or put themselves in situations where they could injure their hands or other body parts. Our family's urologist recalled that he worked on a loading dock as a resident and when he came close to almost crushing his hand one day he quit on the spot.
Ben has been blessed with great athletic ability and some luck. He needs to grow up and accept responsibility for his team and himself. This one "vice" might have spelled the end of a fairy tale career.
ROSE NICHOL, Temperance, Mich.
No soapbox necessary
People are using Ben's injury to attack not wearing a helmet. Would a helmet have protected Ben's jaw? No. Would a helmet have protected Ben's nose? No. How about his knees? No. The opponents of freedom and personal responsibility are going to ride this issue hard. This argument is as spurious as Bush's [Weapons of Mass Destruction] claims. In the real sense there is no logic involved. What we have is zealots pushing their cause regardless of the facts.
JOHN LLOYD, Blacksburg, Va.
Enough about the helmet
After listening to much of the news and reading the papers, Ben not wearing a helmet is getting old. Everyone knows what was said and what went on last year, but we cannot change that fact that he was not wearing one. Yes it was irresponsible, but it is his right not to. As a city we need to support him and pray that he gets well, not say that he learned his lesson and needs to think about his consequences. Get over it! Nothing we say about him wearing a helmet will affect him, it did not then and it will not now. However, I am sure this accident has affected him and he will think twice about not wearing one in the future.
BRITTANY TAYLOR, Mt. Lebanon
Just watch out Ben
A friend of mine was riding his Harley without a helmet and ended up in a similar accident to Ben's with the exception that he walked away with just bruises. He wears a helmet now because he feels that he came too close. Please help us out here and think about your safety and health, Ben. We all love you so much and don't want anything to happen to you.
PHYLLIS J. JOHNSTON, Boalsburg
Big mistake
Clear Channel is not renewing Stan Savran. Just when you think that radio's standards can't get any lower to raise its ratings, they go and replace a man who has been a part of the Pittsburgh sports scene for 30 plus years just to supposedly attract a younger audience. I have been either listening to him or watching him on "SportsBeat" for the past 25 years. I have since moved from the city that I love, and with the Internet I was able to continue to listen to one of the classiest, most knowledgeable guys on sports.
Savran is one of the last remaining personalities on radio that actually knows and discusses with his loyal listeners the subject of sports. For people of all ages who really love sports, Savran provided the best sports talk available. I for one will no longer listen to Fox Sports 970.
JOSEPH CIOFFI, Orlando, Fla.
A lesson learned
Stan Savran taught me one final lesson today. Good guys really do finish last. In a move of lunacy typical of current sports broadcasting companies, Savran will not be retained for Fox Sports Net's afternoon programming ("On Air: Stan Savran Without Radio Home," June 12). Savran has been in this slot since 2002, the year I graduated high school. I spent nearly every afternoon throughout my college years listening to Stan's show, and while college taught me many things about business, Stan taught me more about integrity.
When an honest, hard working, neighborly man like Savran loses his job in favor of a guy who just wants to be my buddy and is trying to learn all the cool words to target my generation, I really start to wonder what is happening to this city.
I can tell you one thing Fox Sports, no one will ever put the time and enthusiasm into making that time slot work like Savran did, and it will show in the ratings.
JASON KOBEDA, South Side
Mt. Lebanon does good
Congratulations to the players, all the coaches and athletic director John Grogan for a phenomenal year in athletics this school year at Mt. Lebanon High School. Mike White touched on it in Sunday's sports page when he noted that it was the first time since 1955 that the same school won both the WPIAL boy's basketball and baseball championships.
LARRY PREZIOSO, Mt. Lebanon
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