Hey, Ben: Football is a contract sport (Funny and serious)

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review ^ | June 16, 2006 | Eric Heyl

[NorthEasterner]

Hey, Ben: Football is a contract sport By Eric Heyl TRIBUNE-REVIEW Friday, June 16, 2006

To: Steelers President Art Rooney II

From: Eric Heyl, winner of the "Be the Steelers business operations coordinator For a Day" contest.

Re: Brushes with mortality, player contracts

Now that Ben Roethlisberger has been discharged from the hospital after breaking his jaw and suffering multiple facial fractures, we should discuss restructuring his contract.

[xzins]

I just returned from Marblehead on Lake Erie, which is fairly close to Ben's home area of Findlay/Fostoria, Ohio. Apparently, they love him there, and the Browns have lost a whole lot of fan base to the Steelers.

The message of the news: Ben's a bit of a daredevil; a bit overcharged with adventure and adrenaline and testosterone.

And then they said again how much they love him.

:>)

Boys will be boys. Men will be men. Ben couldn't have bought this kind of publicity. We'll soon see him selling "manly" products....not deodorant....sports cars, rafting adventures, and skydiving.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

Roethlisberger is one of the luckiest guys on the planet. He needs to take his accident as a warning from God that heads are to be protected from windshields and pavement as well as linebackers.

However, his accident along with the recent accidents and swearing-off of motorcycles by Arnold Schwarzenegger and Michael Jordan have done some good by causing our sons to realize how dangerous those motorized coffins really are.

My mother used to say if a person walked through a rehabilitation hospital they'd never ride one again because a majority of the paralyzed patients had been unfortunate bike riders.

[xzins]

BUT....it's SOOOOO Male.

Danger, Adventure, Adrenalyn, Testosterone, Excitement...

(BTW, I've heard arguments on both sides of the helmet discussion.)

[Dr. Eckleburg]

I've heard arguments on both sides of the helmet discussion.

Only from the guys who've survived. The regret of the dead ones comes too late.

[Andy from Beaverton]