Hello everyone. I hope that everyone is doing well...as some of you may know I just got back form the Quarterback Challenge. It was a lot of fun but I think that I should tell you all how I thought mini camp went first. I am sure that some of you are dying to know what I thought. Well, I thought it went very well, our new tight end is going to be good he was a little nervous which is to be expected, but he will be very good I do believe. I also think that our new cornerback Mcfadden is very good. He is extremely quick and has great hands, so I have high expectations for both of those players as well as the rest of them.
Now for the Quarterback Challenge. I had a lot of fun. I got to hang out with a bunch of great guys. The other QB's were Byron Leftwich, Carson Palmer, Matt Hasselback, Drew Brees, Joey Harrington and Jake Delhomme. We did a bunch of different challenges and had a lot of fun. I can't tell you how I did bc it is going to be on tv and I don't want to ruin the whole show, so I hope that you all watch and see what happens. Anyway, while we were down there we had a lot of fun. We all went jet skiing in the ocean, played ping pong, had a golf outing, and ate a lot of great food.
When I got back I had to run out to the kennel and pick up zeus. He was so excited to see me the lady said when she went to put his leash on he starting going crazy like he knew I was there. It looks like he got bigger in just 3 days that I was gone. He now weighs 60 lbs. I am glad that you all got to see the pictures of him that you all wanted.
Well anyway, I better get going. The answer to the last question my favorite pie is Apple. You all had very interesting guesses though. My new question is how old is Zeus? Well everyone take care and I will talk to you all soon.
Hello Ben, it is good to hear you had a great time at the challenge. I will be looking foward to watching it. I sent to try to get tickets thru the single tickets sales, now I am trying to patiently wait to see if I got any. I have always wanted to go to a game, but have never made it. I am not sure the answer to the question.
*Rod*
Posted by: *Rod* | May 15, 2005 at 10:42 AM
ben,
i'm glad that u had a good time @ the qb challenge. the question in your post of how old zeus is hard 2 say i'm going to say about 5 months[it is only a guess]
steelers rock!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
o well g2g
-MyStErYgUrL7-
Posted by: mysterygurl7 | May 15, 2005 at 11:02 AM
Ben,
Great to hear from you again. I can't wait to watch the QB challenge. With Zeus weighing about 60lbs now, I'm going to guess he is about a year old now. Can't wait for football season!
Adam
Posted by: Adam | May 15, 2005 at 11:06 AM
Hi Ben,
Zeus is 6 months old, I think ... but I also thought you liked cherry pie! :-)
Valerie
Posted by: Valerie | May 15, 2005 at 11:49 AM
Thanks for writing again. I can't wait to see how the QB Challenge went. I'm glad to hear you have some faith in your new teammates, this season should be great! I am so excited for it to start that a guy actually said that if I would marry him he would buy me tickets to every Steeler's game this year. A tempting proposal. Anyways, since you share so much or your life with us, I thought I would share some of mine, so here's a link to my blog on Mother's Day. http://blog.myspace.com/3570928
I hope you had a great Mother's Day. And I'll guess that Zeus is 10 months 3 weeks. I have no clue. God Bless.
Posted by: Kelli Motel | May 15, 2005 at 11:51 AM
Ben,
Sounds like you had a great time. Good for you! I just found out from this guy that I WAS seeing is that he went to school in Virginia with your new tight end. The guy I was dating was talkin with his dad on the phone one day and somehow his dad found out and he told him and he was shocked. So now Lonnie was to see him again but I told him it won't be possible. O well!
G2G
Have a great day and AWESOME pictues you put up. I'm guessing Zeus is probably...ummm... I am gonna guess... I am bad at guessing 8 months.. i really don't know lol lata!
Posted by: Marissa | May 15, 2005 at 12:55 PM
I'm glad to hear that mini camp went well and that you had fun at the QB challenge.
( can't wait to watch it) I'm guessing Zues is about 8 or 9 months old. I don't know.
Posted by: Liz | May 15, 2005 at 12:59 PM
Hi Ben,
I am 15 years old and I was due on March 2nd (which I think is pretty neat!) but wasn't born until March 5, 1990. I am a big animal lover and I think Zeus is absolutly adorable! I have two dogs and a cat, but I won't say anything else about my cat because he is named after a football player I'm not sure you like. (If you do like him, your fans don't and I don't want them to kick me off of your website!)
I am not a Steelers fan, but I'm afraid that your fans are turning me into a Ben fan. My favorite team is the Panthers. I think it is soo neat that you got to hang out with JAKE CHRISTOPHER DELHOMME
at the QB challenge. (If you can't tell Jake Delhomme is my favorite football player.) I wish I could see the QB challenge, but I live in Africa and we don't have cable TV. I got to see your playoff games though, because my Grandpa recorded then off the TV and sent them to us. My family are missionaries. We are from California, but I consider myself from Georgia because we moved there when I was 5 years old. (Before we came to Africa.)
I think what Susie N. said about your beard was hailarious!! To be sure, I think your beard looks fine, but what she said about
''all those tiny lines'' was soo funny.
I am soo happy to hear that you are a Christian. Do you think you could post your testimony on here, PLEASE? I can't find anything about your relegion on the web.
I must tell you that I watched the
Super Bowl twice and I didn't know that it was you in the commercial about tomarrow. After I read on here that you were on one of the Super Bowl commercials, I watched it again and I ALMOST didn't reconise you!
I had to watch it a couple of times to be sure it was you. I have no clue how old Zeus is but I am going to say 1 year or younger.
Bethany
Posted by: Bethany | May 15, 2005 at 01:30 PM
Hey Ben
It's good to hear from you again. I am glad to hear that you had fun at the QB Challenge and I can't wait to watch it on TV. I think Zeus is 2 years old, just a guess! Well I am glad to hear that you are enjoying the offseason! Have a great day, God Bless!
Love ya,
Samantha C.
Posted by: Samantha C. | May 15, 2005 at 01:38 PM
Ben,
Could you comment about riding that Harley of yours without a helmet. Don't you think the wise thing would be to put off motorcycles until you make hall of fame, and fill your fingers with Superbowl rings?
Posted by: Ashton | May 15, 2005 at 02:26 PM
i'm sry to write again but i will change my guess to 7 months to 9 1/2 months
o well g2g
Posted by: mysterygurl7 | May 15, 2005 at 04:19 PM
Hey Ben,
Glad to hear you had fun at the QB Challenge and can't wait to find out if ya won. Aww, poor Zeus. I can't believe he had to stay in a kennel. Next time, drop him off at my house. I'll watch him for ya. As for his age, I'm gonna guess 6 1/2 or 7 months old. Well I must get back to cooking Sunday Family dinner. Have a great week.
Love,
Michelle
Posted by: Michelle | May 15, 2005 at 04:40 PM
Hey Ben!
So glad to hear from you again. I'm 14 years old an done of your biggest fans! Can't wait for the 05 football season. I'm guan guess Zeus is 8 months old. Later.
Rachel
Posted by: Rachel | May 15, 2005 at 04:59 PM
Hey Ben - thanks for posting the journal.
I think it's pretty cool when athletes go out of their way to do things like this for the fans - Steeler fans are privileged in more ways than one...
So GO STEELERS and have a great day!!
Posted by: Derek M. | May 15, 2005 at 05:02 PM
Glad you had fun at the QB challenge. Zeus is so adorable! I want one just like him.
I am really excited for the new season. The draft seemed like it went pretty well for us.
Hope everything is good with you!
And yes, you are one really handsome man! <33
-Caity
Posted by: Caity | May 15, 2005 at 05:05 PM
Ben,
It is interesiting to hear your impressions of the new guys on the team. Do you think that the Steelers will finally use the TE the way they should, or are we going to waste a 6'5" guy like that just to block for the run?
I was really sorry to see that we never used Mark Bruner to his full potential (AT LEAST I DON'T THINK WE DID)and I don't know what to think about Jay R.
I think you pups about 6 months.
I just finished my classes at the Nuclear Medicine Institute at Findlay and have just started my clinical traning, while I was there I saw your High school coach at the Subway by the e-way.(you know which one I mean, across from the school) and it is funny because I always wear something with the Steelers logo on it and evey where I went down there everyone said they knew you or some one that did...absolutly amazing, if I believed what evey one I ran into said than you would have to know everyone in Findly. I just found that kind of humorus and thought you would get a kick out of it.
You are also highly promoted at the Bob Evens, 'cause as I was leaving the place the lady behind the counter said, "Do you know where you're at?" I said "yea, I'm in Findlay, why?" She says with an ear to ear grin "This is the home of Ben Roethlisberger!" She was mighty proud.
One day when I came back form lunch I found a menu from Tony's Restaurant & Pub sitting on my desk, unfortunately I never got to try the "Big Ben Burger" Perhaps when I go back down next January for my final exam I stop by there for lunch and try one. Have you had one yet?
Be good and God bless.
Skip
Posted by: Skip | May 15, 2005 at 05:14 PM
He..its great that you stay well and you had so much fun at the quaterback challenge...I know jake delhomme from the nfl europe he playd fot the frankfurt galaxy..its a great player...and ben i love your pics...you looks so cool at the harley...and the pic with zeus when he give your a kiss..a wet kiss i think..cute..i think zeus is 6 or 8 monts old...i hope you tell us more what you do all at the mini camp..and when starts the train camp i think in june ? i cant wait to see you in september and of the new sesong...take care and big kisses from germany..oh i forget what you think of a fluffernutter sandwitch..
Posted by: karin | May 15, 2005 at 05:36 PM
Thank you so much for keeping in touch with fans like this. My whole family was in Steeler withdraw after the playoffs, and are looking forward to next season. We are also
Ben fans of course and of dogs. My daughter works at a pet resort in Plum and if you want to have Zeus pampered, this is the place to take him. Check out cozy inn pet resort online. Thank you also for your witness especially to all the young fans.
Take care, especially on that bike, Darcee
Posted by: darcee | May 15, 2005 at 06:36 PM
Hey Ben! I can't wait to see the qb challenge on t.v.!! I hope ya did good. haha. Well anyways i got the last question right about the apple pie. So my answer for this week's question is a little over 4 months i think. haha. Take care!
<3Lindsay
Posted by: Lindsay McGinnis | May 15, 2005 at 07:07 PM
Hey Ben,
I'm glad you had an awesome time at the QB challenge and you got to hang out w/ your boy Byron. I know you said when you first got Zeus you wanted to have a dog that would be with you throughout your career. Well you had your first start in September so I'm guessing that Zeus is now about 9 1/2 months old (he had to be with his mom for atleast 6 weeks lol). Anyways, keep in touch if you wanna hang out for my 21st in 2 weeks! haha Have fun!
Posted by: Natalie Roman | May 15, 2005 at 07:10 PM
Ben,
Congratulations on your GREAT rookie season. My family and I think that you are a good role model, and not too many pro athletes are. I am currently a 7th grader at Donnell Middle School, the school you attended. All the teachers that had you say so many great things about you. We just completed a project on biographies of well known people. I chose you as my topic and I received an A+. Football is my favorite sport and I also play basketball and run track for Donnell. Good luck this coming season!
Chris
Posted by: Chris Stoming | May 15, 2005 at 07:30 PM
Rotty,
Looking forward to catching the QB challenge when it airs. I watched the replay of last year's on the NFL channel to get me in the mood for this one. How about the alumni QB's in attendance. Weren't Marino and other's supposed to participate? I would suspect that was humbling and quite a good time sharing war stories w/ some NFL greats!
I'd like to echo my curiosity about the now infamous motorcyle situation, if I may be so bold! Far be it for me to make suggestions on how best to live your life. I've had some personal experience w/friends or acquaintances and motorcyles and just how dangerous it can be. Even if you're the best rider in the world, there's no tellin about the other person who can have dramatic and fatal consequences for you, if you're at the wrong place at the wrong time. Fortunately for a coworker, the only thing standing between not surving his near fatal motorcyle accident and being w/ us today, was the fact that he was wearing a helmet.
If I may further be so bold as to remind you about some of your young and impressionable fans who look up to you and idolize you as their hero. I'd hate for them to use your example as their excuse for not taking preventative safety measures. I hope this doesn't come across as preachy. As your fans, we care about you and have your best interest at heart!
Looking forward to seeing you guys at Latrobe again in a couple of months. Thanks for the updates and continued best of luck!
Cheers,
Matt
Posted by: Matt | May 15, 2005 at 07:31 PM
Thanks for sharing with us. Can't wait 'til the season starts. Take care and God Bless.
Jill
Posted by: Jill | May 15, 2005 at 08:13 PM
Hey ben!! I'm glad you had fun at the quarterback challenge!! I can't wait to watch it on tv!! I think Zeus is 4 months old but I'm not sure. Take care and stay cute!!!!!
Love, Amanda
Posted by: Amanda | May 15, 2005 at 08:16 PM
Hey Ben,
I'm glad you had fun at the QB challenge!! I was also glad to hear that Zeus is growing quick!! Well best of luck in camp and I'll hopefully talk to you soon!!
Luv,
Kaitlyn
Posted by: Kaitlyn | May 15, 2005 at 09:06 PM