Ben Roethlisberger, QB for the Pittsburgh Steelers, suffered extensive facial injuries after a motorcycle accident on Monday morning. While he should be able to play this season, his accident underscores an important point that the media needs to continue to drive home: WHY WAS HE NOT WEARING A HELMET?
Certainly, the accidents of NBA player Jay Williams (horrific and potentially career ending) and Cleveland Browns TE Kellen Winslow Jr (out for a season) as precursors to the accident by Roethlisberger should have been a reminder. Apparently, someone has to die before action is taken.
Now, I am in no way trying to limit freedoms or insist on rules, but I think wearing a helmet while riding a motorcycle consists of common sense. In fact, while not a Steelers fan in any way, I certainly have come to have a large amount of respect for Roethlisberger as a football player. His intelligence comes across on the field, and I am disappointed he showed such poor judgement off the field. Certainly, many football, baseball, basketball, etc players have shown poor judgement off the field, but I guess it is more disappointing because Roethlisberger is the Tom Brady of Pittsburgh.
Could anyone in New England imagine Tom Brady wiping out on a motorcycle and not having a helmet on? Of course not, but I could picture offensive linement Matt Light or Dan Koppen riding a Harley and flipping off their helmet as they hit the Rhode Island or New Hampshire border (two neighboring states with which allow riders not to wear helmets).
Roethlisberger was damned lucky. There is no way around it. Broken jaw, teeth, gash on the back of the head, and brusing will heal in time for him to play at minimum 10 games. But just as he should wear a helmet on the field, he should be out doing public service announcements to encourage riders to wear helmets on their bikes before a young, invincible and indestructable athlete pays for their ignorance and arrogance with their life.
Certainly, the accidents of NBA player Jay Williams (horrific and potentially career ending) and Cleveland Browns TE Kellen Winslow Jr (out for a season) as precursors to the accident by Roethlisberger should have been a reminder. Apparently, someone has to die before action is taken.
Now, I am in no way trying to limit freedoms or insist on rules, but I think wearing a helmet while riding a motorcycle consists of common sense. In fact, while not a Steelers fan in any way, I certainly have come to have a large amount of respect for Roethlisberger as a football player. His intelligence comes across on the field, and I am disappointed he showed such poor judgement off the field. Certainly, many football, baseball, basketball, etc players have shown poor judgement off the field, but I guess it is more disappointing because Roethlisberger is the Tom Brady of Pittsburgh.
Could anyone in New England imagine Tom Brady wiping out on a motorcycle and not having a helmet on? Of course not, but I could picture offensive linement Matt Light or Dan Koppen riding a Harley and flipping off their helmet as they hit the Rhode Island or New Hampshire border (two neighboring states with which allow riders not to wear helmets).
Roethlisberger was damned lucky. There is no way around it. Broken jaw, teeth, gash on the back of the head, and brusing will heal in time for him to play at minimum 10 games. But just as he should wear a helmet on the field, he should be out doing public service announcements to encourage riders to wear helmets on their bikes before a young, invincible and indestructable athlete pays for their ignorance and arrogance with their life.
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