Roethlisberger Hurt in Motorcycle Crash

and prefers to ride without a helmet........ PITTSBURGH -- Pittsburgh Steelers star Ben Roethlisberger, who last season became the youngest quarterback in NFL history to lead his team to a Super Bowl title, was injured Monday morning in a motorcycle accident and has been transported to a local hospital with head injuries of unspecified severity. "He was alert and conscious," said Ernie Roman, shift commander for the Allegheny County emergency service, told The Associated Press. Roethlisberger, the team's first-round choice in the 2004 draft, was transported to the trauma unit of nearby Mercy Hospital, a source confirmed for ESPN.com's Len Pasquarelli, but his condition is unknown. Witnesses told authorities that Roethlisberger's motorcycle collided with a car near a downtown intersection and that Roethlisberger's head hit the windshield and was bleeding. Roethlisberger has said in the past that he prefers not to wear a helmet when riding. Steelers officials have confirmed the accident, which occurred on Second Avenue near the intersection of 10th Street in Pittsburgh, around 11:30 a.m. The route is one often taken in traveling to the Steelers' facility in the Southside section of the city. The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported that Roethlisberger wasn't wearing a helmet. In previous interviews, Roethlisberger has said that he does not like wearing a helmet while wearing a motorcycle. In the wake of a motorcycle accident sustained by Cleveland Browns tight end Kellen Winslow last spring, Roethlisberger spoke about his own fixation with motorcycles, and his penchant for riding without a helmet. He was admonished by former Steelers quarterback and Hall of Fame member Terry Bradshaw for potentially jeopardizing his career. ESPN.com's John Clayton reports that early indications are the injuries are not life-threatening. One of his agents, Ryan Tollner, is in route to Pittsburgh for what was supposed to be a pre-planned trip and will arrive later Monday. One witness told KDKA television that Roethlisberger was conscious but appeared disoriented before he was taken from the scene to Mercy Hospital. A Steelers spokesman is at the hospital and confirmed Roethlisberger is being treated there, but wouldn't provide additional details.

I just heard about this on the XM hockey channel... :disapp:

Though I am an Eagles Fan. This news sux. I hate to hear of riders going down no matter who they are. I Hope he is fine. And From his past comments I doubt he had a helmet.:nonod: I wish him well!

Are you kidding me? I think that these fools must have some screws missing from being tackled so much. :disapp:

anybody know what he rides?

anybody know what he rides? Found a few pics

They showed a crashed, black sportbike on FOX News.

They showed a crashed, black sportbike on FOX News. Looked like a Hayabusa from the shots I've seen.

In previous interviews, Roethlisberger has said that he does not like wearing a helmet while wearing a motorcycle. :skep: :lol:

i read a similar article earlier today, they mentioned how he always pointed out that the law had been changed to make helmets optional in his state, thats a great role model for young riders, geez :disapp: he also was quoted as saying he always rides safe and with others, which makes it even safer...wtf? its not the other riders you gotta worry about, its the cars, and since when does riding with others keep cars from hitting you?? (not that it doesnt make you easier to see, but it doesnt make it so much safer that you shouldnt still ride with gear...:bonk: i hope he is okay and can still play, and I also hope he learned something from this...

Roethlisberger has said that he does not like wearing a helmet while wearing a motorcycle. oops some one didn't edit this well. Impressive to be wearing a motorcycle nonetheless.

Looked like a Hayabusa from the shots I've seen. yep.

oops, sorry, a repost! mods feel free to delete http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory?id=2067827 By JOE MANDAK PITTSBURGH Jun 12, 2006 (AP)— Steelers star Ben Roethlisberger, the youngest quarterback to lead a team to the Super Bowl championship, broke his jaw and nose in a motorcycle crash Monday in which he was not wearing a helmet. Roethlisberger was in serious but stable condition, Dr. Larry Jones, chief of trauma at Mercy Hospital said before surgery. The player's agent, Leigh Steinberg, described the injuries to The Associated Press and said he did not know if there was further damage. "He was talking to me before he left for the operating room," Jones said. "He's coherent. He's making sense. He knows what happened. He knows where he is. From that standpoint, he's very stable." Roethlisberger's mother, Brenda, was crying as she arrived at the hospital. Steelers president Art Rooney II said the team was "encouraged by the early reports from the medical team" at the hospital. "I am sure Ben knows that we are praying for his complete recovery." The 24-year-old Roethlisberger was without a helmet, police said. He has said he likes to ride without one, a habit that once prompted a lecture from Pittsburgh coach Bill Cowher. Roethlisberger was on his black 2005 Suzuki Hayabusa the company calls it the world's fastest bike for legal street riding and heading toward an intersection on the edge of downtown. A Chrysler New Yorker traveling in the opposite direction took a left turn and collided with the motorcycle, and Roethlisberger was thrown, police said. The other car was driven by a 62-year-old woman, police said. They didn't immediately release her name and no charges were filed. Witness Sandra Ford was waiting at a bus stop when she said she saw the motorcycle approach. Seconds later, she said she heard a crash, saw the motorcyclist in the air and ran toward the crash scene. "He wasn't moving and I was afraid that he had died. … He wasn't really speaking. He seemed dazed but he was resisting the effort to make him stay down," said Ford, who didn't realize the motorcyclist was Roethlisberger......

05 Busa.

i hope he is okay and can still play, and I also hope he learned something from this... Broken jaw and broken nose.

man and my parents saw the whole report on abc news too.

Wow, when I heard it earlier and heard the no helmet part I just figured right away that he rode a Harley.... That dumb ass rides a busa with no helmet? I hope he can still spell r-e-t-a-r-d when he gets out, because that is what he is!

Sqid? some quick important dumb A$$

Broken jaw and broken nose. THATS IT??!! The way the article sounded he was going to die, i know they exagerate a little but thats stupid to make such a fuss over a broken jaw and nose, football player or no...

Hard to feel sorry for people that get hurt on a bike if they aren't wearing the gear... Does PA have a helmet law?

I heard this on the way over to Hershey corp today...ya know what he gets what he deserves....he said he doesn't like wearing a helmet....well now he's going to pay for it! How hard is it for a pro football player that wears a helmet everytime he's out on the feild to strap on a helmet while riding a bike???? Exactly! He's a f'n idiot!!!

I posted this up in the other thread, but since there is two on this topic I'll post it up here too. I heard this on the way over to Hershey corp today...ya know what he gets what he deserves....he said he doesn't like wearing a helmet....well now he's going to pay for it! How hard is it for a pro football player that wears a helmet everytime he's out on the feild to strap on a helmet while riding a bike???? Exactly! He's a f'n idiot!!!

Hard to feel sorry for people that get hurt on a bike if they aren't wearing the gear... Does PA have a helmet law? Pa helmet law is written so adults do NOT have to wear helemts.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060612/sp_nm/nfl_roethlisberger_dc_3 IMAGE: http://us.news3.yimg.com/us.i2.yimg.com/p/nm/20060613/2006_06_12t170138_450x342_us_nfl_roethlisberger.jpg?x=380&y=288&sig=8S2N2H9_sw5XWt6YomcV4w--

MERGED the 2 threads....

Good follow up article... LINK (http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_457685.html) Sounds like the classic left turn in an intersection accident. I don't mean to speculate but from the sound of his injuries if he had been wearing a full face helmet he would probably would have been much better off...:2cents: Its a shame, 'cause it was a pretty bike...

DAMN! Nine inch cut on the back of his head? Yeah, it seems all the major injuries were on his face, and easily preventable with a helmet. way to go jackass, not wearing a helmet and making all bikers look like squids... :nonod: Also, in reference to busas: The motorcycle is popular among first-time buyers, said Steve Stiller, a salesman at Northgate Motorcycles in Cranberry, Butler County.

DAMN! Nine inch cut on the back of his head? Yeah, it seems all the major injuries were on his face, and easily preventable with a helmet. way to go jackass, not wearing a helmet and making all bikers look like squids... :nonod: Yep.

My dad called me yesterday and told me about it since I want to get a bike and my mom gets all weird about them, but he probably would have gotten off ok if he had a helmet. I seriously just don't get it, why anyone wouldnt want to wear gear when riding

My dad called me yesterday and told me about it since I want to get a bike and my mom gets all weird about them, but he probably would have gotten off ok if he had a helmet. I seriously just don't get it, why anyone wouldnt want to wear gear when riding I dont understand why you would risk a multi million dollar career to get on a bike. Like Bradshaw said...wait till you're retired. I LOVE my bike. But if I made crazy jack like that guy I'd hang it up for a few years. Damn.

And don't forget ....Big Ben is younger than many of us. For what it's worth.

very few in my town wear gear at all. some wear jackets to look cool but no helmet. then theres the guys in their flip flops and beaters. :disapp: I ALWAYS wear a helmet, jacket, and boots and gloves. It may not be comfortable but its better to sweat then bleed rite? I'm one of those bikers that wants to actually survive to old age. does anyone know what other gear this guy was wearing?

And don't forget ....Big Ben is younger than many of us. For what it's worth. I loved Bradshaw's comment, but yeah a 10-15K bike isnt worth the millions he gets. Retire early if you want to ride and waste your life in the side of a car if you dont want to wear the proper equip. He's a little bit older than I am, but I know the defensive driving, "knw that you are invisible" whereas some people need to learn. He's very fortunate for the injuries

Oh I like how in the list of athletes who had accidents on motorcycles they list EVIL KNIEVEL... I mean he is a STUNTMAN

Oh I like how in the list of athletes who had accidents on motorcycles they list EVIL KNIEVEL... I mean he is a STUNTMAN What a joke that is.

I dont understand why you would risk a multi million dollar career to get on a bike. Like Bradshaw said...wait till you're retired. I LOVE my bike. But if I made crazy jack like that guy I'd hang it up for a few years. Damn. That's what I'm saying but catching hell by some other big dog owners (the BD forum) for saying that he's a squid for chancing it... Oh, here's another pic of his busted Busa. http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/060612/060612_benRoethlistberger_hmed_12p.h2.jpg And :welcome: Gator!

I just hear this... They said he was rushed back into surgery lste this morning and early reports were that they lost him. That's second hand info to me so I'm not preaching this as gospel. Anybody got any info to support this?

I just hear this... Anybody got any info to support this? I didn't hear that this morning. That would have been "breaking news" material right there. I going to check espn.

That's what I'm saying but catching hell by some other big dog owners (the BD forum) for saying that he's a squid for chancing it... Oh, here's another pic of his busted Busa. http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/060612/060612_benRoethlistberger_hmed_12p.h2.jpg And :welcome: Gator! Judging by the small amount of chicken strip on that tire...he should be wearing the lid.

I checked ESPN and nothing there to support it.

I read that his 7 hr surgery was "deemed a success"

lost him?? how would they lose him in a facial surgery that was deemed not that critical as of an article i read this morning?? he just broke some parts of his face and got banged up!! maybe it will improve his brain capacity... if stupid had been wearing a friggin helmet he'd probably have been fine...like i posted earlier, he felt that since the law to wear a lid is optional that as long as he is careful he doesnt feel like he should wear one...friggin idiot!!! what a role model for young impressionable wanna be riders!! sorry just my :2cents: , read my signature after all!!

This story is dominating all news programs and there was no mention of "losing him" during surgery. I think that tidbit is not accurate. I read on espn that he did not have an endorsement to ride (Pennsylvania) and his permit expired March 29th.

Sofa King We Todd Did.

Sofa King We Todd Did. :lol: thats how that Roth dude will be talking for a long while & will probably have to eat through a straw.

Yeah it must just be a bad rumor...

it was also reported that he hsa no cycle endorsement. :nonod:

Yep... him and Arnold!!! :nonod:

This guy plays a sport that requires protective body gear. At any given time he could receive a concushion,:doh: What person in their right mind would ride without a brain bucket:scratch: I hope he recovers well but judging from his comments, if he rides again, it will probably be without a helmet.:luck: to him.

As many of you know...I work for the Harrisburg ABC affiliate... We have no evidence of a 2nd surgery. Infact, we reported this morning that he may be out of the hospital in as little as a few days. Also...I have also heard that he has no MC license and his permit expired a few months ago.

They showed a crashed, black sportbike on FOX News. Thats what I saw on USA Today.

As I heard it, he hit the side of the car, glanced off the windshield, and landed on the other side of the car. So if he landed just an inch or two toward the passenger compartment, he would have hit the roof pillar with his head and they would be having his funeral today.

I dont understand why some people are making it a bike issue when to me it is a gear issue. I have read a few articles that say it was the fact he was riding a " Hyabusa racing bike" - I dont care if he was on a pedal bike, busa, harley, vespa, etc. the whole point is wearing a helmet would have saved his face and 7 hours of surgery to put it back together. :nonod:

I dont understand why some people are making it a bike issue when to me it is a gear issue. I have read a few articles that say it was the fact he was riding a " Hyabusa racing bike" - I dont care if he was on a pedal bike, busa, harley, vespa, etc. the whole point is wearing a helmet would have saved his face and 7 hours of surgery to put it back together. :nonod: :iagree: 100%

I dont understand why some people are making it a bike issue when to me it is a gear issue. I have read a few articles that say it was the fact he was riding a " Hyabusa racing bike" - I dont care if he was on a pedal bike, busa, harley, vespa, etc. the whole point is wearing a helmet would have saved his face and 7 hours of surgery to put it back together. :nonod: :iagree: that pisses me off, anytime somthin happens to someone famous on a bike, motorcycling as a whole/the bike ridden, that takes the blame. sometimes its the rider being a jackass, sometimes its the cagers fault, but no one acknowledges that, its always the bike. the news story i saw didnt even mention if he was ok, just how motorcycling and tattoos are now mainstream and young men wana buy them because they wana look like badasses. where did they get that crap from? he was in a accident, and got hurt, if he had a helmet he prolly wouldnt have gotten anywhere near as hurt. case closed. if he ran a red lite and went thru the windshield, they wouldnt blame the car he was drivin, but on a bike, all hell breaks loose. wtf?

Some reason this whole thing doesnt bother me too much.

I dont understand why some people are making it a bike issue when to me it is a gear issue. I have read a few articles that say it was the fact he was riding a " Hyabusa racing bike" - I dont care if he was on a pedal bike, busa, harley, vespa, etc. the whole point is wearing a helmet would have saved his face and 7 hours of surgery to put it back together. :nonod: I haven't heard that but if I did I would have to agree 1000%

Thats the thing...when someone famous does something stupid, that becomes the enemy. In this case motorcycles. Now they are in the media...dangerous, outrageous machines that resemble the devil.:wbs:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8075272567 :lol: :BAHA: good one

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8075272567 Nice. :rofl3:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8075272567 :lol: edit:...........whoops.

Hi guys and girls. Just thought I would add my :2cents: . First off Bill Cower will be on buttheads ass to wear a helmet when he rides and even though Cower is not his mother coaches have a way of making these NFL Premaddonas do what they want them to do. Even if he ends up spending the next few years trying to figure out how many fingers he has and drinking through a crazy straw it won't hurt my feelings:bonk: :crazy:. Go Ravens But lets not turn this into afootball thing....It's a bike thing and I wonder how much they would sell me his for?:BAHA: Still in the pond Nitrofish

:rofl: thats awesome!!

Big Ben was released from the hospital @ 11:30pm...yesterday.

That ebay auction was AWESOME!

That ebay auction was AWESOME! I wonder how much I can get for his helmit replica?:wink: My take is this. He wears a helmit in a sport that has a writtin rule against helmit to helmit contact to the quarterback, but yet wont wear a helmit in a sport that has no such writtin rules for your protection. Go figure.:yikes: :2cents:

Earl I was wondering the same thing.... He wears a helmet to play football but not on the busa! Fin SQUID!

Earl I was wondering the same thing.... He wears a helmet to play football but not on the busa! Fin SQUID! :withstupi

OH OH OH, breaking news, i heard on the readio that einstein (ben) issued a formal apology to his family friends and fans for being such a moron and in the future if he ever rides again will wear proper protective gear!!! Score!!!

OH OH OH, breaking news, i heard on the readio that einstein (ben) issued a formal apology to his family friends and fans for being such a moron and in the future if he ever rides again will wear proper protective gear!!! Score!!! Yep...we reported this this morning too.

mabye hell take greg white up on his offer. Glad hes ok though.

For the first year they should make him wear the special i'm a retard helmet:dupe: . Hi my name is Jeffy:BAHA: GO RAVENS Still inthe pond Nitrofish

Big Ben won't do motorcycle safety ads PITTSBURGH (AP) - Ben Roethlisberger doesn't plan on doing public safety announcements for motorcycle or helmet safety following his accident last month. "I don't think that's my place," the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback said in a taped interview aired Friday on ABC's Good Morning America. "Some people feel that, you know, I probably should be doing that and being a big advocate for that," Roethlisberger said from Los Angeles. "But for me, I'm going to let people make their own decisions ... So I don't think you'll see me doing any kind of billboards or advertisements." Roethlisberger had been in Los Angeles for the taping of the ESPY Awards. On Friday, he was slated to play in the American Century Celebrity Golf Championship in Nevada. Roethlisberger had seven hours of facial reconstruction surgery June 12 after ramming his motorcycle into a car that turned left in front of him on a Pittsburgh street. Roethlisberger broke his jaw and nose when his head smashed into the car's windshield and he was thrown over the car onto the pavement. He was cited for riding without a license and not wearing a helmet. In Friday's interview, Roethlisberger said he sometimes wears his helmet, but on the day of the accident, he forgot it. "I had just gotten my bike all custom done. It was painted up and it was really nice," he said. "I was supposed to take my helmet that day with me to get painted to match my bike so I could wear it all the time when I rode that bike and I totally forgot it." Roethlisberger said he also forgot how his life is scrutinized by the public. "I forgot that I have to live this life under the microscope and that people are always watching and criticizing everything that I do," he said. "I'm coming off two pretty good seasons in the NFL, winning a Super Bowl and 24 years old, and maybe this is God's way of saying, 'Hey, I can take it away from you at anytime so you better back off a little bit."' In the past two seasons, Roethlisberger helped the Steelers achieve a 27-4 record. Roethlisberger said he has started working out and is now looking forward to training camp later this month. "Now that I feel healthy and know that I am going to be OK, my only focus is football," he said. "So I've not even started to think about riding a motorcycle again. ... Once this season's over, maybe I'll start thinking whether I'll start riding again."

Roethlisberger told he was close to dying BRISTOL, Conn. (AP) - Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said Wednesday night that he was told he was "seconds, maybe a minute away from dying" immediately after his motorcycle accident last month. Roethlisberger, in his first interview since the June 12 accident, said that he doesn't remember much about the accident when he rammed his motorcycle into a car that was making a left turn in front of him on a Pittsburgh street. He did, however, remember what he was told by people at the scene. "They told me that I was literally seconds, maybe a minute away from dying because I slit a vein or artery in my mouth or my throat and it was draining blood right into my stomach and luckily the paramedic noticed it and stopped it or else I would have had too much blood in my stomach," he said in Los Angeles where he was for the taping of the ESPY Awards. "I remember very few things about the accident," Roethlisberger said. "I remember one car turning in front of me, I don't remember the car that hit me, but I remember that first car turning in front of me and the next thing I remember is being in the ambulance and asking, 'Is this really happening?' "I said, 'Tell me this is just a bad dream,' and he said, 'No, everything is going to be OK,' and he asked me, 'Is there anyone you want me to call?' ... I just gave him two numbers and I don't remember anything until I woke up from surgery." Roethlisberger underwent seven hours of surgery to repair a broken jaw and other facial bones. Tests showed no brain injuries, although he had a mild concussion. He also lost two teeth and chipped several others. Roethlisberger was cited for not wearing a helmet when the accident happened. "That day I wasn't, I forgot it. I literally forgot it," he said. "You know there are times that, people that have been making a big deal for the last couple years about me riding first of all, and then me riding without a helmet, but it's one of those things that I ride with a helmet also. I do a little bit of both. If you don't wear a seat belt every time you ride in the car should I label you as a person who doesn't wear a seat belt? And unfortunately I happened to not have it on that day because I forgot it in the basement." Roethlisberger said he didn't know if he would ride a motorcycle again. Ben Roethlisberger speaks the Steelers won the award for Best Team at the 2006 ESPY Awards on Wednesday. (Chris Carlson / Associated Press) "I don't know. I am not even thinking about that right now," he said. "To me, right now, like I said when I first started thinking about things, I started thinking about my family. Now that I am doing better and I feel good, now all I am thinking about is football and that is what is on my mind right now. I am getting healthy and I am getting better every day so all I am thinking about is football. I am not thinking about anything else." Roethlisberger is scheduled to play in a celebrity golf tournament this weekend in Lake Tahoe, Nev. Including the postseason, the Steelers are 27-4 with Roethlisberger at quarterback. They advanced to the AFC championship game in both his seasons as a starter, winning the Super Bowl in January. The Steelers won the ESPY for best team and Roethlisberger joined his teammates and coach Bill Cowher onstage to accept the award. It was his first public appearance since the accident. Roethlisberger didn't appear backstage to talk to reporters. "I have no concerns about Ben," Cowher said backstage. "He's going to have to get hit a couple times to see if he's all the way back. Hopefully, he can be a great inspiration to a lot of people about looking at life a little more cautiously."

I saw the interview (since I work at an ABC station.) It was decent. He was on ESPN the day before too.

he forgot it? I thought he never wore one? :scratch:

he forgot it? I thought he never wore one? :scratch: His story changes apparently.:scratch:

His story changes apparently.:scratch: I read the interview online. He "forgot it in the basement" But if he was "storing" it in the basement, yeah... He never wore it.

He's a a$$tart

I read the interview online. He "forgot it in the basement" But if he was "storing" it in the basement, yeah... He never wore it. Yeah I dont buy it at all. If you wear it you dont forget. I've never even come close to "forgetting" my helmet.:scratch: