As much as I like Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, it just agonizes me to think about how he could’ve avoided breaking most of his face in his motorcycle accident a few days ago. How? By doing what most intelligent motorcycle
As much as I like Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, it just agonizes me to think about how he could’ve avoided breaking most of his face in his motorcycle accident a few days ago.
How?
By doing what most intelligent motorcycle riders do — wearing a helmet.
But he got lucky.
According to Associated Press reports, the Super Bowl-winning signal caller avoided life and career threatening injuries.
He was upgraded to fair condition yesterday and will probably be ready to play this season, despite being tossed high into the air after his speedy motorcycle slammed into a car, causing him to smack his head on the vehicle’s windshield.
All that without a helmet.
Boy is he lucky. While watching an interview on Sportscenter from a year ago, Roethlisberger was asked by a reporter if he wears a helmet while driving his motorcycle, in which he said he doesn’t like wearing one.
Pennsylvania law doesn’t require motorcycle riders to wear helmets.
Almost a year later, I bet he’d like to take what he said back and opt to protect his head.
After talking with a few Kaua‘i motorcycle riders about the incident, I figured they’d jump on Roethlisberger’s side.
However, all of them shared the same sentiment. They’ve done the no-helmet rides, but those days are over.
“I’ve got too much to lose,” Mikey Frash said. “I don’t know what he (Ben) was thinking, or not thinking for that matter.”
He’s right; Roethlisberger wasn’t thinking, either about himself or his family.
It’s an unfortunate incident which will hopefully wake up not only “Big Ben,” but other motorcycle riders who don’t wear helmets.
Roethlisberger’s extremely lucky to be alive today, considering he was helmet-less on a 2005 Suzuki Hayabusa, which weighs less than 600 pounds, but can easily reach 200 miles per hour in a modified state.
Even Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Bill Cowher must’ve cringed when he first caught news of what unfolded, as did Kapa‘a’s Fred Levinthol (Kaua‘i’s biggest Steelers fan).
Heck, the entire state of Pennsylvania must’ve stopped breathing for an instant, considering their NFL star nearly shot himself in the foot with the unfortunate happening.
“I wish all our players liked board games or low-risk hobbies,” Cleveland Browns general manager Phil Savage said Tuesday to the Associated Press. “Unfortunately, that’s part of the reason that makes these guys professional athletes. They have a little bit of an edge to want to do more, seek more. Where’s the line? I don’t know that.”
Thrill-seeker or not, Roethlisberger better put his thinking cap on next time — literally.
• Duane Shimogawa Jr., sports editor, may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 257) or kauaisports@kauaipubco.com.
