 |
REFLECTIONS |
Ben Roethlisberger
 |
Photo © 2009 George Gojkovich/Getty Images |
NFL quarterback
Ben Roethlisberger became the youngest quarterback to win a Super Bowl when his Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Seattle Seahawks in 2006. Roethlisberger was 23 years old at the time, in only his second year in the NFL.
Now “Big Ben” is trying to add to his jewelry collection as he vies for Super Bowl ring No. 2. As of press time, the Steelers were readying for their AFC championship game against the Baltimore Ravens, and one home win away from advancing to Super Bowl XLIII.
An Ohio native, Roethlisberger played college football for the Miami University (Ohio) RedHawks, where he rewrote every major passing record for the school and for the Mid-America Conference, in just three seasons. He left school early to enter the 2004 NFL draft and was selected in the first round (11th overall pick) by the Steelers. Since taking over as starter, the Steelers have gone 51-20 in the regular season and 6-2 in the post-season.
A 7-handicap, Roethlisberger has yet to hit a hole-in-one, but says his favorite golf moment was when he narrowly missed a double-eagle. (He got the tap-in for eagle.)
— Seth Jones, senior associate editor
"You always see the grounds crew working and all that they have to do. It’s not easy; they work hard for it. It’s a lot more work than people think. People who play all the time know what a good course is and when the greens are running well. You have to have a good course. I’m not going to join a course because of the clubhouse or the people — I’m going to join it because it’s good golf. (Conditions) are real important to me. I can afford to play nicer courses now (laughs). It’s a lot more fun." |