Post by denine on Sept 7, 2007 6:49:15 GMT -5
img356.imageshack.us/my.php?image=steelersfanspd3.jpg
The following is copied from a post to a Steeler message board that I visit daily... The poster is a Steeler fan who visited Latrobe and related the following story. Touching.
Jerry
Sorry I have not provided an update for a couple of days...with our daughter getting married in September and getting back late from camp, time just seems to fly by.....so let me tell you a little story that occurred after practice last Thursday that gives all of us a little insight into Big Ben's character....
for those of you who have been to the camp you know that many of the players spend time signing autographs after practice is over....it is a mad house and you need to give all of them credit for taking the time, particularly in these hot and muggy conditions after a pretty strenuous practice session....
well Ben, Willie, Troy, Jeff, Ike, etc. did their thing and spent almost a half an hour signing autographs....but when Ben finally got to the door of the locker room building there was a little girl (I'm going to guess she was 9-10) in a wheelchair...and I am guessing by her actions, she suffers from cerebral palsy... and we have all seen how those with this terrible disorder react when they get excited and they just make your heart feel warm because you want to join them in their joy...well when this little girl saw Ben she absolutely glowed..Ben immediately saw her and went right to her...gave her a big hug, talked with her for awhile, let the child's mother take pictures...I mean it was such a wonderful sight I actually got tears in my eyes ... which I rarely do.
but that is not the end of the story....after Ben went into the building the little girl was still bubbling and the folks around her (family I believe) were sharing her moment with her thinking it was all over ....then, out of nowhere we see Ben reappear and the crowd starts going nuts .... he comes out with Polamalu holding a brand new NFL football, found the girl and they both sat down on the concrete next to the girl and started talking with her...I think they were asking her name and what she liked, etc....from what I could hear. Ben then took the ball and began writing! a message on it gave it to Troy, he wrote something on it and when they were finished Ben presented her with the ball, gave her a great big hug and kiss and returned to the locker...ladies and gentlemen I'm not afraid to say I was crying pretty good at this point and so was everyone around me......now that is what being a STEELER is all about!!!!...Ben did something this little girl will remember forever and for a brief time, I know she forgot about her illness and just loved the moment...and so did I...its something that I'll never forget.
The following is copied from a post to a Steeler message board that I visit daily... The poster is a Steeler fan who visited Latrobe and related the following story. Touching.
Jerry
Sorry I have not provided an update for a couple of days...with our daughter getting married in September and getting back late from camp, time just seems to fly by.....so let me tell you a little story that occurred after practice last Thursday that gives all of us a little insight into Big Ben's character....
for those of you who have been to the camp you know that many of the players spend time signing autographs after practice is over....it is a mad house and you need to give all of them credit for taking the time, particularly in these hot and muggy conditions after a pretty strenuous practice session....
well Ben, Willie, Troy, Jeff, Ike, etc. did their thing and spent almost a half an hour signing autographs....but when Ben finally got to the door of the locker room building there was a little girl (I'm going to guess she was 9-10) in a wheelchair...and I am guessing by her actions, she suffers from cerebral palsy... and we have all seen how those with this terrible disorder react when they get excited and they just make your heart feel warm because you want to join them in their joy...well when this little girl saw Ben she absolutely glowed..Ben immediately saw her and went right to her...gave her a big hug, talked with her for awhile, let the child's mother take pictures...I mean it was such a wonderful sight I actually got tears in my eyes ... which I rarely do.
but that is not the end of the story....after Ben went into the building the little girl was still bubbling and the folks around her (family I believe) were sharing her moment with her thinking it was all over ....then, out of nowhere we see Ben reappear and the crowd starts going nuts .... he comes out with Polamalu holding a brand new NFL football, found the girl and they both sat down on the concrete next to the girl and started talking with her...I think they were asking her name and what she liked, etc....from what I could hear. Ben then took the ball and began writing! a message on it gave it to Troy, he wrote something on it and when they were finished Ben presented her with the ball, gave her a great big hug and kiss and returned to the locker...ladies and gentlemen I'm not afraid to say I was crying pretty good at this point and so was everyone around me......now that is what being a STEELER is all about!!!!...Ben did something this little girl will remember forever and for a brief time, I know she forgot about her illness and just loved the moment...and so did I...its something that I'll never forget.
