What A Week!
Mood:  don't ask
Now Playing: Don't Cha & Gold Digger
Let's start with Monday. Okay, so my mother and I were at Springfield Mall, and everything was okay. We left like around 11:30 or something, hopefully not to run in to traffic. Everything was cool and all until we went into the Redskins' Store. They have two televisions, a little one up in a corner in the ceiling, and a big, plasma-screen next to the register. When we were walking into the store, I saw that the World Cup was on (USA was getting their asses handed to them). But then I looked up at the small one, and that had the NFL Network on. Something about worst team ever (ugh!). Anyways, I saw that the bottom of the screen had turned red, which means breaking news. Walking closer, I noticed the Steelers' logo, which meant the news was all about them. But like this blog, sometimes no news is good news, because this news was absolutely DEVASTATING: Ben had got into a motorcycle accident... and he didn't have a helmet on. Heart-stopping moment. Honestly, I felt like my heart dropped into my stomach. Shock and awe are extreme understatements to even begin to describe it. I was emotional. When we got home, I basically glued myself to the NFL Network, ESPN, ESPN News, and the Internet. I couldn't believe it, absolute denial had set in. Not Ben, not my Ben-Ben, my hero. After seven hours of grueling surgery, we found out that he broke his jaw, nose, had multiple facial fractures, and minor injuries to both knees. After waiting all day, and finally finding out he came out of surgery successfully and was in recovery, I put his jersey on and went to bed.

On Tuesday we find out that his jaw didn't have to be wired shut, so he wouldn't have to be on an all liquid diet, and could eat soft foods. Here is where the image of someone (me?) doing baby-talk while spoon-feeding him Gerber's popped into my head. It gave me the good giggle I needed. The public also found out that Ben wasn't licensed to ride his crotch-rocket, he had a permit, but it expired on his birthday. It wasn't even a proper motorcycle like a Harley, but one of those really small, fast ones that people zip in and out of traffic in. And it was supposed to be one of the fastest bikes that were allowed in the States.

Didn't really hear anything of interest on Wednesday, just that he was resting with his family around him.

Woke up on Thursday to the news that Ben had slipped out of hospital late Wednesday night, and that he was in an undisclosed location recuperating. Later in the day, Ben released a statement saying that he realized how lucky he was, and if he ever rode again, he'd wear a helmet.

Now that brings us to today. What do I think of all this? That Ben Roethlisberger is a crazy-ass bastard, who thought he was grown, and unfortunately, he had to become an example, a statistic. He's EXTREMELY lucky that it wasn't as awful as it could have been, but he should have known better. He doesn't need a lecture, but, as grateful as I am that he's not brain-damaged (arguable), can walk, is alive, I just can't shake the feeling that it could have been... fatal.

It also put this upcoming football season into perspective. I'd rather suck this year and make goddamn sure Ben is 100% and kick everybody's ass next season then for him, with all the head injuries he sustained, for him to get sacked, land wrong, and go through what happened this week.

Somebody talk some sense into this boy. I'm incredibly available for that.

Get well, baby. You're future is too bright for you to become football's James Dean. And I would be a wreck if anything happened to you.

I'm phasing.