Felix_Leiter Posted January 12 Report Share Posted January 12 Steelers QB Gives $18,000 to Tsunami Aid Tue Jan 11, 6:12 PM ETBy ALAN ROBINSON, AP Sports Writer PITTSBURGH - Ben Roethlisberger has surprised his Pittsburgh Steelers (news)' teammates many times during his unbeaten rookie season. He did so again Tuesday, announcing he'll donate his first NFL playoff paycheck to the tsunami victims relief effort. AP Photo Latest Headlines: ·Celebrity telethon to aid tsunami victims AFP - 7 minutes ago ·Andaman Isles Flooded; Indonesia Warns Workers Reuters - 15 minutes ago ·Rescued Tsunami Victim Thanks Allah AP - 56 minutes ago Special Coverage RSS: Even on a team that openly encourages its players to participate in charity activities and community events, Roethlisberger's $18,000 gesture before Saturday's Jets-Steelers game created a positive stir. "Wow, I didn't even know that," wide receiver Hines Ward said. "Guys do a lot of different things in different ways that people don't always hear about, but that's great — that's for a great cause, definitely. That's a big tragedy, and I hope everyone will at least donate (something)." Unlike the regular season, when each player earns a weekly share of his base salary, playoff salaries are determined by the league's collective bargaining agreement and each player is paid the same. Roethlisberger, who is 13-0 as a rookie quarterback, hopes other NFL players will follow his lead. "I'm going to donate my game check this week to the tsunami relief — and hopefully maybe (it will be) a challenge for other people to do that, too," Roethlisberger said. Roethlisberger became motivated to act after numerous NBA players — including Kobe Bryant, Jermaine O'Neal and Bob Sura — donated $1,000 per point scored last weekend to the relief effort. The NBA players' union also donated $500,000, and the NBA will match the gift. In the NFL, the Patriots made playoff tickets available to fans who donated at least $1,000 to efforts to aid the estimated 5 million tsunami victims. "A game check isn't anything like some of the Yankees and some of those people who've donated a million dollars, but every little thing they can get can help," Roethlisberger said. "Hopefully, it's a challenge to other NFL players. We've seen the NBA players do it." Roethlisberger, the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, has a base salary of $230,000, but also will collect $9 million in signing and roster bonuses by early next year and as much as $2.6 million in first-season performance bonuses. Roethlisberger's gesture impressed Steelers coach Bill Cowher, who has talked all season about the rookie's maturity. "That's a heck of a gesture on his part. That says a lot about the kid for him to do something like that," Cowher said. "I've said all along the kid's got a great perspective on things and that's another example of it." No other Steelers players have said if they will match Roethlisberger's gesture, which was announced just before practice and may not yet be known to them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kfitz73 Posted January 12 Report Share Posted January 12 Definitely a nice gesture on his part... Matsui gave almost $500k as well. It's refreshing to see athletes care for something other than their salaries or stats... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Felix_Leiter Posted January 12 Author Report Share Posted January 12 Definitely a nice gesture on his part... Matsui gave almost $500k as well. It's refreshing to see athletes care for something other than their salaries or stats...i didnt know he gave that much...wow...he was always my favorite player on the current yanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lolahotass Posted January 12 Report Share Posted January 12 wow, thats awesome Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fkornre Posted January 12 Report Share Posted January 12 also the yanks pledge $1mill from their opening game of the season... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nomembername Posted January 12 Report Share Posted January 12 I think the Knicks donated $1,000 for every point they scored the other night Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pookie23 Posted January 12 Report Share Posted January 12 I still hope Ben gets knocked the fuck out on Saturday... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majinbuu Posted January 12 Report Share Posted January 12 I still hope Ben gets knocked the fuck out on Saturday...werd... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vicman Posted January 12 Report Share Posted January 12 kinda makes you wonder about the 10k bush donated. ok, i'll shut my rant, this isnt the politics forum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nomembername Posted January 12 Report Share Posted January 12 kinda makes you wonder about the 10k bush donated. ok, i'll shut my rant, this isnt the politics forum.how much does the president make compared to a professional football player....don't think it's even close....doesn't he make like $150 thousand a year or something compared to the millions that pro athletes make. ok, i'll shut my rant, this isn't the politics forum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vicman Posted January 12 Report Share Posted January 12 how much does the president make compared to a professional football player....don't think it's even close....doesn't he make like $150 thousand a year or something compared to the millions that pro athletes make. ok, i'll shut my rant, this isn't the politics forum.yeah i agree, salary-wise the president doesnt make that much money, but we all know how Bush Sr. and Bush Jr. made their $$$. lets just say that his salary as president isn't his main source of income. like kerry's main source of income isn't his salary as US senator. all politicians are the same. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fkornre Posted January 12 Report Share Posted January 12 I think the Knicks donated $1,000 for every point they scored the other nightthere were 6 players in the NBA who donated $1,000 for each point they scored...i think Kobe was the highest that nite with 27...but it was nice of them to do...the NBA donated $1mill i think... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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