Morning Jolt: Big Ben wants to be a role model
Tuesday, February 1
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Big Ben wants to be a role model
Though it won't be easy, Ben Roethlisberger will try to keep reporters from looking back this week. [Roethlisberger] did look ahead to something he said he hopes to achieve beyond Sunday's game. "I want to be a role model. I want people to look up to me. I like when kids wear my jersey," the quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers told dozens of media representatives crowded around his interview platform at the team hotel. He elaborated on that later, saying he meant more than being a role model as an NFL player. "Absolutely, there's a lot more to it than just that," he said. "You want to be a good person. You want to be some day, hopefully, a good father, husband, whatever that entails, grandfather and all those things. I think there's a lot of people you can be role models to." (USA Today)Comment
Tuck to Giants teammate Rolle: Zip it
Justin Tuck wanted to have a chat with outspoken Antrel Rolle, who had been critical of coach Tom Coughlin. Though he declined to get into specifics, Tuck noted he and Rolle are "good" moving forward. "Everything we do with the Giants needs to be a team effort, no matter what we're talking about. So it's very important he realizes he's a tremendous, important part of the success of this football team," Tuck said by phone late last week. "And not only on the football field but off it, too. It can be as important in what you say as in what you do." Translation: Zip it. "Me and Justin, we are on the same page. We're both competitors and we're both going after the same goal which is to win," Rolle said. (The Star-Ledger)Comment
Chipper on schedule for Opening Day
Chipper Jones knew tendinitis might be part of his offseason recovery program, but he's not letting it get him down. This week, the Braves' third baseman will start agility drills. As Spring Training nears, Jones feels that he is on schedule to be ready for Opening Day. But there are still hurdles -- and questions -- that remain. "I'm starting to get ready to do it for real," Jones said Monday at Turner Field. "That's when I'll see where I'm really at." Jones, who tore his anterior cruciate ligament in August, will report to Spring Training with the pitchers and catchers on Feb. 14. He hasn't taken any ground balls yet, but has been hitting since December. (MLB.com)Comment
Must-See Photo
The Pittsburgh Steelers arrived at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport on Monday for Super Bowl XLV. Their pilot took the opportunity to wave "The Terrible Towel." (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Must-See Video
Clippers center DeAndre Jordan finishes an alley-oop in emphatic fashion (and at the expense of Milwaukee's Jon Brockman).
Game To Watch
No. 11 Purdue at No. 19 Wisconsin, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN
- Purdue Boilermakers
- Wisconsin Badgers
SI Vault: Vince Lombardi
This Day in Sports
- 1968 -- Vince Lombardi resigns as coach of Green Bay Packers.
- 1973 -- Monte Irvin elected to Baseball Hall of Fame.
- 1992 -- Barry Bonds signs baseball's highest single year contract ($4.7 million).
- 2004 -- Janet Jackson's breast is exposed during the halftime show of Super Bowl XXXVIII.
