What is it about athletes and motorcycles? In my book, motorcycles aren't nearly as sexy as ahtletes think they are.Once again, a professional athlete decides he's invincible and rides a motorcyle without a helmet and without taking necessary safety measures. This time, Pittsburgh Steeler quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident earlier today. While news reports say he suffered a broken jaw and nose, other reports indicate there may be a knee or leg injury as well. The 24-year-old is in serious but stable condition.
In the past, Roethlisberger has acknowledged that he does not wear a helmet when he's riding, that he is always careful, rides in groups and never on the highway. What a bunch of B.S. In today's accident, he was riding alone. Roethlisberger has more protection on the football field with his padding and offensive linemen around him than he did today.
The NFL's standard contract contains a clause prohibiting a player from participating in any activities that would bring "significant risk of personal injury." But many players ignore this clause. Is this arrogance, ignorance, or both? This clause is in the contract to protect both the team and the player, and to disregard it is a sign of disrespect.
There have been numerous motorcycle accidents involving athletes over the years. The most serious and most publicized accident involved Chicago Bulls guard Jay Williams, who crashed into a light pole in 2003. He suffered a broken pelvis, torn knee ligaments and damaged nerves in his leg. The Bulls bought out his contract for $3 million. It is doubtful he will ever play basketball again, although he is still working on making a comeback. In a TV interview today, Williams says he regrets that he rode his bike at all.
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