Interesting responses to rothlisberger's accident

[race24x]

I am really glad to hear that alot of you are not flaming me for th epost I was kind of afraid I would get banned or something J/K. I would never ever say ride without a helmet just it shoudl be as much choice as anything else you do. I think your right in a players situatiation it is a financial choice and they dont have to sign the contract if they dont want but if you want all the millions you better sign LOL I hope he reovers I would never wish anyone harm wether they made a bad choice or not. Hey that sports write ris a commie I think LOL he looked a little fat in his pic maybe a state mandated diet of broccoli and rice for the rest of his life to protect SI's investment in him

 

[VaBusa]

Did anyone see on ESPN last night interviews with Ben from last July?  He was going on about not wearing a helmet when riding a Harley; I thought I heard him say something along the lines of "it's not a sport bike, so I don't feel I need to wear a helmet, and I ride with a group because I think it's safer..."

...then, he crashes on a Hayabusa

 Aside from his knees, every bit of damage he received could have been so easily avoided.  I was hoping to see a light go off in the hubby's head while watching the news on Ben last night, but I just don't think he gets it...some guys just do feel invincible...not much changes that 'til it's too late

Michelle, I was hoping the same thing for my wife. She rides a cruiser and must ride to impress. My son and I wear leathers, gloves and a full face (we dress for the ride not the weather). I don't think she gets it either. Well hopefully someone learns from his mistake.  

I honestly don't get it...and I really think Harley (preparing for the flaming) does very little to educate their riders...it's so much about image, you swing your leg over your Harley all decked out in the Harley gear and the half-helmet...I wish they'd push the full face a bit more, maybe try to "make it cool" to wear 'em...I'm surrounded by Harley riders in my family and NOT ONE wears a full face unless it's snowing

Sorry to hear your wife feels the same; let's just hope our spouses don't go down and learn that lesson the hard way...

 

[loboboy]

Another thing about wearing a helmet, is I can't ride without one. My eyes water really bad and the wind noise really distracts me from concentrating on riding, so much that I actually wear ear plugs under my helmet.

I know that this may be a little off topic but I wanted to throw that out there.

 

[gtrpimp76]

I also think it is kind of dumb to call him dumb for not wearing gear. He is a grown man, and if he preffers to ride without a helmet, who the hell are we to judge him??

But's that's the argument though. He WEARs a helmet playing Football to protect himself from hits.

Yet he won't wear a helmet to protect himself from an activity MUCH MORE DANGEROUS THAN FOOTBALL. And statistically kills more people every year than a game of Football will ever do.

It's just the irony of it all. I wish Big Ben a speedy recovery and pray that he's alright and returns to a career which he should have many more years to flourish in.

 

[pward76]

Another thing about wearing a helmet, is I can't ride without one. My eyes water really bad and the wind noise really distracts me from concentrating on riding, so much that I actually wear ear plugs under my helmet.

I know that this may be a little off topic but I wanted to throw that out there.

+ 1 on that. I wear contact lenses, and can ride with sunglasses and be just fine, but a full face is so much better.

Let me be clear - I do not necessarily advocate a helmet law. Do I think you are stupid for not wearing one? Yes. Do I demand that you do so? No. It is ultimately your choice. Just make sure that your choice does not impact the rest of us financially.

If it were up to me, all I would require is that if you want to go without one, that you prove that you can deal with the financial repercussions of your decision.

 

[GMbusa]

IMO this guy got what was coming to him. Hopefully he will learn from this but he probly won't. Another overpaid tool.

 

[RaveCrusader]

I think this is an excellent and import debate; mandatory helmet laws I mean.

I know it is not very popular among many riders but I advocate helmet laws. I think that safety has to be legislated sometimes. I grew up in a state without a helmet law and I now live in a state with a helmet law. I have seen many riders lives cut short because being free was more important then being smart. I remember responding to calls out on deserted New Mexico mountain roads for motorcycle fatalities. Even Indian Larry would have probably lived if he was wearing a helmet.

I’ll bet if you could as a rider who suffered serious brain damage (or death) from a crash because of not wearing a helmet, in retrospect, he/she would have chosen differently. I worked with a guy that had brain damage from not wearing a helmet in 20mph crash; he was no longer able to ride or able to operate a car.

 

[bigoltool]

Rongotti I would edit that last post before one of the Mods does it for you!

The big question is how will Ben handle this? Regardless of who was at fault, he has an opportunity here to appeal to America's youth and set a good example for the kids who worship him. Come out and say yes I was an idiot and it almost cost me my life, my career etc. etc. Hope he doesn't blow that. It's an all too important message that I have been hammering into my kids heads from day one.

 

[BusaWizard]

Man does this hit home, same thing happened to me. But I was a little smarter I had a helmet and gear on. Hey maybe I can get an NFL contract? Hmmmm.

 

[dreamin_of_ridin]

Being a member of this board, and a huge Steelers fan, you can imagine my suprise to get to work and find out two of my favorite things in life were involved in a shitstorm. I must admit at first I was suprised to hear Ben was on a Busa, then I thought common, game recognises game right? The quote about never riding alone was taken out of context,  the question posed was about "joy riding" not "transportation". He said they always ride in groups when their joy riding, obviously it would be kind of hard to organize a group of people to escort you up the road and back. I also think it is kind of dumb to call him dumb for not wearing gear. He is a grown man, and if he preffers to ride without a helmet, who the hell are we to judge him?? The only thing I have a problem with is if he was riding with no liscence, the current story says he might have been riding with an expired learners permit. That to me is a much bigger issue than obeying the law riding with no helmet.

I am also a Steelers fan and have been for 38 years. GMbusa is not the moron though. Ben Rothlisberger is. Anyone who rides a Busa and doesn't have enough respect for the power of it shouldn't be riding it in the first place. You are right that he is a grown man. As such, he should be smart enough to know better. The day he signed his contract he not only took on the role of Quarterback but also became a role model for young kids. On top of that, there is a very good chance that he will not play this coming season, if ever again. It is EXTREMELY difficult for a quarterback to come back after missing a season so early in their career and play to the same caliber as before they were injured. He may have just screwed his career. If I was his coach and teammates, as soon as he was better, I'd beat his a$$



<!--EDIT|dreamin_of_ridin
Reason for Edit: None given...|1150253430 -->

 

[thrasherfox]

I am not in a mood to edit nor chastise people for bad language, just going to delete the post.

unless of course someone becomes a habitual offender....

 

[Kanati]

Although I may occasionally ride without gear or a helmet, it is my God given right to practice this foolish act.[/QUOTE]

No, it's your state given priviledge to ride on THEIR roads. And if they want to mandate helmets, you'll do it or they'll take that priviledge away from you. If you can't tell, I'm pro-helmet law... I write my congressman regularly about instating one in this state...

 

[GSXTacy]

Anyone who rides a Busa and doesn't have enough respect for the power of it shouldn't be riding it in the first place. You are right that he is a grown man. As such, he should be smart enough to know better.

Who said he wasnt respecting the power of the bike? Once again, the type of bike he was on has absolutely nothing to do with the accident. You almost sound like a beat reporter jumping on the busa bashing bandwagon.

 

[rybraun]

If he wouldn't have had a full face helmet or been on a moped the result would have been the same. These idiots in the press have no brains. Then to sensationalize the bike to sell papers pisses me off. Granted he didn't renew his PA permit who hasn't done that or forgotten to do it. He should have worn his gear and didn't do it. But he wasn't excessively speeding like Williams and stunting like Winslow Jr. give the guy a break.:angry:

 

[race24x]

Ravecrusader What if the next step was to limit cars and motorcycles to 65 MPH and an inspection every year? Way safer imagine no wheelies no one going to fast. In some states it is your right to drive on the highways you do after all pay for them (the people that is) Again I in no way condone riding without a helmet or speeding or smoking or drinking excessively. Or skydiving. What about no more food that is bad for you Obesity causes 100,000 cancer deaths per year How about not going to the hospital iatrogenic (basically hospital mistakes) deaths per year 225,000. Here are the top ten causes of death in the US for 2002 Unintentional injuries all accidents cars bikes work everything is only number 5. 4315 people died from motorcycle accidents in 2005 doesnt say how many wore helmets but lets say all didnt. How does that compare with some of the other things people do everyday that the government doesnt make laws against that kill people everyday. Our fore fathers and soldiers from the revolution would turn over in there grqave to know that they lost there lives in a war to free us from one tyrent to a government that spends all that money and time to limit our freedom more and more everyday.

In 2004, 4,008 people died in motorcycle crashes. According to preliminary data, the U.S. Department of Transportation says that in 2005, 4,315 motorcyclists died in crashes, up 7.7 percent from 2004.


There were 5.4 million motorcycles on U.S. roads in 2003, according to latest data available, compared with 131.1 million passenger cars. Motorcycles accounted for 2.3 percent of all registered motor vehicles and 0.3 percent of vehicle miles traveled.


Some 88,000 motorcycles were involved in crashes in 2004.


Motorcyclists were 34 times as likely as passenger car occupants to die in a crash in 2004, per vehicle mile traveled.


The fatality rate for motorcyclists was 4.8 times the fatality rate for passenger car occupants per registered vehicle in 2004.

 

[tinmann840]

I think the Hayabusa should be more expensive. They should price the new one at $15000

That will put it beyond the reach of "squids" and casual barneys who are just looking for a cheap fix.

OH NO YOU DIDN'T GO THERE . You might be rich but I'm sure not . Lets just hope and pray they bring it in at a price a working Joe can afford . Don't be jinking us with this 15k talk. Don't say it , Don't even think it.

 

[pward76]

Interesting debate - no doubt.

I personally find it illogical that a government can mandate safety devices for one mode of transport in an effort to save lives (seatbelts in cages), but will not mandate them in another (helmets for bikers), especially when the potential for injury and death are so much higher for bikers.