Steelers @ The ESPY's

Steelers win two ESPY Awards
Thursday, July 13, 2006
The Steelers collected more hardware for their victory in Super Bowl XL when they won two ESPY Awards.
The Steelers won the award for "Best Team" and head coach Bill Cowher won the "Best Coach Award."
The awards show was taped on Wednesday night at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood and will air on Sunday night on ESPN.
On hand for the show were Cowher, Jerome Bettis, Joey Porter, Hines Ward, Ike Taylor, Antwaan Randle El, Verron Haynes and a surprise guest – Ben Roethlisberger. Bettis introduced Roethlisberger, who received a standing ovation when he walked on stage. It was Roethlisberger's first public appearance since a motorcycle accident in June.
"It was important for Ben to be out there because he was a big part of our success," said Bettis. "But he's also a big part of our future. He is going to be leading this football team for a lot of years to come.
"I think everybody who watches will be so happy to see him, to see him speak and to see how good he is feeling and just knowing he is not limping or anything like I that, I think everybody will be happy."
Roethlisberger briefly addressed the audience and spoke about how lucky he was in regards to the accident. He did not speak after the event.
"He is a very fortunate and lucky young man, and he's the first -- as he said tonight -- to acknowledge that," said Cowher. "Sometimes, you just have to learn, and the good news is he is back. Those things all have a way of putting things back in their proper perspective.
"I think people need to understand -- nobody needs to say anything to Ben, he understands and he knows what he needs to do. At the same token, I told him, he is a good person and he is a free-spirited kid and he plays the football game that way and I don't want that to change. There is a fine line with the way you have to live your life, but sometimes we have to learn lessons the hard way. Those are the best lessons we can learn in life sometimes.

"The bottom line is, he is very fortunate and now he'll be a great mentor for others. Anyone who is a parent understands that sometimes kids are free-spirited and they are young and those aren't always bad qualities, particularly on the football field."