Big Ben

The Ravens and Steelers won't be tiptoeing into the water at M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday afternoon. They are taking the plunge into the season with one of the most critical games on the 2011 slate for each squad. That's not to say the season opener is a make-or-break game for either team, though there is more pressure on the Ravens to win and put the pressure back on the Steelers to defend their home turf later in the season. So what do the Ravens need to do to beat Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers on Sunday?

A handful of Baltimoreans recall their favorite celebrations. "My best New Year's Eve was when I and a friend went to London to the Millennium Dome for what was essentially a huge rave. … It was also the dumbest thing I ever did. We arrived about 20 minutes before midnight and had only a bit of time to get drunk, dance really hard and try to find the perfect spot before midnight arrived. " Aran Keating, 28, artistic director, Baltimore Rock Opera Society "Over the years I have spent New Year's Eve in many cities: Paris, Firenze, New York, San Diego, Washington, D.C. and Baltimore.

P ittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger appeared to be in a fog as he left the field after taking another head shot in last Sunday's overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. But he practiced all week and seemed intent on playing tonight until reports surfaced this weekend that he was still feeling the effects of his latest concussion. Big Ben apparently will listen to his injured brain instead of his warrior heart and let third-string QB Dennis Dixon start against the Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium.

Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs said we should feel free to use his sound bite as we see fit. I took him up on the offer. I typed it up and read it to Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. "All hats off to the Pittsburgh Steelers. We respect them to death. But today was our day. Big Ben, you know he's a great quarterback. God can have his soul, but his ass belongs to me. " That was Suggs after he sacked Roethlisberger three times and forced two fumbles in the Ravens' 35-7 win Sept.

By now, you might have heard Ben Roethlisberger plays pretty well against the Baltimore Ravens. The Steelers have won seven games in a row in the contentious series with Big Ben at quarterback, including postseason wins last season and in 2008. They'll try to make it eight Sunday afternoon in Baltimore. You probably also know some of Roethlisberger's signature moments against the Ravens. His five first-half touchdown passes and perfect 158.3 passer rating at Heinz Field in 2007.

Steelers days numbered Ken Murray Baltimore Sun It would make a wonderful feel-good story if Ben Roethlisberger were to divorce himself from his unsavory past and find deliverance in his football future. I hope that happens. But I stopped believing in the tooth fairy a long time ago. It's obvious Roethlisberger needs help. If you read his statement about the NFL's suspension, you had to be disappointed. He was sorry for his teammates, the Steelers' fan base and himself.

News item: : The Ravens can take a big step back into solid playoff contention with a victory over the banged-up Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday night at M&T Bank Stadium. My take: : I know I said the same thing about the Colts game and the second Bengals game, but this time I really mean it. News item: : Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is expected to play Sunday night, despite another scary head shot in last weekend's loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. My take: : Big Ben is a gamer - no doubt about that - but he needs to take Sunday night off for his own long-term good health.

BARCELONA, Spain -- Ben Johnson is in the starting blocks, which was once like saying Willie Mays is up to bat. He looks good. His head is shaved. He's wearing a gold necklace you could use as a belt. We know Johnson can't run anymore. So that's not the question. The question is: Can he still pose?In the pre-scandal days, when he could do both, Johnson had a body you could teach anatomy from. Talk about rippling muscles. When this guy flexed his arm, it looked like the tide was coming in.When Big Ben walked into a room, Schwarzenegger would think twice before he took off his shirt.

Ben McDonald surfaced at Memorial Stadium yesterday, his foot bone connected to his ankle bone, his right arm connected to his right shoulder.With McDonald, it's always a good idea to make sure every body part is in place. The question now -- the far bigger question -- is what's inside.A big heart or little?Ample guts or not?The debate, quite literally, gets under McDonald's skin. But he understands its origin. And he understands that only he can put the matter to rest.A big season from Ben, and the Orioles maybe contend.

LONDON -- One is a big top erected on an old industrial site. The other is a big wheel plunked down opposite Big Ben.Together, the Millennium Dome in Greenwich and British Airways London Eye observation wheel are the anchors to Britain's massive celebration today marking the end of 1999 and the arrival of 2000.Intent on showing the world how to shrug off Y2K jitters, the British are bent on throwing the party for the ages with as many as 3 million people expected to hit London's streets, waterways and subways to celebrate the new year with rides, concerts and fireworks.

The next installment of Steelers week is two months away, but Terrell Suggs took time this week to tell Sports Illustrated's Peter King how “awesome” it was when the Ravens broke Ben Roethlisberger's nose last season. Appearing on King's new weekly podcast -- Suggs was his special guest in the third episode -- the Ravens linebacker was asked to tell a story that illustrates the intensity of the Baltimore-Pittsburgh rivalry. Suggs chose the Steelers' Week 13 win from a year ago because he and Roethlisberger were both bloodied.

The Ravens and Steelers won't be tiptoeing into the water at M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday afternoon. They are taking the plunge into the season with one of the most critical games on the 2011 slate for each squad. That's not to say the season opener is a make-or-break game for either team, though there is more pressure on the Ravens to win and put the pressure back on the Steelers to defend their home turf later in the season. So what do the Ravens need to do to beat Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers on Sunday?

By now, you might have heard Ben Roethlisberger plays pretty well against the Baltimore Ravens. The Steelers have won seven games in a row in the contentious series with Big Ben at quarterback, including postseason wins last season and in 2008. They'll try to make it eight Sunday afternoon in Baltimore. You probably also know some of Roethlisberger's signature moments against the Ravens. His five first-half touchdown passes and perfect 158.3 passer rating at Heinz Field in 2007.

Football fans have waited all summer, and this weekend it should finally happen. We're talking about Ben Roethlisberger's wedding, of course. This Saturday in Pittsburgh, Big Ben is set to tie the knot with Ashley Harlan, a native of New Castle, Pa., who works in the Cardiac Surgery Department of Presbyterian Hospital. For those of you who missed out on the opportunity to buy Joe Flacco a wedding gift , now is your chance to make up for it by getting the Steelers quarterback a gift.

It should not surprise anyone that the big question hanging over the Super Bowl concerns the two guys who will be behind center when the Green Bay Packers and (ugh!) Pittsburgh Steelers face off on Sunday at Cowboys Stadium. Will it come down to Aaron Rodgers' touch or Ben Roethlisberger's toughness? Frankly, I was hoping everyone would be talking about Joe Flacco's cool demeanor at Super Bowl Media Day, but we'll have to settle for his cranky response to the recent firing of quarterbacks coach Jim Zorn.

The NFL may not be targeting the Steelers, but the Steelers certainly think they are, so in that sense the league has failed. Forget the $125,000 in fines on linebacker James Harrison or the flurry of holding penalties on guard Chris Kemoeatu, the true evidence is what the on-field officials and Ray Anderson are not doing. Ben Roethlisberger continues to get beat up on the field and not only is no one paying the price with penalties, the league looks the other way when it comes to doling out fines.

Good morning --Bill Cowher -- No Big Ben, but chin up, Coach. Actually, that's never a problem for you, is it?

On the Pro Bowl selections Kelly Gregg definitely should be there. Everyone says he's underrated. They're liable to take it out on the Steelers. Big Ben better duck and cover. Just the league hating on the Ravens again.

He has earned a break Ethan J. Skolnick Sun Sentinel The arbitrary nature of Roger Goodell's discipline should make all sports fans uncomfortable. There seems to be little rhyme, reason or consistency to his punishment. It's all fairly random. But if he chooses to impose an indefinite suspension — with wiggle room between the high and low limits of the athlete's absence — then he must reward the athlete for living up to whatever conditions he set. And so far, Ben Roethlisberger hasn't done anything since the suspension that would warrant keeping him out the maximum six weeks.

Steelers days numbered Ken Murray Baltimore Sun It would make a wonderful feel-good story if Ben Roethlisberger were to divorce himself from his unsavory past and find deliverance in his football future. I hope that happens. But I stopped believing in the tooth fairy a long time ago. It's obvious Roethlisberger needs help. If you read his statement about the NFL's suspension, you had to be disappointed. He was sorry for his teammates, the Steelers' fan base and himself.