Of all the players, in all the sports, whom I'd expect to do something this stupid, Ben was not one of them:

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger broke his jaw and nose in a motorcycle crash, but doctors said they had successfully treated his multiple facial fractures after seven hours of surgery.

Roethlisberger, the youngest quarterback to lead a team to the Super Bowl championship, was in serious but stable condition late Monday night at Pittsburgh’s Mercy Hospital.

It was not immediately known whether the accident would affect Roethlisberger's chances of playing this season. The 24-year-old wasn't wearing a helmet at the time of the Monday morning accident, Pittsburgh police said.

The man has to wear a helmet every time he goes out onto the field!  You'd think that it would become second nature to him.  You'd think he would just put one on because he's used to them.  You'd think... but apparently he didn't.  He's damn lucky he didn't turn his motorcycle into a donorcycle.

Of course, some are using this as an excuse to push for helmet laws again:

At one time all states required helmets, but under pressure from those who advocate "freedom" lawmakers in 30 states have rolled back those laws, including in Ohio and Kentucky.

Over the last decade, deaths in motorcycle crashes have nearly doubled, going up eight straight years even as the total number of miles driven has decreased. Recent federal studies concluded that 700 lives could have been saved in one year alone if they were mandatory.

Studies routinely show that helmets save lives, reduce the likelihood and severity of injury and reduce health care costs.
...
Riders should wear helmets, and if they're not going to, perhaps government should step in and make them.

Via The Agitator.  Riders should wear helmets.  People shouldn't smoke.  People should eat better.  People should be responsible.  But if they choose not to do any of those things, then I sure as hell don't want to be their parent and make them.  I sure as hell don't want someone telling me what I should and shouldn't do.  Look... at the very least, it leads to fewer stupid people in the world.

Ben got damn lucky is all I can say.  Hopefully he'll learn from this... that is if his brain isn't too damaged to learn any more.