Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers’ Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, Super Bowl XL MVP Hines Ward, and several of the teams running backs and offensive line members participated in a Guitar Hero 5 “Pro vs. GI Joe” competition with a group of soldiers from the U.S. Army’s 336th Military Police Company stationed in Iraq.

Pro vs. GI Joe is a non-profit organization started by Addie Zinone (still active in the military with two tours in Iraq under her belt) and her husband Greg in June of 2007 as a means to “do a little for those who do a lot.”

“This is an opportunity and a way that the professional athletes can say thank you to the troops from their community in a really fun way,” said Zinone.

This Friday, the service did just that, as it connected soldiers to the Steelers players at their practice facility in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania through used of satellites and the Xbox LIVE service. Steelers Quarterback had the following to say about the experience:

“To be able to interact with these guys and enjoy it – and I could see the joy on their face – and get to beat them a little bit in some Rock band. It’s a lot of fun”

Apparently even Super Bowl Quarterbacks have a hard time telling EA’s Rock Band and Activision’s Guitar Hero apart these days.

While Steelers All Pro Safety, and co-Madden 2010 cover athlete, Troy Polamalu, didn’t take part in the strumming of plastic instruments, he did his part to boost soldier moral by showing up in a grass-covered Ghillie sniper suit. Check out the video below.

In the end, Pittsburgh’s KDKA news station declared the Steelers winners of the competition, and considering the teams performance in last Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals, I’m sure they’re relishing the win.

Yes. I’m a bitter Steelers fan. Sue me. I will end this on a positive note by saying bravo to Zinone and her husband for putting together such an awesome organization. If you’d like to find out more about Pro vs. GI Joe, head on over to their website at provsgijoe.com.

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In other video game related news, private military company Blackwater USA is currently developing an entertainment package to be air-dropped to US troops that includes the popular rhythm game.

In a story reported by the Associated Press, Blackwater recruiter James Overton is creating the entertainment package to help servicemen and women adjust to life in the field.

The kit will include an Xbox 360, TV, Guitar Hero, and a modem.

The entertainment package can be seen as a recruiting tactic that the PMC is trying to employ to engender good will among US servicemen and women, who Blackwater regularly recruits from. Most Blackwater contractors are former US military personnel.

Source: Associated Press

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