Steelers star to Obama: How come you only invite us to the White House when we win the Super Bowl?
posted at 2:08 pm on May 19, 2009 by Allahpundit
Yeah, how come Obama never dials up Mike Tomlin out of the blue to say, “Hey, why don’t you bring the Steelers over for awhile? Just to hang out.” It’s almost like he’s doing it out of obligation or something.
Believe it or not, this has become a national story. And I honestly can’t decide if it’s really stupid or really awesome. Quote:
“I’m surprised they’re making a big deal about it, ‘Oh my James Harrison isn’t going to the White House, he must be a devil worshipper.’
“Really, I could care less about the reaction. That’s my decision and I’m sticking with it.”
He skipped the White House meeting with Bush too after they won the Super Bowl a few years ago. Verdict: Awesome.
Blowback
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Really, I mean, do I gotta win a Super Bowl just to meet Obooba? I wasn’t doing anything last Wednesday, why didn’t he invite me over then?
Akzed on May 19, 2009 at 2:10 PM
I’m just giving it an “awesome” not a “really awesome”.
6 Lombardi trophies, that’s really awesome.
myrenovations on May 19, 2009 at 2:11 PM
If people had to win a Super Bowl just to meet Obooba, he wouldn’t be meeting many people. Did Netanyahu win a Super Bowl? I don’t think so, but he got to meet Obooba.
Akzed on May 19, 2009 at 2:11 PM
He’s consistent. Verdict confirmed.
BadgerHawk on May 19, 2009 at 2:11 PM
Seriously, I paid my taxes last year.
Why can’t I get a meeting with Obama?!
Badger40 on May 19, 2009 at 2:12 PM
I’m just loving the reporters, commentators, and sports desk jock sniffers, etc. going apoplectic that Harrison would turn down the opportunity of kissing The One’s ring. They giggled when he skipped out on Bush. But this… THIS just can’t be tolerated! James Harrison is my new football hero.
Sugar Land on May 19, 2009 at 2:12 PM
People have asked me why I won’t date pro athletes.
baldilocks on May 19, 2009 at 2:12 PM
ESPN: “Harrison is known for being an individualist whose on-field sullenness sometimes extends off the field as well.”
Oh noez! Not an individualist!
Rae on May 19, 2009 at 2:12 PM
ANS: To personally accept in person 39.6% of your Super Bowl winnings.
WashJeff on May 19, 2009 at 2:13 PM
Could it be that there are more important things in the world than football? I don’t see why any President should be meeting with any champions, period. Unless said champions have done good work that consists of more than just carrying a ball past a line, or putting an object into a net.
SpencerFan on May 19, 2009 at 2:13 PM
Watch the video. This guy is…not very bright.
baldilocks on May 19, 2009 at 2:13 PM
This is a big deal now because ESPN is run by a bunch of liberal fruitcakes, and Harrison is denying The One his due.
Way back in atleast 2007, Kenny Mayne did his highlights saying things like: “OooooBama” whenever there was a Homerun Highlight.
jp on May 19, 2009 at 2:14 PM
Obama to Steelers star: How come you don’t win more Super Bowls?
James on May 19, 2009 at 2:14 PM
I’d wager he just doesn’t want to be used for a photo-op. If that’s the case, then good for him. The only person who would get anything out of it is the President, and Harrison is under no obligation to be a political tool.
Damian G. on May 19, 2009 at 2:15 PM
Ok. So why is this a big deal? The “reporter” looked like he was about to have convulsions.
I put this in the awesome column.
jencab on May 19, 2009 at 2:16 PM
True…but at least his actions are consistent with his bizarre hypothesis. Plus, his failure to worship The One is endearing, no matter how weird the motivations are. The pressure on him will be significant.
AUINSC on May 19, 2009 at 2:17 PM
The New Socialist NFL. All the games end in a tie and all the salaries are “spreading the wealth” in amounts.
Don’t shake Naplitano’s hand. She has had her hands in the pig flu battle.
seven on May 19, 2009 at 2:17 PM
I agree with the guy. Except for National Teams, like the Olympics, I really don’t get why anyone should go to the White House to be a political prop for whoever the current occupant is.
Rocks on May 19, 2009 at 2:18 PM
You answered your own question Badger. Obama prefers hanging with people who don’t pay their taxes.
DamnCat on May 19, 2009 at 2:21 PM
After Elvis met with Nixon in the White House, it has taken on the relevance of a freak show.
Count me out, too.
BobMbx on May 19, 2009 at 2:21 PM
A big price I pay for not getting to meet the President.
You know, I really almost think it’s worth it.
Badger40 on May 19, 2009 at 2:22 PM
As a lifelong 49er fan that remembers when the 49ers used to win Superbowls and was tied with Pitt with 5 Lombardi’s of our own…that comment hurts!
Liberty or Death on May 19, 2009 at 2:23 PM
Obama has been in the WH since Jan 20…the Steelers won the Super Bowl on Feb 1…why is he just getting around to this invite?
I mean, it’s not like he’s been doing any work or anything…
ladyingray on May 19, 2009 at 2:23 PM
anyone know which President started this tradition and why?
jp on May 19, 2009 at 2:24 PM
I hear that if you pay just a bit more than you owe, Uncle Joe will send you a nice, patriotic autographed picture, and you’ll always be at the back of the “Visit the President” line.
BobMbx on May 19, 2009 at 2:24 PM
I agree, pretty awesome. Anytime someone feels cool enough to “snub” the president (any president) it’s just priceless
youngO on May 19, 2009 at 2:25 PM
“Shut yer pie hole!”
Go Boys!
BobMbx on May 19, 2009 at 2:26 PM
ladyingray on May 19, 2009 at 2:23 PM
They usually wait a while. He just met the World Series champions last week.
youngO on May 19, 2009 at 2:26 PM
James Harrison is a good story, he was cut several times, basically a nobody. He worked his way up from the Practice Squad to become NFL Defensive MVP.
Little suprise he’s an “Individualist”
jp on May 19, 2009 at 2:26 PM
I guess one of the mitigating circumstances of the Steelers winning two of the last four SBs is to highlight the contradiction within the media over Harrison missing his trip to visit Bush in 2006 and his visit with Obama this year.
But yea, his reasoning is a bit convoluted, unless you truly believe the Steelers are some sort of national team that should be invited to the White House every season, including ones like Cowher’s final year in Pittsburgh.
jon1979 on May 19, 2009 at 2:26 PM
athletes = stupid
Except for Troy Aikman who was my first boss out of college. :)
txag92 on May 19, 2009 at 2:27 PM
He doesn’t meet with people that actually pay their taxes, silly! Rack up a few hundred thousand in debt though, and you can score yourself a spot at the Treasury.
TheUnrepentantGeek on May 19, 2009 at 2:27 PM
Why else should he be invited? For his geo-political expertise?
Blake on May 19, 2009 at 2:27 PM
This guy is an idiot… it’s ceremonial… that’s why you’re not invited just whenever…
ninjapirate on May 19, 2009 at 2:27 PM
refreshing
maverick muse on May 19, 2009 at 2:27 PM
I’m not too concerned about his reasoning. He works in the private sector and he’s not licking BO’s wingtips. That’s good enough for me.
Almost as awesome as that interception for touchdown at the end of the first half.
forest on May 19, 2009 at 2:28 PM
“Don’t photo op me, bro.”
BuckeyeSam on May 19, 2009 at 2:28 PM
txag92 on May 19, 2009 at 2:27 PM
/brick layer/
maverick muse on May 19, 2009 at 2:28 PM
Do I want to meet Obubba? Hell no!
capejasmine on May 19, 2009 at 2:29 PM
the guy has the guts to leave politics out of sports
maverick muse on May 19, 2009 at 2:29 PM
At least he’s consistent.
Football and politics only mix well in metaphors: and you should never mix your metaphors, people!
*not trying to make sense*
bluelightbrigade on May 19, 2009 at 2:30 PM
Make that the Steelers won 5 Lombardi trophies and were gifted an additional one.
Go Seahawks!
Mallard T. Drake on May 19, 2009 at 2:31 PM
Go Broncos! The Kyle Orton era! Go see the white house next May!
kirkill on May 19, 2009 at 2:31 PM
maverick muse on May 19, 2009 at 2:28 PM
Don’t be a hater.
txag92 on May 19, 2009 at 2:31 PM
Obama had only been President for ten days when the Steelers won the Super Bowl. They played most of the season on Bush’s watch.
It’s totally arrogant for Obama to try and take credit for the Steelers success, most of which he was not responsible for.
Also, the Detroit Lions are probably crossing their fingers right now hoping that the President may decide it’s only fair to invite all NFL franchises.
YYZ on May 19, 2009 at 2:31 PM
txag92 on May 19, 2009 at 2:27 PM
/brick layer/
maverick muse on May 19, 2009 at 2:28 PM
I am betting car dealership employee.
TXMomof3 on May 19, 2009 at 2:32 PM
The dude has taken a few too many blows to the helmet.
At least he got invited. I was three time district champion in the 880, mile, and cross-country. I never received an invitation to the White House. What’s up with that?
Mallard T. Drake on May 19, 2009 at 2:32 PM
Meh. I’d be more excited if Harrison and Mos Def weren’t fellow travelers.
Kid from Brooklyn on May 19, 2009 at 2:33 PM
Absolutely, go see the WH! Do the guided tours start on the hour or the half-hour?
Obama was planning to invite them, but then he discovered that there was no one left in the Lions organization to fire.
Snowed In on May 19, 2009 at 2:34 PM
Real Men of Genius:
“We salute you Mr. White House Invitation Refuser…”
CP on May 19, 2009 at 2:34 PM
I am betting car dealership employee.
TXMomof3 on May 19, 2009 at 2:32 PM
Actually, I was his assistant. :)
txag92 on May 19, 2009 at 2:35 PM
As am I…Troy Aikman Auto Mall, wasn’t it? I haven’t lived in the Metroplex in years.
Snowed In on May 19, 2009 at 2:35 PM
You talking about the Superbowl they won because Jackie Smith dropped that touchdown pass?
forest on May 19, 2009 at 2:36 PM
unless you truly believe the Steelers are some sort of national team that should be invited to the White House every season
*raises hand*
*waves 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6…yeah 6 terrible towels*
Bishop on May 19, 2009 at 2:37 PM
As am I…Troy Aikman Auto Mall, wasn’t it? I haven’t lived in the Metroplex in years.
Snowed In on May 19, 2009 at 2:35 PM
That was my first thought. I stood in line for two hours at Town East Mall when I was 16 for his autograph. I was ten people back and he ran off through the emergency exit. I got a picture of him with no autograph. Talk about one angry teenage girl!
TXMomof3 on May 19, 2009 at 2:37 PM
Seriously, why hasn’t anyone done a “Real Men of Genius” for Mr. Nationalize All Industries?
Snowed In on May 19, 2009 at 2:37 PM
Has the failed, ESPN jock-sniffer, Olbermann, weighed in on this matter of greatest importance?
This is a country full of jock-sniffers.
It’s depressing.
OhEssYouCowboys on May 19, 2009 at 2:37 PM
Its incomprehensible that this guy could feel this way toward Obama from the Obamacult’s point of view. They are at this moment going through his college transcripts and voting records to prove that this footballer is in fact a Republican. We all know and understand that only morons/extremists and Republicans dislike Obama./sarc
Harrison’s public speaking should not reflect his intelligence. Obama speaks well,but consistently makes ignorant decisions.
canditaylor68 on May 19, 2009 at 2:38 PM
As am I…Troy Aikman Auto Mall, wasn’t it? I haven’t lived in the Metroplex in years.
Snowed In on May 19, 2009 at 2:35 PM
Thawas my first thought. I stood in line for two hours at Town East Mall when I was 16 for his autograph. I was ten people back and he ran off through the emergency exit. I got a picture of him with no autograph. Talk about one angry teenage girl!
TXMomof3 on May 19, 2009 at 2:37 PM
I was his assistant. Our office was in North Arlington, hidden where no one could find it, though lots of crazies did.
txag92 on May 19, 2009 at 2:39 PM
Can’t forget what Obama is going to do, that’s why none of the Steelers should go… ;-)
kirkill on May 19, 2009 at 2:39 PM
Ah, I hate to see a pretty girl cry…
myrenovations on May 19, 2009 at 2:40 PM
What makes this story so awesome is not the story itself, but the media reaction to it.
CDeb on May 19, 2009 at 2:40 PM
Good for James. The leftwing Obamanoids in the media threw up and soiled their little panties over this.
F em.
benrand on May 19, 2009 at 2:42 PM
Wow. Whenever any team or player wins a big award or honor, they get invited to the White House.
What is Harrison’s motivation? Perhaps he voted for McCain or dislikes Obama’s pro-abortion/spending policies.
Frank T.J Mackey on May 19, 2009 at 2:42 PM
I guess you could say he’s really un-partisan.
Upstater85 on May 19, 2009 at 2:45 PM
And unimpressed.
myrenovations on May 19, 2009 at 2:46 PM
James Harrison gets my vote!
Now that’s a real man! Definitely not drinking from the Obot kool-aid.
There is hope for us all yet!
sarahpalinfan99 on May 19, 2009 at 2:47 PM
I have no idea who this guy is but if he blew off The One and has the MSM in a tizzy, then I say he’s tops in my book.
jennifernaz on May 19, 2009 at 2:47 PM
Isn’t that a crime yet? Or maybe a thought crime?
Vashta.Nerada on May 19, 2009 at 2:47 PM
Well I say awesome. It’s too bad he’s not going though… Washington could learn a thing or two from this guy
scalleywag on May 19, 2009 at 2:47 PM
I don’t remember this kind of outrage when he missed meeting Bush. In fact, i didn’t even knew about it.
madne0 on May 19, 2009 at 2:48 PM
Pfft.
davidk on May 19, 2009 at 2:48 PM
He’s the guy who took a Kurt Warner pass in for a touchdown in the Super Bowl.
myrenovations on May 19, 2009 at 2:51 PM
I hope the Giants boycott when they win SB XLIII.
JammieWearingFool on May 19, 2009 at 2:53 PM
He is about as articulate as Bush Jr. but I actually understand his position and agree with it.
So what? It’s just the POTUS. Stephen Hawking, Ray Charles, Chuck Yeager, a myriad of other people that have actually produced something. I’d show for that. A politician? Forget it. Why waste my time?
watson007 on May 19, 2009 at 2:53 PM
Or is that SB XLIV?
JammieWearingFool on May 19, 2009 at 2:53 PM
Yeah, that means very little to me. I think I heard something about our football team making it to the Superbowl this year. Good for them. LOL.
:-D
jennifernaz on May 19, 2009 at 2:54 PM
Not meeting Bush = bold
Not meeting Obama = idiotic
ESPN anchor about to come unglued = priceless
Erich66 on May 19, 2009 at 2:54 PM
How much you wanna bet that Obama’s fragile and insatiable ego commands him to subtly mock Harrison at the event, as he has done every other time he feels slighted, most recently at Arizona state?
OxyCon on May 19, 2009 at 2:59 PM
Super Bowl XL Steelers, XLI not the Steelers, XLII not the Steelers, XLIII Steelers, XLIV ?
myrenovations on May 19, 2009 at 2:59 PM
Honorable when snubbing Bush. Crazy when snubbing Obama, right?
marklmail on May 19, 2009 at 2:59 PM
Based on his logic Obama should be inviting all of the football teams to chat at their leisure. This guy has a sever case of narcissism. What’s really interesting is that he refused to attend last years invitation for the same reason and he couldn’t be convinced of his lack of reasoning skills then.
shick on May 19, 2009 at 3:01 PM
Yes, SB XLIII would have been Giants if that idiot ex-Steeler didn’t shoot himself.
JammieWearingFool on May 19, 2009 at 3:02 PM
Sweet James Harrison, interpreting: If you want to see me Mr President turn on your tv set when I’m playing or buy a ticket to one of our games. Nothins stopping you it’s a free country LOL!
Dr Evil on May 19, 2009 at 3:06 PM
OMG he does not want to be a part of a political dog and pony show?!?! No!
I think they are more shocked because he is black.
Theworldisnotenough on May 19, 2009 at 3:09 PM
definately awesomeness
our naked emperor gets a little bit more exposed each day…
gatorboy on May 19, 2009 at 3:11 PM
Obama had only been President for ten days when the Steelers won the Super Bowl.
YYZ on May 19, 2009 at 2:31 PM
Yeah, but, but, he had a totally awesome Super Bowl party, you know, he served brownies and cookies and Michelle was there and they had hot dogs and pizza and ice cream and pretzels and the crowd was diverse and all that shit.
Brat on May 19, 2009 at 3:12 PM
I’d love to see a side-by-side of the ESPN report of Harrison refusing to go to the White House to meet Bush. I’ll bet they had a different reaction then. Any chance you can find that video and put them both up, AP? My only exposure to ESPN is when my husband has it on for something, but they strike me as being liberal tools.
Nevertheless, I applaud his consistency, and this is the President not a king so he doesn’t have to go if he doesn’t want to. But, seriously, his logic makes no sense at all. I’m pretty sure that the WH invite is supposed to be a perk for winning, not something that all of the teams get to do whenever the Leader of the Free World has some down time. It’s just . . . stupid.
TX Mom on May 19, 2009 at 3:13 PM
Presidents Bush and Clinton snubbed the World Series champions in 1992 and 1993.
It still hurts.
YYZ on May 19, 2009 at 3:15 PM
We’re all going to be a lot more sullen when the Obamessiah’s term is over.
Speedwagon82 on May 19, 2009 at 3:15 PM
Lock the thread. Comment of the day.
nukemhill on May 19, 2009 at 3:19 PM
“A well-placed source” says it’s because he’s afraid of flying.
truth.
hehe.
vermillionsky on May 19, 2009 at 3:20 PM
Yep. I was sorta expecting the ESPN guy to blurt: “He doesn’t want to meet Obama?! But, but he’s black!”
I reckon if he were white, idiots like Garafalo would already be calling him a racist for not going.
forest on May 19, 2009 at 3:20 PM
I knew I liked you for some reason.
Still undefeated, though!
Exit answer: Stupid.
DrSteve on May 19, 2009 at 3:21 PM
I heard you also get tossed into the raffle for a photo op with Biden in the top secret VP bunker! :)
ihasurnominashun on May 19, 2009 at 3:28 PM
I respect his right to make himself look like an idiot.
Dave Rywall on May 19, 2009 at 3:28 PM
As we respect yours.
thomasaur on May 19, 2009 at 3:30 PM
This a Monty Python sketch. TV show interviewer has a man on who’s famous for talking in a roundabout way:
Interviewer: Ah, now you’re beginning to talk in a roundabout way.
Mr. Pudifoot: Oh, I’m sorry.
Interviewer: No, no, no, no. Please do carry on … because that is in fact why we wanted you on the show.
Mr. Pudifoot: I thought it was because you were interested in me as a human being. (gets up and leaves in a huff)
Crusty on May 19, 2009 at 3:31 PM
Ditto. I went to Canton last year, and there’s a really cool film in a moving stage about the NFL experience, going from training camp to the Super Bowl. Of course, they showed highlights from Steelers-Seahawks. Heartache. My friends (all Redskins fans) were like, man, what’s wrong?
hawksruleva on May 19, 2009 at 3:34 PM
On topic – maybe James Harrison realizes that the President is a servant, not a master. Why should a guy who made it own his own, through his own hard work, give a damn about having dinner with the Prez? He’s not looking for a handout or an advantage, so what’s the use of having Obama’s ear?
Speaking of which, is large ears a prerequisite for the office? Both he and Bush have pretty prominent ears.
hawksruleva on May 19, 2009 at 3:37 PM
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