Pittsburgh Steeler Declines Celebratory White House Visit (Washington: 2009, title)

[Little Mizz Pittsburgh]

Big ole dumb JAMES HARRISON..I heard them play a clip of him saying this on 96.1 this morning, sounding dumb as ever...

Sun May 17, 2009 5:22 pm EDT

Mr. Harrison isn't going to Washington; Steeler spurns Obama

By Chris Chase

On Thursday, President Obama will welcome the Pittsburgh Steelers to the White House to honor the team for its recent Super Bowl victory. But, just like in 2006 when the Steelers had a post-title meeting with George W. Bush, defensive MVP (and Super Bowl hero) James Harrison won't be in attendance. But he has a good reason:

"This is how I feel -- if you want to see the Pittsburgh Steelers, invite us when we don't win the Super Bowl. As far as I'm concerned, he [Obama] would've invited Arizona if they had won."

Usually, when a sentence begins with "as far as I'm concerned," it ends with an opinion, not an incontrovertible fact. Harrison's comment is akin to saying, "As far as I'm concerned, George Washington was the first president."

Of course the Cards would have received the White House invite if they had won. Winners get to go meet the president, losers don't. They also get the trophy, the parade and those hats that say "Super Bowl champs". I don't think James Harrison(notes) turned down any of those things, which makes his refusal to go to the White House a tad hypocritical.

When Harrison won the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year award, he didn't decline and say, "As far as I'm was concerned, they would've given this award to someone else if they had had a better defensive season than me." And when he scored that touchdown in the Super Bowl after returning an interception 100 yards, I'm pretty sure Harrison didn't tell the ref to take the points off the board because, as far as he was concerned, if Larry Fitzgerald(notes) had caught him, Harrison wouldn't have scored.

As far as I'm concerned, James Harrison is sort of a fool. If he doesn't want to go to the White House, fine. (Although I can't imagine why anybody wouldn't want to meet the President of the United States.) But don't make a lame excuse in an attempt to justify your decision. Leave that for NFL referees.

Thanks, Fanhouse

[Copanut]

Just another dumb jock.

[ScranBarre]

Originally Posted by COPANUT

Just another dumb jock.

They make the best better halves though because you can easily outsmart them in an argument and force them to concede when they get too confused!

[Mr.SmoothMove]

I hope his momma smacks him upside his head those comments were the equivalent to Pac Man Jones just stupid.

[lifepgh2op]

oh boy!

[jmantra]

Is this the same idiot who punched one of the cardinals during the super bowl?

[soniqV]

I always find it amazing how many athletes (and many artists for that matter) can be so good at using their brain in one context, and just shut it off the next minute...

[scottrpriester]

Originally Posted by soniqV

I always find it amazing how many athletes (and many artists for that matter) can be so good at using their brain in one context, and just shut it off the next minute...

This is the main reason why I find it so hard to follow professional sports these days. The caliber of athletes is just disgusting.

[Pitt Chick]

From what I remember, he did not go last time either.

Maybe he just doesn't like DC...

[ditchdigger]

I agree that it was a lame excuse, but, you know, if he had said, "I won't be going because I believe that the President is using meeting with the Superbowl champions as simply some way of creating political capital and I won't be taken of advantage of in that way", I think everybody could respect that.

And if you think about it, he might very well have been feeling that, but not been able to elucidate it...

(Or I could just have a much better line of BS than he does. It's a pity I can't play football like he does.)