Steeler to skip WH visit

[GreenInNC]

Posted May 16, 2009 1:20PM By Matt Snyder

Throughout the course of recent memory, the President of the United States has hosted major championship teams' visits to the White House. It's become a sort of American tradition. You win the championship in baseball, football, basketball or hockey, you meet with the President.

Apparently James Harrison, the NFL's reigning Defensive Player of the Year and a key cog in the Steelers' Super Bowl victory over the Arizona Cardinals, doesn't understand the concept. He's going to skip the White House visit. That's his right and there's nothing at all wrong with not going. His rationale, however, is a bit self-important (and by "a bit," I mean "ridiculously").
"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 would've invited Arizona if they had won," said Harrison.

Um, dude ... that's not just how you feel. That's an absolute fact, and it's common knowledge. The White House visits are for teams who win the championship. If you don't want to go, just don't go. You don't have to pontificate about your selfish and irrational reason. What is the President -- who has a few more things to be worried about -- supposed to do? Just arbitrarily invite teams to visit the White House every once in a while? It wouldn't be special anymore, nor would it serve any purpose. I guess that's the way Harrison thinks it should be, though.

For the record, this isn't in any way related to politics. Harrison skipped a meeting with then-President Bush in 2006 after the Steelers won the Super Bowl. Sounds like he just thinks he's so important, world leaders should routinely clear their schedules for him -- even if his team misses the playoffs.

[jgraz]

1. Y'know, they don't pay these guys for their critical thinking skills

[HopeOverFear]

6. HA! there ya go

[FrenchieCat]

2. Are we supposed to give a rat's ass?

I need to know.

[mulsh]

3. why is this of any importance.

jocks aren't generally known for their smarts or manners, just their abilities on the field or court.

[Faygo Kid]

4. Whack job.

Not the brightest bulb in the firmament, but a helluva football player.

[Uzybone]

5. On a team of 53, there is bound to be at least 1 total morom

[bluestateguy]

7. Remember Mark Chmura of the Packers would not visit with Bill Clinton in 1998

In that case it DID have to do with politics. It seems that Chmura claimed to have no respect for Clinton because of his infidelity in the Lewinsky ordeal, and didn't want to be in a position to have to shake Clinton's hand. So Chmura skipped the Packers Super Bowl reception at the White House in 1998.

Two years later Chmura, a married man, was caught fooling around with a 17 year old girl in a swimming pool(his children's babysitter). He was cleared of criminal charges, but acknowledged the infidelity.

[Jennicut]

8. Wow. What a tool. Not as big a tool as Chad Ocho Cinco but close.

[RoadRage]

9. Does he not accept his superbowl ring too?

I mean.. they would have given those to the Cardinals had they won.. so, I suppose this jack-off is opposed to wearing a ring that he only gets because he won.... ?

Eh.. whatever. This guy can sit at home in his $3,000,000 mansion, drive over to starbucks in his Ferarri and just chill while the rest of his team goes to meet the POTUS. No skin off his back, and none off of Obama's either.

[Cha]

10. I wish we had a

picture to go with this idiotegomaniac..maybe some Steeler's big time fan could take his place?

[rvablue]

12. Your moniker for him is spot on: "idiotegomaniac." I have an idea. Maybe he should go visit his

doppleganger in Alaska!!!

[tularetom]

13. Ask and ye shall receive

Well he looks normal enough.

You know what? I'd have more respect for him if he did skip the meeting because of some political difference with the President. It would be a thought out basis for his action as opposed to :wtf:

[Cha]

14. Thanks. More to be

pitied than censored, I guess.

If I get it right..he's mad 'cause the White House doesn't like him enough if he weren't a winner?

[WinkyDink]

11. Too much money, too little class. Not the first, not the last. Michael Jordan bailed on Bush pere.

[Captain Hilts]

15. What an idiot. Tiger Woods said the same thing when asked to join Prez Clinton and Rachel Robinson

at Shea Stadium to officially retire Jackie's number. It was shortly after Woods won his first masters and he said he should have been invited before he won the masters and went on vacation instead.

[TTUBatfan2008]

19. Tiger Woods was a 21 year old and has admitted he made a mistake...

James Harrison is a 31 year old. You'd never see Tiger making that kind of comment at this point. He's grown up a lot in the last 12 years. Harrison is 31 and still behaving like a 21 year old, and I include his "on the field" behavior when I say that. He's a classless jerk both on and off the field. He took a cheap shot during the second half of the Super Bowl. Here's an article about his antics during that game:


http://bleacherreport.com/articles/118542-super-bowl-or-not-harrison-should-been-thrown-out-of-the-game


He deserved to be ejected for that behavior but got away with it for some reason.

[Blue_Tires]

16. uhh...his rationale still makes ZERO sense to me...

assuming he is being truthful with the reason

[rocktivity]

17. Someone's been scrimmaging without a helmet!

rocktivity

[ecstatic]

18. He sounds like someone who is hard to get along with

Too many quirky, rigid theories based on faulty logic.