Baller-in-Chief

According to Alexander Bolton and Jeffrey Young from their piece published by TheHill.com:

Republicans are so impressed with Wyden’s bill that some are convinced he represents President Obama’s best chance for getting major healthcare reform signed into law this Congress.

And while Democratic Sens. Edward Kennedy (Mass.) and Max Baucus (Mont.) may chair the committees charged with shepherding the bill through the Senate, Wyden, a 6-foot-4 former college basketball player, has his own advantage: a standing invitation to play hoops with the president at the White House, which may come in handy when hashing out the final details behind the scenes.

President Barack Obama, invited to deliver the commencement address at Notre Dame University, mentioned basketball within the first few seconds of his speech.

Here is the text of that portion:

I also want to congratulate the class of 2009 for all your accomplishments. And since this is Notre Dame, I mean both in the classroom and in the competitive arena. We all know about this university’s proud and storied football team, but I also hear that Notre Dame holds the largest outdoor 5-on-5 basketball tournament in the world — Bookstore Basketball.

Now this excites me. I want to congratulate the winners of this year’s tournament, a team by the name of “Hallelujah Holla Back.” Well done. Though I have to say, I am personally disappointed that the “Barack O’Ballers” didn’t pull it out. Next year, if you need a 6-foot, 2-inch forward with a decent jumper, you know where I live.

Judging from the reaction of the crowd and from the positive chatter about it on social networks like Twitter, this went over very well.

Here is the portion of the video in which the Baller-in-Chief mentions hoops:

(From Chris Chase for Yahoo Sports Blog)

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 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 he was concerned, they would’ve given this award to someone else if they had had a better defensive season.” 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 of the board because, as far as he was concerned, if Larry Fitzgerald had caught him, he 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

(From ThePittsburghChannel.com)

Steelers Linebacker Also Skipped 2006 Visit

When the Super Bowl XLIII champion Pittsburgh Steelers make their trip to the White House Thursday, one of the players largely responsible for their victory over the Arizona Cardinals says he won’t be attending.

Linebacker James Harrison said he’ll pass on the invite from President Barack Obama.

WTAE Channel 4 Action News anchor Andrew Stockey caught up with the NFL Defensive Player of the Year at Friday’s Legends for Charity Gala hosted by University of Pittsburgh head football coach Dave Wannstedt.

“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,” said Harrison.

Harrison also skipped the Steelers’ visit to the White House in 2006 following their victory in Super Bowl XL.

Editor’s Note: We think this is a missed opportunity.

(From Mike Bires for the Beaver and Allegheny County Times)

Over the past few decades, U.S. presidents have traditionally invited championship sports teams, pro and college, to Washington, D.C. Such will be the case Thursday as Barack Obama will host and honor the Pittsburgh Steelers, winners of Super Bowl XLIII.

In recent weeks, Obama has hosted several championship teams at ceremonies held at the White House. Among them are the Philadelphia Phillies, the 2008 World Series winners; the Florida Gators football team, the ‘08 national champs; the North Carolina basketball team, the ‘09 national champs; and the Connecticut women’s basketball team, the ‘09 national champs.

The Steelers’ last visit to the White House was in May of 2006 when they were honored by then-president George. W. Bush for their victory in Super Bowl XL.

The Steelers, obviously, will be the first NFL franchise to visit the White House during the Obama administration.

It will be a visit that reunites two friends – Obama and Steelers chairman Dan Rooney.

During Obama’s successful campaign, he was endorsed by Rooney.

After the Steelers defeated the Arizona Cardinals in the Super Bowl in February, Rooney actually thanked Obama during his post-game remarks.

Two months ago, Obama nominated Rooney for the post as the United States’ ambassador to Ireland.

Even though the White House visit is quite an experience, linebacker James Harrison will not be making the trip. Harrison, the Steelers’ Most Valuable Player and the 2008 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, told WTAE-TV that he’s not going.